Today’s Top Aircraft For Sale Pick: 1978 Rockwell Commander 700

With better timing, this sleek, pressurized piston twin could have been a contender.

The Rockwell Commander 700 is a rare but well-equipped twin with interesting history. [Courtesy: Airside Aviation]

Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an aircraft that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

The 1970s were a vibrant time for general aviation, with sales growing and new designs regularly arriving on the market. One of the more interesting developments was Rockwell’s Commander 700 twin, which resulted from a collaboration with Fuji Heavy Industries, the company behind Subaru cars and a diverse range of transportation products.

The aircraft, sometimes called the Fuji-Rockwell Commander 700, reflects how the light twin market was evolving toward more capable and complex aircraft offering larger cabins with pressurization aimed at maximizing passenger comfort. A second version with more powerful engines called the 710 was in the works as well, but production was cut short when Rockwell sold its GA business to Gulfstream in 1979. While only a few dozen of the 700 series were built, there is support for them within the wider Commander and Aero Commander owner communities.

This 700 has an upgraded panel with modern avionics, including a Garmin GTN 750 and GNS 430 GPS, Aspen Pro 1000 primary flight display, GTX 345 ADS-B transponder, and King KFC 200 autopilot. Additional equipment includes deice boots, heated propellers, and heated windshield.

This aircraft has 7,982 hours on the airframe, with 392 hours on one of its 340 hp Lycoming TIO-540 engines and 880 on the other. Both propellers have logged 165.8 hours since overhaul. Paint and interior are original.

Pilots looking for a roomy, air-conditioned light twin that can fly high without passengers having to strap on supplemental oxygen should consider this Commander 700, especially if they like to spark conversation wherever they land. This unique airplane is available for $220,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Financial Group. For more information, email info@flyingfinancial.com.

Jonathan Welsh is a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4

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