Development and Design Philosophy
The Commander 720 emerged from designer Ted Smith's vision to expand the successful Commander line into the pressurized aircraft segment. Smith, a former Douglas Aircraft Company project engineer, had already established the Commander series as a respected name in business aviation. The 720 represented a significant technological leap from the unpressurized Model 680, incorporating cabin pressurization and sophisticated climate control systems that promised comfortable high-altitude flight operations.
Certified on December 5, 1958, the Alti Cruiser lived up to its name by offering genuine high-altitude capabilities previously unavailable in the Commander lineup. The pressurization system maintained cabin comfort both during ground operations and flight, addressing a key limitation that restricted earlier Commander models to lower altitude operations where oxygen masks became necessary.
Manufacturing and Production Challenges
AERO Commander produced the 720 at their primary manufacturing facility adjacent to Wiley Post Airport in Oklahoma City, the same location where the company built its entire aircraft line. However, production numbers told a disappointing story. Between 1958 and approximately 1960, only 13 aircraft rolled off the production line, making the 720 one of the least successful models in Commander history.
This limited production run reflected the aircraft's struggle to find market acceptance despite its advanced features. The high cost of pressurization systems, combined with the complexity of the air conditioning equipment, likely pushed the 720's price beyond what many potential buyers were willing to pay for a twin-engine business aircraft in that era.
Market Reception and Commercial Failure
By 1960, AERO Commander had made the difficult decision to discontinue the Alti Cruiser program entirely. Rather than continuing to develop the pressurized concept, the company pivoted toward the lower-powered 680FP model, which offered a more conservative approach to the luxury business aircraft market without the complexity and cost penalties of full pressurization.
This strategic retreat from the pressurized market segment demonstrated the challenging economics of advanced business aircraft in the late 1950s. While airlines were rapidly adopting pressurized aircraft for passenger service, the business aviation market remained more price-sensitive and less willing to absorb the additional costs associated with these systems.
The AERO Commander Company Legacy
The 720's failure occurred during a period of significant change for AERO Commander itself. Originally established as Aero Design and Engineering Company in September 1950, the company had quickly renamed itself AERO Commander and built a solid reputation in the business aviation sector. However, the pressures of aircraft development and manufacturing eventually led to a series of ownership changes.
In 1965, Rockwell International acquired the AERO Commander division, maintaining production through the mid-1980s. February 1981 saw Rockwell sell the division to Gulfstream Aerospace, which continued operations until Chrysler Corporation acquired Gulfstream in December 1985. Final production of Commander aircraft ended in 1986, closing a chapter that had begun with such promise three decades earlier.
Current Support and Service
Despite the end of production, support for surviving Commander aircraft, including the rare 720 models, continues through Twin Commander, which assumed responsibility for parts and service in 2003. This company evolved from Precision Aircraft Corporation, which had taken over support duties in 1981 when Rockwell exited the business.
Twin Commander's continued operation ensures that the handful of surviving 720 Alti Cruisers can still receive maintenance and parts support, though the extreme rarity of the type makes each surviving example increasingly valuable to collectors and aviation enthusiasts.
Safety Record and Operational History
The Aviation Safety Network documented at least four significant accidents involving Commander 720 aircraft during their operational history. The first occurred on January 18, 1969, when aircraft N8431C crashed near California's Klamath River, resulting in one fatality and total aircraft destruction. Eight years later, on August 4, 1977, N688R was destroyed in a Wausau, Wisconsin accident that claimed three lives.
The 1980s saw two additional incidents: N4100S suffered substantial damage near San Juan, Puerto Rico on September 30, 1987, though fortunately without fatalities. The final recorded accident involved N120G, which crashed in Alcoa, Tennessee on December 9, 1988, killing two occupants and destroying the aircraft.
These four accidents, while tragic, represented a significant portion of the total 720 fleet given the model's extremely limited production numbers.
Historical Significance
The Commander 720 Alti Cruiser stands as an important example of aviation's technological ambitions occasionally outpacing market realities. While the aircraft successfully demonstrated that pressurization could be incorporated into business twins, its commercial failure highlighted the delicate balance between capability and cost that defines successful aircraft programs.
Today, the 720 remains one of aviation's rarest business aircraft, with surviving examples representing unique pieces of 1950s aerospace engineering and the ambitious vision of designers who pushed the boundaries of what business aviation could achieve.