The Fuji/Rockwell Commander 700 is a light transport
aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engine ...
which was a joint Japanese-American development between
Fuji Heavy Industries
is a Japanese multinational corporation and conglomerate primarily involved in both terrestrial and aerospace transportation manufacturing. It is best known for its line of Subaru automobiles. Founded in 1953, the company was formerly named ( ...
and
Rockwell International
Rockwell International was a major American manufacturing conglomerate involved in aircraft, the space industry, defense and commercial electronics, components in the automotive industry, printing presses, avionics and industrial products. R ...
. When Rockwell sold off the general aviation division the agreement was terminated.
Design and development
Design of the Commander 700 started in Japan in 1971 with the designation FA-300, and on 28 June 1974 Fuji signed a collaboration with Rockwell International to design and develop the aircraft as a joint venture. The aircraft was designated the Commander 700 for the North American market. The Commander 700 is a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a conventional tail unit and a retractable tricycle landing gear.
The aircraft is powered by two wing mounted Avco Lycoming turbocharged piston engines. The fuselage was designed to be pressurized with accommodation for two crew and four–six passengers.
The first prototype made its maiden flight at Fuji's
Utsunomiya
is the prefectural capital city of Tochigi Prefecture in the northern Kantō region of Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 519,223, and a population density of . The total area of the city is . Utsunomiya is famous for its '' gyoza' ...
factory on 13 November 1975 and the second aircraft, assembled by Rockwell, flew at
Bethany, Oklahoma
Bethany is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The community was founded in 1909 by followers of the Church of the Nazarene from Oklahoma City.
History
Bethany was founded July 2 ...
on 25 February 1976.
A parallel development was the Commander 710 with more powerful engines which first flew on 22 December 1976. In 1979 Rockwell International sold its General Aviation Division to
Gulfstream American
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation is an American aircraft company and a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics.
Gulfstream designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and services business jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 2,000 ...
and the agreement with Fuji was terminated. Fuji then acquired the worldwide manufacturing and marketing rights for the aircraft.
Variants
;Commander 700
:Powered by two 340hp (254kW)
Avco Lycoming TIO-540-R2AD engines.
;Commander 710
:Powered by two 450hp (335kW) Avco Lycoming TIO-540 engines.
Specifications (700)
See also
References
;Notes
;Sources
*
* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1920
External links
Commander 700 Support Network Wiki - NO LONGER MONITORED
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fuji Rockwell Commander 700
FA-300
1970s international civil utility aircraft
Commander 700
Low-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1975
Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft