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Aero Commander 100 Darter
Can anyone tell me why I keep seeing these planes
selling for what seems like a great price? Every once in a while someone advertises this brand and model, but different planes for the same price as most Cessna 150's. Why? What is the problem with these planes? Lou |
#2
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Aero Commander 100 Darter
I imagine it is relatively cheap because it is an orphan without ready
access to airframe parts. I saw one of these at Falcon Field in Mesa a few years ago parked in front of the Anzio Landing Italian restaurant. I was struck by the Mooney-like vertical stabilizer on a body resembling a Cessna. I think Rockwell pulled the production plug because it was outperformed by the current Cessna and Piper singles. -- Best Regards, Mike http://photoshow.comcast.net/mikenoel "Lou" wrote in message ... Can anyone tell me why I keep seeing these planes selling for what seems like a great price? Every once in a while someone advertises this brand and model, but different planes for the same price as most Cessna 150's. Why? What is the problem with these planes? Lou |
#4
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Aero Commander 100 Darter
On Jun 25, 6:56 pm, Lou wrote:
Can anyone tell me why I keep seeing these planes selling for what seems like a great price? Every once in a while someone advertises this brand and model, but different planes for the same price as most Cessna 150's. Why? What is the problem with these planes? Lou We did some work on a Lark, the 180 hp version. It was intended to compete with the 172, but needed that 180 hp just to haul the heavy airframe around. In some ways it's a robust airplane, rather simple, but has some odd features. The aluminum sheet metal is only a cover around the cabin; the primary structure is steel tube, and stronger than a tank. The landing gear is a pivoted steel tube structure, using a fiberglass leaf as a spring. Try to buy a new one of those springs. The flaps are plain piano-hinged affairs, cheap like a Cherokee's, not having the Fowler action but also not having flap tracks and rollers and other high-maintenance stuff. The floor is nice and flat and is thick plywood. The seats set you up nice and high, like driving a truck. The oil pressure line from the engine to the gauge is 1/4" copper tube that fatigues and breaks at the engine, which then pumps all the oil overboard. False economy of the worst sort. They'd be good buys in Canada where such an airplane could be registered Owner-Maintenance, and parts manufactured as necessary. Not so easy in the US. And the fuel mileage will be poor, with that 180 hp but mediocre cruise. Dan |
#5
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Quote:
I own a Darter... the aircraft is much preferable to a C-172 of the same vintage or newer. It's a 172 on steroids as I like to call it. Stronger than the Cessna, and as economical for sure. Econo-cruise is 128 mph on 7 gph. Very respectable for what it will do for you. Climb at over 800fpm, lands under 500 ft. with no panic and regular breaking. Very solid landing feel, excellent visibility and roomy cockpit. Useful load is 970 lbs.. These are all verified numbers not just out of the book. I trained in 172s and I much prefer this aircraft. Parts are available from J&C Enterprises in Oklahoma. Very nice people to work with. Of course the Lyc. 0-320 A-1-A is "bullet proof". The price is right on this one because people are just ill-informed. It's a keeper... if you sell it you'll wish you didn't down the line... All the Best, Ron |
#6
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Aero Commander 100 Darter
Lou wrote:
Can anyone tell me why I keep seeing these planes selling for what seems like a great price? Every once in a while someone advertises this brand and model, but different planes for the same price as most Cessna 150's. Why? What is the problem with these planes? Mike and Dan hit the nail on the head. Orphaned airplanes can be risky to own because of parts availability. The Commander Lark and Darter are particularly bad in this respect because they were made in very small numbers for only a few years. John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180) -- Message posted via http://www.aviationkb.com |
#7
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Aero Commander 100 Darter
On Jun 26, 3:28 pm, "JGalban via AviationKB.com" u32749@uwe wrote:
Lou wrote: Can anyone tell me why I keep seeing these planes selling for what seems like a great price? Every once in a while someone advertises this brand and model, but different planes for the same price as most Cessna 150's. Why? What is the problem with these planes? Mike and Dan hit the nail on the head. Orphaned airplanes can be risky to own because of parts availability. The Commander Lark and Darter are particularly bad in this respect because they were made in very small numbers for only a few years. John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180) -- Message posted viahttp://www.aviationkb.com Thanks guys, that would explain the price tags. Kinda like buying an old International Harvester SUV. Lou |
#8
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Aero Commander 100 Darter
On Jun 26, 5:13 pm, Lou wrote:
On Jun 26, 3:28 pm, "JGalban via AviationKB.com" u32749@uwe wrote: Lou wrote: Can anyone tell me why I keep seeing these planes selling for what seems like a great price? Every once in a while someone advertises this brand and model, but different planes for the same price as most Cessna 150's. Why? What is the problem with these planes? Mike and Dan hit the nail on the head. Orphaned airplanes can be risky to own because of parts availability. The Commander Lark and Darter are particularly bad in this respect because they were made in very small numbers for only a few years. John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180) -- Message posted viahttp://www.aviationkb.com Thanks guys, that would explain the price tags. Kinda like buying an old International Harvester SUV. Lou Hey! I own a 1951 International L110 pickup. There are guys here in Alberta looking for IHC Scouts and so on, and they seem to be getting more popular. That little Scout had a four-banger that had been developed from half of the 305 V8 they used in a lot of their trucks, and would just about climb trees. But your point is valid. I'll need to replace the windshield soon, and it won't be cheap. I wish it was a few years older when the windshields were two-piece flat affairs that some glass shops can cut from raw laminated sheet. This one is curved. I got around the engine parts problem by making a few major mods and putting a Ford 300 inline six in it, along with a Ford 3-speed transmission. Dan |
#9
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Hi. Looking into a Darter. There are parts around, but you'd really need to smash it up, to require something so specialized. Electrical is piper. Any bolts or bushing, tierod ends and the such are generic. They fly a bit faster than the 300 cont. cessna. Stahl like a piper.
From what I understand...if you're getting one, don't plan on reselling in a hurry, just because as previously mentioned, there are not many around and folks are leary of them. Price is great. Apples to apples, for the most part, as comparing to a 172. Usually 5 to 8K cheaper. Just my opinion. My info come from owners and research. If I get one, I'll leave some info. |
#10
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I Imagine it is relatively cheap because it is an orphan without ready access to airframe parts. I saw one of these at Falcon Field in Mesa a few years ago parked in front of the Anzio Landing Italian restaurant. It was really amazing and fantastic.
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