Twin Cessna?

[TFaudree_ERAU]

Any other players out there who might do a small twin?

Highly doubtful in this day and age. Having the second engine equates to significantly higher operating cost with only a 30% performance increase, if even that. Take for example the Baron and the Cirrus, both aircraft that are still in production. The Baron will give you 190 knots in the cruise and burn about 35 gph total. Don't forget to factor in your engine and prop reserves in preparation for TBO.

The Cirrus trues out at 170 (no one dare tell me you can get 185 out of it, you're full of crap) and burns 13-14 gph when run lean of peak. You're only paying reserves on one engine and one prop. You do the math.

You're getting near twin speed on half the fuel. Factor in today's economy and you quickly see why the Cirrus is such a popular aircraft, and why a piston twin is going to have a hard time remaining marketable. Of course, there are those that HAVE to have a second engine. I certainly understand the concern with that aspect, and I tend to agree with them. But there are always going to be folks that want the luxury of owning their own new aircraft but want to do it as cheaply as possible. There are also those that don't want to put forth the effort to obtain their multi-engine rating.

 

[beasly]

Highly doubtful in this day and age. Having the second engine equates to significantly higher operating cost with only a 30% performance increase, if any. Take for example the Baron and the Cirrus, both aircraft that are still in production. The Baron will give you 190 knots in the cruise and burn about 35 gph total. Don't forget to factor in your engine and prop reserves in preparation for TBO.

The Cirrus trues out at 170 (no one dare tell me you can get 185 out of it, you're full of crap) and burns 13-14 gph when run lean of peak. You're only paying reserves on one engine and one prop. You do the math.

You're getting near twin speed on half the fuel. Factor in today's economy and you quickly see why the Cirrus is such a popular aircraft, and why a piston twin is going to have a hard time remaining marketable. Of course, there are those that HAVE to have a second engine. I certainly understand the concern with that aspect; and I tend to agree with them. But there are always going to be folks that want the luxury of owning their own new aircraft but want to do it as cheaply as possible.

That is the sense I get as well.

There might be some curve, where having another engine makes sense in terms of speed and money, however it cannot be achieved because of sub-mach speed limitations.


Any ideas on that line of thought?

cordially,

b.

 

[Maddog1974]

There is a student at the airport where I teach whose father and grandfather both fly. Grandfather owns a 421 and the father has stated that anytime I want to fly the 421 I should go for it.

If I can find someone to get me checked out in it should I go for it or what? I have about 200 hours in twins and 550 total. Would it be worth having some 421 time on the books?

Just wondering, any thoughts??

 

[SurferLucas]

I don't how their insurance works, but I know from when we managed a 414 and a 421, our pilot's had to do intial and recurrent for them (either one would count for the other) and we used ATM. Just to qualify for the Open Pilot Policy, you had to have 100 hrs time in type (402/404/414/421).

I have about 175 hours in twin Cessna's...310's/414's/421's/a little 425 time...and they're great airplanes. I just went and flew the 310 tonight, first time I've flown since my furlough...it was like taking that first sip of beer again...

 

[milleR]

I presently fly a 402 and have some time in a 310 and they're both great planes. But compared to the Baron I just don't think there's any competition. There is something about the feel of a Beech; it seems more solid, like there's more mass to it. If it came down to a C310 or a B55 the Baron would win hands down every time. And frankly, I would take a V35 with a 550 over a Columbia any day of the week.

 

[dasleben]

I love the twin cessna, but to me, these singles are really blowing it away. Part of me doesn't want to see them go and I am hoping they will come back as something comparable.

A 402/414/421 typically has a much different role than a new composite single. While the newer singles can match the speed with half the fuel, they can't match the useful load. A 402 with the vortex generator mod (7,210 lb MGTOW) has a useful load of almost 3,000 lbs. For comparison, a Columbia 400 (or Cessna 400, whichever you'd like to call it) has a useful load of just over 1,000 lbs.

One hauls a lot of stuff at 170-190 KTAS, and the other hauls two people and a laptop case with half tanks at 235 KTAS. Depends on what you need.