Aero (1) Commander 500
The Commander 500 was the entry-level member of Ted Smith's Aero Commander twin family, introduced in 1958 as a structurally similar but lower-powered version of the Commander 560. Where its stablemates used geared, supercharged engines for high-altitude cruise speed, the 500 traded some of that performance for lower operating cost, aimed at buyers who wanted the type's distinctive high-wing, twin-tail silhouette without the larger models' fuel bills. It shares the family's raised cockpit and clean, all-metal airframe that let 1950s Aero Commanders outrun many contemporary single-engine aircraft despite carrying two engines and a full cabin.
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Did you know?
The Commander 500 carries the family's trademark high-wing, twin-tail silhouette — the entry-level, cheaper-to-run member of Ted Smith's Commander line.
Specifications
| Length | 11.2 m (37 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 14.9 m (49 ft) |
| Height | 4.4 m (14 ft) |
| Persons on board | 6 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 3 t |
| Range | 1,030 NM (1,908 km) |
| Service ceiling | 19,000 ft (5,791 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 15,000 ft (4,572 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,340 ft/min (6.8 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 590 m (1,936 ft) |
| Landing distance | 690 m (2,264 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 650 l |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Aero (1) Commander 500 starts as a Rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Aero (1), the Commander 500 family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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