AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2018 - 44

PILOT BRIEFING
BUDGET BUY

VREF VALUE

Vref, the aircraft valuation service, suggests a base value of
$22,500 for a 1968 Lark Commander, and $24,500 for a 1971
model. The 150-horsepower
Darter Commander is priced
slightly less.
HOW MANY IN THE FLEET

Lark Commander
It looks like a 172, but it's not
BY MIKE COLLINS

WHEN AERO COMMANDER wanted an entry-level "step-up" airplane in the mid-1960s to

spur sales of its twin-engine offerings, it purchased Volaircraft (formerly Volaire Aircraft)
and its single-engine, high-wing Model 1050 design-which looks a lot like a Cessna 172,
except for its squared lines, exaggerated wheelpants, and backward-swept vertical tail
(think Mooney). Powered by a 150-horsepower Lycoming O-320, it became the Aero
Commander 100, then the Darter Commander.
In 1968 the airframe got a 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360 engine; a conventional tail;
and a new name, the Aero Commander 100-180 or the Lark Commander. Only 212 were
made before production ended in 1971; about 360 Darters were built.
Owners of the remaining Lark Commander are enthusiastic about the airframe, elevating it almost to a cult status. "No one else has one, wherever you go," said JoAnn Raimond
of San Diego. "I get folks constantly coming up to me on the ramp asking questions."
"It wants to climb like a homesick angel, seeing upwards of 1,200 fpm solo with full
tanks," said Brandt Hall of Drexel, Missouri. "At gross, it will not disappoint with a modest 600 fpm." His fuel burn runs between 9.5 and 10.5 gallons per hour. "It's a hybrid bird,
sharing parts with Piper, Cessna, and others-so that tends to help out in the parts search."
The Lark fits nicely between the Cessna 177 Cardinal and Cessna 172 Skyhawk, said
Bob Arnold of Lewistown, Pennsylvania. "(She's) not quite as touchy as the Cardinal but
not as forgiving as the Skyhawk."
"The biggest pro is that it makes a great training airplane, with its very solid landing
gear," said Kevin Cook of Cleveland, Georgia. "The biggest negative is you never have to
worry about busting any airspeed restrictions."
"I did own a Lark Commander 180 up until I crashed Friday, totaling it," one owner
reported. A photo sent two days after the accident showed the robust fuselage, essentially
unscathed, although the rest of the airplane was crumpled. "I've already found another.
That tells you what I think of it," he said.
EMAIL mike.collins@aopa.org

44 | AOPA PILOT May 2018

There are 80 Aero Commander
Lark 100-180s in the fleet, and
108 similar, 150-horsepower
Darter Commanders.
INSURANCE COSTS

AOPA Insurance Services estimates an annual cost of $480
to $750 for full flight coverage.

FINANCING

With a $27,000 purchase
price-on the higher end of the
book value range, according to
AOPA Aviation Finance-and
a 20 percent down payment, a
10-year loan at an interest rate
of 6.5 percent would yield payments of $245 per month.
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

No significant airframe ADs.
BIGGEST PLUS

Beefy fuselage, great handling.
BIGGEST MINUS

Parts availability, speed.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
No manufacturer support
or type club, but there
is an Aero Commander
100-180 Facebook group
(www.facebook.com/
groups/1966271463601388).

http://www.facebook.com/groups/1966271463601388 http://www.facebook.com/groups/1966271463601388

AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2018

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