Photograph:
Cessna 411 VH-BBV (c/n 411-0226) at Bankstown, NSW in September 1983 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Business and executive aircraft
Power Plant:
Two 254 kw (340 hp) Continental GTSIO-520 six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engines
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 12.2 m (39 ft 10 1/3 in)
- Length: 10.2 m (33 ft 5½ in)
- Height: 3.5 m (11 ft 6½ in)
- Wing area: 18.6 m² (200 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 373 km/h (232 mph)
- Max speed at 4,877 m (16,000 ft): 431 km/h (268 mph)
- Max cruising speed at 6,096 m (20,000 ft): 396 km/h (246 mph)
- Rate of climb at sea level: 488 m/min (1,600 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 7,925 m (26,000 ft)
- Stalling speed flaps down: 135 km/h (84 mph)
- Range at 75% power at 3,048 m (10,000 ft): 1,658 m (1,030 miles)
- Max range at 7,620 m (25,000 ft): 2,092 km (1,300 miles)
- Empty weight: 1,733 kg (3,820 lb)
- Loaded weight: 2,948 kg (6,500 lb)
History:
In 1965 the Cessna 411 was introduced to the Cessna range as a twin-engine executive aircraft to compete against the Beechcraft Queen Air and the Aero Commander series. One of Cessna’s first ventures into the commuter aircraft market, the aircraft had the cabin separated from the passenger compartment by a divider, had a spacious seating arrangement, and had built-in airstairs in the door.
In 1967 the Model 411A appeared, with a re-designed nose and more baggage space. A total of 301 Model 411s was built. A variety of optional seating arrangements was available, but in its standard form the Model 411 was equipped as a six-seater and had a cruising range of 2,414 km (1,500 miles). The 411 series was eventually replaced on the production line by the Model 414.
The first of the series to be seen in Australia was a demonstrator VH-TDB (c/n 0007) for the Australian distributor, Rex Aviation, which was ferried to Australia via New Zealand. It was the seventh aircraft off the production line. Only a few examples were imported as most customers chose the similar but cheaper Model 402, which was released a year or so later. Only a few examples have appeared on the Australian register.
Model 411s registered in Australia have included: VH-OLH² (c/n 411-0194 – ex VH-CLC, N70765, RP-C411, PI-C411, N4994T) registered on 2 May 2012; VH-BBV³ (c/n 411-0226 – ex VH-KOY, N3226R) registered on 10 October 1966 and eventually withdrawn from service on 17 November 1998; and VH-TDB (c/n 411-0007 -ex N7307U) registered on 15 April 1965, damaged at Jandakot on 27 December 1971 and rebuilt, eventually being withdrawn from service on 13 October 1993.
Two Model 411As have been registered: VH-AVE² (c/n 411-0288 -ex N3288R) on 30 January 1975 but crashed at Archerfield, QLD on 5 January 1982 and VH-MWJ² (c/n 411-0277 -ex N4800D, N4000D, N3277R) registered on 13 Dcember 2004.