Today's Message Index:
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0. 12:33 AM - November is Matronics Email List Fund Raiser Month! (Matt Dralle)
1. 01:44 AM - Re: Engine Analyzer (Robert S. Randazzo)
2. 05:14 AM - Commander 685... great aircraft or great challenge? (Rod Douglas)
3. 06:05 AM - Re: Commander 685... great aircraft or great challenge? (N395V)
Message 0
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| Subject: | November is Matronics Email List Fund Raiser Month! |
Dear Listers,
You've probably noticed that there are no banner ads or pop-up windows or spam
from any of the List and Forum services at Matronics. These include, for example:
The Email List Postings - http://www.matronics.com/listbrowse
The Email List Forum Site - http://forums.matronics.com
The List Wiki - http://wiki.matronics.com
The List Search Engine - http://www.matronics.com/search
This is because I have always enjoyed a List experience that was completely about
the sport we enjoy - airplanes - and not about advertising!
But running a high performance, highly available service like this isn't free and
a fair amount of money in terms of computer upgrades, business-class Internet
connectivity, and electricity. Consequently, many similar sites turn to advertising
to support these costs. Advertising that you have to look at each and
every time you read an email message or browse the their web site.
Rather than subject my List community to another constant commercial bombardment,
I have chosen to hold a PBS-like fund raiser each year in November to support
the continued operation and upgrade of the List services. It's solely through
the Contributions of List members that the Lists and Forums continue to be
possible!
During the month, I will be sending out a Fund Raiser reminder message every few
days and I ask for your patience and understanding during the month throughout
these regular messages. Think of them as PBS' Pledge Breaks... :-)
To minimize the impact of the Fund Raiser on the List community, I implemented
a new feature late last year specifically related to making Contributions. If
you are an Email List subscriber, once you make a Contribution using the online
web site, you will no longer receive the email from me regarding the Fund Raiser!
There are a couple of exceptions to this, however. If someone replies
to a Contribution message I've sent, you might receive that. Additionally, the
messages will always be posted to the Forums site. To a first order, however,
once you make a Contribution, you won't get my email messages about the Fund
Raiser for the rest of the month. For Contributions by check, the squelch
will take effect once the check is received.
There is a whole new line up of really great Contribution gifts this year! When
you make a qualifying Contribution, you can select one of the many free gifts
that are available during the Fund Raiser. These gifts are provided through
the generous support of a number of our industry's leading supporters including:
Bob Nuckolls - AeroElectric - http://www.aeroelectric.com
Andy Gold - Builder's Bookstore - http://www.buildersbooks.com
Jon Croke - HomebuiltHELP - http://www.homebuilthelp.com
Please visit these guy's respective sites, as they have some great products to
offer and are generously supporting the Matronics List Fund Raiser.
You can make your List Contribution using any one of three secure methods this
year including using a credit card, PayPal, or by personal check. From the Contribution
site, you can select any one of this year's free gifts with a qualifying
Contribution amount. The Contribution page is pretty loooonnnnng this year
in order to list great selection of great gifts available so be sure to scroll
all the way to the bottom of the web page to see everything that's available!
Please make a List Support Contribution:
http://www.matronics.com/contribution
I would like to thank everyone in advance for their generous support! Your Contributions
truely keep this operation afloat!
Thank you,
Matt Dralle
Matronics Email List Forum Administrator
Message 1
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Guys-
We installed a Gemini in N414C, and I've found it to be a superb instrument.
We obtained it at a heavy discount through a personal contact- and after a
brief seven hours of flight time in the airplane- I can't imagine not having
had one installed before. The one down side to the instrument is that they
married themselves to a data extraction tool that effectively became
outmoded a while back- but they haven't taken it out of their literature
yet- so all the data logging I was hoping for has not materialized.
In this respect I wish we'd gotten the JPI- as the data logging functions on
that device still work.
As for the operation and functionality of the instrument- I think very
highly of it!
We're currently discussing having one installed on the SNJ. It may be smart
to wait for the next engine overhaul, however.
Robert S. Randazzo
From: owner-commander-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-commander-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of MASON
CHEVAILLIER
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:46 PM
Subject: RE: Commander-List: Engine Analyzer
rd, one unit per side has worked out well. mason to see commander aero
install google 2001M
_____
> Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:26:12 -0700
> From: john@vormbaum.com
> To: commander-list@matronics.com
> Subject: Re: Commander-List: Engine Analyzer
>
>
> Hi Randy,
>
> I had the JPI EDM-760 Twin engine analyzer put in my airplane last year.
> It cost ~$5k IIRC, and it's worth every penny. You could do it for less,
> but I added on the optional fuel totalizer, and I love it. The JPI is a
> very capable unit (moreso than the EI units I compared them to) and I
> really like the software that comes with it, allowing you to download
> all your flight history & engine behavior.
>
> I HIGHLY recommend it. If nothing else, it'll pay for itself in fuel in
> a few years.
>
> /John
>
>
> MASON CHEVAILLIER wrote:
> > rd, i have found the JPI units to be very helpful on three different
> > aircraft. mason
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > From: rcdettmer@charter.net
> > To: commander-list@matronics.com
> > Subject: Commander-List: Engine Analyzer
> > Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:40:52 -0700
> >
> > I am looking at installing an engine analyzer on my 680F when I
> > hang the re-built engines in several weeks. Any advice out there
> > on recommended systems and prices..?? John Vormbaum, I believe
> > that you had a system installed on your 500B. What system was it
> > and how much did it cost..?? I am also interested in any advice
> > from you experienced geared Commander guys about recommended
> > procedures for breaking in and operating the new engines. You can
> > believe that I will want to be VERY conservative in treating those
> > engines with TLC. Thanks.
> >
> >
> >
> > Randy Dettmer, AIA
> >
> > 680F / N6253X
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > *663 Hill Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405*
> >
> > *805 541 4864 / Fax 805 541 4865*
> >
> > *http://www.dettmerarchitecture.com/***
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > __________ NOD32 2521 (20070911) Information __________
>
>
>
>
__________ NOD32 2630 (20071031) Information __________
Message 2
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| Subject: | Commander 685... great aircraft or great challenge? |
G'day,
I'm looking for some guidance from the wise council that seems to wander
these halls. I'm an Aussie who is looking at buying a 685.
There is only one 685 on the Australian register and I have to say that
the LAME's down here are scathing about a whole range of things in
regard to the aircraft. I have about 50 hours in the more common twin
commanders and really liked the experience. My flying has changed and I
decided that I wanted to upgrade to a pressurised twin. I thought I'd
end up in a C340 or 414. Then I came across the 685. It looks good on
paper. The price is good. I can afford ( I think) to maintain it
properly. Then I started talking to the LAME's and the brokers. Here's
what they told me:
1. It's the heaviest commander and does carry enough load to be
used in charter.
2. The geared engines never go to TBO, are near impossible to
manage effectively in the 685 and will cost you a fortune if you can
find the parts to overhaul.
3. Parts for the airframe are difficult if not impossible to get.
4. The spar inspection is incredibly costly, must be done every 3
years and if corrosion is found will cost $100k + to fix.
5. The list of AD's is ludicrously long and getting longer.
Now there is a fair chance that my friendly experts may - 1. Never have
seen a 685. 2. Almost certainly never have worked on one. 3. Don't like
pressurised or turbo charged aircraft because in Australia we don't have
mountains or weather to justify it. I on the other hand have spent the
past several years flying a Mooney TLS around and really valueing the
capacity to get above what little weather we have and certainly out of
the summer chop that gets generated by our wide hot land.
So I'm hoping that someone who has owned and flown 685 can set me
straight and give me some encouragement to believe that it would be my
ideal aircraft. With 5 young kids I could see myself exploring the
world for the next 10 years in a long legged comfortable pressurised
twin.
Warmly,
Rod Douglas
PS... I don't know if he was part of this community but the Aero
Commanders greatest advocate in Australia was a guy named Steve Knott.
Steve had a fleet of 26 commanders of various persuasions'. He
introduced me to the Aero Commander and most of my time flying them was
in his aircraft. Steve was unfortunately killed with one of his pilots
when the Commander they were flying flew into terrain in bad weather a
couple of months ago. Steve was a difficult character but a great guy
who believed in the Aero Commander and aviation in Australia. Vale Steve
Knott.
Rod Douglas MBA FAICD
CEO
Successystems Pty Ltd
'Plethora'
32b Jardine Road
Beechmont Qld 4211
(P) 07 55 333 222
(F) 07 55 333 012
(M) 0409 55 3335
Message 3
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| Subject: | Re: Commander 685... great aircraft or great challenge? |
Rod,
I guarantee your experts have never flown or owned a 685 Commander.
It is all hogwash.
It is a wonderful plane. I owned and flew one for quite a while and loved it. The
engines will make or exceed TBO if you are nice to them. They may require a
a few cylinders around 900 to 1000 hrs. but the bottom end of the engine is rock
solid.
It does require a bit of runway for take off but it is a 9,000# gross weight airplane.
It will perform to the book numbers if you fly it by the book.
It is not dangerous and it is a sheer joy to fly.
It does like to drink fuel but in return you get pressurised comfort in the flight
levels at 200+Knots.
I owned N414C which is now currently owned by another list member.
If its the plane you want get it you will not regret it. The only Twin Commander
experts are right here on this list.
--------
Milt
2003 F1 Rocket
2006 Radial Rocket
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=143185#143185
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