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Description
| Manufacturer: | Aero Commander | |
| Base model: | U-4 | |
| Designation: | U-4 | |
| Version: | B | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1952 | |
| Basic role: | Utility | |
| Crew: | 2 Crew + up to 5 passengers | |
| See Also: | ||
Specifications
| Length: | 34' 4.5" | 10.4 m | |
| Height: | 14' 9.5" | ||
| Wingspan: | 44' 0" | 13.4 m | |
| Wingarea: | 242.5 sq ft | 22.5 sq m | |
| Empty Weight: | 4,300 lb | ||
| Gross Weight: | 7,000 lb | ||
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 2 | ||
| Powerplant: | Lycoming GSO-480-A\A6 | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 350 | ||
Performance
| Range: | 1,500 miles | ||
| Cruise Speed: | 230 mph | ||
| Max Speed: | 260 mph | ||
| Ceiling: | 24,300 ft | ||
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| Museum of Aviation | Warner Robins AFB | Georgia |
| United States Air Force Museum | Wright-Patterson | Ohio |
U-4B on display
Museum of Aviation | United States Air Force Museum |
Recent comments by our visitors
| scott main , FL | 12 aero commanders were purchased in 1955 by the USAF. I believe I have the only flying example left. Serial number 55-4638. Surplused in 1973, it was operated by the University of Oaklahoma for many years. I purchased it in 1995. I am repairing Hurricane damage and the plane flew August 19. First flight in 6 years. I have gotten most reliable information from the Eisenhower Museum. They have been most helpful. Thanks to them. I would appreciate any information regarding these planes. Particularly original photos. If someone out there has info on the original paint color I would appreciate input. Keep em flying. Scottmain2003@aol.com 08/22/2007 @ 20:08 [ref: 17725] |
| Barry J. Collman HIGH WYCOMBE, OK | The U-4B (formerly L-26C) was the Aero Commander Model 680, powered by two Geared, Supercharged, Lycoming GSO-480-A1A6 or -B1A6 engines.
The example pictured at the Robins Museum is NOT a former USAF aircraft. It is a Model 680F, with the 'Speedline' nacelles and that Model never saw service with either the US Air Force or Army. It was a former drug-runner, confiscated and used as N37948 by the US Customs, being on display with a fictitious USAF serial "63-7948" being a variation on that former civil registration mark. The example at the Wright-Patterson Museum is Serial Number 680-315-10, "55-4647". It sistership, 680-317-12, "55-4648" is now with the Wedell-Williams Museum, in Patterson, Louisiana. The Model 560A was designated as an L-26B, later as a U-4A. Barry J. Collman Aero Commander Specialist Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd 07/14/2007 @ 09:27 [ref: 17104] |
| Stephen Ruby Oshkosh, WI | Gentlemen:
Regarding the U4-B neither the Air Force or any military branch utilized the Shrike. The U4-B was a 560-A model Commander by the time it was picked up by the military. These particular "commanders" utilized the Lycoming GO-480 engines of (275h.p.) later models had 295h.p. The Aero Commander 680E was the last of the "bath-tub" nacelle versions used by them.. By 1959 Aero Design of Bethany, Oklahoma had cleaned up the airframe to include the new "speed-nacelles" found in all current "Shrikes".. President Dwight D. Eisenhower flew in one because he was so impressed with it's safety record, in particular, it's single-engine safety margins. The prototype flew from Bethany,OK to Washington D.C. with the left propeller removed and stored in the baggage compartment. Ted Smith and Gordon Israel had fabricated one of the nicest Business Twins of the period. All Commanders exhibit fantastic flying qualities, rock-solid and stable ideal for IFR operations. Blue Skies, International Helio Assoc. 06/30/2005 @ 15:06 [ref: 10633] |
| Matt Doyle Greenfield, OH | The USAF only ever had 2 U-4B's. I worked on both of them at Peterson Field (now Peterson AFB), CO in 1970, '71 and '72. The USAF Museum now has 1 of them, serial # unknown. I wonder why they don't know which 1 they have and where the other is. At the time I worked on them, they were used by the USAF Academy for parachute training, pilot training and occasionly for VIP transport.
If anyone reading this knows where the other U-4B is, I'd appreciate a note by email. 11/05/2001 @ 01:12 [ref: 3561] |
| Keirn , NC | This is the military version of the Aero Commander 520
with Lycoming geared engines. The Shrike has Lycoming IO540's of 290 HP. each. 09/12/2001 @ 16:58 [ref: 3168] |
| brohammi , TX | this aircraft is the military verision of the 500 shrike. 08/13/2001 @ 16:27 [ref: 2912] |
Recent photos uploaded by our visitors
