Photograph:
Aero Commander Lark Commander VH-BFL (c/n 5024) at Essendon, VIC (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States Of America
Description:
Four-seat light cabin monoplane
Power Plant:
One 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-360-A2F four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.67 m (35 ft)
- Length: 7.59 m (24 ft 11 in)
- Height: 3.07 m (10 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 16.72 m² (180 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 222 km/h (138 mph)
- Max cruising speed at 75% power at 2,285 m (7,500 ft): 212 km/h (132 mph)
- Stalling speed flaps down: 97 km/h (60 mph)
- Rate of climb at sea level: 228 m/min (750 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,960 m (13,000 ft)
- Range at max cruising speed with standard fuel, no reserves: 845 km (525 miles)
- Empty weight: 657 kg (1,450 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,110 kg (2,450 lb)
History:
As noted with the Darter Commander, in May 1968 a re-design of this series of aircraft took place and a new model known as the Model 100/180 Lark Commander was released onto the market. This was a new four-seat high-performance single-engine business/sport/trainer aircraft intended for the sportsman, private pilot who flies at weekends, and businessman who flies his aircraft on a regular basis. Particular emphasis was placed on the ability to operate the aircraft from rough airstrips.
The basic airframe was similar to the Darter Commander but, other than the more powerful engine, it had a swept tailfin and rudder rather than the forward-swept tail of the Darter Commander. It also had several detail refinements and a deluxe cabin interior trim. Construction was similar to the Darter Commander. It was also fitted with a non-retractable tricycle-type undercarriage and a forward-hinged door on each side of the cabin. A separate baggage compartment door was fitted on the port side.
Two Lark Commanders have appeared on the Australian register over the years, VH-BFL (c/n 5024) and VH-EXM (c/n 5064). These aircraft were withdrawn from use in April 1986 and January 1976 respectively but are believed to survive in storage. As with the Darter Commander, production concluded in early 1971 and no further aircraft have been imported. In later years the manufacturing rights were obtained by a German company which indicated it proposed to put the type back into production using either 134 kw (180 hp) or 175 kw (235 hp) engines but it is not believed any examples have been produced.