Mystery Airplane Contest – November 2024

The Aero Commander family got its start in 1944 when Douglas designer Ted R. Smith (1906-1976) and a group of Douglas A-20 engineers created a design for what became the first all metal twin-engine business aircraft. They formed the Aero Design and Engineering Company to produce the prototype, NX1946, powered by a pair of Lycoming O-435 piston engines. With a layout similar to the Douglas A-20 Havoc light bomber, NX1946, designated the L3805, first flew on 23 April 1948. After leaving Douglas, Smith designed and developed the Aerostar.

The first production model, the 520, certified by the CAA...