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Commander in the September 21 Plane and Pilot
- Thread starter Kanderson
- Start date
Longview TX
- Aircraft Year
- 1995
- Aircraft Type
- 114B/115
- Reg Number
- N6105U
- Serial Number
- 14625
I saw that - and thought it was a great and fair analysis of the plane. In fact all five of the planes.
I think the basic Commander airframe would do well in today's market with 300+ HP. I have always thought that the Cirrus SR22 put the nail in the coffin in the new Commander company as well as put a serious hurt on the Beech Bonanza, Cessna 182/206, and Piper Saratoga / 6X.
Parachute had something to do with it but also superior marketing. Still, the AC11 airframe is a great platform to build a modern single engine piston. Will be interesting to see how the two new retractable entrants do - the Diamond DA50RG and the Pipestral Panthera.
Of course I am not sure how anyone makes a convincing business plan for a single engine piston high performance airplane anymore. Talk about a small, niche market.
I think the basic Commander airframe would do well in today's market with 300+ HP. I have always thought that the Cirrus SR22 put the nail in the coffin in the new Commander company as well as put a serious hurt on the Beech Bonanza, Cessna 182/206, and Piper Saratoga / 6X.
Parachute had something to do with it but also superior marketing. Still, the AC11 airframe is a great platform to build a modern single engine piston. Will be interesting to see how the two new retractable entrants do - the Diamond DA50RG and the Pipestral Panthera.
Of course I am not sure how anyone makes a convincing business plan for a single engine piston high performance airplane anymore. Talk about a small, niche market.
Toronto, Ontario
- Aircraft Year
- 1998
- Aircraft Type
- 114B/115
- Reg Number
- C-GODZ
- Serial Number
- 14659
Stephen,
When Cirrus started out, I would expect that their business plan did not see over 8,000 airframes sold and the expansion into Jets. The trick is to have visionary capitalists willing to make the investment and take the risk and execute well.
When Cirrus started out, I would expect that their business plan did not see over 8,000 airframes sold and the expansion into Jets. The trick is to have visionary capitalists willing to make the investment and take the risk and execute well.
Longview TX
- Aircraft Year
- 1995
- Aircraft Type
- 114B/115
- Reg Number
- N6105U
- Serial Number
- 14625
I get that, but if you do the math for how many airplanes they sell each year and estimate what their GPM might be, I don't see how they cash flow. And I think that is precisely why they are now owned by the Chinese as are Commander and Mooney.
The numbers just don't generate much of an EBITDA from what I can imagine.
fia
New member
Herning, Denmark
- Aircraft Type
- Other
I flew the new Diamond DA50RG a few days ago - OMG - I just love my Commander even more.
The DA50 is nice and new, has the 300HP (270HP MCP) Diesel we all want, but is to heavy with 4400lbs and has too small tanks with only 50USG so mediocre performance. No match for the 114TC in speed, range, climb and landing performance. Very stable in flight though, but that is not enough.
If somebody would install the CD-300 engine in a Commander - yes that could be close to perfect, but it is 100lbs too heavy.
The DA50 is nice and new, has the 300HP (270HP MCP) Diesel we all want, but is to heavy with 4400lbs and has too small tanks with only 50USG so mediocre performance. No match for the 114TC in speed, range, climb and landing performance. Very stable in flight though, but that is not enough.
If somebody would install the CD-300 engine in a Commander - yes that could be close to perfect, but it is 100lbs too heavy.