Hello everyone I am new to the forum and I am here to try to learn more about the commander 114/114B aircraft as I am thinking of maybe purchasing one next year after I get my ifr rating and maybe even commercial, I am currently at 164 hrs total time so getting more rating might help with insurance cost. Thank you in advance for sharing your knowledge with me. .
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New guy
- Thread starter Sixstring2k
- Start date
Ocean City, MD
- Aircraft Year
- 1976
- Aircraft Type
- 112/A
- Reg Number
- N453TC
- Serial Number
- 453
Kelvin,
Welcome to the group! This is the place for info and just about anything else Commander. When you are ready to look make sure you contact Judi Anderson at Suncoast Aviation. Judi knows most of these aircraft and always provides excellent help and great info.
Welcome to the group! This is the place for info and just about anything else Commander. When you are ready to look make sure you contact Judi Anderson at Suncoast Aviation. Judi knows most of these aircraft and always provides excellent help and great info.
Quest4Air
New member
Caldwell, OH
- Aircraft Year
- 1976
- Aircraft Type
- 112TC
- Reg Number
- N4605W
- Serial Number
- 13095
Well you came to the right place “new guy” …. the Commander Owners are some of the best people I’ve run across in aviation and one of the best parts of Commander Ownership is this group/forum and the people that make it up.
As a fairly “new guy” (bought my Commander in May 2021) …It’s hard to explain how great everyone out here is and how willing they are to share their knowledge, friendship, time, and even parts with one another ….to levels that are so rare to find these days.
An “old guy” told me before I went to New Zeland back in 2008 that going there was like going back to the 1950’s … seeing as I was born early 70’s I didn’t really know what he meant until I got there and saw the cleanliness, met the people, understood the complete lack of a need for “security” at an airport ..there was NONE ..or crime (or even littering even when no trash cans were anywhere to be found or anything like that..) ….the openness and trusting nature of the people …so on and so on …it was literally like living in Leave-it-to-Beaver Episode…
Well … that’s how I’d explain being a commander owner and being part of this group of fantastic people …. it’s like going back to the 50’s …in the way they share, help, treat one another, and so on …
To say I love my Commander 112-TC (I fly 250-350 hours per year in it) … is an understatement ..I LOVE It and will probably own it for as long as I can/am allowed to fly! But I had no idea how much better ownership and the entire experience was gonna be when I bought it as a result of the folks out here/commander.org … and how much faster I’d be able to get it fixed when it needed, how much money I would save in the process, and how much time..and..time..and time…. I wouldn’t have to spend researching causes/solutions, or part #’s or anything else you could think of … as a result of these wonderful people out here!
You can’t go wrong with choosing a commander as your 4 place single …and you definitely can’t go wrong by being part of this group!
Welcome …
Where are you based out of? Have you flown or flown in a commander yet?
If not ..let us know where you are out of and I’m sure someone will take you up in one …. and invite you to be part of this little cult-like ownership experience that we are all part of!!
Welcome to the group. My Advice. Don’t wait … get one as soon as you can and start enjoying it now.
And as far as airplane insurance … going down goes (I REALIZE THIS NEXT STATEMENT IS ASININE ..but for me it was true this year) with an IFR rating …..
I’ve always heard that … and this year I was suppose to complete my checkride before my insurance renewed, so I had Jenny quote my renewal policy with the IFR rating and updated hours and such …. TO MY DISMAY … they quoted me $700 MORE PER YEAR with my IFR than without (no policy changes, same carrier as year before, no incidents or anything, ONLY the addition of my IFR Cert) ….
At first I thought it must just be another annual big price hike, until I called jenny back and said WTF ??? Just for my peace of mind, put it back through with just my Private / NO IFR ..tell them my checkride got rescheduled and see what they say.
It came back $750 cheaper ….which was almost exactly what the premium was the previous year.
Trying to predict what an airplane insurance company will do …is a waste of time from what I’ve seen. Don’t wait for more licenses to get your commander …in my case at least … the IFR wasn’t gonna change anything other than INCREASING IT.
And I realize people will likely say …no ..no …that can’t be right. But that’s exactly what happened. So I pushed my checkride out, and renewed it with just VFR …
Since then I’ve been told it WILL GO DOWN once I get my commercial… and I’m sure that’s probably true …however i was also told dozens of time before that … IT WILL GO DOWN when I get my IFR ..and that was the opposite of true this time.
Anyway ….
Just a fun (more like asinine …) story for you about “Insurance going down with IFR”
Kind regards,
Phil
As a fairly “new guy” (bought my Commander in May 2021) …It’s hard to explain how great everyone out here is and how willing they are to share their knowledge, friendship, time, and even parts with one another ….to levels that are so rare to find these days.
An “old guy” told me before I went to New Zeland back in 2008 that going there was like going back to the 1950’s … seeing as I was born early 70’s I didn’t really know what he meant until I got there and saw the cleanliness, met the people, understood the complete lack of a need for “security” at an airport ..there was NONE ..or crime (or even littering even when no trash cans were anywhere to be found or anything like that..) ….the openness and trusting nature of the people …so on and so on …it was literally like living in Leave-it-to-Beaver Episode…
Well … that’s how I’d explain being a commander owner and being part of this group of fantastic people …. it’s like going back to the 50’s …in the way they share, help, treat one another, and so on …
To say I love my Commander 112-TC (I fly 250-350 hours per year in it) … is an understatement ..I LOVE It and will probably own it for as long as I can/am allowed to fly! But I had no idea how much better ownership and the entire experience was gonna be when I bought it as a result of the folks out here/commander.org … and how much faster I’d be able to get it fixed when it needed, how much money I would save in the process, and how much time..and..time..and time…. I wouldn’t have to spend researching causes/solutions, or part #’s or anything else you could think of … as a result of these wonderful people out here!
You can’t go wrong with choosing a commander as your 4 place single …and you definitely can’t go wrong by being part of this group!
Welcome …
Where are you based out of? Have you flown or flown in a commander yet?
If not ..let us know where you are out of and I’m sure someone will take you up in one …. and invite you to be part of this little cult-like ownership experience that we are all part of!!
Welcome to the group. My Advice. Don’t wait … get one as soon as you can and start enjoying it now.
And as far as airplane insurance … going down goes (I REALIZE THIS NEXT STATEMENT IS ASININE ..but for me it was true this year) with an IFR rating …..
I’ve always heard that … and this year I was suppose to complete my checkride before my insurance renewed, so I had Jenny quote my renewal policy with the IFR rating and updated hours and such …. TO MY DISMAY … they quoted me $700 MORE PER YEAR with my IFR than without (no policy changes, same carrier as year before, no incidents or anything, ONLY the addition of my IFR Cert) ….
At first I thought it must just be another annual big price hike, until I called jenny back and said WTF ??? Just for my peace of mind, put it back through with just my Private / NO IFR ..tell them my checkride got rescheduled and see what they say.
It came back $750 cheaper ….which was almost exactly what the premium was the previous year.
Trying to predict what an airplane insurance company will do …is a waste of time from what I’ve seen. Don’t wait for more licenses to get your commander …in my case at least … the IFR wasn’t gonna change anything other than INCREASING IT.
And I realize people will likely say …no ..no …that can’t be right. But that’s exactly what happened. So I pushed my checkride out, and renewed it with just VFR …
Since then I’ve been told it WILL GO DOWN once I get my commercial… and I’m sure that’s probably true …however i was also told dozens of time before that … IT WILL GO DOWN when I get my IFR ..and that was the opposite of true this time.
Anyway ….
Just a fun (more like asinine …) story for you about “Insurance going down with IFR”
Kind regards,
Phil
Quest4Air
New member
Caldwell, OH
- Aircraft Year
- 1976
- Aircraft Type
- 112TC
- Reg Number
- N4605W
- Serial Number
- 13095
Oh yeah …don’t waste your time shopping on your own …. Judi literally seems to know everything about every commander that …IS or ever WAS … and then some!
Georgetown, DE
- Aircraft Year
- 1975
- Aircraft Type
- 112-390
- Reg Number
- N1410J
- Serial Number
- 410
Phil,
My premium went up when I got my IFR rating and stayed flat with the commercial ticket. As explained to me, the logic (and data) used by the actuaries indicate that a pilot is more likely to have an claim when a) more hours are flown and b) the conditions said hours are flown in. Kind of makes sense in a counter intuitive way to a pilot. Seems a bit zero sum as one gets more competent with the advanced ratings but then will more likely be flying longer hours in and out of the crud. Plus, airplanes break more??
So, I wouldn’t get your hopes up for the commercial ticket lowering your insurance costs. Others may have different experiences from mine and it would be interesting to hear. Age may have been a factor (IFR rating around age 30 but got my commercial at 55 or so) but who knows.
BTW, I’ve never had a claim and have no red marks on my record to influence my premiums.
FWIW…
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Quest4Air
New member
Caldwell, OH
- Aircraft Year
- 1976
- Aircraft Type
- 112TC
- Reg Number
- N4605W
- Serial Number
- 13095
Phil,
My premium went up when I got my IFR rating and stayed flat with the commercial ticket. As explained to me, the logic (and data) used by the actuaries indicate that a pilot is more likely to have an claim when a) more hours are flown and b) the conditions said hours are flown in. Kind of makes sense in a counter intuitive way to a pilot. Seems a bit zero sum as one gets more competent with the advanced ratings but then will more likely be flying longer hours in and out of the crud. Plus, airplanes break more??
So, I wouldn’t get your hopes up for the commercial ticket lowering your insurance costs. Others may have different experiences from mine and it would be interesting to hear. Age may have been a factor (IFR rating around age 30 but got my commercial at 55 or so) but who knows.
BTW, I’ve never had a claim and have no red marks on my record to influence my premiums.
FWIW…
Ha .. Well that sounds about right
… no Discounts for desperate airplane owners who have to pay for their annuals also Well I appreciate the heads up .. I wasn’t holding my breath on the Commercial ticket lowering it after the IFR experience …. I learned quite a while ago that guessing at what an airplane insurance company will/won’t care about. ..or what the “reason” is for anything … is about as productive as jumping out of the commander with now parachute
Luckily, I was just getting my commercial ticket …to keep advancing/learning, etc …. so no harm / no foul if my insurance stays the same or goes up
Thanks for sharing!!!
Phil
Hello I am currently based out of 39N I am in a partnership on a pa28-181, love the plane but I am a big guy so a comfortable ride and load carrying is important to me. This what my search has led me to but I have yet to seat in a commander, I was thinking of looking at one maybe after I get ifr rating, the 2 doors is very attractive to me and my wife.
My current train of thought is after I get my instrument rating get some insurance quotes, any recommendations on who to speak to I would appreciate it.
thank you.
Thank you for the advice and I will definitely think about it, what got me in search of my plane is that the partnership I am in is set to be dissolved and the plane sold next summer so it got me thinking of my wants and family needs, I am in my late 40s and I a, hoping my next plane is the one I stick with for rest of my flying.
Quest4Air
New member
Caldwell, OH
- Aircraft Year
- 1976
- Aircraft Type
- 112TC
- Reg Number
- N4605W
- Serial Number
- 13095
Well Like I said … you can’t go wrong with a commander. Especially if you are a big guy
I don’t think there is any other four seat single that comes close to being rival to the commanders with their two doors, and extensive/impressive headroom, legroom, space between seats (center console in the front, flip down arm rest between them in the back) and comfort as cross country 4 seat single …
I don’t think you could hope to do any better than a commander …but then again ..I am one of these cult-like-commander-owners …of which I spoke
I’d recommend a 112-TC / 114 / 114TC / 115 for your “LIFER” Airplane … but a 112 with the RCM turbo normalization is also equivalent …. I love having the turbo and being able to get above weather alotta days I otherwise couldn’t!
I’m sure there are some commander folks over your way, but if not …and you get serious about it …lemme know and I’ll fly over and take you up in mine! It’s about 2hr 45min from here to there in my 112-TC. But if you throw a post up here sometime saying you are looking/interested …and looking for a ride in one …you’ll get plenty of people either in your area that are willing, or that are passing through the area on a trip that are willing/happy to take you up and show you why we love our commanders!!
And as Gary said above …Judi Anderson at Suncoast Aviation … is THE starting point with all things Commander. She knows more about every commander out there that seems feasible for one person to know
I don’t think there is any other four seat single that comes close to being rival to the commanders with their two doors, and extensive/impressive headroom, legroom, space between seats (center console in the front, flip down arm rest between them in the back) and comfort as cross country 4 seat single …
I don’t think you could hope to do any better than a commander …but then again ..I am one of these cult-like-commander-owners …of which I spoke
I’d recommend a 112-TC / 114 / 114TC / 115 for your “LIFER” Airplane … but a 112 with the RCM turbo normalization is also equivalent …. I love having the turbo and being able to get above weather alotta days I otherwise couldn’t!
I’m sure there are some commander folks over your way, but if not …and you get serious about it …lemme know and I’ll fly over and take you up in mine! It’s about 2hr 45min from here to there in my 112-TC. But if you throw a post up here sometime saying you are looking/interested …and looking for a ride in one …you’ll get plenty of people either in your area that are willing, or that are passing through the area on a trip that are willing/happy to take you up and show you why we love our commanders!!
And as Gary said above …Judi Anderson at Suncoast Aviation … is THE starting point with all things Commander. She knows more about every commander out there that seems feasible for one person to know
Well Like I said … you can’t go wrong with a commander. Especially if you are a big guy
I don’t think there is any other four seat single that comes close to being rival to the commanders with their two doors, and extensive/impressive headroom, legroom, space between seats (center console in the front, flip down arm rest between them in the back) and comfort as cross country 4 seat single …
I don’t think you could hope to do any better than a commander …but then again ..I am one of these cult-like-commander-owners …of which I spoke
I’d recommend a 112-TC / 114 / 114TC / 115 for your “LIFER” Airplane … but a 112 with the RCM turbo normalization is also equivalent …. I love having the turbo and being able to get above weather alotta days I otherwise couldn’t!
I’m sure there are some commander folks over your way, but if not …and you get serious about it …lemme know and I’ll fly over and take you up in mine! It’s about 2hr 45min from here to there in my 112-TC. But if you throw a post up here sometime saying you are looking/interested …and looking for a ride in one …you’ll get plenty of people either in your area that are willing, or that are passing through the area on a trip that are willing/happy to take you up and show you why we love our commanders!!
And as Gary said above …Judi Anderson at Suncoast Aviation … is THE starting point with all things Commander. She knows more about every commander out there that seems feasible for one person to know
Thank you all being so welcoming.
mrcshbs
New member
Spirit of Saint Louis, MO
- Aircraft Year
- 1973
- Aircraft Type
- 112/A
- Reg Number
- N1102J
- Serial Number
- 102
Well Like I said … you can’t go wrong with a commander. Especially if you are a big guy
I don’t think there is any other four seat single that comes close to being rival to the commanders with their two doors, and extensive/impressive headroom, legroom, space between seats (center console in the front, flip down arm rest between them in the back) and comfort as cross country 4 seat single …
I don’t think you could hope to do any better than a commander …but then again ..I am one of these cult-like-commander-owners …of which I spoke
I’d recommend a 112-TC / 114 / 114TC / 115 for your “LIFER” Airplane … but a 112 with the RCM turbo normalization is also equivalent …. I love having the turbo and being able to get above weather alotta days I otherwise couldn’t!
I’m sure there are some commander folks over your way, but if not …and you get serious about it …lemme know and I’ll fly over and take you up in mine! It’s about 2hr 45min from here to there in my 112-TC. But if you throw a post up here sometime saying you are looking/interested …and looking for a ride in one …you’ll get plenty of people either in your area that are willing, or that are passing through the area on a trip that are willing/happy to take you up and show you why we love our commanders!!
And as Gary said above …Judi Anderson at Suncoast Aviation … is THE starting point with all things Commander. She knows more about every commander out there that seems feasible for one person to know
Kevin, I second to that. Judi is the way to go.
The 114 or the TC are great planes and have more useful load... the 112(A) series is pretty much a two person + 60 lbs luggage + full fuel airplane. The 112B has a little more gross weight if you don't want the 6 jugs. My 112 fits my mission well and I fly over the US. If you're going to fly in the mountains, plan carefully and get Foreflight performance plus.