680V, 690A, 690B’s for sale!

[Bruce Byerly]

A few nice, current and active -5 planes for sale at realistic prices with engines from fresh to limited time remaining. Give me a call: 309-397-2525

[donv]

Are you selling a 680V, or are you talking about Adam's?

What is the price range for a decent -5 690A/B these days?

[Bruce Byerly]

Different planes but here’s one for $275,000;

General Information: 1967 Turbine Aero Commander 680V with TPE331-1-151K Conversion (575 SHP) 337 Gallons useable. Complete Logs. Extra parts, spare engine, props and more.  Also, have available another 680V, could be a package deal.  On Part 135 ticket flying.
 
Equipment Specifications:
​Registration Number:​​N111SK
​Serial Number:​​​1710-85​​​​​​ ​
​Year:​​​​1967​​​​​
​Manufacturer:​​​Aero Commander​​​​
​Model:​​​​680V​​​​​​
​Location:​​​Twin Falls, ID​​​
​Condition:​​​Used​​​​​​
​Flight Rules:​​​VFR/IFR​​​
​Number of Seats:​​8​​
 
Detailed Description​
Airframe:
​Total Time Air Frame:​​ 8,511 Hrs.
 
Engines:​
​Engine Model:​​​TPE 331-1-151K (575 SHP)
​Total Time #1 Engine:​​9,829 Hrs. TSN S/N: P-2611C
​Since Overhaul:​​​1,669 Hrs. (2017)
​Total Time Since Hot Section:​1,669 Hrs. (5400 Hr. TBO/ 1800 Hr. Hot Section)
 
​Total Time #2 Engine:​​9530 Hrs. TSN S/N: P-26019
​Time Since Overhaul:​​1,669 Hrs. (2017)
​Total Time Since Hot Section:​1,669 Hrs. (5400 Hr. TBO/ 1800 Hr. Hot Section)​​​​​
Props:
​Prop Model:​​​Hartzell – HC-B3TN-5K
​Total Time Propellor #1:​5,238 Hrs.
​Time Since Overhaul:​​627 Hrs. (1/2020)
​Total Time Propellor #2:​5,238 Hrs.
​Time Since Overhaul:​​627 Hrs. (1/2020)
​
Modifications/Conversions:​
​Sofie Freon Air Conditioning system (337)
​Installation of AIResearch TPE331-1-151 (STC)
​Solid State DC Voltage Regulators (STC)
​Hydraulics converted from Skydrol to MIL-H-5606 (STC)
​EI Digital EGT Gauges (STC)
​EI Digital Voltage/Ammeters (STC)
​Aft gear well doors removed (STC)
​AeroDyne Commander-Aero Winglets
​Cleveland Conversion Wheel and Brake Assembly Kits (STC)
​Precise Flight Pulselite Landing/Taxi/Recognition Light System (STC)
​Inertia Reel Shoulder Harness on both pilot and co-pilot seats.
​Whelen Rotating Beacon and 3 Position Lights (STC)
​Precise Flight Pulse Lights (STC)
​EPA system installed.
​Honeywell Engines TPE331-1-151K (STC)
​Hartzell Propellors (STC)
​Auxiliary Outboard Fuel Tanks (STC)
​Bergman Camera door (STC)
​
Avionics/Radios:​​​​
​Audio Panel:  ​​Garmin 345​
​GPS/Nav/Comm 1:​Garmin GNS 530W​
​GPS/Nav/Comm 2:​Garmin GNS 430W
​Comm 3:​​Garmin SL-40​​
​Auto Pilot:​​S-Tec 65​​​​​​​
​Transponder:  ​​GTX-330ES (ADSB Out)
​TAWS:​​​Garmin 530W
​TCAD:​​​Avidyne 9900BX TAS
​EGT:​​​Alcor Analog​
​Marker Beacon:​​PS Engineering MB10 Marker Beacon​
​​​​
Exterior:
​Colors: White with Orange and Black accent striping
​5/10 Condition.
​Boots in good condition
​
Interior:
​Colors: Grey leather with grev fabric side panels and wool carpet
​7/10 Condition.
 
Inspection Status:
​Annual Inspection Due:​​​3/20/2024
​Spar Inspection Completed - Due:​03/22/2025​
​Transponder Test Due:​​​3/14/2024
​IFR Cert Due:​​​​3/14/2024​
​ACK E04 ELT 406 Battery Due:​6/25​
​5-Year Gear inspection Due:​​5/2025​
​Weight & Balance:​​​Useful Load 3,082 lbs.​​
​Complete Logbooks from New
 
 
PERFORMANCE:
Performance:
Speed: 240-250kts
Fuel burn: 64gal/hr mid teens, under 60gal/hr in the twenties.
Fuel capacity: 337gal
Max ceiling: 25000ft
Max differential: 4.2psi
Max range: 1200nm

[Bruce Byerly]

Are you selling a 680V, or are you talking about Adam's?

What is the price range for a decent -5 690A/B these days?

690A’s and 690B’s, really depends on engine time and so many other factors but there’s a pretty strong plane with nice engines to be had in the $500-650 range.  A nice one is hard to beat in that range but they are few and far between.

[donv]

It's interesting, because $275k for a 680V which will be due for hot sections in 100 or so hours seems to me to be not nearly as good a deal as a 690A for $500k or so.

690A is just such an improved airplane over the 680V.

[Adam Frisch]

Mine is now also unfortunately for sale.

https://www.controller.com/listing/for-sale/227345649/1966-commander-680v-turboprop-aircraft

[Bruce Byerly]

Well let’s not let the hots slow us down. Low time engines and spares are avail and another flying plane. Mix and match.

[donv]

Are things moving at all?

[Ndege]

Just sold my Grand Rennaissance 690. Those looking to buy, and also current owners, should be aware of the potential for upcoming mandatory crack inspections. I just spent $71,000 to have the tail cracks fixed. Also, the maintenance costs of this aircraft have been way higher than I ever expected. I ended up paying over $50,000 a year on average, this after having Winner Aviation perform a very thorough pre purchase. Perhaps I chose the wrong maintenance company for annuals and the sale - Eagle Creek?
These are great performing aircraft and a pleasure to fly but the cost of upkeep became untenable. I ended up spending almost $140,000 to comply with the new buyers pre purchase repairs. This on a supposedly airworthy aircraft. I am sorry to see such a great aircraft go but relieved that I no longer have to spend that sort of money to keep it flying.

[Bruce Byerly]

Just sold my Grand Rennaissance 690. Those looking to buy, and also current owners, should be aware of the potential for upcoming mandatory crack inspections. I just spent $71,000 to have the tail cracks fixed. Also, the maintenance costs of this aircraft have been way higher than I ever expected. I ended up paying over $50,000 a year on average, this after having Winner Aviation perform a very thorough pre purchase. Perhaps I chose the wrong maintenance company for annuals and the sale - Eagle Creek?
These are great performing aircraft and a pleasure to fly but the cost of upkeep became untenable. I ended up spending almost $140,000 to comply with the new buyers pre purchase repairs. This on a supposedly airworthy aircraft. I am sorry to see such a great aircraft go but relieved that I no longer have to spend that sort of money to keep it flying.

I guess I don’t understand how this is supposed to work. When did spending $50k per year to maintain a 300 knot plane become an unexpected thing? It costs about double that plus the effectively mandatory engine hourly payments of $500/hour to maintain a brand new jet of the exact same size.  So with a 50 year old plane, it sounds like you may have had great value?

What did you expect?

[donv]

$50k is a little high in a normal year (no gear or prop overhauls, or improvements), but not crazy. At least not with an airplane that has been well maintained all along and kept up to date.

I am curious about the tail cracks. I have heard whispers from several different sources, but nothing definitive.

[Ndege]

Regarding my post about tail area cracking and repairs.

Here are the areas that had cracking.
1.   LT trim cable cut-out crack F.S. 386 frame
2.   Fwd LT side of F.S 409 frame attachment bracket
3.   Aft LT side of F.S. 409 frame

Regarding any upcoming required inspections- I have no other information on this except what I have heard from Sales and maintenance shops that work on Commanders. I understand that Conquests and Mitsubishis already have required inspections regarding corrosion and fatigue damage. Great to hear you have not seen any evidence of cracking like I experienced.
Regarding maintenance costs - having read many reviews on Commanders even on this site, I expected $15-30 as the average yearly maintenance costs, excluding either the prop or gear inspections. Perhaps I was naive as to the real upkeep costs or I was just unlucky with the items that needed attention.
Anyway I agree that the aircraft provides great performance and efficiency. Really enjoyed owning and flying it.

Happy holidays to all and good flying.

[donv]

Yes, I think costs have gone up a bit in the time I have owned my airplane. Used to be $15-30k, as you describe, back in 2011-12, but not any more. Part of it is things get old and break, part of it is parts and labor have gone up substantially.

[Adam Frisch]

Honestly, as time goes by with not that much interest even after reducing price twice, I think I'm going to give it until June or something and just keep her if she hasn't sold by then. Take her off market. I get it - it needs the right buyer, is old, yadda, yadda etc, but the value for me is now greater than anything I can replace her with; the plan was always to go back to a steam gauge Aerostar 601P after mine sold, and perhaps have a few extra greens in the bank, but looking at the market for Aerostars most of them are even more than my Commander these days. And my Commander goes faster, is roomier, more capable and a known entity - so why just trade money?

This one has all the things I need, and none of the fluff that I don't need. Will see what happens in the next two months.

[donv]

I think that's the right call. As a former Aerostar owner, and I admit I liked the airplane quite a bit, the Commander is just much better at just about everything.