North American Rockwell 100 Darter/Lark Commander
- CountryUnited States of America
- TypeFour seat light aircraft
- PowerplantsDarter - One 110kW (150hp) Lycoming O-320-A flat four piston engine driving a two blade fixed pitch propeller. Lark - One 135kW (180hp) O-360-A2F.
- PerformanceDarter - Max speed 214km/h (115kt), max cruising speed 206km/h (111kt). Initial rate of climb 785ft/min. Service ceiling 11,000ft. Range at max cruising speed 820km (443nm). Lark - Max speed 222km/h (120kt), max cruising speed 212km/h (114kt). Initial rate of climb 750ft/min. Service ceiling 13,000ft. Range at max cruising speed 845km (456nm).
- WeightsDarter - Empty 580kg (1280lb), max takeoff 1020kg (2250lb). Lark - Empty 658kg (1450lb), max takeoff 1110kg (2450lb).
- DimentionsDarter - Wing span 10.67m (35ft 0in), length 6.86m (22ft 6in), height 2.84m (9ft 4in). Wing area 16.8m2 (181sq ft). Lark - Same except for length 7.59m (24ft 11in), height 3.07m (10ft 1in).
- CapacityTypical seating for four.
- Production6 Volaire 1035, 335 Model 100s/Darter Commanders and 213 Lark Commanders built.
Air Commander created the high wing four seat 100 arrangement in an exertion to grow its item go.
The Aero Commander 100 started life as a three seat outline from Volaircraft of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania in the USA. The essential configuration was known as the Model 10 Volaire and flew shockingly amid 1960. Gimmicks incorporated a high wing, 360â° inside and out perceivability and metal development. A hand sized scoop of generation flying machine, the Volaire 1035 controlled by a 100kw (135hp) O-290-D and the four seat 110kw (150hp) O-320 fueled Volaire 1050, were assembled before Aero Commander acquired the configuration and assembling rights for both on July 12 1965.
Air Commander just rolled out a little number of improvements before the 1050 was set into generation as the Commander 100 (the 1035 was renamed the 100a) in the second a large portion of 1965. From May 1968 Aero Commander joined a little number of progressions including reexamined windscreen and back lodge window plans and different mods and this model was renamed the Darter Commander .
When the first significant progressions to the fundamental configuration were presented, Aero Commander had been assumed control by North American Rockwell in 1967 and had turned into their Aero Commander Division. The name Aero Commander vanished when the Division was renamed the General Aviation Division on September 9 1969. Darter generation proceeded into 1969.
North American Rockwell likewise presented the enhanced 100-180 Lark Commander in 1967 (FAA Type Approval was honored on Sept 26 that year). Progressions incorporated an all the more effective 135kw (180hp) O-360-A2f motor, a cleared back balance, reprofiled cowling and 91kg (200lb) expand in max takeoff weight. The air motion facilitating progressions gave the Lark Commander a substantially more sleeker appearance, and the all the more effective motor helped execution. However Rockwell dumped Lark creation in 1971, as it had been beat and out performed by the less influential Piper Cherokee and Cessna 172.
Rockwell sold the configuration and creation rights for both the Darter (which had been out of generation since 1969) and the Lark to Phoenix Aircraft in 1971, yet the recent organization did not attempt creation.
Pictures of North American Rockwell 100 Darter/Lark Commander
