Matronics Email Lists

Are you beginning to see a pattern here? Owning an Aero Commander is definitely a cult......

ALL HAIL TED SMITH! Smile

How did you get a ferry permit for 2? It's almost always for essential crew only.

Hi Nico,

Lots of hours in a taildragger requires one learn the mantra, "Rudder, rudder, rudder"! You get used to automatically and instantly keeping the nose straight or else you end up g ...

Adam,
I know it's a long way to go from California but you won't find anyone better to give you training in your Commander than Bill Leff. He trained me in mine and does my re-current training. Well ...

Hi Adam,

I hope you're getting your multi ticket in something other than your plane since the training is hard on those geared engines. My 680E won't unfeather
unless the engine's running. You hav ...

Nico,

From an engineering standpoint, the fewer the blades the more efficient the prop. Theoretically a single blade counterbalanced prop is the most efficient. I know a couple of folks that have c ...

Adam,

1400 ft? Close to the bone? I'll say... If everything is working and an engine doesn't sputter maybe after you've had a bunch of practice. I fly a C180 Skywagon with a full Horton STOL and 10 ...

Hi Adam,

Welcome to the world of Commander ownership. Bill Leff is in Dayton, Ohio and probably knows about as much as anyone East of the Mississippi about Commanders. Give him a call. (cell 937-36 ...

Makes me wonder who was actually PIC, the pilot/owner or the CFI? It seems that the CFI took over when the left engine quit and then dealt with the right engine failure and landing. I'm sure both were ...

Hi Jim,

It's good to be back. It was challenging (to say the least at times) but fun flying that Air ambulance into the back country of Guyana and HOT!
Thanks for all your help in getting my 680E ...

Hi Barry,

Yep, I think that's it. It just sits there though I did think I saw someone doing something to it last year. I will try and get some shots next spring when I'm over there again.
I had a ...

Barry,

There's a Commander 680 sitting at the Frederick airport in Maryland that's been parked on the ramp for a number of years and hasn't moved. Next time I'm over there I'll try and get photos f ...

Dale,

Welcome to the 'formation'! Are you outta your mind? Two? And now you're going to find that it will hurt too much to use one and strip it for parts. How can one let one of these beautiful Bir ...

Thanks Guys,

It's on its way to Precision Engines. They want about $2000 for a basic rebuild now. There's a 10% special on at the moment. Minimum then around $1800 It sure beats the $3500 quote I ...

Hi Everyone,

Anyone out there know the best place to get a Bendix PS7BD Carb
rebuilt at anything less than the cost of an entire airplane?

The quote I have so far is for around $3,500... Ouch ...

My 680E operator's manual only says; "Positive limit load factor +3.5 G"

Wouldn't it have been certified in the 'Normal' category which should be +3.8 and -1.52?

Why the difference?
...

Hi Guys,

I made a presentation last Thursday in Cheonju, South Korea at a renewable energy conference. One of the presenters was from a lab in Germany that has really advanced development of direct ...

Mason,

I was parked next to you. If you don't see me on these lists for a
couple of days it's because I'm leaving Korea soon to head home..

Cate
N4278S

Nico,

Johannesburg. I lived there in the sixties and early seventies. Who
else would know about Van de Merwe?

There are a number of sites out there where one can buy a Stirling
engine. Amer ...

Hey Nico,

Don't take me too seriously....... Smile

I'm a mechanical engineer and have been working in the field of
Stirling Engines for 30 years. Flying for some 34 years. I grew up in
South Af ...