Credit
SDASM Archives · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified
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At a glance
Measured figures
Rockwell Aero Commander 500S · Length
Single source36 ft 9.75 in (11.22 m)[source]
Configuration
| Specification | Aero Commander 500 family | Aero L-59 Super Albatros |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Utility and business aircraft[source] | Military trainer aircraft COIN[source] |
| National origin | United States[source] | — |
| Manufacturer | Aero Design and Engineering Company Aero Commander Rockwell-Standard Corporation North American Rockwell Rockwell International Gulfstream Aerospace[source] | Aero Vodochody[source] |
| Status | Active[source] | Out of production, in service |
L-59E · Length
12.20 m (40 ft 0 in)[source]
Empty; Rockwell Aero Commander 500S · Empty weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; Rockwell Aero Commander 500S · Max takeoff weight
Single source4,635 lb (2,102 kg)[source]
6,750 lb (3,062 kg)[source]
Empty; L-59E · includes gun
Single sourceMaximum take-off; L-59E · Max takeoff weight
Single sourceCruise; Rockwell Aero Commander 500S · at 9,000 ft (2,750 m), 75% power, TAS
Single sourceMaximum; Rockwell Aero Commander 500S · at sea level ( TAS )
Single source215 mph (346 km/h, 187 kn) at sea level ( TAS )[source]
203 mph (326 km/h, 176 kn) at 9,000 ft (2,750 m), 75% power, TAS[source]
Maximum; L-59E · at 5,000 m (16,000 ft)
Single source865 km/h (537 mph, 467 kn) at 5,000 m (16,000 ft)[source]
Rockwell Aero Commander 500S · 2 × Lycoming IO-540 -E1B5 air-cooled flat-six piston engines each
Single source2 × Lycoming IO-540 -E1B5 air-cooled flat-six piston engines , 290 hp (216 kW) each[source]
L-59E · 1 × Lotarev DV-2 turbofan thrust
Single source1 × Lotarev DV-2 turbofan , 21.57 kN (4,850 lbf) thrust[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Number built | ~2,902 (1951 piston-engined, 951 turboprops)[source] | 80[source] |
|---|
| Manufactured | 1951–1986[source] | 1986–1996[source] |
|---|
| Introduction date | October 1952[source] | — |
|---|
| First flight | 23 April 1948 (Model L3085)[source] | 30 September 1986[source] |
|---|
| Developed into | IAI Westwind[source] | — |
|---|
| Capacity | four passengers[source] | — |
|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9.45:1[source] | — |
|---|
| Airfoil | NACA 23012 modified[source] | — |
|---|
| Stall speed | 68 mph (109 km/h, 59 kn) flaps and landing gear down, CAS[source] | 185 km/h (115 mph, 100 kn) (flaps down)[source] |
|---|
| Minimum control speed | 75 mph (121 km/h, 65 kn)[source] | — |
|---|
| Primary users | — | Czech Air Force Egyptian Air Force Tunisian Air Force[source] |
|---|
| Developed from | — | Aero L-39 Albatros[source] |
|---|
| Variant | — | Aero L-159 ALCA[source] |
|---|
| Fuel capacity | — | 1,537 L (406 US gal; 338 imp gal) including tip tanks[source] |
|---|
| Guns | — | one GSh-23L cannon in under-fuselage pod[source] |
|---|
| Hardpoints | — | four underwing hardpoints with a capacity of inner hardpoints 500 kg (1,100 lb)capacity, outer hardpoints 250 kg (550 lb)[source] |
|---|
| Country of origin | — | Czechoslovakia[source]Inventory Origin column; table 1, row 26, cell 2; revision 1374778711; retrieved 2026-10-01 |
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