Aero Design & Engineering 500

Aero Design & Engineering 520

Aero Design & Engineering 560

Aero Design & Engineering Shrike Commander

The first of the Commander twins was developed into the six seat Aero Commander 520 (the 520 indicating the total horsepower), certificated January 30,1952 and selling forty three in that same year of produc-tion. An upgrading of the powerplants followed in 1954, from the 260 hp Lycoming GO-435 engines of the Commander 520 to the 295 hp Lycoming GO-480 engines of the 560 in 1954. Gross weight lifted by 500 lbs to the 6,000 of the Commander 560.

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
Engines:  2 x Lycoming, 250-hp         
Seats: 5-7
Gross wt: 6,000 lb                
Empty wt: 3,850 lb
Fuel capacity: 156 USG            
Top speed: 218 mph
Cruise speed: 205 mph                
Stall speed: 63 mph
Initial climb rate: 1,400 fpm            
Ceiling: 22,500 ft
Range: 1,100 sm            
Takeoff distance (50ft'): 1,250 ft
Landing distance (50ft): 1,350 ft

500A
Engines: 2 x Continental IO-470, 260 hp    
Seats: 6-7
Gross wt: 6,250 lb                
Empty wt: 4,255 lb
Fuel capacity: 156 USG             
Top speed: 228 mph
Cruise: 218 mph                
Stall: 62 mph
Initial climb rate: 1,400 ft                
Ceiling: 22,500 ft
Range: 1,225 sm            
Takeoff distance (50ft): 1,210 ft
Landing distance (50): 1,150 ft

Colemill Super 300 / Aero Commander 500A
Engines: 2 x Continental IO-520-E, 300 hp
Seats: 7             
Wing loading: 25.6 lb/sq.ft
Pwr loading: 10.9 lb/hp         
Max TO wt: 6530 lb
Empty wt: 4200 lb             
Equipped useful load: 1971 lb
Payload max fuel: 1035 lb             
Range max fuel/ 75% cruise: 1148 nm/4.9 h.
75% cruise: 205 kt            
Vmc: 85 kt
Stall: 72 kt             
1.3 Vso: 94 kt
ROC: 1800 fpm         
SE ROC: 290 fpm @ 101 kt
SE ceiling: 6,700 ft             
Min field length: 2200 ft.
Fuel cap: 936 lb.

500B
Engines: 2 x Lycoming IO-540, 290-hp.         
TBO: 1,200 hr.

500S
Engines: 2 x Continental, 290 hp.

Shrike Commander
Engines:  2 x Lycoming, 290-hp        
Gross wt: 6,750 lb
Empty wt: 4,635 lb                
Top speed: 215 mph
Cruise speed: 203 mph                
Stall speed: 68 mph
Initial climb rate: 1,340 fpm            
Range: 950 miles
Ceiling: 17,500 ft            
TO dist (50ft): 1,915 ft
Landing distance (50ft): 2,235 ft                
Fuel capacity: 156 USG
Seats: 4-7

500U
Engines: 2 x  Lycoming, 290-hp         
Seats: 4-7
Gross wt: 6,750 lb                
Empty wt: 4,635 lb
Fuel capacity: 156 USG             
Top speed: 230 mph
Cruise speed: 215 mph                
Stall speed: 68 mph
Initial climb rate: 1,340 ft                
Range: 1,230 sm
Takeoff distance (50ft): 1,375 ft                
Landing distance (50ft): 1,235 ft

520
Engines: 2 x Lycoming GO-435, 260 hp

560
Engines: 2 x Lycoming GO-480, 295 hp         
MAUW: 6000 lb

560F
Engines: 2 x Lycoming GSO-540, 340-hp.