Range Map

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+ cargo
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1

Tank-dry, where fuel runs out at catalogue's stored cruise burn.

Excludes reserves: range beyond the dashed circle requires a leaner cruise than what we store. Great-circle, still air, book cruise. Estimates only: always verify against the POH.

Payload vs. Range

Occupants:

Fuel on board

Cargo

nm

Range

Cargo is additional payload after occupants and baggage.
full tanks
Available Range / nm
Mission capable. This load flies with full fuel.
Fuel reduced by . left aboard for nm range.
Over max payload by . At this load it cannot lift a single occupant.

Trip Preview

Mission Profile

Used market Only available used
196
KTAS
Cruise Speed
1,310
nm
Max Range
28,500
ft
Service Ceiling
9
Occupants
1,142
lbs
Wet Payload
Endorsements & ratings:
  • High-Performance
  • Complex
  • High-Altitude
  • Multi-Engine
Aero Commander 680FL Grand Commander (N199WM) at Grimes Field — Photo: redlegsfan21, CC BY-SA 2.0
Aero Commander 680FL Grand Commander (N199WM) at Grimes Field — Photo: redlegsfan21, CC BY-SA 2.0

Estimated Ownership Costs

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About the Aero Commander 680FL

Type certificated 1963 Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet

Overview

The Aero Commander 680FL, marketed as the Grand Commander, is the stretched, cabin-class evolution of the Aero Commander line. Type-certified in May 1963 under CAR 3, it added a 44-inch fuselage section forward of the front spar (with additional structural rework aft) over the 680F, plus a larger horizontal stabilizer, creating a true executive transport with a separate flight deck and high-density seating for up to nine passengers.

It is powered by twin supercharged, geared Lycoming IGSO-540-B1A engines (later production used the IGSO-540-B1C), each rated 380 hp at sea level and driving three-blade Hartzell propellers. The supercharger and reduction gear give the 680FL meaningful high-altitude capability and the cabin presence required for corporate or heavy-duty utility missions, at the cost of powerplant complexity. In Aero Commander’s final two production years (1968-69) the model was rebranded Courser Commander.

Key Features for GA Buyers

  • Massive Cabin. The 44-inch stretch produces a true aisle feel and executive club seating for up to nine passengers.
  • High-Wing Visibility. Passengers get an unobstructed view of the ground, and the low cabin floor with airstair door makes entry and exit exceptionally easy.
  • Rugged Heritage. Robust airframe used historically for executive transport, freight, and check hauling, with continuing manufacturer-successor support through Twin Commander Aircraft.
  • High-Altitude Performance. Supercharged engines allow efficient cruise in the mid-teen altitudes, above much standard GA weather, with a service ceiling around FL 200 typical of in-service operations.

Trade-offs

  • Engine Complexity. The geared and supercharged Lycoming IGSO-540s are sophisticated powerplants requiring meticulous pilot management; overhauls are expensive and shops familiar with the geared Lycoming family are increasingly scarce.
  • Operating Costs. Combined fuel burn often exceeds 40 GPH, and the maintenance load on the geared engines, hydraulics, and cabin systems put the 680FL firmly in the deep-pockets bracket.
  • Runway Requirements. Unlike the shorter Commanders, which retain STOL character, the 680FL at gross weight needs healthy runway, particularly when accelerate-stop is computed against the 8,500 lb MTOW.
  • Variant Confusion. Buyers should confirm exact model designation on the data plate: 680F, 680FL (stretched), 680FL(P) (stretched and pressurised), and the later Rockwell 685 (Continental-powered, pressurised) all carry similar marketing names but have meaningfully different airframe, engine, and pressurisation specifications.

See Also

Technical Specifications

Dimensions & Weights

Wingspan 50 ft
Height
14 ft
Length
41 ft
Parking area (ft²2)
2,755 ft²
Max Takeoff Weight
Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 8,500 lbs
Max Landing Weight
8,500 lbs
Useful Load
2,480 lbs
Fuel Capacity
223 gal

Performance

Cruise Speed
196 KTAS
Never-Exceed (VNE)
Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 250 KIAS
Max Structural Cruise (VNO)
Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 200 KIAS
Approach Speed
95 KIAS
Stall, Clean (VS1)
79 KIAS
Range
1310 NM
Service Ceiling
28,500 ft
Rate of Climb
252 - 1282 fpm
Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle
1,570 ft
Landing over 50 ft obstacle
2,343 ft

Engines

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Sources

Where the figures on this page come from. Aero Commander 680FL specifications are traced to published references; estimated values are flagged inline next to the figure.

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