Commander Aircraft Company 114b

Single Piston

The Commander 114B represents the refined evolution of Rockwell's original Commander 112 design, a four-seat single-engine retractable that emerged in the 1970s as a direct competitor to Beechcraft's Bonanza and Mooney's M20 series. After Rockwell exited general aviation, the type certificate passed through Gulfstream American and eventually to Commander Aircraft Company, which introduced the 114B variant with improved useful load, upgraded avionics provisions, and detail refinements to the original all-metal low-wing airframe. Powered by a Lycoming IO-540 producing 260 horsepower, the 114B cruises at roughly 160 knots true airspeed with a range exceeding 800 nautical miles, offering respectable cross-country performance in the owner-flown single-engine category. What distinguishes the Commander from its peers is the spacious cabin—genuinely comfortable for four adults with baggage—and docile handling characteristics that made it popular among step-up buyers transitioning from fixed-gear singles. The type never achieved the production volumes of Cessna or Piper equivalents, and manufacturing ceased in the 1980s, making it a relatively uncommon sight on the ramp today. Most survivors serve owner-pilots and small charter operators who value the combination of speed, load-carrying ability, and straightforward systems. The 114B's operating envelope is conventional for the class: never-exceed speed of 200 knots, max structural cruise of 169 knots, and stall speeds in the high 50-knot range with full flaps. SkyMeter has tracked 4 flights across 1 airframes and 1 operators, with BULLDOG AVIATION LLC the largest observed operator.