---------------------------------------------------------- Commander-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sun 11/21/04: 14 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 07:13 AM - Re: Bendix M4 Autopilot Black Box (Jerry Sprayberry) 2. 09:16 AM - Re: Bendix M4 Autopilot Black Box (Kevin Coons) 3. 11:41 AM - New Google Project : Keyhole World Mapping (John McNulty) 4. 04:59 PM - Re: Bendix M4 Autopilot Black Box (Ray Mansfield) 5. 07:05 PM - AC at Camarillo (nico css) 6. 07:18 PM - Re: AC at Camarillo (CloudCraft@aol.com) 7. 07:44 PM - Re: AC at Camarillo (nico css) 8. 08:01 PM - Re: AC at Camarillo (CloudCraft@aol.com) 9. 08:23 PM - Re: AC at Camarillo (nico css) 10. 08:32 PM - Re: AC at Camarillo (CloudCraft@aol.com) 11. 08:42 PM - Re: AC at Camarillo (nico css) 12. 09:20 PM - Orenda Engines (CloudCraft@aol.com) 13. 09:53 PM - Re: Orenda Engines (nico css) 14. 11:12 PM - Re: Orenda Engines (RnJThompson@aol.com) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 07:13:23 AM PST US From: "Jerry Sprayberry" Subject: Re: Commander-List: Bendix M4 Autopilot Black Box --> Commander-List message posted by: "Jerry Sprayberry" Hi Ray: This is Jerry Sprayberry, Met you when you first got the 91ES, at Lafayette. About your Auto-Pilot, You sent it to the wrong place, I get my work done at Avionics Inc. in KLUK Lunken. Joe Bavis will even work with you on the Phone to trouble Shoot the System, He has kept mine going for three years, Autopilot Central that CloudCraft told you about, are very expensive and they don't know the A/P, They may have a long time ago but the people I dealt with didn't. I have Two Spares, M-4 and M-4B. Come to 9A5 and we will check it out, with Bavis on the phone, we probably can get it going. Jerry 706 857-1466 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ray Mansfield" Subject: Commander-List: Bendix M4 Autopilot Black Box > --> Commander-List message posted by: "Ray Mansfield" > > Hello, > > I'm looking for a working Bendix M4 autopilot black box. I assume it's > the main control electronics for the autopilot which in my plane is > located in the baggage compartment. > > The one I had sent to Sanford, FL for checkout has a bad internal > board. The folks there have been looking for a replacement but have, at > least to this point, not indicated they have located one. Sooo...I'm > asking you guys if anyone knows where such an animal can be had in > workding condition. > > I fly an Aero Commander 680 FLP, N91ES, out of Destin, FL, but the > autopilot has been inop since I took over the flying from another pilot. > I've finally persuaded the owner to at least have a technician look at the > thing so we can find out what's wrong. > > Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you. > > Ray Mansfield > > > ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 09:16:22 AM PST US From: "Kevin Coons" Subject: RE: Commander-List: Bendix M4 Autopilot Black Box --> Commander-List message posted by: "Kevin Coons" Jerry & Ray, Yes, Joe works on ancient autopilots. His shop is a tribute to less than modern systems. Give him a call. Be fore warned he can be crotchety at times, but they know the old equipment well. By the way his last name is Babis. Ray, if you bring your bird to KLUK give me a shout and I'll treat you to a beverage and give you the tour of Cincinnati. Kevin Coons -----Original Message----- From: owner-commander-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-commander-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Jerry Sprayberry Subject: Re: Commander-List: Bendix M4 Autopilot Black Box --> Commander-List message posted by: "Jerry Sprayberry" Hi Ray: This is Jerry Sprayberry, Met you when you first got the 91ES, at Lafayette. About your Auto-Pilot, You sent it to the wrong place, I get my work done at Avionics Inc. in KLUK Lunken. Joe Bavis will even work with you on the Phone to trouble Shoot the System, He has kept mine going for three years, Autopilot Central that CloudCraft told you about, are very expensive and they don't know the A/P, They may have a long time ago but the people I dealt with didn't. I have Two Spares, M-4 and M-4B. Come to 9A5 and we will check it out, with Bavis on the phone, we probably can get it going. Jerry 706 857-1466 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ray Mansfield" Subject: Commander-List: Bendix M4 Autopilot Black Box > --> Commander-List message posted by: "Ray Mansfield" > > Hello, > > I'm looking for a working Bendix M4 autopilot black box. I assume it's > the main control electronics for the autopilot which in my plane is > located in the baggage compartment. > > The one I had sent to Sanford, FL for checkout has a bad internal > board. The folks there have been looking for a replacement but have, at > least to this point, not indicated they have located one. Sooo...I'm > asking you guys if anyone knows where such an animal can be had in > workding condition. > > I fly an Aero Commander 680 FLP, N91ES, out of Destin, FL, but the > autopilot has been inop since I took over the flying from another pilot. > I've finally persuaded the owner to at least have a technician look at the > thing so we can find out what's wrong. > > Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you. > > Ray Mansfield > > > ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 11:41:48 AM PST US Subject: Commander-List: New Google Project : Keyhole World Mapping From: "John McNulty" --> Commander-List message posted by: "John McNulty" Hi All - I received a blurb from Google a couple of days ago about one of their new projects - this one based on the "Blue Marble" world mapping initiative. There is one-week demo version available at www.keyhole.com that I'm encouraging everyone to look at - especially pilot friends. Take a look and the benefits are obvious... if not a bit scary.... Regards all - Happy Thanksgiving John McNulty ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 04:59:59 PM PST US From: "Ray Mansfield" Subject: Re: Commander-List: Bendix M4 Autopilot Black Box --> Commander-List message posted by: "Ray Mansfield" Thanks Kevin, I don't get up that way often, my owner flies in Alabama, south Florida and N & S Carolina a lot. Sound like a good deal to keep in the back of my head. Ray M ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kevin Coons" Subject: RE: Commander-List: Bendix M4 Autopilot Black Box > --> Commander-List message posted by: "Kevin Coons" > > > Jerry & Ray, > > Yes, Joe works on ancient autopilots. His shop is a tribute to less than > modern systems. > > Give him a call. Be fore warned he can be crotchety at times, but they > know > the old equipment well. By the way his last name is Babis. > > Ray, if you bring your bird to KLUK give me a shout and I'll treat you to > a > beverage and give you the tour of Cincinnati. > > Kevin Coons > > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-commander-list-server@matronics.com > [mailto:owner-commander-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Jerry > Sprayberry > To: commander-list@matronics.com > Subject: Re: Commander-List: Bendix M4 Autopilot Black Box > > --> Commander-List message posted by: "Jerry Sprayberry" > > > Hi Ray: > > This is Jerry Sprayberry, Met you when you first got the 91ES, at > Lafayette. > > About your Auto-Pilot, You sent it to the wrong place, I get my work done > at > > Avionics Inc. in KLUK Lunken. Joe Bavis will even work with you on the > Phone to trouble Shoot the System, He has kept mine going for three years, > Autopilot Central that CloudCraft told you about, are very expensive and > they don't know the A/P, They may have a long time ago but the people I > dealt with didn't. > > I have Two Spares, M-4 and M-4B. Come to 9A5 and we will check it out, > with > > Bavis on the phone, we probably can get it going. > > Jerry 706 857-1466 > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ray Mansfield" > To: > Subject: Commander-List: Bendix M4 Autopilot Black Box > > >> --> Commander-List message posted by: "Ray Mansfield" >> >> Hello, >> >> I'm looking for a working Bendix M4 autopilot black box. I assume >> it's > >> the main control electronics for the autopilot which in my plane is >> located in the baggage compartment. >> >> The one I had sent to Sanford, FL for checkout has a bad internal >> board. The folks there have been looking for a replacement but have, at >> least to this point, not indicated they have located one. Sooo...I'm >> asking you guys if anyone knows where such an animal can be had in >> workding condition. >> >> I fly an Aero Commander 680 FLP, N91ES, out of Destin, FL, but the >> autopilot has been inop since I took over the flying from another pilot. >> I've finally persuaded the owner to at least have a technician look at >> the > >> thing so we can find out what's wrong. >> >> Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you. >> >> Ray Mansfield >> >> >> > > > ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 07:05:56 PM PST US From: "nico css" Subject: Commander-List: AC at Camarillo --> Commander-List message posted by: "nico css" I dropped into the Waypoint Cafe at Camarillo today to just quickly check what's going on while an Easter was howling and saw the distinct tail-shape of an AC behind some PC's. I braved the chilling wind and walked over to see some guys getting into N690DB, a -10 690A (with the picture window, that's an A, no?). Just as the last guy embarked I caught his attention and gave him my business card asking him to email me so I can introduce him to the list. Forgot to ask where they were heading. Pity. I waited around (in the wind) to watch them take off. Everything was quiet as they taxied out but as they flew past after take-off, three other planes started up around me, so I couldn't appreciate the flypast. Darn! As soon as I hear from them, I hope they will tell us about their flight. I searched on the Internet and saw that it's a Duncan Aviation (duncancomponents.com) plane. Is that info still current? Nico ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 07:18:17 PM PST US From: CloudCraft@aol.com Subject: Re: Commander-List: AC at Camarillo --> Commander-List message posted by: CloudCraft@aol.com In a message dated 21-Nov-04 19:06:21 Pacific Standard Time, nico@cybersuperstore.com writes: > I braved the chilling wind and walked over to see > some guys getting into N690DB, a -10 690A (with the picture window, that's > an A, no?). Nico, You're so dedicated -- standing out in the wind (and rain?) to watch a Commander take off! In the turbine Commanaders, the "picture window" belongs to the 690, 690A, B, C (called the 840) and 695 (called the 980). That's what you can set your sights on, in the field. If it was a dash 10, market economics probably makes it an A or B ... unless it was an 840, but the N number, "690," gives it away. It's an A but I had to look at the FAA's aircraft registration web site to know that. ;-) Wing Commander Gordon Life is not simple anywhere. Probably less so elsewhere. ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 07:44:22 PM PST US From: "nico css" Subject: Re: Commander-List: AC at Camarillo --> Commander-List message posted by: "nico css" Fortunately no rain, just cold. I have a few weaknesses in life. Commanders is one of them. Especially the ones with lots of horsepower. A dash 10 is just too damn cool. I dream that one day I could set up an organization that would seek, salvage and restore all Commanders. To hell with ROI. Wouldn't that be something? (If you set out to achieve something at all cost, it will cost all.) ----- Original Message ----- From: Subject: Re: Commander-List: AC at Camarillo > --> Commander-List message posted by: CloudCraft@aol.com > > In a message dated 21-Nov-04 19:06:21 Pacific Standard Time, > nico@cybersuperstore.com writes: > > > I braved the chilling wind and walked over to see > > some guys getting into N690DB, a -10 690A (with the picture window, that's > > an A, no?). > > Nico, > > You're so dedicated -- standing out in the wind (and rain?) to watch a > Commander take off! > > In the turbine Commanaders, the "picture window" belongs to the 690, 690A, B, > C (called the 840) and 695 (called the 980). That's what you can set your > sights on, in the field. > > If it was a dash 10, market economics probably makes it an A or B ... unless > it was an 840, but the N number, "690," gives it away. > > It's an A but I had to look at the FAA's aircraft registration web site to > know that. ;-) > > Wing Commander Gordon > > Life is not simple anywhere. Probably less so elsewhere. > > ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 08:01:13 PM PST US From: CloudCraft@aol.com Subject: Re: Commander-List: AC at Camarillo --> Commander-List message posted by: CloudCraft@aol.com In a message dated 21-Nov-04 19:44:50 Pacific Standard Time, nico@cybersuperstore.com writes: > I dream that one day I could set up an organization that would seek, > salvage > and restore all Commanders. To hell with ROI. Wouldn't that be something? > Well, then, when I win $138 million in the lottery, I'll have you head up that division of my empire. Your assignment is to resurrect the Orenda engine program for the 685 and 680 -F series with a budget of only $137 million. Wing Commander Gordon Life is not simple anywhere. Probably less so elsewhere. ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 08:23:29 PM PST US From: "nico css" Subject: Re: Commander-List: AC at Camarillo --> Commander-List message posted by: "nico css" Sure. We will use the other million to have fun. ----- Original Message ----- From: Subject: Re: Commander-List: AC at Camarillo > --> Commander-List message posted by: CloudCraft@aol.com > > In a message dated 21-Nov-04 19:44:50 Pacific Standard Time, > nico@cybersuperstore.com writes: > > > I dream that one day I could set up an organization that would seek, > > salvage > > and restore all Commanders. To hell with ROI. Wouldn't that be something? > > > > Well, then, when I win $138 million in the lottery, I'll have you head up > that division of my empire. > > Your assignment is to resurrect the Orenda engine program for the 685 and 680 > -F series with a budget of only $137 million. > > > Wing Commander Gordon > > Life is not simple anywhere. Probably less so elsewhere. > > ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 08:32:37 PM PST US From: CloudCraft@aol.com Subject: Re: Commander-List: AC at Camarillo --> Commander-List message posted by: CloudCraft@aol.com In a message dated 21-Nov-04 20:23:44 Pacific Standard Time, nico@cybersuperstore.com writes: > Sure. We will use the other million to have fun. Sorry. I'm keeping one million, so I can buy an airplane and go broke. Wing Commander Gordon Life is not simple anywhere. Probably less so elsewhere. ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 08:42:22 PM PST US From: "nico css" Subject: Re: Commander-List: AC at Camarillo --> Commander-List message posted by: "nico css" Why is the Orenda/AC progam stalled? It appears to be doing well in ag planes. http://www.agairupdate.com/aau/articles/2002/oct2002.html and http://www.epi-eng.com/CNV-ac685.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: Subject: Re: Commander-List: AC at Camarillo > --> Commander-List message posted by: CloudCraft@aol.com > > In a message dated 21-Nov-04 19:44:50 Pacific Standard Time, > nico@cybersuperstore.com writes: > > > I dream that one day I could set up an organization that would seek, > > salvage > > and restore all Commanders. To hell with ROI. Wouldn't that be something? > > > > Well, then, when I win $138 million in the lottery, I'll have you head up > that division of my empire. > > Your assignment is to resurrect the Orenda engine program for the 685 and 680 > -F series with a budget of only $137 million. > > > Wing Commander Gordon > > Life is not simple anywhere. Probably less so elsewhere. > > ________________________________ Message 12 ____________________________________ Time: 09:20:49 PM PST US From: CloudCraft@aol.com Subject: Commander-List: Orenda Engines --> Commander-List message posted by: CloudCraft@aol.com In a message dated 21-Nov-04 20:42:40 Pacific Standard Time, nico@cybersuperstore.com writes: > Why is the Orenda/AC progam stalled? It appears to be doing well in ag > planes. http://www.agairupdate.com/aau/articles/2002/oct2002.html > and http://www.epi-eng.com/CNV-ac685.htm Nico, That's kind of a charged topic, and I don't mean turbo charged. The articles you refer to are not very current, I'd say. The Orenda engine project and prototype was the brain child of Richard P. MacCoon (Mr. RPM) and installation started at Commander-Aero where it was beautifully executed by Gary Kromer. It flew. It was real. The whole kit and kaboodle moved to Dakota Aero of Devil's Lake, North Dakota. What happened next was ... not much. The reasons are many, as may=20be the law suits, but the bottom line is the program stalled, and Dakota Aero has closed its doors. That's the Aero Commander perspective. Running parallel (actually, a little behind Mr. RPM and Commander-Aero) was Steven's Beechcraft who was going to retrofit King Air 90s with the Orenda. That project was being run by Hugh Evans who did the Merlyn conversions on the AC-500B,U and S. (See ... Commanders are always in the mix!) Don't know why that project never got off the ground as the number of engines for that ambitious program would have easily started up the production line in Canada. The argument can be made that the next engine program to come along better be one that is based on kerosene and not Avgas, but that's not what caused the Orenda project to stop. Wing Commander Gordon Life is not simple anywhere. Probably less so elsewhere. ________________________________ Message 13 ____________________________________ Time: 09:53:41 PM PST US From: "nico css" Subject: Re: Commander-List: Orenda Engines --> Commander-List message posted by: "nico css" More in line with the new-age, common-rail diesels, I suppose. ----- Original Message ----- From: Subject: Commander-List: Orenda Engines > --> Commander-List message posted by: CloudCraft@aol.com > > In a message dated 21-Nov-04 20:42:40 Pacific Standard Time, > nico@cybersuperstore.com writes: > > > Why is the Orenda/AC progam stalled? It appears to be doing well in ag > > planes. http://www.agairupdate.com/aau/articles/2002/oct2002.html > > and http://www.epi-eng.com/CNV-ac685.htm > > Nico, > > That's kind of a charged topic, and I don't mean turbo charged. > > The articles you refer to are not very current, I'd say. > > The Orenda engine project and prototype was the brain child of Richard P. > MacCoon (Mr. RPM) and installation started at Commander-Aero where it was > beautifully executed by Gary Kromer. It flew. It was real. > > The whole kit and kaboodle moved to Dakota Aero of Devil's Lake, North > Dakota. What happened next was ... not much. The reasons are many, as may=20be the > law suits, but the bottom line is the program stalled, and Dakota Aero has > closed its doors. > > That's the Aero Commander perspective. Running parallel (actually, a little > behind Mr. RPM and Commander-Aero) was Steven's Beechcraft who was going to > retrofit King Air 90s with the Orenda. That project was being run by Hugh Evans > who did the Merlyn conversions on the AC-500B,U and S. (See ... Commanders > are always in the mix!) > > Don't know why that project never got off the ground as the number of engines > for that ambitious program would have easily started up the production line > in Canada. > > The argument can be made that the next engine program to come along better be > one that is based on kerosene and not Avgas, but that's not what caused the > Orenda project to stop. > > Wing Commander Gordon > Life is not simple anywhere. Probably less so elsewhere. > > ________________________________ Message 14 ____________________________________ Time: 11:12:03 PM PST US From: RnJThompson@aol.com Subject: Re: Commander-List: Orenda Engines --> Commander-List message posted by: RnJThompson@aol.com Hi All I spoke to Dick a while back about noise and his 685. He told me that he had been approached by the Discovery Channel who were to do a program called American Airplane. From what I can gather they were about to throw a lot of money at the project. New paint, glass cockpit, interior etc. Dick intimated that the fee would cover the certification. I believe that it is due to air some time in the middle of next year.Basically the story covers advances in the GA area. As done by those who do and not by the established suppliers , who have not had an origional thought in the last 50 years. It seems that the 500 that crashed in Tasmania a while ago did not have any structural defects. The search is now on to determine why the aircraft broke up. So the FAA and our useless mob should not have any nasty surprises for us. Hope all is well in commanderland. Regards Richard PS. I have come up with a great solution to the noise problem in augmented commanders. Will be doing noise testing on the ground in the next few weeks. Will keep all informed on the outcome.