Rockwell Commander 114

You've got to feel for pilots sometimes. Especially pilots like Mick London who is selling this superb Rockwell Commander.

Two years ago, after learning on 172s and flying a couple of 182s, he went and splashed out on this Mercedes of the sky. And the reason?

The plan was to go touring around the UK and Europe with his wife and two daughters, to be able to share his passion for aviation with his beloved family. An admirable intention but alas, he took them up on a flight and they hated it!

So, two years later, Mick has decided that after a couple of years of trying to persuade the family to join him it’s time to throw in the towel and move on. The Rockwell Commander is surplus to requirements and Mick is moving to the world of helicopters. Mick bought the aircraft from another member at Peterborough Conington flying club.

He knew the amount of effort and money that had gone into making it one of the best examples of a Commander 114 that you’ll find. The leather interior, new in 2003, and the plush seats are a joy to sit in. The paintwork exemplary and it’s blessed with superb avionics in the form of a Garmin GNS530 and GNS430, plus GMA340, GTX327, KN63, WX-500, Stormscope and Skymap III.

Wow! That’s some set up - installed a couple of years ago at a cost of £30,000. The Rockwell Commander has always been one of those aircraft I’ve admired from afar. It’s a real headturner sitting squat on the runway with sleek lines. In short a serious bit of kit.

It doesn’t fail to impress inside either. I jumped in the back for a bit to see how roomy it is and at 6ft 1in tall I can confirm this is an aircraft your passengers will feel very comfortable in. So why buy it? For me, it would have to be the benefit of being able to get to Le Mans from Peterborough in two hours. From

Peterborough to Blackpool in under an hour. To Le Touquet in an hour. You’ll be traveling in comfort cruising between 130 and 140kt burning around 11 gallons of fuel an hour. If you want to get there quicker, the maximum cruise is 157kt with maximum speed 166kt. It’s quick. What struck me most was that the aircraft makes you feel like you’ve got time, that there will be no dramas. Poor Mick. He almost got it right!

PERFORMANCE
Max speed 166kt
Cruise speed 157kt
CofA Aug 08

SPECIFICATIONS
Engine Lycoming IO-540
TTAF 1451hr
TTE 1451hr
TTProp 230hr
Year built 1977

PRICE
£115,000

SELLER
Mick London
T. 07770 873030