|
| Fuji Heavy Industries of Japan began design of this pressurized wide-body twin engine business aircraft in 1971 as part of a diversification programme for their general aviation aircraft line. Three years later the company entered into an agreement with Rockwell International's General Aviation Division whereby the American company would share development, and would assume responsibility for marketing the aircraft in the US.
Six development and certification prototypes were planned, three in each country. The prototype Fuji FA-300 flew for the first time on November 13, 1975; the first Rockwell-assembled Model 700 made its first flight on February 25, 1976, and following US FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) certification in 1977, the aircraft replaced the heavier Commander 685 on the Rockwell production line.
With its capacious fuselage the Rockwell 700 offers an uncommonly roomy cabin for 6 to 7 passengers, with comfort rivalling that of larger aircraft. The pressurization system maintains sea level altitude conditions to 3810m and provides an 1830m cabin environment to 6100m. Customer deliveries began behind schedule late in 1978, but the well engineered airframe proved heavy and underpowered with the 340hp Lycoming piston engines, and, with a full load of passengers, range was severely compromised for all but short-haul journeys. The fuselage is constructed mainly from aluminium alloy and the tail unit has swept-back vertical surfaces and shallow dorsal fin. There is a built-in airstair in the left side of the fuselage. In Japan an uprated 450hp version known as the Fuji FA-300 Kai (Rockwell 710) made its first flight on December 22, 1976 and has since appeared with a number of modifications, including Whitcomb winglets. Rockwell have not taken up their option to produce this aircraft.
By early 1980 deliveries of Rockwell 700s had totalled only 29 aircraft, and the American company announced the termination of its joint development and marketing agreement. Rockwell have continued to support Model 700 operators and have continued to assemble from existing shipsets of Japanese components during 1980, but any future production will be concentrated in Japan.
Bill Gunston "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Commercial Aircraft", 1980
 | A three-view drawing (1800 x 906) |
| CREW | 1 |
| PASSENGERS | 6 |
| ENGINE | 2 x 340hp Avco Lycoming TIO-540-R2AD turbocharged flat-six engines |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 3151 kg | 6947 lb |
| Empty weight | 2134 kg | 4705 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 12.94 m | 42 ft 5 in |
| Length | 12.03 m | 39 ft 6 in |
| Height | 4.05 m | 13 ft 3 in |
| Wing area | 18.6 m2 | 200.21 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 409 km/h | 254 mph |
| Range | 2226 km | 1383 miles |
| zhaoman, 21.06.2011 06:34 Write me for parts, i'm taking my plane apart and i will provide most of the parts you need. reply | | Roger Battistoni, e-mail, 03.01.2011 18:32 I am the highest time 700 pilot in the US. I am also the former owner of serial number 13 until we moved up to King Air C90. If anyone has questions about this aircraft, please feel free to email me or call me. I have purchased this airplanes for a lot of customers both in the US and around the world. I know where most of the parts are in the US as well as the large stash of part in Canada. reply | | John M, e-mail, 20.11.2010 01:37 I have some experience with this aircraft. I do have some parts for it also. Always a good solid airplane - most systems can still be supported. If looking for parts /support I will try my best to help. reply | | Jorge Waring, e-mail, 19.11.2010 01:12 GPH 45 Commander 700 to 10000ft and 200 Knts to 75% and have to planes for sale 1989 age reply | |
| | Ernie Robinson, e-mail, 18.11.2010 05:22 I worked for Rockwell back in the 70's and 80's. I installed the engines on all of the Fuji 700's produced at the Bethany Oklahoma plant. Glad to see these aircraft are still around. If anyone has photos they could pass along I would really enjoy seeing them. You can't imagine the feeling of watching the first fight of an aircraft and knowing you had a hand in buiding that craft. reply | | Klaus Fetzer, e-mail, 16.09.2010 12:09 We have operated this plane from 1986 -1998 in germany,operating all over europe.Though a little bit limited in range or useble load,good tool,never an AD,or service problems. reply | | Dan Pavel, e-mail, 29.05.2010 19:11 I WAS THE ORGINAL PILOT (NEW) AND OPERATED THE AIRCRAFT FOR
SEVEN YEARS. Ser Nn 70027.
Is This Aircraft still in service? reply | | Santos Seda, e-mail, 10.05.2010 04:33 Saludos tengo enmente comprar un 700 o 421 el700 tiene range cuantas millas de alcanze tienen alguien me puede informar porfavor reply | | Araceli, e-mail, 19.03.2010 02:52 Hello, i would like to know if i can buy it?
thank you, hopping answer. reply |
| Oliver, e-mail, 09.03.2010 15:59 Can anybody know the average fuel burn for normal flight? Perhaps even min. runway length?
Thanks, Oliver reply |
| Pilotb59, e-mail, 29.01.2010 02:43 I am interested in buying an 700. Is there a Company here in Canada that has experience with this aircraft and willing to do a pre-purchase and if passes, an import inspection? reply | | Dennis Snow, e-mail, 06.01.2010 16:23 I have (1) Overhauled Cleveland nose wheel part number: 40-76E for the 700 Commander. It has a Transport Canada TCCA24-0078 authorized release certificate from Hope Aero Proppeller & Components dated: Jun 20, 2008. I will take $375.00 for the wheel. If you have any questions or concerns please email or call Legacy Aviation Services, Inc at 405-350-2100 Fax:405-350-3793. reply | | Mike Hoyle, e-mail, 23.10.2009 06:39 Just purchased a 700 and it is completing an annual. Looking forward to fly. Definately the most bang for the buck and it's a unique piece. reply | | Matt, e-mail, 29.07.2009 17:08 Buy and Excalibur 800 Queen Air and you will be happier. The speed, fuel burn, range, size, maintainance, and parts availability is much better. You also do not have the underpowered turbo charged engines to deal with. reply | |
| | Jonathan, e-mail, 10.07.2009 00:01 Anyone know how to get the tech drawings for the Commander 700 / 710?
Anyone have one for sale (or Donation) to a 501c3 Non-profit - my guess is the writeoof is more than todays market value!*
Legalise: Please contact your tax advisor! :) reply | | Michael Christopher, e-mail, 21.06.2009 23:34 Looking for information on this aircraft? Any suggestions on where to look ? Also lookingto see what it would take to upgrade a 700 to a 710 besides the engines.
Thanks,
Michael reply | | ward faes, e-mail, 15.06.2009 19:50 Wat is the unit cost??? reply | | Pierre-Andre Manseau, e-mail, 10.04.2009 09:05 Write me for parts, i'm taking my plane apart and i will provide most of the parts you need. reply | | Brian, e-mail, 31.03.2009 17:05 I have a customer considering buying a 700 who and where can parts be obtained. reply | | Pierre-Andre Manseau, e-mail, 18.01.2009 15:09 I own a 1978 Commander 700 with 9000 TT on it. The performance are great if you consider that they are piston engines in a Turbine size plane. Even the Golden eagle 421 is smaller. It's also certified to climb 200ft /min on one engine full load that is 6947lbs and there are no critical engine like most of the twins. On normal operation I get between 900-1100ft /min. With almost the same specifications of the Golden Eagle 421 but with a bigger cabin. Yes it fly's may be 20kts less than the 421 but it cost half the price to own and maintain. It's also Know Ice certified and fly's like a charm in icing conditions. The autopilot with FD will bring you 200ft over the runway in the worst weather conditions. The fact that the plane is big and use piston only the take-off should be manage differently. You need to let the plane take speed before you climb to ease the engines at 37" manifold instead of 44". But if you need it's also certified to climb at max power all the way to 16,000ft then you can go up to 21,000ft. It's certified to 25,000ft but it's costly to bring it there. Well it's a great airplane for the money. reply |
|
Do you have any comments?
|
| 
All the World's Rotorcraft |
Oliver
20
reply