Air Command Commander Side-By-Side

Commander Side-By-Side
Role	Autogyro
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Air Command International
Status	In production (2012)
Developed from	Air Command Commander

Short description: American autogyro

The Air Command Commander Side-By-Side is an American autogyro designed and produced by Air Command International of Caddo Mills, Texas. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.^[1]

Design and development

The Commander Side-By-Side provides an unusual gyroplane design in that it has side-by-side configuration seating. The gyroplane was designed to comply with the US Experimental - Amateur-built rules. It features a single main rotor, a two-seat open cockpit without a windshield, tricycle landing gear and a four-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke, 115 hp (86 kW) Subaru EJ22 automotive conversion engine in pusher configuration driving the propeller though a Gilmer belt reduction drive.^[1]

The aircraft's 29 ft (8.8 m) diameter Rotordyne rotor has a chord of 8 in (20.3 cm). The Side-By-Side has an empty weight of 485 lb (220 kg) and a gross weight of 926 lb (420 kg), giving a useful load of 441 lb (200 kg). Optional equipment available includes a folding mast, hydraulic wheel brakes and an electric trim system.^[1]

Specifications (Commander Side-By-Side)

Data from Bayerl^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: one
Capacity: one passenger
Empty weight: 485 lb (220 kg)
Gross weight: 926 lb (420 kg)
Fuel capacity: 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Subaru EJ22 four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke automotive conversion, 115 hp (86 kW)
Main rotor diameter: 29 ft 0 in (8.85 m)
Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

Maximum speed: 99 mph (160 km/h, 86 kn)
Cruise speed: 75 mph (120 km/h, 65 kn)

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 174. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X