Cessna 421 Golden Eagle
Cessna 421 Golden Eagle | |
---|---|
Cessna 421B landing | |
Role | Light transport |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Cessna |
First flight | October 14, 1965 |
Introduction | 1968[1] |
Produced | 1967–1985 |
Number built | 1916 |
Developed from | Cessna 411 |
Developed into | Cessna 425 |
The Cessna 421 Golden Eagle is an American six or seven seat twin-engined light transport aircraft, developed in the 1960s by Cessna as a pressurized version of the earlier Cessna 411.[2]
Development
The Cessna 421 was first produced in May 1967, the 1968 model year. It had "Stabila-Tip" fuel tanks on the wingtips (like the Cessna 310). Its electro-mechanical landing gear are similar to that of the 310. It was an immediate hit, selling 200 planes in its first year.[1]
The very next year, 1969, the design was refined, with a three-inch stretch of the fuselage, five more gallons of fuel capacity, and a 40-pound increase in gross weight. The plane was redesignated the Cessna 421A.[1]
In 1971, the design was again improved. Both empty and gross weight increased, the wingspan was increased by two feet, raising the
In 1975, the plane was offered with a package of equipment enabling flight into known icing conditions.[1]
In 1976, the 421C appeared which featured wet wings, the absence of wingtip fuel tanks and landing gear that was changed from straight-leg to a trailing-link design from the 1981 model year onwards. Production ended in 1985 after 1,901 aircraft had been delivered.[1]
The 421 was first certified on 1 May 1967 and shares a common
Some 421s have been modified to accept turboprop engines,[4] making them very similar to the Cessna 425, which itself is a turboprop development of the 421.[5]
Design
The 421 is an all-metal low-wing cabin monoplane with a retractable tricycle landing gear, and powered by two geared[a] Continental GTSIO-520-D engines, wing-mounted in tractor configuration. The cabin is accessed from a door, on the left hand side behind the wing, and has seating for six on the basic 421, or up to ten on later variants.
Variants
- 421
- Type approved 1 May 1967, powered by two Continental GTSIO-520-Ds of 375 hp (280 kW) each, maximum takeoff weight 6,800 lb (3,084 kg).[3] 200 built.[6]
- 421A
- Type approved 19 November 1968, powered by two Continental GTSIO-520-Ds of 375 hp (280 kW) each, maximum takeoff weight 6,840 lb (3,103 kg).[3] 158 built.[6]
- 421B Golden Eagle/Executive Commuter
- Eight-seat light passenger transport aircraft. Type approved 28 April 1970, powered by two Continental GTSIO-520-Hs of 375 hp (280 kW) each, maximum takeoff weight 7,250 lb (3,289 kg), later models 7,450 lb (3,379 kg).[3] 699 built.[6]
- 421C Golden Eagle/Executive Commuter
- Model with new wing and landing gear. Type approved 28 October 1975, powered by two Continental GTSIO-520-Ls or Continental GTSIO-520-Ns of 375 hp (280 kW) each, maximum takeoff weight 7,450 lb (3,379 kg).[3] 859 built.[6]
- Riley Turbine Rocket 421
- Conversion of Cessna 421 aircraft by fitting two Lycoming LTP101 turboprop engines. Formal designation R421BL and R421CL for conversions of 421B and C respectively.[4]
- Riley Turbine Eagle 421
- Conversion of Cessna 421C aircraft by fitting two 750hp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135 turboprop engines. Formal designation R421CP.[4]
- Excalibur 421
- Re-engined 421C with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135A or PT6A-112 turboprops, supplemental type certificate held by Excalibur 421 LLC of Paso Robles, California.[7] In 2013 it was announced that Aviation Alliance are acting as program managers for the Excalibur 421 upgrade programme.[8]
- Advanced Aircraft Regent 1500
- Production of the Riley Turbine Eagle 421 conversion by Advanced Aircraft Corporation.[9]
Military operators
- Bolivian Air Force at least one 421B was in use.[11]
- Ivory Coast Air Force[13]
- Royal New Zealand Air Force three 421C.[14]
- Pakistan Army at least one 421 in use.[15]
- Philippine Army One 421B in service.[16]
- Turkish Army Aviation at least three 421Bs in use.[17]
- Air Force of Zimbabwe at least one 421A in use.[18]
Specifications (C 421C)
Data from
General characteristics
- Crew: One or two
- Capacity: Six passengers
- Length: 36 ft 4+5⁄8 in (11.09 m)
- Wingspan: 41 ft 1+1⁄2 in (12.53 m)
- Height: 11 ft 5+3⁄8 in (3.49 m)
- Wing area: 215 sq ft (20.0 m2)
- Empty weight: 4,501 lb (2,042 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 7,450 lb (3,379 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 206 US gal (172 imp gal; 780 L) normal (usable capacity), 262 US gal (218 imp gal; 990 L) with optional wing tanks
- Powerplant: 2 × flat-sixengines, 375 hp (280 kW) each
- Propellers: 3-bladed McCauley constant-speed propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed: 256 kn (295 mph, 474 km/h) at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
- Cruise speed: 240 kn (280 mph, 440 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,600 m) (75% power)
- Range: 1,487 nmi (1,711 mi, 2,754 km) at 25,000 ft (7,600 m), econ cruise speed
- Service ceiling: 30,200 ft (9,200 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,940 ft/min (9.9 m/s)
- Takeoff distance to 50 ft (15m): 2,323 ft (708 m)
- Landing distance from 50 ft (15 m): 2,293 ft (699 m)
See also
Related development
- Cessna 411 (unpressurized predecessor to 421)
- Cessna 401(unpressurized, smaller-engine predecessor)
- Cessna 402 (unpressurized, smaller-engine predecessor)
- Cessna 414 (smaller-engine variant of 421)
- Cessna 425 (turboprop variant of 421)
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Aero Commander 600/700-series
- Beechcraft Duke
- Beechcraft Queen Air
- Piper PA-31 Navajo
- Aero Commander 690-series
- Piper Cheyenne
Notes
- ^ The gearing means that rather than the driveshaft being directly connected to the propeller, it drives through a set of reduction gears.
References
- ^ a b c d e f Aviation Consumer's Used Aircraft Guide
- ^ Simpson 1995, pp. 110, 130
- ^ a b c d e Federal Aviation Administration (March 2007). "TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET NO. A7CE Revision 47". Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ a b c Taylor 1982, p. 455
- ^ Taylor 1982, p. 352
- ^ a b c d Simpson 1995, p. 130
- ^ "FAA Supplemental Type Certificate SA1361SO" (PDF). rgl.faa.gov. FAA. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ^ "The Aviation Alliance Announces First Product Offering, Excalibur 421". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ^ Taylor 1988, p. 321
- ^ Hagedorn 1993, p. 140
- ^ Andrade 1982, p. 27
- ^ Penney, Stuart (November 27 – December 3, 2001). "World Air Forces 2001: Cambodia". Flight International. Vol. 160, no. 4808. p. 39.
- ^ Andrade 1982, p. 126
- ^ Andrade 1982, p. 165
- ^ Andrade 1982, p. 174
- ^ "Philippine Army welcomes back the return of Cessna 421B Golden Eagle".
- ^ Andrade 1982, p. 229
- ^ Andrade 1982, p. 346
- ^ Taylor 1976, pp. 272–273
- Bibliography
- Andrade, John (1982). Latin-American Military Aviation. Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-31-8.
- Hagedorn, Daniel P. (1993). Central American and Caribbean Air Forces. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-210-6.
- Simpson, R.W. (1995). Airlife's general aviation : a guide to postwar general aviation manufacturers and their aircraft (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 978-1853105777.
- Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1976). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976-77. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-354-00538-3.
- Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1982). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982-83. London: Jane's Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-7106-0748-5.
- Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1988). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.
External links
Media related to Cessna 421 at Wikimedia Commons