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Greetings from Evansville

V

vdecoster

New member
I am excited to have found COG! I've been smitten with the Commander for sometime and my wife finally said the magic words, "I wish we could go faster." I've been flying for a wile, had a few planes, currently in a C172 with the Penn Yan conversion but had a Long-EZ before that. Once you go fast it's hard to go C172. We still need 4 seats, looking at other options but keep coming back to the Commander, just don't want something boring.

My big question is maintenance, typical issues with planes this age? Things to look for in a pre-buy?

If there's anyone within a few hours of Evansville, IN, I love to meet up and fly a bit in a Commander!

Blue skies,

Vaughn DeCoster
N13077, KEHR
 
Re: Greetings from Evansville

Hi Vaughn; there's a 112TC owner not too far away, just outside of STL. Allen will chime in I'm sure.

Judi
 
Re: Greetings from Evansville

Welcome Vaughn! I have a 112TC in Cincinnati. It's a bit of a drive but your more than welcome to come by and see her whenever.


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Re: Greetings from Evansville

Vaughn,

Parts are really not an issue. Maintenance is really about finding a shop that has history and experience looking after Commanders. Which is not only about the Shop, but also about the guy or girl working on your bird.

Great birds. If you plan on putting 4 standard adults and 4 hours of fuel, you might want to consider a 114. They typically have a useful load of 1100 lbs. As I'm sure you know, it's really about budget. I have owned both a 112TC and 114 and have flown at 114TC (turbo charged). All 3 aircraft a bit different. Having the additional horsepower of the IO540 makes a significant difference, not when the bird is lightly loaded (pilot and 48 gals fuel), but when you're at gross.

Jim Richards (Aerodyme) has a STC to convert an 114 IO540 to a IO580 (Super Commander). Lots of horsepower. With his other mods, he is able to make the airframe "go fast".

You'll find that the comfort level of the Commanders is entirely different than a C172. Back in the day, the factory advertised the bird as the "Mercedes" of the GA fleet. In my humble opinion, they weren't far off.

Good luck on your search. Definitely talk to Judy Anderson. She know's pretty much every bird in the Commander fleet. An excellent resource to help you find the right bird.
 
Re: Greetings from Evansville

Hi Vaughn: I'm east of St louis, maybe an hour or two shy of Ray. I'm gonna have some time off week after next, and I'd be happy to show you my plane and take you and your wife up. Wing X Pro says 100 NM, so you could drive it in 2 hours or so. Give me a call at 618-558-7897 and we can arrange something
 
Re: Greetings from Evansville

That would be great! I'd likely fly my C172, what's your home airport? I'll give you a call this weekend.

Vaughn
 
Re: Greetings from Evansville

Welcome, More then happy for you to come down and take a look. There are 2 Commanders here. Both are 112's which may not be what you are looking for in speed, but will give you an idea about the Commanders in general.
 
Re: Greetings from Evansville

janderson said:
Hi Vaughn; there's a 112TC owner not too far away, just outside of STL. Allen will chime in I'm sure.

Judi
Click to expand...

Judi ...Michael Boy is in Owensboro, even closer ... good guy. And I may be flying to Owensboro in later February.
Easy to stop by Evansville.
 
Re: Greetings from Evansville

yes, Michael Boyd is close by, Vaughn could look @ both/ then he can see what the TC does vs an early straight 112.

Judi
 
Re: Greetings from Evansville

Perfect, Owensboro is 45-minutes from where I live in Evansville. Of course, I'd drive 30 minutes to my hanger, take 15 minutes to pre-flt, for a 10 minute hop down to OWB. Please feel free to email me and we can talk specifics: flydoc@live.com

Thanks!
Vaughn
 
Re: Greetings from Evansville

I think we're better off than most.

Our common wear parts come from our DER who has a shop in Vermont.

Engine parts are still from Lycoming, not like they're hard to come by.

What we don't have is someone at the factory changing part numbers and applying a markup, like they do down at Cessna.

When I had a fuel cap assembly failure (they're somewhat elaborate spring-loaded systems on later model Commanders) I got two whole new assemblies made of stainless rather than the factory's rusty metal for 200 dollars. About the same time I ran into a guy in a Saratoga that had Piper charge him 700 dollars for two caps after he lost one....

You're gonna be doing some of your own parts hunting, Google-fu with parts manuals is a requirement. But you know what? Unless you like paying 6 grand for fuel pumps that's a requirement with any airplane. Most of the dos and don'ts from people about owning airplanes are from people with little experience owning and maintaining one. If I were buying another piston single engine airplane today, it would be another Commander. Better yet I'd buy two of them instead of the Bonanza or 206 from the same year for the same price, and keep the second in a leaky shed for parts. Then the parts debate can kiss my ass ;).
 
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Re: Greetings from Evansville

RNC said:
Better yet I'd buy two of them instead of the Bonanza or 206 from the same year for the same price, and keep the second in a leaky shed for parts. Then the parts debate can kiss my ass ;).
Click to expand...


You're awesome Neal!



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Re: Greetings from Evansville

That's a great summary Neal. We should have you do the new-owner orientation workshop at the next fly-in. haha
 
Re: Greetings from Evansville

Hey Judi! Yes Michael Boyd is in Owensboro. Plus I am in Owensboro every other week with 24D for work at the hospital. Let me know if I can help.


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