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yourtcfg(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 4:45 pm Post subject: FULL CIRCLE

HI KIDS.

 I just had a neat experience.  I flew 680 (CONVERTED TO A 680e) from a small private strip on the banks of the Columbia River, to my home airport.  The new owners will be changing an engine there. I have delivered lots of Commanders over the years and even several 680s, so what makes this one different??  Well, it is the very first Aero Commander I ever actually touched!!  I had dreamed of owning a Commander for a couple of years and was crop dusting in the Parlous area of Washington state, south of Spokane.  I was finally in a position to buy my first Commander and really wanted to see on up close and personal.  I was told that a old (even then it was considered old) Commander in a hangar at Spokane's Felts Field.  The first rainy day off I had I drove to the airport to look and sure enough, there it was.  It was parked in an open hangar with several other, lessor, airplanes.  It was BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It   was painted with yellow and black trim and had sweringen main landing gear doors.  I thought they were stock and for a while thought other Commander owners must have removed theirs!!  I spent a couple of hours just looking and dreaming of the day when I would have my own.

 Amazingly, we would cross paths again.  Many years later and after I had owner a couple of Commanders (a 720 and a 560A), I took a job for just a few weeks flying ag for an operator in western Washington State.  I owned a Beech Duke (sorry) at the time and it would not operate from the short ag strip where the Commander lived.  That owner sold it to a really nice guy named Jody Maddox and after many years, Jody sold it to the new, current owners.  Since neither of them have ANY Commander time, they hired me to move the airplane.  It was really cool to actually fly the airplane that really started it all for me.  I got to occupied the pilot seat I had longingly looked through the window at so many years ago.  It went "Full Circle"  jbMcCain or Obama? Stay updated on coverage of the Pres  idential race while you browse - Download Now! 

  [quote][b]

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John Vormbaum

Joined: 21 Aug 2006
Posts: 273
Location: SF Bay Area, CA

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject: FULL CIRCLE

Jimbob,



Great story. Obviously you were meant to be a Commander person...the 

airplanes still follow you around!



/J



yourtcfg(at)aol.com wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   HI KIDS.

 I just had a neat experience.  I flew 680 (CONVERTED TO A 680e) from a 

 small private strip on the banks of the Columbia River, to my home 

 airport.  The new owners will be changing an engine there. I have 

 delivered lots of Commanders over the years and even several 680s, so 

 what makes this one different??  Well, it is the very first Aero 

 Commander I ever actually touched!!  I had dreamed of owning a 

 Commander for a couple of years and was crop dusting in the Parlous 

 area of Washington state, south of Spokane.  I was finally in a 

 position to buy my first Commander and really wanted to see on up 

 close and personal.  I was told that a old (even then it was 

 considered old) Commander in a hangar at Spokane's Felts Field.  The 

 first rainy day off I had I drove to the airport to look and sure 

 enough, there it was.  It was parked in an open hangar with several 

 other, lessor, airplanes.  It was BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It was 

 painted with yellow and black trim and had sweringen main landing gear 

 doors.  I thought they were stock and for a while thought other 

 Commander owners must have removed theirs!!  I spent a couple of hours 

 just looking and dreaming of the day when I would have my own.

 Amazingly, we would cross paths again.  Many years later and after I 

 had owner a couple of Commanders (a 720 and a 560A), I took a job for 

 just a few weeks flying ag for an operator in western Washington 

 State.  I owned a Beech Duke (sorry) at the time and it would not 

 operate from the short ag strip where the Commander lived.  That owner 

 sold it to a really nice guy named Jody Maddox and after many years, 

 Jody sold it to the new, current owners.  Since neither of them have 

 ANY Commander time, they hired me to move the airplane.  It was really 

 cool to actually fly the airplane that really started it all for me.  

 I got to occupied the pilot seat I had longingly looked through the 

 window at so many years ago.  It went "Full Circle"  jb

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

 McCain or Obama? Stay updated on coverage of the Pres idential race 

 while you browse - Download Now 

 <http://toolbar.aol.com/elections/download.html?ncid=emlweusdown00000001>! 



 *

 *

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barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:34 am Post subject: FULL CIRCLE

Hi JimBob,

  

 My guess is that it's N6863S, s/n  380.

 It was converted from a 680 to a 680E on April  14th 1972.

  

 I know it had the Swearingen gear doors  installed, but don't know when.

 Anything in the paperwork to help nail that  date?

 Has it still got them?

  

 Very Best Regards,

 Barry

 [quote]   ---

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steve2(at)sover.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:35 am Post subject: FULL CIRCLE

JB, your story reminded me of this  spring.

  

 It's powerful stuff across the span of time  unexpectedly coming across machines you've run or made an impression on you,  ain't it? In an age of computer games, ipods, and people fondling their little  phones everywhere you go, I'm not sure everyone feels the same. This spring we  were working way up north, and I pit stopped in Houlton Maine. Houlton is  literally the end of the United States. When you depart you turn crosswind  across the border of New Brunswick and the north end of Interstate  95.

  

 We taxied up to get fuel and there was an old  straight tail C-310C. I always liked them, as they had the 260hp IO-470's, and  the straight tail and tanks. A fast and efficient machine, and in the 70's after  my Dad started his company, first was a '53 C-180 with a photo hole, and then a  '59 C-310C with a hole. (I don't think he could have afforded a Commander like  what he was used to flying.) Last I had heard, long after he had sold his  interest out, the old 310 had its gear collapse and was written  off.

  

 As we got closer to the machine, I couldn't believe  it had the old N number. Sure enough, there was a photo hole underneath with a  cover. It was the same machine I had 'grown up' in. Crossed the Rockies at  night, flew through the Grand Canyon, and worked in all over the northeast and  New England as camerman (even when just a kid).

  

 My first flying memory was sitting in my Dad's lap,  trying to steer a 680E through a pair of cumulus. I never expected to be around  Commanders again. Somehow, almost 40 years later, I get to drive one some for  work. Life presents a lot of good, sometimes bad, and unexpected  things.

  

 Steve

  

 [quote]   ---

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tfisher(at)commandergroup
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 7:01 am Post subject: FULL CIRCLE

I never heard of the "Swearingen gear doors" how are they different  from the factory ones?

  

 Tom

 C-GISS

 [quote]   ---

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yourtcfg(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:02 am Post subject: FULL CIRCLE

Yes, they are still installed.  I will look at the logs and see if there is a date.  jb

   	  Quote: 	
		    Anything in the paperwork to help nail that date?

   Has it still got

 	


 

 

 --

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yourtcfg(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:04 am Post subject: FULL CIRCLE

Great story!!  jb

 

 

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barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:31 am Post subject: FULL CIRCLE

Thanks JimBob!

 [quote]   ---

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peter.bichier(at)utoledo.
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:16 am Post subject: FULL CIRCLE

I'm like Tom, never heard of those doors, can anyone enlighten us? or best a quick picture from N6863S door, and heck why not the rest of it! would be greatly appreciated!

unless Barry also has some example in his photo collection, of course!

thanks!



On Oct 13, 2008, at 11:01 AM, Tom Fisher wrote:

[quote]I never heard of the "Swearingen gear doors" how are they different from the factory ones?

 

Tom

C-GISS

[quote]---

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