Cessna 441 Conquest II

The Cessna 441 Conquest II is the first turboprop powered aircraft designed by Cessna and was meant to fill the gap between their jets and piston-engined aircraft. It was developed in November 1974, with the first aircraft delivered in September 1977. It is a pressurized, 8–9 passenger turbine development of the Cessna 404 Titan. The ICAO designator as used in flight plans is C441.

Development


The original design from 1972 for this aircraft was known as the Model 435 and was to be powered by Continental GTSIO-520X engines with three-bladed propellers. By 1975, the designed evolved into the turboprop-powered Model 441. It was certified by the FAA on August 19, 1977. The high aspect ratio wings use bonded construction techniques. Cessna renamed the Model 441 the Conquest II in 1983. 1984 models starting with constructor number 195 used lighter-weight, four-bladed McCauley propellers. A 441 with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-112 turboprops was flown in 1986, but did not enter production. Cessna built 362 of the aircraft between 1977 and 1986. A smaller aircraft was marketed as the Cessna 425 Conquest I, itself a turbine development of the Cessna 421.

In September 2007, Cessna limited the Conquest II to 22,500 hours of air time through a Supplemental Inspection Document. This makes it effectively mandatory for US air carriers but only advisory for private operators.

Performance
The Cessna 441 cruises at 316 kn true airspeed while burning 480 lb of fuel per hour at flight level 290. The aircraft's maximum range is 2,000 nmi at 260 kn TAS and 310 lb/h at FL350.

With six to nine seats, its 6400-6500 lb basic operating weight (BOW) allows a 200-300 lb payload at full fuel, but MTOW can be increased by 490 lb with aftermarket modifications.

Upgrades
Most 441s currently in service have been upgraded to TPE331-10 engines and four-bladed propellers (if not originally equipped). The -10 engine increases climb performance, service ceiling, and TBO, while four-blade propellers increase climb rate, cruise speed, and ground clearance, while reducing cabin noise.

Operators
The Conquest II is operated by corporate owners, air charter operators and previously by the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australia. Examples of the type have been exported to many countries including Austria, Australia, Canada, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Mexico, Norway, Peru, South Africa, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

By May 2019, 290 aircraft remained in service, at a $.75-.9M value down from $1-1.9M in 2011.