JUNE 1995

HIDDEN TREASURE

	DON'T TELL ME ABOUT THE LOW TAS. DON'T TELL ME ABOUT THE LOW USEFUL LOAD AND
DON'T TELL ME ABOUT THE LOW SERVICE CEILING.

	THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN THE LIGHT SINGLE GENERAL AVIATION MARKET IS
THE ROCKWELL COMMANDER 112.

	IT'S SUPERIOR CABIN ROOMINESS, PROFESSIONAL LAYOUT AND HEAD TURNING LOOKS COMBINED
WITH THE RIGHT AFTERMARKET ADDITIONS MAKES THIS A UNIQUE AIRCRAFT. ONE WORTHY OF SECOND
CONSIDERATION BY ANYONE INTERESTED IN BEING THE PROUD OWNER OF AN AIRCRAFT THAT HAS
NEVER FAILED TO COMMAND ATTENTION ON ALL RAMPS AND ONE THAT WITH THE PROPER CARE AND
INVESTMENT WILL PROVIDE LASTING COMFORT, RELIABILITY AND UTILITY. 

IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS AND 300 HOURS SINCE I FOUND MY 1976 AC-112A SITTING IN A PIGEON INFESTED
DILAPIDATED HANGER IN EASTERN VIRGINIA.  BUT FROM THE FIRST LOOK AT THE FADED PAINT TO THE HEAVY LIST
TO PORT FROM A LOW STRUT, I KNEW THIS BIRD HAD PROMISE.

AFTER NEARLY TWO MONTHS OF MUCH NEEDED TLC, WHICH INCLUDED HOURS OF 
RUBBING,BUFFING, RETIGHTENING AND THOROUGH INSPECTION OF EVERY NUT AND 
BOLT, MY 112A WAS AS GOOD AS ALMOST NEW.

		TO THE RIGHT INDIVIDUALS THE SHEAR PRIDE IN FLYING AN AIRCRAFT WITH SUCH DRAMATIC 
LINES IS REASON ENOUGH FOR OWNERSHIP.  BUT WHAT REALLY STANDS THIS AIRCRAFT APART 
FROM THE REST IS THE COMFORT AND ROOM OF THE COMMANDER AIRCRAFT.  THERE NO HITTING
EACH OTHER IN THE HEAD WHEN YOU STRETCH AND NO "MAN, AM I IN A CAN" FEELING.  
FOR THIS OWNER, THAT IN ITSELF, THIS A MAJOR POINT WHEN ONE STARTS CONSIDERING 
SITTING 4.5 HOURS NEXT TO SOMEONE WHO MAY NOT BE YOUR WIFE.

	THE WORD HAS ALWAYS BEEN "IT ONLY DOES 130 KTS TRUE AT BEST AND TOPS OUT AROUND 
10 THOUSAND. CONSIDER THIS IN YOUR PREPURCHASE PLANNING PROCESS... 
YOU CAN HAVE A C-112 FOR AROUND 36-40 THOUSAND.  THEN ADD AN AFTERMARKET 
TURBONORMALIZING/ INTERCOOLER KIT AND SPEED GAPS AT A REASONABLE COST.
(AVAILABLE FROM ROBIN MILEY OF RCM NORMALIZING INC.  BIG PINEY WYOMING.) 
	THIS TURBONORMALIZING COMBINED WITH ITS INTERCOOLER PROVIDES
	YOUR MANIFOLD SEA LEVEL PRESSURE THROUGH IT'S CERTIFIED CEILING WHILE HAVING
	ZERO EFFECT ON YOUR LYCOMINGS TBO

	NOW YOU HAVE AN AIRCRAFT CAPABLE OF 180 MPH TAS AND CLIMBS EASILY TO 16,500 FEET FOR $50,000. 
 DO THE AIRCRAFT COMPARISON MATH AND YOU'LL BE IMPRESSED.
GIVEN THERE IS NO INCREASE IN USEFUL LOAD WITH THIS ADDITION IT STILL IS A REMARKABLE 
AIRCRAFT CAPABLE OF GETTING YOU OUT OF TIGHT SPOTS AT HIGH DENSITY AIRPORTS, 
CLIMBING ABOVE THE MAJORITY OF THE EASTERN AFTERNOON SUMMER BUILDUPS AND THE 
OFTEN IMC SMOG LAYER THAT SEEMS TO RE GROWING HIGHER EVERY YEAR.

	THE ABILITY TO SIT ABOVE IT ALL TRULY ENHANCES THE FLYING EXPERIENCE.

	THE ROCKWELL AIRCRAFT IS EXTREMELY SOLID, STABLE IN FLIGHT, LANDS LIKE A DREAM
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO ALL OUR FAMILIES, IT ALWAYS GETS YOU HOME.  IT IS THE PERFECT 
AIRCRAFT FOR THE RETIRED COUPLE OR THE SMALL FAMILY WITH CHILD.BUT,
 BUYER BEWARE, THE COMMANDER 112 DOES NOT DO IT ALL, 
NO AIRCRAFT DOES. SO BE REALISTIC WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND DETERME YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS, 
DESIRES AND INVESTMENT LIMITS.
FOR THIS HAPPY OWNER, MY CCMMANDER 112A IS ONE OF PURE PRIDE, CONFIDENCE AND EXPECTATIONS.

SINCERLY

F. SNYDER SMEL,  CFII,     COMM 14,OOOHRS/ AOPA 00758541
K.VIERA      SMEL,  INSTC, COMM     1,000HRS/ AOPA 010839248