Twin Commander

General Category => Introduction => Topic started by: WilsonRiggan on September 22, 2017, 07:04:09 pm

Title: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: WilsonRiggan on September 22, 2017, 07:04:09 pm
Good day, All.

Wilson Riggan here... a proud 685 owner since 2014, serial number 12016.  As with any airplane that sat more than it flew for 8 years or so, I good a "good deal" on the airplane, but then ended up with a restoration project (18 months).  I bought it from Gary Gadberry, who at the time had 3 of them for sale.  It has turned out to be a solid, comfortable airplane that I truly enjoy flying.

Bottom line... I am thrilled with the airplane.  More to come on the project, etc... but other than the minor gremlins that always plague an airplane with as many systems, I have had no worries about the plane's basic performance.

Regards to all,

Wilson Riggan
N1021
Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: Adam Frisch on September 22, 2017, 08:51:22 pm
Welcome Wilson! 685 owners are far and few between, so always nice to see someone caring and flying these birds! Please post some photos of your bird.

They have the yearly Commander fly-in this weekend in Kansas (I could unfortunately not attend) which you probably might be too late to attend, but hopefully you can come join us next year!


Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: ghancock on September 22, 2017, 10:17:34 pm
Yes, welcome to the forum and Commander Ownership.  Post some pictures.

We're in Kansas City at the fly in and will post a few pictures in the general section on that.  We're having a great time though.

Glenn
Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: Sergio Vega on September 23, 2017, 12:59:24 am
Hi Wilson! I'm the owner of another 685, N6517V, bought it also from Gary Gadberry. It's really nice to hear that you have a positive opinion about your airplane considering all the mixed reviews concerning this specific model.  I haven't flown mine that much, but those few trips I've taken in this airplane have been very enjoyable also. Where are you based?


Sergio Vega
Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: ghancock on September 25, 2017, 10:29:01 am
Sergio,

I was hoping you'd make it up to the flyin.  Why have you not been flying much?  Are you having problems with anything?

Glenn
Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: Sergio Vega on September 25, 2017, 03:58:09 pm
Sergio,

I was hoping you'd make it up to the flyin.  Why have you not been flying much?  Are you having problems with anything?

Glenn


There's nothing I would've loved more than to take my airplane to the Fly-In and meet all of you guys in person. But... I haven't flown it that much, it's currently out of annual and mostly out of everything. My buddy that helped me fly it over here to Calexico, CA., from Chattanooga has been swamped with work and personal stuff, and I'm not checked out in it. I've been trying to take it over to Morris but for some reason or another that has not happened.

I'm currently in the decision making process of either: A).- Selling it so that I can buy something that I CAN FLY; or B).- Keeping it and dedicate some time off of work so that I can get my ratings (I only have a SE PPL) and hopefully get checked out in it.

Another dilemma is that since I bought it nobody has really gone over it with a fine-toothed comb. I got it with the Athens, TN, annual and that's about it. I don't know what I would do if this turns out to be an 18-month restoration project just like Wilson with his 685. If that should be the case, then I might just call it quits.


Sergio 

 

Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: ghancock on September 25, 2017, 09:43:00 pm
Sorry to hear that.  Sell it before it becomes too bad to move and dies though.  You probably should have thought that out before hand. :-)  Getting your multi-engine rating in a Commander will probably be a bit difficult since not many FAA guys are signed off to fly them.  A Cessna 310 would have been a much better first purchase.

Good luck either way,

Glenn
Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: Sergio Vega on September 26, 2017, 12:15:19 am
Any other airplane would have been a much better purchase, but the allure of the Twin Commander was something I just couldn't resist. Maybe another model? Don't know...
Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: Adam Frisch on September 26, 2017, 09:08:42 am
It's not a great plane to train in with it's geared engines. Shutting down engines and restarting them constantly is better done on a simpler plane or a rental. Then again, a ME rating can be done in a weekend. When I bought my 520 I was not ME. Did it in a Seneca (I still have traumatic nightmares of flying that). Went up to JimBob Metzger's home airport and had him check me out in it. Was great.

Sergio, just some friendly advise, the 685's can be unforgiving on maintenance if they've been sitting. So make a choice if you want to keep her and fly her or get rid of her before she sits too long and it gets hard to bring her back or sell.
Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: Sergio Vega on September 26, 2017, 03:55:00 pm
Thanks for the reply Adam, both you and Glenn have always been very helpful.

Sergio
Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: Dick Goetze on September 26, 2017, 04:57:26 pm
Wilson,

Welcome to our Twin Commander group.  I also am a relative new comer to the group, although I have been flying out 690 for about five years. You will get great assistance and advice from fellow Commander pilots.

Good luck with your 685.

God Bless America

Dick
Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: Dhavillandpilot on September 26, 2017, 05:03:59 pm
I understand your dilemma

My experience with the 685 is different. Once I got a few bugs out of it then it was fine.

BUT. there is only two pilots who fly it, we do around 400 hours annually and do print active maintenance every possible time.

The most niggling problem Ive had was the alternate engine air cable on the pedestal broke at the handle end. Cannot get a replace,England part and had to have it made. The fitting was a nightmare as it runs thru the overhead main cabin area.

The other problem I keep having is the taco gen. As it is near the turbo exhaust it gets hot and fails about every 150 hours. I always keep a spare in case of AOG

Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: WilsonRiggan on September 28, 2017, 05:51:45 pm
Hi Wilson! I'm the owner of another 685, N6517V, bought it also from Gary Gadberry. It's really nice to hear that you have a positive opinion about your airplane considering all the mixed reviews concerning this specific model.  I haven't flown mine that much, but those few trips I've taken in this airplane have been very enjoyable also. Where are you based?


Sergio Vega

Hi, Sergio.

Thanks for reaching out.  I appreciate all the welcoming remarks from fellow Commander folks.  I am based in Stuart, FL (KSUA).

The main reason my purchase turned into a restoration project was the fact that I took it to a shop and asked for the kind of fine-tooth-comb going-over that you referred to.  There were a bunch of small things... then they found the big thing - cracks in the crank case of one of the engines.  Overall, I'm thrilled, as it's a much better airplane than when I first got it.

I would love to talk with you about our shared experiences.  I might be able to help provide a sense of perspective.  I also echo the sentiment about it not being an appropriate airplane to train in.  The things you have to do with engines in multi-engine training would destroy the GTSIO-520's.

I created an email address for the plane, so feel free to make contact directly:  plane@N1021.net.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards to all,

Wilson
Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: Sergio Vega on September 29, 2017, 12:51:03 am
I'll contact you for sure! Thanks


Sergio
Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: SteveLevin on September 29, 2017, 03:13:17 am
I too would recommend getting your ME rating in something less complex and a touch slower (gives you more time to identify and correct mistakes before busting the checkride).  Why pound on big expensive engines for training?  Even the military doesn't do that, and they are spending other people's money! :) :) :)

Steve
Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: Dhavillandpilot on September 29, 2017, 04:50:26 am
Absolutely DONT do your ME in the 685.

When we check out pilots, we use a duchess or baron for the asymmetric flying.

When it comes to check riding on the 685. We do stop to take off then full stop landing the LONG taxi to ensure turbos are wound down the another take off full stop. Also use a long runway and limit the stake of to around 40 inches NOT MAX TOP. In this way you will keep the engines in one piece.

Also set up a SOP for the power settings and for power reductions such as 1 in each 3 minutes. It will mean planning your descent but helps preserve the engines.

Cheers

PS. I did my ME rating in a Locheed 12A. Initial tail wheel and ME all in one.
Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: ghancock on September 29, 2017, 07:40:14 am
I bet you passed that check ride just in the coolness factor alone.  I think that is called cheating.. :-)

Glenn
Title: Re: First Post - 685 Owner
Post by: Dhavillandpilot on September 29, 2017, 08:22:35 pm
Glenn,

At the time I had a whole 120 hours TT

The part I remember most strongly was the starts. You had someone outside with a fire extinguisher ready for the induction fire.

Absolutely loved the old 12A flew like my 685 once airborne, albeit not as fast.