N422LS, s/n 632-3 680E was photographed in August 1973 by Lawrence S. Smalley. The extended wing of the 680E outboard of the ailerons can clearly be seen.

LOOKING BACK – Model 680E – A Long-Wing 680 With Higher MGW

By Barry Collman

The Model 680E was the sixth Commander model to be placed into production. The first six were built by the Aero Design & Engineering Company at Tulakes Airport (later re-named Wiley Post) in Bethany outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the last 96 by the Aero Design & Engineering Company as a subsidiary of Rockwell-Standard Corporation.

The 102 examples were built between July 1958 and May 1960 with serial numbers in the range 680E-623-1 through 680E-892-101, although serial numbers 680E-624-9 and 680E-242-102 were converted and re-serialled Model 680 Commanders ––  serial numbers 680-624-250 and 680-242-1.

Of the 102 680Es, the initial 15 were certified in 1958 followed by 56 in 1959, and 31 in 1960.

SE-FTP was photographed at Stockholm-Bromma airport in September 1979 by Rolf Larsson. At the time it was owned by AB Varmlandsflyg. It is the first Model 680E built and was originally registered as N6235B before exported to Germany as D-IBUC in December 1959. It was subsequently sold in Switzerland, becoming HB-GOR in August 1961, then to Sweden as SE-FTP in October 1972. Many Commanders were used for aerial survey or photography. However, not that many had survey equipment mounted on the nose; the tail-mounted magnetometer “stinger” tail was the usual location for such devices.

SE-FTP was photographed at Stockholm-Bromma airport in September 1979 by Rolf Larsson. At the time it was owned by AB Varmlandsflyg. It is the first Model 680E built and was originally registered as N6235B before exported to Germany as D-IBUC in December 1959. It was subsequently sold in Switzerland, becoming HB-GOR in August 1961, then to Sweden as SE-FTP in October 1972. Many Commanders were used for aerial survey or photography. However, not that many had survey equipment mounted on the nose; the tail-mounted magnetometer “stinger” tail was the usual location for such devices.

Additionally, one example was converted from a 560A; six from Model 560Es, and 35 from Model 680; none of these were re-serialled.

A factory document describes the 680E, under Wing Drawing 5170023 with 32-inch wingtip extension. “The Model 680 was modified as follows to obtain the 680E: increased gross weight to 7500 pounds, added 32-inch tip extension to wing. This Model was certified on June 19, 1958 to CAR 3 Amendment 12.”

The Model 680E was indeed certified on June 19, 1958 under Type Certificate 2A4. It had 340 hp Lycoming GSO-480-B1A6 engines with 93-inch-diameter Hartzell HC-83X20-2C/9333C propellers on the first 25 plus 680E s/n 624-9, with the other 75 plus 680E s/n 242-102 using the -2C1 variant hub.

Gross Weight of the 680E is 7500 pounds.

On April 13, 1959 Miss Geraldyn M. “Jerrie” Cobb established a World Record for “Speed over a closed-circuit of 2,000 km without payload” of 364.12 km/hr, which equates to 1,242.74 miles at 225.55mph, in N6272B, 680E s/n 716-26. The course was McCarran Field in Las Vegas-Reno Municipal-Pescadero-Lindberg Field in San Diego-McCarran Field, at a height of 10,000 ft. The 1959-60 edition of Jane’s All The World’s Aircraft quotes “On April 13, 1959, an international class C-1.d speed record of 226.148 mph (364.116 km/hr) over a 2,000 km closed-circuit was set up by Miss Jerrie Cobb in a standard production 680-E.”

3.N3807C, s/n 762-43 680E is seen here at an unknown location. The 680E’s longer wing compared to the 680 also can be seen in this photo.

N3807C, s/n 762-43 680E is seen here at an unknown location. The 680E’s longer wing compared to the 680 also can be seen in this photo.

One interesting example is s/n 775-48, which had a Robertson STOL full-span wing trailing edge flap system and a contoured wing leading edge installation signed off on a Form 337 under STC number SA1782WE. The STC describes the modifications as “drooped ailerons, drooped wing leading edge, stall fence, and rudder seal.”