BigDave
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2001
- Posts
- 137
As the good twin Cessna salesman that I am I will continue to push the 421C. A 1976-1984 421C max zero fuel weight is 6,733lbs, and max takeoff weight is 7,450 lbs. So that gives you 717 pounds of what ever you have with full fuel. Full fuel will give you an IFR range of approx: 1,000NM. As for speed, Cessna claims that the 421C cruises 29 Knots faster than a C-90 at 25,000 but that is good propaganda. What we get is 195-215 KTAS at 20,000 feet, with a fuel burn of around 50 gallons the first hour, then 40 after that. Still these figures are darn close to the C-90. Single engine climb is poor a best. As for insurance, it is bad. I fly the 421C with another pilot who has some 20,000 hours and 2300 in 421s and he still required to go to Flight Safety every year. Since I started flying the 421C about 8 months ago I was required to go to flight safety for an initial 300/400 series course, then I had to fly with the chief pilot for 50 hours. This is for a 135 operation, so the insurance requirement may be different for a part 91 operation, but I know they will require flight safety, and some dual time. Purchase cost is around $370,000 for a 76-79 421C, and then it goes up to $500,000. for 1980 421C because of the trailing link gear. The trailing link gear is nice to have, and makes most landings pretty smooth, but I do not know if it worth the
cost.
For the price you can not beat the 421. I know if your student tried to get a C-90 and fly it with an experience pilot the insurance will be much higher then a 421. Anytime you get into turbine equipment the insurance company will get you. As for the Navajo, they are nice airplanes with a high usefull load. They are stable IFR platforms and relatively cheap. But there is a reason why the Navajo is nicknamed “NAVASLOW”
cost.
For the price you can not beat the 421. I know if your student tried to get a C-90 and fly it with an experience pilot the insurance will be much higher then a 421. Anytime you get into turbine equipment the insurance company will get you. As for the Navajo, they are nice airplanes with a high usefull load. They are stable IFR platforms and relatively cheap. But there is a reason why the Navajo is nicknamed “NAVASLOW”