I flew a 447 Commander for the Australian distributor, Bert Flood Imports. It was a good performer despite the mere 40hp. It was light and those McCutcheon rotors were excellent. We eventually re-engined with the bigger Rotax 582 65hp, but apart from better climb rate, I preferred the original smaller engine. It was every bit as fun to fly as this vid portrays. The construction was very clever and ahead of its time. Many thanks to Air Command for some of my most enjoyable flying, back in the nineties.
Ha!...I ordered that tape after reading about it in Popular Mechanics back in 1988. I never ended up buying one but I bet I watched that tape over 100 times. Funny thing is, I finally took to the air 26 years later in a powered paramotor.
Me too, and I made the vid! The scenery was mostly taken in the Kansas City MO area, down in the Missouri river valley along the bluffs. Good place to fly. Thanks for watching.
You can keep an eye out for a good used Commander. I see them on eBay once in a while, but people that own them tend to keep them. I would stay with at least a 503 Commander or up, and definitely get one with the pod installed, their faster and more comfortable to fly.
@@fettersbuiltcoI have one of your Air Command gyros with pod, it has a 503 but I suspect it had a 582 at some point because there are holes for brackets. It’s probably the best looking one around. I spent a year and a half working on it (it had been sitting for a while).
@@XRakkgruntX Hello, the Commanders I built when owning the company are around 40 years old now and most have exchanged hands a few times, and people tend to modify and drill holes, so I would not have any idea if it had a 532 or 582. I would need to see pictures to make an opinion. Good luck and when flying, fly safe and after training.
@fettersbuiltco Dennis, this was the video that got me started in gyroplanes back in 1988 or so. Incredible. I loved my Commander 532 and flew hundreds of hours on it. It was an excellent, extremely reliable machine and had the inverted engine installation. It also had, originally, the pump stick, single mast tube, and short keel. Working with Doug Smith, I eventually updated all those to the later design. Once they went centerline thrust, though, I though they got ugly. I never believed in doing that so I never converted mine. I never had a single problem with that machine. Not one. Ever. I regret selling it. My first instructor was Tony Stone in Murrieta. Then, Jim Mayfield at Arizona Rotors. With Jim, I trained all the way to gyro CFI. I also wrote the Fear Not The Rotax series in Homebuilt Rotorcraft magazine back when Don Parham was running that publication. That was what, 35 years ago? All of my gyro and helo experiences have been great. I have access to a Mini 500 with a brand new blue head 582 on it. It is being prepped for flight as we speak. The quality of the components you made is fantastic. Those castings, and everything else, are amazing! I eventually moved mostly into helos and mostly flew the Bell 47 and R22 out of Chino seemingly endlessly. Are you still in the Corona area? I'd love to meet you in person. How does one get in touch with you these days in a non-public forum? I've got some interesting info to share with you privately. @fettersbuiltco
@@michaelstump6933 Hi Michael, wow where do I start? Such nice compliments, however, the greatest satisfaction is that you enjoyed the Commander. It has always been my favorite aircraft to fly even to this day. I liked flying the Mini-500 as well, but gyroplanes are my first love and the best time I ever had in my life was when I owned Air Command and traveled the world flying and meeting people to convert them as well. I loved living in Corona, but in 2010 I moved to China for 8 years to design and build helicopter and multirotor drones. In 2018 I moved to Dayton Ohio, but since 2021 I’ve been living and working in Abu Dhabi designing and building large drone helicopters for their government. In fact, I finished that contract the first of this year and I’ve been spending my time designing what I think will be the world’s best gyroplane to storm the market, like I did with the Commanders…. I hope. Right now I’m in Malaysia visiting my wife and 9-year-old daughter who I placed in a nice private school here, away from all the woke crap back in the US. You can email me at: fettersbuiltco@sbcglobal.net. I would love to here from you. Again, thank you so much for your kind words, they mean a lot to me. Sincerely, Dennis
I flew a 447 Commander for the Australian distributor, Bert Flood Imports.
It was a good performer despite the mere 40hp. It was light and those McCutcheon rotors were excellent.
We eventually re-engined with the bigger Rotax 582 65hp, but apart from better climb rate, I preferred the original smaller engine.
It was every bit as fun to fly as this vid portrays.
The construction was very clever and ahead of its time.
Many thanks to Air Command for some of my most enjoyable flying, back in the nineties.
Ha!...I ordered that tape after reading about it in Popular Mechanics back in 1988. I never ended up buying one but I bet I watched that tape over 100 times. Funny thing is, I finally took to the air 26 years later in a powered paramotor.
Thank you, and glad to be the one that got you interested in gyroplanes.
Me too, and I made the vid! The scenery was mostly taken in the Kansas City MO area, down in the Missouri river valley along the bluffs. Good place to fly. Thanks for watching.
This was tape that got me in to gyros ten years ago. What a great marketing video.
Great sales video for the time period.
I sure would like to hear that story!! Thanks for the comment.
You are very kind to take the time to say so. Thank you very much.
You can keep an eye out for a good used Commander. I see them on eBay once in a while, but people that own them tend to keep them. I would stay with at least a 503 Commander or up, and definitely get one with the pod installed, their faster and more comfortable to fly.
if i for some reason isnt able to build one within, say 12 years (ill be thirty)
i'll buy one of these for sure!
i need main blade parts swash plate and foot pedal from a damaged craft can you help
I'm sorry, but I'm not in the parts business. Maybe visit one of the helicopter forums and they can help you.
is there a website please
Yes, go to this site and sign up; www.rotaryforum.com
But, be prepared to deal with a bunch of hypocritical bickering old ladies. Good luck.
@@fettersbuiltcoI have one of your Air Command gyros with pod, it has a 503 but I suspect it had a 582 at some point because there are holes for brackets. It’s probably the best looking one around. I spent a year and a half working on it (it had been sitting for a while).
@@XRakkgruntX Hello, the Commanders I built when owning the company are around 40 years old now and most have exchanged hands a few times, and people tend to modify and drill holes, so I would not have any idea if it had a 532 or 582. I would need to see pictures to make an opinion. Good luck and when flying, fly safe and after training.
@fettersbuiltco Dennis, this was the video that got me started in gyroplanes back in 1988 or so. Incredible. I loved my Commander 532 and flew hundreds of hours on it. It was an excellent, extremely reliable machine and had the inverted engine installation. It also had, originally, the pump stick, single mast tube, and short keel. Working with Doug Smith, I eventually updated all those to the later design. Once they went centerline thrust, though, I though they got ugly. I never believed in doing that so I never converted mine. I never had a single problem with that machine. Not one. Ever. I regret selling it. My first instructor was Tony Stone in Murrieta. Then, Jim Mayfield at Arizona Rotors. With Jim, I trained all the way to gyro CFI. I also wrote the Fear Not The Rotax series in Homebuilt Rotorcraft magazine back when Don Parham was running that publication. That was what, 35 years ago? All of my gyro and helo experiences have been great. I have access to a Mini 500 with a brand new blue head 582 on it. It is being prepped for flight as we speak. The quality of the components you made is fantastic. Those castings, and everything else, are amazing! I eventually moved mostly into helos and mostly flew the Bell 47 and R22 out of Chino seemingly endlessly. Are you still in the Corona area? I'd love to meet you in person. How does one get in touch with you these days in a non-public forum? I've got some interesting info to share with you privately. @fettersbuiltco
@@michaelstump6933 Hi Michael, wow where do I start? Such nice compliments, however, the greatest satisfaction is that you enjoyed the Commander. It has always been my favorite aircraft to fly even to this day. I liked flying the Mini-500 as well, but gyroplanes are my first love and the best time I ever had in my life was when I owned Air Command and traveled the world flying and meeting people to convert them as well.
I loved living in Corona, but in 2010 I moved to China for 8 years to design and build helicopter and multirotor drones. In 2018 I moved to Dayton Ohio, but since 2021 I’ve been living and working in Abu Dhabi designing and building large drone helicopters for their government. In fact, I finished that contract the first of this year and I’ve been spending my time designing what I think will be the world’s best gyroplane to storm the market, like I did with the Commanders…. I hope. Right now I’m in Malaysia visiting my wife and 9-year-old daughter who I placed in a nice private school here, away from all the woke crap back in the US.
You can email me at: fettersbuiltco@sbcglobal.net.
I would love to here from you.
Again, thank you so much for your kind words, they mean a lot to me.
Sincerely,
Dennis
Is that you Frank?
P