Aero (1) Commander 520
The Commander 520 was Ted Smith's original Aero Commander design, a twin-engine, high-wing executive aircraft he created after leaving Douglas, where he had worked on the A-20 and A-26 attack bombers. It first flew as a prototype in 1948 and reached production at the Bethany, Oklahoma factory in 1951, powered by two 260-horsepower geared engines. Its raised cockpit, set well above and ahead of the wing, gave excellent visibility and a distinctive profile. A military U-4B version of the 520 served as President Eisenhower's personal transport from 1956, the smallest aircraft ever to carry the informal 'Air Force One' title.
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Did you know?
Its raised cockpit sits well above and ahead of the wing, giving the Commander 520 a distinctive profile.
Specifications
| Length | 10.4 m (34 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 13.4 m (44 ft) |
| Height | 4.2 m (14 ft) |
| Persons on board | 7 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 2.5 t |
| Range | 990 NM (1,833 km) |
| Service ceiling | 24,000 ft (7,315 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 21,000 ft (6,401 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,340 ft/min (6.8 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 340 m (1,115 ft) |
| Landing distance | 320 m (1,050 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 530 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.
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