COMMANDER 115 FEATURES - Airframe

Construction Methods
Commander construction combines Computer-Aided-Design, precision tooling, and skilled craftsmen to produce the highest quality construction of any single engine aircraft. All aluminum components are individually conversion coated, or zinc-chromated, for superior corrosion protection. Only the finest manufacturers are selected to provide vendor components. Fit and finish are superb; the result of strict design tolerances and extensive quality control.

Structural Integrity
The Commander has one of the most structurally robust airframes in general aviation. The aircraft was certified to FAR Part 23, which has safe-life, fail-safe requirements and higher gust load margins not found on older designs. The Commander airframe has countless hours of flight experience to its credit, with a demonstrated history of rugged durability.

Doors
The Commander has two all-metal, double-latching cabin doors with large portals designed to allow rapid and easy entry/exits for both front and rear passengers. Each door has three latch points. The center and lower latches are bayonet style pins which extend into receptacles in the door frame in the latched position. A sliding metal pin (located at the aft end of the arm rest on the right door) may be used to lock the door from the inside.

Exterior door handles are recessed with a key operated lock located in the pilot's entrance door. The doors are engineered to be pulled-shut, eliminating any need for slamming like some other aircraft door designs. Dual latching mechanisms provide the door with better sealing capabilities, thus eliminating unwanted air leaks through the door frames and seals. Two cabin doors allow occupants to safely exit from either side of the fuselage should there be a need to exit the aircraft quickly. top

Fuselage/Cabin Design
The 115's "squared-oval" fuselage cross-section provides plenty of head/leg room for students and instructors, with spacious cabin dimensions of 47 inches wide by 49 inches in height. The fuselage is an all-metal, semi-monocoque construction, completely corrosion-proofed and painted with a urethane epoxy. The Commander's cabin is designed to carry four large people in luxurious comfort.

The cabin width is an impressive 47 inches in both front and back, providing unequaled side-to-side cabin space. Head room is exceptional in all four seats, easily accommodating tall passengers without contacting the headliner. Leg room is comparable to the finest four seat luxury sedans. top

Landing Gear
An exceptional feature of the Commander is the rugged design of the 'Trailing-Link' landing gear, which provides additional cushion for imperfect touchdowns (large cylinder design helps to absorb the landing load, strong bracing absorbs side loads). The gear is overbuilt to most industry standards and resembles gear more likely found on many aircraft carrier planes.

The wide-stance gear (with a gear track of almost 12 feet) makes for straight tracking while taxiing and helps convey a stable, large airplane feel. It is an electro-hydraulically operated, tricycle configuration with a steerable nose wheel controlled by a cable-pulley system. The gear retracts in six seconds, and is held in the "up" position by hydraulic pressure of 1,650 lbs. per square inch. The gear system has been tested to 33,000 cycles and has no limitations on cycles per hour.

The Commander is equipped with a hydraulic power supply unit containing a reversible electric motor-driven hydraulic pump, fluid reservoir, pressure control valves, thermal relief valve and a gear up check valve. The hydraulic power pack is located in the left forward area of the aft fuselage section, and is used to actuate the retractable landing gear.

The landing gear incorporates a back-up 'free fall' system allowing the gear to drop by gravity within 2-3 seconds, assisted by down springs. Back-up gear extensions may be practiced repeatedly without special service. The landing gear switch is located in easy reach of the pilot, with gear status lights located adjacent to the activator switch. top

Baggage Compartment
The baggage compartment is located aft of the rear seating and provides a spacious 22 cubic feet of storage with a generous allowable weight limit of 200 lbs. The baggage compartment is accessed by a large, all-metal door located on the left side of the airplane. The door is equipped with a strong latch assembly, plus a keyed rotary-type lock. It easily accommodates large bags. top

Wing
The wing is located at the center of the aft seating, creating a wider C.G. range. Large single-slotted flaps produce extra lift and a lower stalling speed. A steel torque tube connects the flaps, ensuring no possibility of an asymmetrical (split flap) flap configuration. Flaps are electrically operated through a range of 10º - 35º, which is indicated on the instrument panel mounted flap gauge. top

Equipment Compartment
Aircraft system components including the battery, hydraulic power pack, built-in oxygen tank, and avionics boxes are located in the rear equipment compartment of the aircraft. The battery and hydraulic power pack can be reached quickly through a large access panel. Removal of the rear interior close-out panel provide ready access to the entire equipment compartment when necessary. top

Cruciform Tail
The distinctive horizontal stabilizer/elevator combination is located above the airflow from the wing, eliminating most pitch changes induced by gear and flap extension. A seven degree wing dihedral enhances directional stability and responsiveness. top