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Aero Design & Engineering 500 Aero Design & Engineering 520 Aero Design & Engineering 560 / L-26 Aero Design & Engineering Shrike Commander  Commander 500S
 Aero Commander 500A ZK-DCF
President Eisenhower took office and refused to use the “Independence”, Harry Truman’s airplane, as his Air Force One. Instead, he ordered a Lockheed Constellation as his primary aircraft. But for short trips into and out of his farm grass strip near Gettysburg, PA, the President needed something to operate from the short and unimproved landing area. Helicopters were not yet reliable enough. Driving took too long and snarled traffic. He told his chief pilot, Col. William Draper, to conduct an evaluation. His mission was to find a plane to go back and forth to the farm, and to make other short trips. The Colonel chose one of the most popular executive transports of the day, the Aero Commander 560A, and the Air Force ordered several for the President’s use. The Air Force designated the planes the L-26. Himself a pilot, Ike often took the controls of the Aero Commander, enjoying the opportunity to fly.
A fleet of six Commander L-26's were assigned to the White House and used exclusively by President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, Cabinet and government officials, Secret Service, family and White House staff. This aircraft, 55-4638, was one of those original six. Two more were added a year later with turbocharged engines and assigned exclusively for Presidential use. This plane was used daily in the famous Gettysburg Airlift in 1955 and 1956, as well as the Greenbriar Airlift that hauled Ike along with the President of Mexico to North Carolina. Another seven L-26 aircraft were based in the Washington DC area and assigned to military units.
A total of 34 L-26B were produced from 1952.
Approximately 70 model 560E were built.
95 of the Aero Commander 500 were built.
The Aero Commander 500A and 500B later known as 500U, then Shrike Commander.
 Shrike Commander
The 560F was a 1960 model.
The 500S incorporated more powerful engines, a redesigned pointed nose, some structural strengthening and other equipment changes. Engines can be run at full throttle without restriction. All fuel tanks are interconnected, so no tank selection or cross-feeding is required. One-engine flight is managed without any particular fuss.
One distinguishing feature of the Rockwell Shrike is its eyebrow windows for improved cockpit visibility. The Shrike was certified in the utility category partly because the landing gear was designed for use on aircraft nearly twice the Shrike’s gross weight making landings on unimproved airstrips easy. The Shrike Commander 500S production was terminated 1980.
500 Shrike Commander
Engines:2 x Lycoming IO-540-E1B5, 290-hp
Wing span: 49 ft 0.5 in / 14.95 m
Length: 36 ft 9.75 in / 11.22 m
Gross wt: 6,750 lb / 3062 kg
Empty wt: 4,608 lb / 2090 kg
Top speed: 215 mph
Cruise speed 75% 9000ft/2745m: 203 mph / 176 kt / 326 kph
Stall speed: 68 mph
Initial climb rate:1,340 fpm / 409 m/min
Range at 178 kt / 205 mph / 330 km, 45min res: 798 miles / 698 nm / 1525 km
Service ceiling: 19,400 ft / 5913 m
TO dist (50ft): 1,915 ft
Landing distance (50ft): 2,235 ft
Fuel capacity: 156 USG
Seats: 4-7
Cabin length: 10 ft 7.5 in / 3.24 m Cabin width: 4 ft 4 in / 1.32 m
Cabin height: 4 ft 5 in / 1.35 m
Cabin capacity: 177 cu.ft / 5.01 cu.m / 500 lb / 227 kg
500U
L-26B
1952
Wingspan: 49 ft
Length: 36 ft 9 in
Height: 14 ft 6 in
Range: 1,078 mi
 Shrike Commander
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