CESSNA 421C GOLDEN EAGLE

• Passengers 6

Also known as the Golden Eagle, the Cessna 421C is a popular piston-powered aircraft to charter due to its high performance and onboard comfort.

About this aircraft

• The 421C Golden Eagle is a pressurised version of the Cessna 411. The original 421 was introduced to the public in 1968. The 401A version came a year later, with the upgraded 401B arriving in 1971. The 421C was introduced in 1976.
• The cabin is typically laid out to seat five or six passengers. If owned, a passenger can be seated in the cockpit, however, this is not available for charter. 
• With six people on board, the aircraft can cruise at approximately 275 mph over a distance of 1200 miles at 25,000 feet (depending on variables). It is capable of flying from London to Madrid or New York to Atlanta. 
• The baggage compartment can accommodate approximately five soft suitcases.
• Production on the Cessna 421C Golden Eagle ceased in 1985.

The Cessna 421C Golden Eagle stands out from many of its competitors built in a similar era. This is largely due to its pressurised cabin, which reduces engine noise, and its high cruising altitude, which enables a smoother ride.

Interior design

The 421C Golden Eagle is typically configured to seat six passengers. Some do not have the most rear forward-facing seat, limiting the number of passengers to five. Usually, four passenger seats in a club formation take up the main section of the cabin. The cabin is fairly wide for a piston and allows space for a small galley and lavatory in the rear. 

Below are two standard configurations found inside a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle.

Interesting facts to learn before you fly

• Various Cessna 421C Golden Eagles have been retrofitted to feature more modern avionics, engines and interiors. 
• The lavatory is not enclosed. Usually, a privacy curtain is available to separate the back section of the cabin. 
• The pressurised cabin makes the Cessna 421C much quieter than many of the rivals in its class. The cabin provides sea-level pressure up to 10,000 feet and maintains a 10,000-foot cabin altitude when the aircraft climbs to up to 26,000 feet.

Technological features

The original 421A type is powered by two Continental GTSIO-520-Ds which generate 375 hp (280 kW) each. The 421C is powered by two Continental GTSIO-520-Hs, which generate a similar amount of power.

History

In May 1967, the initial production of the Cessna 421 started and it was introduced to the public a year later. The aircraft was designed as a pressurised version of the Cessna 411. Just a year later, Cessna applied modifications to the aircraft, such as a  three-inch stretch of the fuselage, an additional five gallons of fuel capacity, and a 40-pound added in its gross weight. The new version was designated as the Cessna 421A.

Due to popular demand, more improvements were made to the aircraft. The wingspan was extended by two feet, increasing the service ceiling by 5,000 feet. The nose was also extended two feet to lodge a larger baggage compartment that could carry a 6-foot, 600-pound object. This version is designated as the 421B and released in 1971.

In 1975, the aircraft received yet more refinements such as a wider cabin, larger round windows and upgrades to the pressurisation system. The aircraft is also equipped with a package of equipment allowing it to fly even into known icy conditions. These improvements were implemented into the 421C. Delivered from 1976, the aircraft also boasted an increased fuel capacity, obtained weight savings, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced performance over its predecessor. Nicknamed the Golden Eagle, the aircraft was produced until 1985.

Manufacturer

The Cessna Aircraft Company began in 1927, when Kansas-based farmer and mechanic Clyde V. Cessna assembled a French Bleriot plane from a kit using his own water-cooled engines. Cessna became famous for manufacturing small-sized piston-powered aircraft for private and business use.

In 1940, Cessna signed a contract to produce 33 T-50s for the US Army and later made 180 more of the jets for the Canadian Air Force. The company expanded to make corporate jets and has since become the industry’s leading private jet manufacturer, thanks partly to its incredibly popular Citation XLS range.

Cessna was bought by General Dynamics in 1985, before global conglomerate Textron – which also makes Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft – acquired the brand in 1995. Textron specialises in creating bespoke mission-specific jets for government, military and commercial customers. Today, Cessna produces turboprops, pistons and private jets.

Cost

Depending on a variety of factors, the average price of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle is approximately $430,000 (USD).

Charter rates

Charter rates for the Cessna 421C Golden Eagle can vary greatly depending on the length of the journey you have planned, as well as the airports you decide to fly in and out of.

Contact our team to book a private charter flight on the Cessna 421C Golden Eagle. For information on other private jets, browse our list of available charter aircraft.