Meet Aero Commander 500S Shrike Commander
Ted Smith’s Aero Commander line began with the piston-powered Model 520 in 1952. Twin Commander’s model history identifies the 500S Shrike as the final piston version produced, with the last aircraft completed in 1979. Bob Hoover’s aerial demonstrations gave the model a second public identity beyond its corporate-transport role.
History & design
The final piston Commander
Twin Commander traces the family to Smith’s Model 520 and records the last piston aircraft as a 500S built in 1979. It also identifies Hoover’s demonstration aircraft, now held by the National Air and Space Museum.
www.twincommander.com · Twin Commander Models ↗Twin Commander model history, piston series.
The Shrike developed from the 500U
Certified on 15 March 1968, the 500S retained the 500U airframe and aerodynamic performance while revising equipment and cabin details. Twin Commander lists a different heater and interior, a standard pilot door, a pointed nose and an increase in permitted baggage from 350 to 500 lb. These are useful distinctions within a family whose similar silhouettes can hide different equipment.
Bob Hoover made the Shrike familiar to airshow audiences through his precision flying demonstrations. His preserved aircraft connects the type with that particular career, rather than making aerobatic demonstration a description of everyday Commander operations.
Twin Commander Aircraft · 500S Shrike model history and specifications ↗Systems & details
Carenado’s navigation and automatic flight
The 500S listing identifies the original Aero Commander autopilot and X-Plane’s GNS530, with a dedicated autopilot-operation PDF among the supplied documents. These describe the installed simulator cockpit.
In your simulator
No released simulator product is listed for this aircraft in the developers reviewed. Announced products are excluded.
Manuals & resources
Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Developer documentation
500S SHRIKE AERO COMMANDER HD SERIES XPLANE 11 – Carenadowww.carenado.com · Carenado 500S features and included documents.Aircraft background
Twin Commander Modelswww.twincommander.com · Twin Commander model history, piston series.Aircraft documentation
500S Shrike model history and specificationsTwin Commander AircraftBuilt-in force-feedback profiles
Read the documentary basis, editable starting settings and remaining questions for the aircraft you fly. Each explanation refers to the exact profile revision shown.
Catalogue programme-20261011-v3 · 1 profile choice
Carenado 500S Shrike Commander
Carenado · Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Partial review
X-Plane 11
Ted Smith’s Aero Commander line began with the piston-powered Model 520 in 1952.
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