More Previews of Black Square’s Commander 685/690B for MSFS
Quick summary· AI-generated
Black Square's Twin Commanders addon for MSFS will include both the piston-powered Aero Commander 685 and the turboprop Turbo Commander 690B. The developer has invested significant research into authentic systems modeling—including the 690B's unusual hydraulic nosewheel steering, the Honeywell TPE331 turboprop engine behavior, and the 685's Continental GTSIO-520-F geared engines. Despite sharing the same basic airframe, the two aircraft have substantially different cockpit layouts, operating characteristics, and engine management procedures, which Black Square intends to replicate faithfully. A full development update is expected in the coming weeks.
Excerpt from Threshold
Just Flight has shared new images of Black Square’s upcoming “Twin Commanders” product for Microsoft Flight Simulator, an add-on that will include the Rockwell Aero Commander 685 and Turbo Commander 690B, one a piston and the other a turbine.
While no new information was shared beyond the images, a large development update is expected in the next couple of weeks.
Recap of July Development Update
The Twin Commanders were previewed earlier this summer by Black Square developer Nick Cyganski, following a rather quiet announcement, who confirmed that both aircraft will be included in the same project. Although the two share much of the same basic airframe, Cyganski has stressed that their engines, systems, cockpit layouts, and operating characteristics differ considerably.
To recap, the Turbo Commander 690B uses Honeywell’s TPE331 geared turboprop, and this is also the first time Black Square has modelled this engine family. Cyganski travelled to Arizona to spend time in a real 690B, recording various audio, collecting reference material, studying systems, and flying the aircraft with an experienced owner. This owner, in fact, has a YouTube channel known as Flying Wild AZ.
Cyganski highlighted at the time the aircraft’s quite unusual hydraulic nosewheel steering, which is controlled by the rudder pedals and requires notoriously small, deliberate inputs while taxiing. He also noted his experience flying the real 690B, and described it as “surprisingly smooth”, despite its tall landing gear.
The 690B’s TPE331 engines are also a bit different from the free-turbine PT6 engines found in many other turboprops, with Black Square having studied their operating behaviour from taxi to shutdown, including the “Negative Torque Sensing system”.
The aircraft’s visit to Arizona also included manually unfeathering the propellers before engine start. Black Square intends to reproduce these characteristics in the upcoming add-on.
The Aero Commander 685, meanwhile, is a piston-powered airframe that shares much of its skeleton with the 690B, though it uses geared Continental GTSIO-520-F engines producing 435 horsepower each. These engines are notable for their high power output and somewhat unusual gearing philosophy, with a 3,400-RPM tachometer redline and a maximum manifold pressure of 44.5 inches of mercury. The 685’s cockpit, systems, and in-flight operation differ quite substantially from those of the turboprop 690B, according to Black Square, and they intend to…
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