JOIN P1D, CITATIONMAX & I AS WE PREMIER ALL THREE OF OUR VIDEOS BACK TO BACK!! STARTING WITH P1D at 7PM EST THEN MINE WRAPPING IT UP WITH CITATION MAX AT 8PM TOMORROW MARCH 27TH!! GO TO EACH OF THEIR PAGES TO CLICK ON THE ALERTS FOR REMINDERS!!
One of my favorite aircraft. Super stable IFR platform, roomy, easy to fly. It's the steering on the ground that takes practice since it can be a little touchy till you get the hang of it.
Commander Pilot has a nice "ring" to it! My best memories are in a Shrike. I was one of the lucky few that flew my dear friend Bob Hoover's Shrike from airshow site to airshow site for 19 years. I delivered N500RA to over 120 airshows. If you ever wanted to know what it's like to fly a two engine feathered loop follow be an eight point roll and dead stick landing to crowd center, just ask, I've been there! I'm at Spruce Creek if you ever get back this way!
Proud to virtually know ya. I saw Bob Hoover back in the early 70s when I was about 18 years old. I think there was an airshow in St. Augustine Fl. I saw the whole routine as you described above. Bob Hoover could pour ice tea from a pitcher into a glass doing an aileron roll in his Shrike.
Hey Steve! I used to work for Byerly Aviation at PIA and got to meet Bob a few times back in the 80's when I was getting my feet wet learning to fly the Commander while I was building my time and working the line for Byerly. Since we were a Commander Sales and Service Center 500RA would stop in occasionally as well as Bob flying in a few of airshows we had in Peoria. We had a great opportunity for all of us at the FBO to have Bob do a Q&A sit down and presentation of his life with all of us in the hangar I believe right before the 1987 Airshow in Peoria. Bob knew both Larry and Bobby Byerly well of course and I know Bill Adamson did some Avionics work on the airplane as well. Got a great autographed photo with him and the airplane which I still have hanging in my office to this day. It was a true honor to get to meet and know him personally and to get the behind the scenes look into his life and flying the Commander! And a Bob Hoover in person performance in not only the Commander but the Saberliner as well - Priceless :)
I grew up at KASG-cleaning airplanes and pumping fuel. Learned to fly there. I rode with Bob Hoover in his Shrike when he came to Springdale. One of the coolest things I’ve done!!
I love that you're showing people the power maneuver. That's something the old school Propliner guys showed me years ago and a technique I get to practice in Flightsim all the time, but it's amazing how well it works on just about any platform. Set the power once at TOD and if all goes well, never touch it again until you're crossing the threshold.
I saw Bob Hoover perform at a Chattanooga airshow some years ago. What a thrill it was to see such an incredibly talented pilot flying that beautiful airplane! It was absolutely amazing!!!
@Baron Pilot, I think that, for the good of the community, you need a video explaining how to set your plane up to approach power settings that most CFIs don’t know. That would be awesome!
Chris, my hero too. In 1983/84? at Americas, Ga. Ag pilot air show. Bob Hoover took me and my girlfriend at the time ( he was sweet on her) for a flight around the area, flew around perimeter Jimmy Carter’s house. He spent the evening with us, dinner and cocktails, he told us great, fun stories of him and Chuck Yeager in their younger days. I’ll never forget that trip! I’m not a full scale pilot, One of my regrets in life. But I do fly remote control aircraft, and my 1/5 scale P 51 Mustang, done in the Rockwell international theme, is one of my favorite planes. Also the one with the highest pucker factor when landing and taking off. Thank you for the trip down memory lane.
I love the Shrike. It was designed by the same man who designed the B-26 Marauder and the Aerostar, Ted Smith. One of his signature design elements is the positive dihedral on the horizontal stab. It is too bad that the G.A. competition was so strong during the 60's and 70's putting Rockwell out of business. It would be nice to see more of these beautifully engineered planes on the tarmac because they have such a ramp appeal.
I got my multi rating in the early 70s. The plane I flew was the Aero Commander 500U. The FAA examiner was very familiar with the Shrike, but not the 500U. These are wonderful aircraft, ad the visibility is as good as it gets.
Not one to post comments, but have to say, the Shrike is a great plane. Very dependable. I flew Shrike's doing overnight cargo during the days of cancelled bank checks. We had 3 of them. I had a hydraulic leak one night, but the way the system is designed, was no trouble. Little crazy getting used to the hdyraulic steering, but an awesome plane!
Take it from a pilot that has flown the B58 for about 400 hour and has a one Strike Commander my self once you go Commander you never go Beech again. Is a great plane to fly. The steering on the ground is the one that scared most people, but don't let that scared you. Once you master it is the greatest place to be in. It will be great to see someone in TH-cam to make videos on it. Trust me you will love the logged compartment. And the extra room.
Reminds me of the best air crash story I ever heard. A late buddy of mine used to work at an engineering firm that analyzed mechanical engineering failures (mostly for litigation). They did tons of aircraft work including TWA flight 800 and the Challenger shuttle. They were called in to consult on a crash of an Aero Commander (not sure when, but a good long time ago). The (corporate or charter) pilot of the plane was a former South Vietnamese air force pilot who had been trained by the US Air force, so he was good - you'll appreciate how good in a bit (along with his luck). He was flying the Aero Commander alone back to his home base when it suffered a catastrophic failure. One of the propeller blades suffered a structural failure as the result of micro-cracking and separated from the hub. When this happened, it unbalanced the prop, and instead of tearing the engine out of the mounting like usually happens in this scenario, it ripped the wing off that side of the plane (or the engine destroyed the wing on that side of the plane - don't remember the detail). When the one wing was torn off, the lift from the other wing violently rotated the aircraft and was torn off also. So, at this point, the aircraft consisted of a fuselage and a still functioning tail. I kind of think of it as a steerable lawn dart at this point. The flight was over wooded mountains and the pilot knew the crash would be somewhere in those mountains. He managed to regain control of his craft (think 2-axis control) and started going down. He picked a mountain that had a slope that closely match the glide slope of the craft and headed for it. He managed to land the lawn dart Aero Commander and only suffered some scratches and a broken arm. The pilot walked away from the wreck and later related the sequence of events to investigators. Any landing you walk away from... Maybe somebody could locate the particulars - not sure how to do it myself. So, in keeping with my Doubting Thomas act, I actually simulated the scenario in X-plane by removing the wings from an Aero Commander model and dropping it from a suitable height at speed (like an X-15). It was amazingly controllable.
This is from a retired BE55 pilot…that was great!!. I always loved the Shrike Commander (and wanted one) and Bob Hoover was one my favorite pilots (along with Chuck Yeager). Watched Bob fly his Shrike at FXE a long time ago and have never forgotten that air show. I’m a new subscriber and love what you produce…and I still miss my Baron…keep up the good work.
I got to see Bob Hoover strut his stuff in his Commander twice in the early 90's at Oshkosh and both times it was simply unbelievable to watch. The man was amazing, I don't know how else to describe him. I was born and raised in West Virginia and Chuck Yeager was my hero nearly from the time I could walk. I would have given most anything to have been around those two back in their day!! Thanks for the great video.
One thought. I can see your rear passengers with no effort. I like that. When Kim’s mom flew, I wanted to see her expressions more. I really enjoy your channel; I can’t see how you can improve it. Kim I’m so impressed to see you taking the controls. Have you finished flight school. Excellent video. Thank you.
loved this flight good job guys, best part was the beauty of your better half thanks for having her in your vids she is nothing short of just amazing also that beautiful Shrike commander, and your friend looks and sounds like a great guy and being willing to let you use his aircraft for this episode of Barron Pilot. see ya on the next one.... be safe.
Nice Equipment... My Father was "Chief Pilot" for an Aero Commander Dealer back in the early 70's (Buffalo, NY) along with a Part 135 effort. Skylark thru 690 Turbins it was like a kids dream airplane, my favorite was always the 680F! Thanks for taking back to my youth ';-)
The 500s Shrike is my Dream Plane also. In the 1970's I was a lineman at an Aero Commander Dealer/FBO at KFXE in Florida. The 690A is a close second. Fair Sky's and following winds to all!!!
I'm not a pilot but I did get to ride shotgun in a twin turboprop Commander with a company that I used to work for. It was quite the thrill. I would have loved to have taken over the controls for a bit. N129TB. I still remember the tail number. Go for the Commander.
I’m now 73, finishing my 3rd quarter. I’ve seen Bob Hoover at many air shows over the years, but remember the first time was at Altus AFB OK in the early 60’s. I think it was RA because who else would fly an Aero Commander 2’ off the deck. Dad was a Boom Operator on the KC-135. Great memories. Yes, swap out the Baron for a Shrike.
Got my multi in a Shrike and loved it. Later on, I checked out in a B-55 in 30 minutes, but always felt like I was flying in a bucket. It is not as fast a Baron, but it is 100 times more comfortable.
I saw Hoover a number of times at air shows in the Shrike. He’d fly in a suit and tie and a walk around in a floppy straw hat. He would also fly the same routine in a P51. Quite a guy.
This is very easy to answer - YES! You should most definitely upgrade. Can't wait to see the new videos in this! All the best and thanks for making all the videos. Fantastic content.
The FBO where I worked while building time, had a S model Commander, a Turbo Commander and a Baron. Got my first and most of my multi time in the Baron, but finally got on a couple of trips in the S-Commander. I remember the odd wing angle. But I loved that airplane ! We could use the four company planes for fuel cost, but back then, it was hard to keep the 172 full of fuel. Great video, thx for bringing back a great memory !
I may have built the wing on that Shrike. I worked at the Bethany, Ok plant during college and was on the wing crew. We built it from the main spar through riveting most of the skin. I loved it
First time I watched Bob Hoover fly his routine in the Shrike at Oshkosh in 1978; I sat slack jawed on the flight line. Years later I was fortunate enough to fly the 500B for three years hauling freight. Multiple pistons, and 5 turbine/turbofan jet type ratings later...the Commander is STILL my favorite aircraft of all time! Saying goes...if you can taxi it, you can fly it. Also, while flying it I came to understand why Mr Hoover chose it! Stable, strong, reliable and above all, FUN! If I could afford one, I’d have one!
I've never flown the piston Commander but I have done a few trips in the turbine version. The ground steering system is truly bizarre. Otherwise the airplane is awesome! I've also seen Bob Hoover live and it's just amazing to watch. Even more impressive is the camera view from inside where he puts a glass of water on the glare shield and never spills a drop.
Sure go for it! I have always liked the Aero Shrike Commanders. In fact I saw one droning around for quiet some time over my hometown of Dalton GA a couple day's ago. I think one of the local guy's may have a new toy.
My dad was a tech rep with Aero Commander at the factory in Bethany during the 60's. He always said it was an outstanding aircraft. He "accidentally" spun one on a trip to South Africa . He said it was amazing how fast word got back to Bethany. But, he said it spun real nice through one full turn. :)
Every Labor Day weekend in the 60's and 70's at Burke Lakefront Airport, I saw Bob Hoover do aerobatics in a P-51 and the Shrike Commander. It was awesome.
Oh yea, I wouldn't even think about it. If you can find a relatively low time commander in your price range I'd do it in a heartbeat. Commander's are my favorite twin ever.
Years ago I went to the Dayton air show, saw Thunderbirds and all sorts of aerobatics. The one that stood out was a crazy guy flying a stock Areo commander with one engine out, by far the most exciting display! Of course it was Bob Hoover!
when I was in High school the commander appeared one day at P & B flying service, in Pensacola fl. I was in love with the looks instantly. Beauitful bird.
My FAVORITE airplane since the first time I saw one. And now that my wife has mobility issues, the low fuselage is a mission requirement. If only I had the money...
Hey Barron, How cool A Shrike, I think you should go for it. I saw Jimmy Franklin and Bob Hover perform in an airshow at a local municipal airport (Mesquite, Tx) back in the early 80's. Jimmy Franklin Flew his Waco Biplane and Bob flew his energy management routine in the Shrike. Bob did a snap roll on take off and dragged a wingtip on the runway, I don't think that was supposed to be part of the routine. I still remember that day like it was yesterday.
Make your dream your reality. The Shrike Commander has been my dream airplane as well. I own a great Seneca. Hearing his comments about how the Shrike is easier to fly might just do it for me. Fly safely.
Hello from Melbourne Beach. 🌴 As a former National driver my boss would fly his jet commander from MIA to his Keys home at Ocean Reef. Good times ! We enjoy your vlogs. Stay healthy.
Hi Kris and Kim, how about Shrike Pilot? Beautiful bird and good friend to come taxi you both back to FL. Now about the Commander: Questions to ask if you are serious: 1 Is it faster? 2 Does it burn the same or less? 3 Is it more comfortable to fly? 4 Will it fit in your hanger? 5 How does the annual cost compare? 6 How does useful load, fuel, range, etc compare? Not sure if pressurization applies. The Baron is definitely sexier. You made it fit your needs and built the panel you want. You KNOW the Baron cold, no surprises, no unknowns. Learning curve applies to the Shrike. The Shrike has history and panache. It was Bob Hoover's favorite air show plane. Loved the flight. Thanks for sharing.
I have about 110 hrs in the commander, it is such a wonderful airplane. If you were to ask me I think taxing was the hardest of all. The controls are quite heavy especially if you dont trim it out properly when landing and taking off. Otherwise than that I truly love this aircraft
On my second Commander myself and I can tell you that they're wonderful aircraft. Stable as can be, really gentle (won't bite), great flying qualities and roomy cabin. Also real bush planes - if you look at my channel I landed my old one right in the desert and took it to many grass strips - things you can't do with other cabin class twins. The only downside if that big cabin is that they're a little slow, but not by much. The 500B is the best piston Commander they built. Get one if you have a chance.
Be careful with the fuel system. I know a couple incredibly good pilots who perished because of some quirky properties of the fuel system. Maybe that’s been addressed over the years. It was a well known abnormality in the late 1970s and it cost some friends of mine their lives. Other than that, I love this airplane. It’s beautiful.
Great video, I love the Commander, have flown in one several times. My son got his multi in a Commander, he worked for Sun N Fun full time for a couple of years and when he was at Oshkosh in 2006 he was eating lunch at a table outside the Cessna building and Bob Hoover came up and asked if he could sit with him.Then Carroll Shelby did the same, then Jack Roush. I missed that went with him in 2007. Of course he didn't get a picture or an autograph. He flys King Air 350i's for Wheels UP now. I just fly my low and slow 46 J3 Cub and am happy as can be for that.
I've always loved the Shrike not to say there's anything wrong with the Baron. You mention my hero Bob Hoover and I have a program from an air show in Long Beach CA from 1963 with Bob Hoover's autograph. Great video.
Hey, I was expecting at least a barrel roll... kidding! I guess it´s more confortable than the Baron, right? Even so, I vote no to the switch. Keep your Beech!
So cool to see that Circa 1970's Century Three AP in amongst all that 21 century stuff. Brought back a lot of memories. Used to be married to the State of ALA Shrike with its old Bendix FCS-810 back in the 80's. What a great aircraft. If you had an Aerostar in the South East USA then I probably worked on your autopilot back in the 90s. Another great airplane, but only if you looked good in cowboy boots and flew yourself. Good stuff. Thanks for posting.
The Shrike Commander has always been my favorite airplane. Will it fit into your hangar? Washing would be so much easier for SIC. Cockpit much more designed like the airlines. If I had the money would definitely move up to the Commander. The only other plane would be the Cessna 414 with door entry and pressurized.
Nice video. I loved my Baron. And like you, I always wanted a Shrike Commander ever since I saw Bob Hoover perform at FXE. In fact I’m going to ASO right now to take a look at what’s out there for sale (with no intent on buying).
To me, the Shrike is the most beautiful plane in the world. I just love those super long wings! and not to mention Bob Hoover.... I had the chance to fly in one a few times down in Colombia off a 3000ft grass strip. It's gorgeous
The aerostar is even weirder to get used to. It has hydraulic switches for the nose gear. You have to roll slightly forward before take off to ensure the nose gear is aligned and your doing the steering with fingers on rocker switches.
Awesome!! Reminds me pretty much of the Britten- Norman Isander (BN-2P). Here in Belize we use to do plenty of turn and rolling take off. A little differential breaks and power and then we go!!!
The Diamond DA20/40/42 (and maybe all of the Diamonds) use differential braking. It can be a little frustrating taking off and lightly tapping either brake to keep centerline and losing a couple of knots every tap, at the same time you are trying to build up your speed. But once you get about 1/2 way to Vr the rudder starts to be more effective, so the aggravation does not last too long. BTW, add me to the list of people who saw Mr. Hoover do the dead stick barrel roll, in the mid 1980’s, DFW area.
Seems to me the Baron is a sports car (think Porsche 911) and the Commander is it’s 4 door version (think Porsche Panamera). When I first saw “Shrike Commander” I immediately thought of Bob Hoover! I remember seeing him several times at local air shows. Class act! Whatever you decide on, you’ll be in your happy place!
Met Bob many times up here at Oshkosh. Back in "the day" when most people stayed and ate off grounds, I ran into him a few times at some of the local watering holes along with Chuck Yeager and others. Back when Oshkosh was not so sterile...
Hey great review of the airplane. I've been giving the aero commander a lot of consideration. I'm a former airline captain turned flight school owner/A&P. The only thing that concerns me is the wing spar issues. I'm looking at one right now for sale at a good price. JPI is two doors down from my school at SNA.
I guess it depends on your mission and budget. I got my multi in a commander in 1978. Great flying airplane with a big cabin and heavier feel. Crosswind landings were a “breeze”. But.. burns more fuel and flys a little slower. Will possibility need a larger hanger and maintenance costs will likely be more.
Aero Commanders have the most effective rudder control of any light to medium twin, and a safety record to match. You may find insurance is less costly. They are overbuilt as well. Happy flying.
Flew all models and all handled and behaved as expected great in turbulence and rides the approach like you are on rails. Only downside is the maintenance as everything and I mean everything is hard to get too so cost $$$ in time
JOIN P1D, CITATIONMAX & I AS WE PREMIER ALL THREE OF OUR VIDEOS BACK TO BACK!! STARTING WITH P1D at 7PM EST THEN MINE WRAPPING IT UP WITH CITATION MAX AT 8PM TOMORROW MARCH 27TH!! GO TO EACH OF THEIR PAGES TO CLICK ON THE ALERTS FOR REMINDERS!!
I followed Bob Hoover and his Shrike Commander for a long time. The world of aviation is truly better for his presence. He is absolutely missed!
One of my favorite aircraft. Super stable IFR platform, roomy, easy to fly. It's the steering on the ground that takes practice since it can be a little touchy till you get the hang of it.
Commander Pilot has a nice "ring" to it! My best memories are in a Shrike. I was one of the lucky few that flew my dear friend Bob Hoover's Shrike from airshow site to airshow site for 19 years. I delivered N500RA to over 120 airshows. If you ever wanted to know what it's like to fly a two engine feathered loop follow be an eight point roll and dead stick landing to crowd center, just ask, I've been there! I'm at Spruce Creek if you ever get back this way!
Saw him fly his routine several times. I think it was even more impressive than the Blue Angels or Thunder Birds show.
I do agree
Proud to virtually know ya. I saw Bob Hoover back in the early 70s when I was about 18 years old. I think there was an airshow in St. Augustine Fl. I saw the whole routine as you described above. Bob Hoover could pour ice tea from a pitcher into a glass doing an aileron roll in his Shrike.
Hey Steve! I used to work for Byerly Aviation at PIA and got to meet Bob a few times back in the 80's when I was getting my feet wet learning to fly the Commander while I was building my time and working the line for Byerly. Since we were a Commander Sales and Service Center 500RA would stop in occasionally as well as Bob flying in a few of airshows we had in Peoria. We had a great opportunity for all of us at the FBO to have Bob do a Q&A sit down and presentation of his life with all of us in the hangar I believe right before the 1987 Airshow in Peoria. Bob knew both Larry and Bobby Byerly well of course and I know Bill Adamson did some Avionics work on the airplane as well. Got a great autographed photo with him and the airplane which I still have hanging in my office to this day. It was a true honor to get to meet and know him personally and to get the behind the scenes look into his life and flying the Commander! And a Bob Hoover in person performance in not only the Commander but the Saberliner as well - Priceless :)
I saw Bob at a couple of air shows in Dayton Ohio. Amazing airman. My favorite pilot by far.
Chris, you literally just became THE uber TH-cam flying vlogger of all time! The Commanders are, in my humble opinion, the finest twins ever made!
Our Shrike took good care of our family for over 40 years. Solid and dependable. Go with the Shrike!
I grew up at KASG-cleaning airplanes and pumping fuel. Learned to fly there. I rode with Bob Hoover in his Shrike when he came to Springdale. One of the coolest things I’ve done!!
Sean Mccarthy did you work with summit? I’m assuming so
Me too but I found 4 some reason the shrike to be too tight and confined to the front 😏
I love that you're showing people the power maneuver. That's something the old school Propliner guys showed me years ago and a technique I get to practice in Flightsim all the time, but it's amazing how well it works on just about any platform. Set the power once at TOD and if all goes well, never touch it again until you're crossing the threshold.
The Commander looks solid as a rock. Stable, roomy, pretty co-pilot, what more could you want.
@5:00 Adam says “Do you want to take off?” and Kris gets his Little-Kid-at-Christmas smile on.
Watching Bob at air shows made me start taking lessons at 12yrs old. Loved him
I saw Bob Hoover perform at a Chattanooga airshow some years ago. What a thrill it was to see such an incredibly talented pilot flying that beautiful airplane! It was absolutely amazing!!!
@Baron Pilot, I think that, for the good of the community, you need a video explaining how to set your plane up to approach power settings that most CFIs don’t know. That would be awesome!
Chris, my hero too. In 1983/84? at Americas, Ga. Ag pilot air show. Bob Hoover took me and my girlfriend at the time ( he was sweet on her) for a flight around the area, flew around perimeter Jimmy Carter’s house. He spent the evening with us, dinner and cocktails, he told us great, fun stories of him and Chuck Yeager in their younger days. I’ll never forget that trip!
I’m not a full scale pilot, One of my regrets in life. But I do fly remote control aircraft, and my 1/5 scale P 51 Mustang, done in the Rockwell international theme, is one of my favorite planes. Also the one with the highest pucker factor when landing and taking off.
Thank you for the trip down memory lane.
I love the Shrike. It was designed by the same man who designed the B-26 Marauder and the Aerostar, Ted Smith. One of his signature design elements is the positive dihedral on the horizontal stab. It is too bad that the G.A. competition was so strong during the 60's and 70's putting Rockwell out of business. It would be nice to see more of these beautifully engineered planes on the tarmac because they have such a ramp appeal.
Correction on the B-26. It was actually the A-26 Invader. Note the resemblance of the tail section to early 500's.
From a Baron to a "Cabin Class" Commander, is for sure a step up! No where near a lateral move!!
I got my multi rating in the early 70s. The plane I flew was the Aero Commander 500U. The FAA examiner was very familiar with the Shrike, but not the 500U. These are wonderful aircraft, ad the visibility is as good as it gets.
Love his commander
In the Commander.... you will ALWAYS have a place to sleep!! GREAT plane, and 1,000% agree on Mr. Hoover! =)
My favorite was Bob Hoover pouring a glass of water as he did a barrel roll without spilling a drop.
I've seen Bob Hoover several times when I was younger. Totally one of the legends of aviation. Dump the Baron and get a Commander. I vote yes.
Not one to post comments, but have to say, the Shrike is a great plane. Very dependable. I flew Shrike's doing overnight cargo during the days of cancelled bank checks. We had 3 of them. I had a hydraulic leak one night, but the way the system is designed, was no trouble. Little crazy getting used to the hdyraulic steering, but an awesome plane!
Take it from a pilot that has flown the B58 for about 400 hour and has a one Strike Commander my self once you go Commander you never go Beech again. Is a great plane to fly. The steering on the ground is the one that scared most people, but don't let that scared you. Once you master it is the greatest place to be in. It will be great to see someone in TH-cam to make videos on it. Trust me you will love the logged compartment. And the extra room.
Reminds me of the best air crash story I ever heard. A late buddy of mine used to work at an engineering firm that analyzed mechanical engineering failures (mostly for litigation). They did tons of aircraft work including TWA flight 800 and the Challenger shuttle.
They were called in to consult on a crash of an Aero Commander (not sure when, but a good long time ago). The (corporate or charter) pilot of the plane was a former South Vietnamese air force pilot who had been trained by the US Air force, so he was good - you'll appreciate how good in a bit (along with his luck).
He was flying the Aero Commander alone back to his home base when it suffered a catastrophic failure. One of the propeller blades suffered a structural failure as the result of micro-cracking and separated from the hub. When this happened, it unbalanced the prop, and instead of tearing the engine out of the mounting like usually happens in this scenario, it ripped the wing off that side of the plane (or the engine destroyed the wing on that side of the plane - don't remember the detail). When the one wing was torn off, the lift from the other wing violently rotated the aircraft and was torn off also. So, at this point, the aircraft consisted of a fuselage and a still functioning tail. I kind of think of it as a steerable lawn dart at this point. The flight was over wooded mountains and the pilot knew the crash would be somewhere in those mountains.
He managed to regain control of his craft (think 2-axis control) and started going down. He picked a mountain that had a slope that closely match the glide slope of the craft and headed for it. He managed to land the lawn dart Aero Commander and only suffered some scratches and a broken arm. The pilot walked away from the wreck and later related the sequence of events to investigators.
Any landing you walk away from...
Maybe somebody could locate the particulars - not sure how to do it myself.
So, in keeping with my Doubting Thomas act, I actually simulated the scenario in X-plane by removing the wings from an Aero Commander model and dropping it from a suitable height at speed (like an X-15). It was amazingly controllable.
Excellent. I saw Bob Hoover at an air show in Florida many years ago. Nice flight. Thanks everyone.
Set your reminder and head over to Premier 1 Driver's page as we watch his premier Live!!
Baron Pilot 👩🏻✈️ Blau is that you 717
You need to fly the baron to jamaica for a visit
This is from a retired BE55 pilot…that was great!!.
I always loved the Shrike Commander (and wanted one) and Bob Hoover was one my favorite pilots (along with Chuck Yeager).
Watched Bob fly his Shrike at FXE a long time ago and have never forgotten that air show. I’m a new subscriber and love what you produce…and I still miss my Baron…keep up the good work.
Saw Bob Hoover perform aerobatics in his Commander many times at the Cleveland airshow. It was impressive.
I got to see Bob Hoover strut his stuff in his Commander twice in the early 90's at Oshkosh and both times it was simply unbelievable to watch. The man was amazing, I don't know how else to describe him. I was born and raised in West Virginia and Chuck Yeager was my hero nearly from the time I could walk. I would have given most anything to have been around those two back in their day!! Thanks for the great video.
One thought. I can see your rear passengers with no effort. I like that. When Kim’s mom flew, I wanted to see her expressions more. I really enjoy your channel; I can’t see how you can improve it. Kim I’m so impressed to see you taking the controls. Have you finished flight school. Excellent video. Thank you.
loved this flight good job guys, best part was the beauty of your better half thanks for having her in your vids she is nothing short of just amazing also that beautiful Shrike commander, and your friend looks and sounds like a great guy and being willing to let you use his aircraft for this episode of Barron Pilot. see ya on the next one.... be safe.
Back in 1969/70 my dad did all of his MEL training and checkride in the Shrike Commander... always loved that airplane!
That's a nice upgraded cockpit 😍
The tone of the engines on take off matched your music so perfectly! Nice Video!
Nice Equipment... My Father was "Chief Pilot" for an Aero Commander Dealer back in the early 70's (Buffalo, NY) along with a Part 135 effort. Skylark thru 690 Turbins it was like a kids dream airplane, my favorite was always the 680F! Thanks for taking back to my youth ';-)
The 500s Shrike is my Dream Plane also. In the 1970's I was a lineman at an Aero Commander Dealer/FBO at KFXE in Florida. The 690A is a close second. Fair Sky's and following winds to all!!!
I'm not a pilot but I did get to ride shotgun in a twin turboprop Commander with a company that I used to work for. It was quite the thrill. I would have loved to have taken over the controls for a bit. N129TB. I still remember the tail number. Go for the Commander.
I like the layout of digital on the left panels and full analog backup on the right.
I’m now 73, finishing my 3rd quarter. I’ve seen Bob Hoover at many air shows over the years, but remember the first time was at Altus AFB OK in the early 60’s. I think it was RA because who else would fly an Aero Commander 2’ off the deck. Dad was a Boom Operator on the KC-135. Great memories. Yes, swap out the Baron for a Shrike.
Got my multi in a Shrike and loved it. Later on, I checked out in a B-55 in 30 minutes, but always felt like I was flying in a bucket. It is not as fast a Baron, but it is 100 times more comfortable.
My favorite twin above ALL others ! Great video.
I saw Hoover a number of times at air shows in the Shrike. He’d fly in a suit and tie and a walk around in a floppy straw hat. He would also fly the same routine in a P51. Quite a guy.
One of my all time favorite planes...this, and the Britten Norman BN-2 Islander.
This is very easy to answer - YES! You should most definitely upgrade. Can't wait to see the new videos in this! All the best and thanks for making all the videos. Fantastic content.
The FBO where I worked while building time, had a S model Commander, a Turbo Commander and a Baron. Got my first and most of my multi time in the Baron, but finally got on a couple of trips in the S-Commander. I remember the odd wing angle. But I loved that airplane ! We could use the four company planes for fuel cost, but back then, it was hard to keep the 172 full of fuel. Great video, thx for bringing back a great memory !
Randy Porter they moved the Cessnas up to the Bentonville location 😕
Brady Brooks Agree ☹️
I may have built the wing on that Shrike. I worked at the Bethany, Ok plant during college and was on the wing crew. We built it from the main spar through riveting most of the skin. I loved it
First time I watched Bob Hoover fly his routine in the Shrike at Oshkosh in 1978; I sat slack jawed on the flight line. Years later I was fortunate enough to fly the 500B for three years hauling freight. Multiple pistons, and 5 turbine/turbofan jet type ratings later...the Commander is STILL my favorite aircraft of all time! Saying goes...if you can taxi it, you can fly it. Also, while flying it I came to understand why Mr Hoover chose it! Stable, strong, reliable and above all, FUN! If I could afford one, I’d have one!
I love how the hum of the props are in tune with the song in the background.
I've never flown the piston Commander but I have done a few trips in the turbine version. The ground steering system is truly bizarre. Otherwise the airplane is awesome! I've also seen Bob Hoover live and it's just amazing to watch. Even more impressive is the camera view from inside where he puts a glass of water on the glare shield and never spills a drop.
I was at an air show in Arizona and watched Bob Hoover back up an Areo Commander 500. I fell in love with the plane.
I sear to god yesterday I was watching TH-cam thinking that I wished someone have a channel centered around an old school commander.......
Sure has a sweet sound. It's purrs soo good.
One of my all time favorites. At Oshkosh in 80 I got to meet Art Scholl and watch Hoover and got to watch Leo Loudenslager.. awesome
Really like commander as a aircraft. Was not aware of it's characteristics till now.
I was really impressed with your showing the Garmin vs. Aviadyne. I’m not a pilot. I can’t fly, I’m disabled. I truest live vicariously through you.
Sure go for it! I have always liked the Aero Shrike Commanders. In fact I saw one droning around for quiet some time over my hometown of Dalton GA a couple day's ago. I think one of the local guy's may have a new toy.
My dad was a tech rep with Aero Commander at the factory in Bethany during the 60's. He always said it was an outstanding aircraft. He "accidentally" spun one on a trip to South Africa . He said it was amazing how fast word got back to Bethany. But, he said it spun real nice through one full turn. :)
Great watching all three of you. Each one's various strengths combining into being better pilots.
Every Labor Day weekend in the 60's and 70's at Burke Lakefront Airport, I saw Bob Hoover do aerobatics in a P-51 and the Shrike Commander. It was awesome.
Oh yea, I wouldn't even think about it. If you can find a relatively low time commander in your price range I'd do it in a heartbeat. Commander's are my favorite twin ever.
Years ago I went to the Dayton air show, saw Thunderbirds and all sorts of aerobatics. The one that stood out was a crazy guy flying a stock Areo commander with one engine out, by far the most exciting display! Of course it was Bob Hoover!
when I was in High school the commander appeared one day at P & B flying service, in Pensacola fl. I was in love with the looks instantly. Beauitful bird.
My FAVORITE airplane since the first time I saw one. And now that my wife has mobility issues, the low fuselage is a mission requirement. If only I had the money...
Hey Barron, How cool A Shrike, I think you should go for it. I saw Jimmy Franklin and Bob Hover perform in an airshow at a local municipal airport (Mesquite, Tx) back in the early 80's. Jimmy Franklin Flew his Waco Biplane and Bob flew his energy management routine in the Shrike. Bob did a snap roll on take off and dragged a wingtip on the runway, I don't think that was supposed to be part of the routine. I still remember that day like it was yesterday.
Make your dream your reality. The Shrike Commander has been my dream airplane as well. I own a great Seneca. Hearing his comments about how the Shrike is easier to fly might just do it for me. Fly safely.
The views with a high wing will be much improved. You'll probably appreciate this and any passengers definitely will.
Hello from Melbourne Beach. 🌴 As a former National driver my boss would fly his jet commander from MIA to his Keys home at Ocean Reef. Good times ! We enjoy your vlogs. Stay healthy.
Hi Kris and Kim, how about Shrike Pilot?
Beautiful bird and good friend to come taxi you both back to FL.
Now about the Commander:
Questions to ask if you are serious:
1 Is it faster?
2 Does it burn the same or less?
3 Is it more comfortable to fly?
4 Will it fit in your hanger?
5 How does the annual cost compare?
6 How does useful load, fuel, range, etc compare?
Not sure if pressurization applies.
The Baron is definitely sexier. You made it fit your needs and built the panel you want.
You KNOW the Baron cold, no surprises, no unknowns. Learning curve applies to the Shrike.
The Shrike has history and panache. It was Bob Hoover's favorite air show plane.
Loved the flight. Thanks for sharing.
I have about 110 hrs in the commander, it is such a wonderful airplane. If you were to ask me I think taxing was the hardest of all. The controls are quite heavy especially if you dont trim it out properly when landing and taking off. Otherwise than that I truly love this aircraft
Go for it.. I flew a standard Aero Commander in the late 60's. Beautiful A/C. The Shrike is the "Cadillac" !!
Flew both in the 70's and loved the Shrike Commander, so will you, even if the speed is somewhat slower.
On my second Commander myself and I can tell you that they're wonderful aircraft. Stable as can be, really gentle (won't bite), great flying qualities and roomy cabin. Also real bush planes - if you look at my channel I landed my old one right in the desert and took it to many grass strips - things you can't do with other cabin class twins. The only downside if that big cabin is that they're a little slow, but not by much. The 500B is the best piston Commander they built. Get one if you have a chance.
Be careful with the fuel system. I know a couple incredibly good pilots who perished because of some quirky properties of the fuel system. Maybe that’s been addressed over the years. It was a well known abnormality in the late 1970s and it cost some friends of mine their lives.
Other than that, I love this airplane. It’s beautiful.
Great video, I love the Commander, have flown in one several times. My son got his multi in a Commander, he worked for Sun N Fun full time for a couple of years and when he was at Oshkosh in 2006 he was eating lunch at a table outside the Cessna building and Bob Hoover came up and asked if he could sit with him.Then Carroll Shelby did the same, then Jack Roush. I missed that went with him in 2007. Of course he didn't get a picture or an autograph. He flys King Air 350i's for Wheels UP now. I just fly my low and slow 46 J3 Cub and am happy as can be for that.
That would have been amazing
I seen the anxious control grab when you landed ....LOL amazing
I've always loved the Shrike not to say there's anything wrong with the Baron. You mention my hero Bob Hoover and I have a program from an air show in Long Beach CA from 1963 with Bob Hoover's autograph. Great video.
Hey, I was expecting at least a barrel roll... kidding! I guess it´s more confortable than the Baron, right? Even so, I vote no to the switch. Keep your Beech!
Yep. I like the space and simpler look !
not bad for a first take off .. i love seeing that smile on your face :)
at 13:30 you forgot what else you had .. rocking tunes !!
ok where was that gear down .. check .. we gots to hear that ya know ! :)
So cool to see that Circa 1970's Century Three AP in amongst all that 21 century stuff. Brought back a lot of memories. Used to be married to the State of ALA Shrike with its old Bendix FCS-810 back in the 80's. What a great aircraft. If you had an Aerostar in the South East USA then I probably worked on your autopilot back in the 90s. Another great airplane, but only if you looked good in cowboy boots and flew yourself. Good stuff. Thanks for posting.
The Shrike Commander has always been my favorite airplane. Will it fit into your hangar? Washing would be so much easier for SIC. Cockpit much more designed like the airlines. If I had the money would definitely move up to the Commander. The only other plane would be the Cessna 414 with door entry and pressurized.
How much $$$ are we actually talking about for a clean low-time 500S?
You can trade planes all you want but you better not trade that beautiful copilot for anything !!!
Nice video. I loved my Baron. And like you, I always wanted a Shrike Commander ever since I saw Bob Hoover perform at FXE. In fact I’m going to ASO right now to take a look at what’s out there for sale (with no intent on buying).
To me, the Shrike is the most beautiful plane in the world. I just love those super long wings! and not to mention Bob Hoover.... I had the chance to fly in one a few times down in Colombia off a 3000ft grass strip. It's gorgeous
Always Loved the Aero Commanders !!
The aerostar is even weirder to get used to. It has hydraulic switches for the nose gear. You have to roll slightly forward before take off to ensure the nose gear is aligned and your doing the steering with fingers on rocker switches.
Awesome!! Reminds me pretty much of the Britten- Norman Isander (BN-2P). Here in Belize we use to do plenty of turn and rolling take off. A little differential breaks and power and then we go!!!
The Diamond DA20/40/42 (and maybe all of the Diamonds) use differential braking. It can be a little frustrating taking off and lightly tapping either brake to keep centerline and losing a couple of knots every tap, at the same time you are trying to build up your speed.
But once you get about 1/2 way to Vr the rudder starts to be more effective, so the aggravation does not last too long.
BTW, add me to the list of people who saw Mr. Hoover do the dead stick barrel roll, in the mid 1980’s, DFW area.
Seems to me the Baron is a sports car (think Porsche 911) and the Commander is it’s 4 door version (think Porsche Panamera). When I first saw “Shrike Commander” I immediately thought of Bob Hoover! I remember seeing him several times at local air shows. Class act! Whatever you decide on, you’ll be in your happy place!
I picked up on the tone of the twin engines and the key of the background music. Nice touch…
Met Bob many times up here at Oshkosh. Back in "the day" when most people stayed and ate off grounds, I ran into him a few times at some of the local watering holes along with Chuck Yeager and others. Back when Oshkosh was not so sterile...
Did not know about the nose wheel steering. Makes what Hoover was able to do with the airplane even more impressive.
What a beautiful plane!
Very nice plane. looked very smooth.
Always been a fan of the Shrike - and for the same reason.
Hey great review of the airplane. I've been giving the aero commander a lot of consideration. I'm a former airline captain turned flight school owner/A&P. The only thing that concerns me is the wing spar issues. I'm looking at one right now for sale at a good price. JPI is two doors down from my school at SNA.
The only reason I don’t own one right now is because it won’t fit in a T-Hangar.
I guess it depends on your mission and budget. I got my multi in a commander in 1978. Great flying airplane with a big cabin and heavier feel. Crosswind landings were a “breeze”. But.. burns more fuel and flys a little slower. Will possibility need a larger hanger and maintenance costs will likely be more.
Kim's derriere, oh my! Haha. Nice plane. I love the high wing and interior cabin space. Thanks for the video. Stay healthy!
Aero Commanders have the most effective rudder control of any light to medium twin, and a safety record to match. You may find insurance is less costly. They are overbuilt as well. Happy flying.
I love that airplane
You definitely need to change to a Commander😉. It’s a super strong stable platform with the comfort of a limo.
Flew all models and all handled and behaved as expected great in turbulence and rides the approach like you are on rails. Only downside is the maintenance as everything and I mean everything is hard to get too so cost $$$ in time
Like what is more expensive on a Shrike than any other comparable aircraft?