Fuji/Rockwell Commander 700/710

1975

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Fuji/Rockwell Commander 700/710

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

3-View 
Fuji/Rockwell Commander 700/710A three-view drawing (1800 x 906)

Specification 
 CREW1
 PASSENGERS6
 ENGINE2 x 340hp Avco Lycoming TIO-540-R2AD turbocharged flat-six engines
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight3151 kg6947 lb
  Empty weight2134 kg4705 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan12.94 m42 ft 5 in
  Length12.03 m39 ft 6 in
  Height4.05 m13 ft 3 in
  Wing area18.6 m2200.21 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed409 km/h254 mph
  Range2226 km1383 miles

Comments1-20 21-40 41-60
captbilly, e-mail, 02.12.2008 00:03

Main problem with the plane is that it is a bit under powered. The 710 was gojng to be essentially the same plane with 450hp engines instead of the 340 Hp lycomings. Single engine performance is not good at all, even worse than typical piston twins. The cabin is great, about the same size as a King Air 90. I also believe there is an issue with total time on the airframe. Since the manufacturer has never bothered to update the certification the airframe is theoretically worn out at 10,000 hours. I suspect you could still use it for personal transportation after 10,000 hrs. but it would no longer be legal for part 135.

reply

Thomas Lindemeyer, e-mail, 12.10.2008 15:20

Gus: If you can find any additional information regarding this airplane, parts availability, etc., please share as I am looking at the possible purchase of a 700, but need to be sure we can keep in operations. Thanks. Thomas

reply

Gus Izurieta, e-mail, 29.10.2007 04:29

parts and components still easily. I am doing a good thing looking at possibly buying a 700? I would appreciate speaking with someone who may know well this airplane, pilot, owner, AP
Thanks. Gus

reply

1-20 21-40 41-60

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