IATA ACPICAO AC68

Gulfstream/Rockwell (Aero) Commander

Gulfstream

TravelerPulse profile

Versatile twin-engine piston and turboprop business aircraft.

First flight

1948

Category

Light twin-engine piston/turboprop

Seating

5–7

Range

~1,900 km

Engines

Two piston or turboprop engines (varies by variant)

Status

Retired

The Aero Commander family, originally developed by Aero Design and Engineering Company in the late 1940s, became one of the most respected lines of twin-engine light aircraft in general aviation. The design featured a high-wing configuration with twin reciprocating or turboprop engines, offering good performance and reliability for executive and utility transport roles. The line changed hands several times, passing through Rockwell Standard, North American Rockwell, and eventually Rockwell International before the Shrike Commander and Turbo Commander variants were acquired by Gulfstream American in 1979, and later by Precision Airmotive. The aircraft served widely in corporate, charter, air taxi, and government roles throughout the mid-to-late twentieth century. The IATA code ACP and ICAO designator AC68 correspond specifically to the piston-powered Aero Commander 680-series variants. These aircraft were prized for their twin-engine safety margin, comfortable cabin, and ability to operate from shorter airstrips, making them popular with regional operators and private owners worldwide.

Notable operators

Widely used by corporate flight departments, air taxi operators, and government agencies rather than scheduled airlines.

Notable facts

›President Dwight D. Eisenhower flew in an Aero Commander, boosting the type's public profile.
›The original design by Ted Smith first flew in 1948 as the L-3805.
›The 680 series featured a distinctive high-wing twin layout with a spacious cabin.
›Gulfstream American acquired the Commander turboprop line in 1979.
›Hundreds of Aero Commanders remain on the civil registry and in active private use.