Photograph:
Cessna 404 Titan VH-SON (c/n404-0653) of East Coast Airlines at Taree, NSW (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Light business and executive transport and third-level airliner
Power Plant:
Two 280 kw (375 hp) Teledyne Continental GTSIO-520-X six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engines
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 14.02 m (46 ft)
- Length: 12.04 m (39 ft 6 in)
- Height: 3.99 m (13 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 22.48 m² (242 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 363 km/h (225 mph)
- Max speed at 4,877 m (16,000 ft): 433 km/h (269 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power at 3,048 m (10,000 ft): 359 km/h (223 mph)
- Cruising speed at 6,096 m (20,000 ft): 396 km/h (246 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 461 m/min (1,515 ft./min)
- Service ceiling: 6,767 m (22,200 ft)
- Range with ten occupants at 356 km/h (221 mph) at 3,048 m (10,000 ft): 1,641 km (1,020 miles)
- Empty weight: 2,185 kg (4,186 lb)
- Loaded weight: 3,810 kg (8,400 lb)
History:
Following commencement of delivery of production aircraft late in 1976, the Model 404 Titan was offered in a range of variants designed specifically to meet the needs of businessmen and commuter airlines which required a large twin-engine aircraft with normally aspirated engines rather than turbines. A variety of equipment levels to meet customer needs was available. The Titan’s undercarriage and wing were basically the same as the Model 441 Conquest. The Model 404 Titan had integral fuel tanks and no wingtip tanks. A completely new fuselage had been fitted to give greater capacity than any of the other Cessna twins in the 400 series.
The prototype Model 404 was flown for the first time on 26 February 1975, and customer deliveries began in mid 1976. It was made available in two main versions: the Titan Ambassador which could seat a crew of two with six passengers in an executive layout; and the Titan Courier for the third-level/commuter airline market which could seat nine passengers and a pilot.
As a freight aircraft the Titan could be quickly converted to provide 8.04 m³ (284 cub ft) in a cabin 5.72 m (18 ft 9 in) long. In the latter role an extra-large cargo door was optional.
The Model 404 included bonded structures in the wings and featured large hydraulic Fowler flaps, advanced-design propellers, and trailing-link main undercarriage members to provide good capability to operate from short, rough airfields.
The type was in production from 1976 to 1982 and a total of 378 aircraft was built.
A number have been registered in this region over the years, and operators have included Southern Australia Airlines, East Coast Airlines, Southern Sky Airlines and Eastern Airlines in the third level airlines role. A number have akso been used in the air ambulance role.