The Cessna 421 Golden Eagle is a development of the earlier Cessna 411 light, twin-engine personal transport aircraft. The main difference between the two models is that the 421 is pressurized.
Powerplant
The Cessna 421 uses geared Continental GTSIO-520-D engines. The gearing means that rather than the drive shaft being directly connected to the propeller, it drives through a set of reduction gears.
Geared engines operate at higher RPM settings than direct drive engines. The geared Continental used on the Cessna 421 are reliable if operated in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
Production
The 421 was first produced in 1968. It was redesigned in 1970 and marketed as the 421B.
In 1976 the 421C appeared which featured wet wings and the absence of wing tip fuel tanks. In 1980 the 421C's landing gear was changed from straight-leg to a trailing-link design.
Production ended in 1985 due to product liability concerns, along with all other propeller-powered Cessna aircraft.
The aircraft remains a popular high-performance pressurized personal aircraft and commands high prices in the used aircraft market.
Modifications
Some Cessna 421s have been modified to accept turboprop engines, making them very similar to the Cessna 425, which itself is a development of the Cessna 421 with turboprop engines.
Military Operators
- Ivory Coast
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Paraguay
- Philippine Army
- Sri Lanka Air Force
- Turkey
- Bolivian Army
Specifications (C 421A)
General characteristics
- Crew: One or two
- Capacity: Up to 8 passengers
- Length: 10.29 m (33 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 12.15 m (39 ft 10 in)
- Height: 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 18.6 m² (200 ft²)
- Empty weight: 2,132 kg (4,700 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,103 kg (6,840 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Continental GTSIO-520-D turbocharged, fuel injected and geared, 280 kW (374 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 444 km/h (240 knots, 274 mph)
- Range: 2,756 km (1,488 nm, 1,700 miles)
- Service ceiling: 5,230 m (27,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 512 m/min at sea level (1,680 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 166.8 kg/m² (34.2 lb/ft²) | 
