Aero Commander 100 Darter & 100-180 Lark Commander

Primary-Source Technical Archive — FAA TCDS No. 1A21

This archival collection consolidates the definitive primary-source documentation for the Aero Commander 100 Darter and its high-performance successor, the Aero Commander 100-180 Lark Commander — single-engine, high-wing light aircraft originally developed from the Volaircraft Volaire Model 10 and certified under FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet No. 1A21 (Type Certificate Holder: Dynac Aerospace Corporation).

Both models represent a significant chapter in American general aviation: honest, structurally simple, and highly stable aircraft that served private owners, flight schools, and utility operators across two decades of production under Volaire, Aero Commander, and North American Rockwell.

Nature of the Collection

This is a consolidated archival edition covering both the baseline 100 Darter and the 180-hp Lark Commander variant. The collection is structured around five primary document categories:

• FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) No. 1A21 — Revision 11, August 11, 1989. The governing certification document covering all model variants from the Volaire Model 10 through the Aero Commander 100-180. Includes engine limits, propeller specifications, airspeed limits (CAS), C.G. ranges, maximum weights, and all certification notes.
• Overhaul and Repair Manual — North American Rockwell, Aero Commander Division, Albany, Georgia. Dated November 15, 1969. Covers both the 100 Darter and 100-180 Lark airframes. The primary structural and systems reference for overhaul-level work.
• Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) — North American Rockwell Corporation, Aero Commander Division. Model 100 Darter edition. Dealer-distributed parts reference with illustrated breakdowns and part number listings for the complete airframe.
• Owner's Manual — Lark Commander — Aero Commander Division, North American Rockwell Corporation, Albany, Georgia. The pilot-facing operational reference for the 100-180 Lark variant.
• Airworthiness Directive Schedule — Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA NZ), issued 24 June 2021. Applicable to Aero Commander 100 aircraft manufactured under FAA TCDS No. 1A21. Covers all State of Design ADs issued by the FAA as National Airworthiness Authority, including: DCA/AC100/1 Rudder Balance Weight Modification, DCA/AC100/2 Rudder Bellcrank Assembly Modification, DCA/AC100/3 Rudder Pedal Arm Modification, DCA/AC100/4 Aileron Cable Swaging Modification, FAA AD 68-23-03 Fuel Octane Placard Inspection, and FAA AD 73-01-01 Exhaust Outlet Blockage Inspection.

Technical Highlights — Document Manifest

Aerodynamic & Airframe Design

• High-wing, braced monoplane layout — all-metal rectangular wing, 180 sq ft (16.72 m²) total area
• Lark 100-180 redesign (1967/68): streamlined engine cowl, swept-back vertical stabilizer and rudder assembly replacing the original straight forward-swept fin
• Empennage modifications documented in the Overhaul and Repair Manual

Engine Specifications

Control Surface Deflections (Rigging Limits)

• Ailerons: Up 19° ± 2° / Down 17° ± 2°
• Elevators: Up 25° ± 2° / Down 20° ± 2°
• Elevator Trim Tab: Up 20° ± 2° / Down 20° ± 2°
• Rudder: Left 25° ± 2° / Right 25° ± 2°
• Flaps: 0° (retracted) / 30° ± 2° (maximum)

Performance Data — Lark 100-180 (FAA-Approved AFM)

• MTOW: 2,450 lbs (S/N 5001–5100) / 2,475 lbs (S/N 5101+)
• V_NE: 176 mph (154 knots) | V_NO: 140 mph (121 knots) | V_A: 116 mph (100 knots) | V_FE: 105 mph (91.1 knots)
• Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle: 750 ft | Landing over 50 ft obstacle: 875 ft
• Rate of Climb (sea level): 750 fpm | Service Ceiling: 13,000 ft
• Max Cruise: 132 mph (115 knots) at 75% power / 7,500 ft
• Max Range: 456 nm (44-gal total / 40-gal usable)

Airworthiness Directives — Key Items

• FAA AD 68-23-03 (Service Bulletin S1014): Fuel octane placard replacement — Model 100 (S/N 1–300) and 100-180 (S/N 5001–5100)
• FAA AD 73-6-2: Exhaust system inspection and modification (Elano-type) — Model 100 (S/N 251–360) and 100-180 (S/N 5001–5213)
• Engineering Kit SBK 1007: Day-VFR limitation for early Model 100 (prior to S/N 153) — night/IFR compliance required
• Rudder and aileron torque tube modification bulletins — tracked under Aero Commander Group Documentation

Our Editorial Philosophy

Every document in this collection is presented as a faithful archival reproduction of the original factory or regulatory publication. No content has been altered, summarized, or reinterpreted. Where multiple revision states exist, the most complete available edition is included. Provenance is documented for each item.

This is primary-source material — the same documents that engineers, restorers, and historians work from. We do not simplify. We do not paraphrase. We archive.

This is an archival, static-copy edition fixed at its original publication date. Intended for historical reference, flight simulation, museum restoration, and educational use only. Not approved for active airworthiness maintenance under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13, EASA Part-M, or equivalent international regulations. Operators of active aircraft must use current, revision-controlled publications from the Type Certificate holder or an authorized distributor.

⚠️ Regulatory Notice: Under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13 and EASA Part-M, any mechanic performing maintenance on an active aircraft must use current, manufacturer-approved revision-controlled data. This archival document does not satisfy that requirement.

Living Collections with Free Lifetime Updates — Please review our Disclaimer and Export Notice before purchasing.