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Turbo Commander 777?

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stratobee

Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 159
Location: Los Angeles

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 4:57 pm Post subject: Turbo Commander 777?

This is an interesting link to a company that wanted to put Walter 601 engines on the Commander, pair it with a 5-blade MT prop. Site hasn't been updated since 2000, so probly not much came of it.



Anyone know anything more about this project? Also, what are those winglets? Are they proprietary or some alternative winglet to the normal ones you see?



http://www.americanwestaircraft.com/commander.html



Also, has there ever been any talk of STCing the MT 5-blade prop for the Turbo Commanders? The MU-2 has that option and it's the same engine..

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Adam

cloudcraft(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 5:43 pm Post subject: Turbo Commander 777?

Adam,

 

 One of a long line up of 680 or 690 series Commander re-engine ideas that never got off the ground, at least in a figurative sense.

 

 The original turbine match up was PT-6 engines on the 680FL airframe.  The specific range was terrible; a switch to TPE-331 series was made.

 

 Don't know if the fuel specifics for the Walters are better than the typical PT-6.  If they're not, there might be too much of a sacrifice on range.

 

    Keith S Gordon

  

     

  

    Life is not simple anywhere. Probably less so elsewhere.KHND RNAV Lead

  FAASTeam, Las Vegas

  NBAA Access Committee, Chairman

   Las Vegas Airspace Users' Council, NBAA Rep

   Las Vegas RNAV Optimization Work Group, NBAA Rep

   Las Vegas Class B Redesign Committee, NBAA Rep

     

  

     

  

    --

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barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 3:56 am Post subject: Turbo Commander 777?

Hi Adam,



Indeed, an interesting link.

As far as I can tell, no Commander has had Walter engines installed.

The Commander featured on the website, "N124AW", is a photoshopped

image.

That "N" number has never been Assigned to a Commander.

Again, as far as I can tell, the winglets featured have never been

used.



American West Aircraft Corp have been Registered as the owner of one

Commander though, and it's an interesting one.

It was N29DE, a 680T that had been converted to a 680V and I've

mentioned this one before on this forum.

I saw it at North Las Vegas Air Terminal on 23rd Sept 1995.

It was engineless and had "Experimental" titles.

The s/n plate had been moved and a further plate proclaimed it had

Lycoming IGSO-540-B1A engines.

American West had bought it on 19th April 1994, but they weren't

Registered as owners until 19th Sept 2002.

Although sold later to Robert Schalit, of Duncan, OK, it remained at

North Las Vegas.

Robert Schalit had died by April 2008 and it was sold via a Court

Default Judgment to Mid America Funding Co Inc., of Adrian, MO.

However, the Court paperwork indicated two zero-time since overhaul

Walters M601A engines were included.

In January 2011, the Commander was hauled off the airport and

scrapped.



The 5-blade MT props were tested on at least two Commanders, N840VB

(690C 11640) between July 2000 & August 2001 and N55JS (690A 11195)

between Jan 2004 & Oct 2006, when it was lost in an accident on it's

way, if I recall correctly, to the NBAA show that year.



Best Regards,

Barry Collman



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barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 4:13 am Post subject: Turbo Commander 777?

Hi Keith,

 

Indeed, the PT6A-20 engine was tested on a Commander but not, to the best of my knowledge, on a 680FL but on a 680T.

This was s/n 1583-35 N6523V and an Experimental CofA was issued on June 2nd 1966 and STC SA710SW issued to Swearingen on October 31st 1966.

However, the factory discovered that the exhaust heat had damaged the leading edge of the wing and subsequent investigation showed degradation of strength in the aluminum structure clear back to the front spar.

The aircraft was declared unairworthy and never flew again.

 

Best Regards,

Barry

 

From: owner-commander-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-commander-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Keith S. Gordon

Sent: 27 April 2015 02:42

To: commander-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Re: Turbo Commander 777?

 

Adam,



One of a long line up of 680 or 690 series Commander re-engine ideas that never got off the ground, at least in a figurative sense.



The original turbine match up was PT-6 engines on the 680FL airframe.  The specific range was terrible; a switch to TPE-331 series was made.



Don't know if the fuel specifics for the Walters are better than the typical PT-6.  If they're not, there might be too much of a sacrifice on range.

Keith S Gordon



 



Life is not simple anywhere. Probably less so elsewhere.

KHND RNAV Lead

FAASTeam, Las Vegas

NBAA Access Committee, Chairman

Las Vegas Airspace Users' Council, NBAA Rep

Las Vegas RNAV Optimization Work Group, NBAA Rep

Las Vegas Class B Redesign Committee, NBAA Rep



 



 



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cloudcraft(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 7:02 am Post subject: Turbo Commander 777?

Sir Barry,

 

 I was hoping you'd weigh in with some history.   Question:  If the PT-6 was installed on a 680T, then it was already a production turbine model.

 

 Swearingen was always busy modifying production aircraft, so it would make sense he would attempt a re-engine program for the rather anemic pre-Century 331 engines.

 

 Did the factory go straight to Garret engines?  I had heard, and it's probably Urban Legend, that the PT-6 was the first installation.

 

 ~KG~

    

  

     

  

    Life is not simple anywhere. Probably less so elsewhere.KHND RNAV Lead

  FAASTeam, Las Vegas

  NBAA Access Committee, Chairman

   Las Vegas Airspace Users' Council, NBAA Rep

   Las Vegas RNAV Optimization Work Group, NBAA Rep

   Las Vegas Class B Redesign Committee, NBAA Rep

     

  

     

  

    --

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stratobee

Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 159
Location: Los Angeles

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 11:57 am Post subject: Re: Turbo Commander 777?

N55JS had an inflight breakup after being overloaded 1000lbs in bad turbulence. Don't think the props contributed, but who knows. Is there a photo of it with the 5 blade MT's?

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_________________
Adam

barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 3:06 am Post subject: Turbo Commander 777?

Hi Keith,

 

As far as I’m aware, the Garrett engine was the first choice for the 680T.

Neither Ken Hale nor Bill McGinnis have mentioned any other engine being considered.

So, hopefully, the use a the PT6 was indeed Urban Legend!

 

Best Regards,

Barry

 

From: owner-commander-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-commander-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Keith S. Gordon

Sent: 27 April 2015 16:02

To: commander-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Re: Turbo Commander 777?

 

Sir Barry,



I was hoping you'd weigh in with some history.   Question:  If the PT-6 was installed on a 680T, then it was already a production turbine model.



Swearingen was always busy modifying production aircraft, so it would make sense he would attempt a re-engine program for the rather anemic pre-Century 331 engines.



Did the factory go straight to Garret engines?  I had heard, and it's probably Urban Legend, that the PT-6 was the first installation.



~KG~

 



 



Life is not simple anywhere. Probably less so elsewhere.

KHND RNAV Lead

FAASTeam, Las Vegas

NBAA Access Committee, Chairman

Las Vegas Airspace Users' Council, NBAA Rep

Las Vegas RNAV Optimization Work Group, NBAA Rep

Las Vegas Class B Redesign Committee, NBAA Rep



 



 



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barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 3:10 am Post subject: Turbo Commander 777?

Hi Adam,



If there is a shot of N55JS with the 5-blade props, then so far it's

eluded being included in my collection.



Best Regards,

Barry



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