Aero Design L.3805    N1946                                             (c/n 1)

                                         

                                       One day at Santa Monica in June 1960 I stumbled across the Aero Commander prototype,
                                       registered N1946, the year of its drawing board design.  First fight, however, was not until
                                       1948.    It was owned by designer Ted Smith as his personal machine, and had probably
                                       been visiting Santa Monica Executive Aviation, the Aero Commander dealership on the
                                      West Coast at that time.  It was painted a light blue color, hence its nickname 'The Blue
                                      Goose"   It is now preserved by the City of Bethany, Oklahoma..