Air Command Commander Elite
{{Short description|American autogyro}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Commander Elite | image=Air Command 532 Elite Sport G-TFRB.jpg | caption= }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Autogyro | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Air Command International | designer= | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status=Production completed | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= | program cost= | unit cost= US$22,500 (2011) | developed from= Air Command Commander | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Air Command Commander Elite is an American autogyro that was designed and produced by Air Command International of Caddo Mills, Texas. When it was available, the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a conversion kit for the earlier Air Command Commander.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 174. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
As of 2012, the design is no longer advertised for sale by the company.{{cite web|url = http://www.aircommand.com/models.php|title = Available Models|accessdate = 22 December 2012|last = Air Command International|date = n.d.|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121116133124/http://www.aircommand.com/models.php|archive-date = 16 November 2012|url-status = dead}}
Design and development
The Commander Elite improves on the original Commander in that it has raised landing gear that positions the engine thrustline vertically at the center of gravity, eliminating changes in pitch with throttle changes. The gyroplane was designed to comply with the US Experimental - Amateur-built rules. It features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, tricycle landing gear, and a twin cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled, dual-ignition {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 582 engine in pusher configuration.
The aircraft's {{convert|23|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} diameter Rotordyne rotor has a chord of {{convert|8|in|cm|1|abbr=on}}. The rudder and tailplane are made from carbon fiber. The Commander Elite has a typical empty weight of {{convert|270|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|570|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|300|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.
Operational history
By December 2012, ten examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=COMMANDER+ELITE&PageNo=1|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130213172507/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=COMMANDER+ELITE&PageNo=1|url-status = dead|archive-date = February 13, 2013|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 22 December 2012|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 22 December 2012}}
Specifications (Commander Elite)
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See also
References
{{Commons category}}
{{reflist}}
{{Air Command International aircraft}}