There are all sorts of things on a 421 that can be five to $10,000 surprises. It won't happen every year, but you are likely to see several per decade. That doesn't count the things that are $20-$40,000 surprises.

Unless you need a windshield on a FIKI plane or you have a dog from the start I never had 10k surprises in 15 years of flying them. My typical surprises were the need for cylinders (especially on RAM 414s) or fuel pumps. Most surprises were $800-1500. 20-40k surprises would be an engine or cracked block and they happen on Barons too.

Hmmm...

On a good year, with a very involved owner, could you be at $50k/year for 100 hours? Sure.

On an average year, with an averagely involved owner? No.

340/414/421s are great airplanes, but they are not cheap to maintain. Juan maintains my airplane and does a great job, but it's not cheap. I also have very good dispatch reliability outside of major events (I had a nose wheel collapse on me and have had some engine issues that have caused me downtime).

Let me put it this way: If I only had $50k to spend a year on an airplane, there's no way I'd own a 421. It is doable for a year, but not realistic long term.

The worst thing anyone can do is purchase an airplane that ends up being uncomfortably expensive to operate. Buy an airplane that you can afford to run without worrying about it too much and you'll be much happier.

Robert

Pilot/Copilot windshield on a 421 are $50-$60K. Exhaust AD is $12K. Tires and brakes are pricey. Etc etc etc...Overhauls on motor/props on a 421C will be $150k+.

There is a list a mile long. Running a 421C is as complex as running a TP. Running a Baron is half the price.

From a guy who has owned the three planes being discussed here....$50K per year is not enough for a P or a 421. You will be sweating maintenance and it will take the fun out of it....or you won't maintain it properly which could really take the fun out of it...or you won't have enough in your budget to fly it wherever and/or whenever without crunching numbers which will really really take the fun out of it.

The temptation is to always go one plane too far. I'm about 2 planes short and I can tell you its a great place to be. If I blow one of my new motors tomorrow, I'll have one on the way by dinner and I'll still feel money ahead.

A 58 gets you 90% of the way and is 50% the cost of running a 421C. You and your wife are light weights. Your kids are likely lightweights. You have an advantage here in the Baron comfort situation. I'm a big guy and still fit fine in a 58. Yes a 421 is a luxury spacewise (as is the Navajo), but considering your budget I can't recommend that plane in good conscience.

Jessie

I feel your pain and hear you loud and clear, my situation also. Owning a 58P or 421C for 30 hours per year makes no sense for 4 vacation annually. I can go 1st class on any airline for the cost. Yes - I hate not having a plane. The memories I have had with the kids and wife are incredible. Mexico. Bahamas. Caribbean as we come and go on our own time but $60,000 for 30 hours is nonsense ...

The thought of a $10,000 out of the blue expense is uncomfortable with 3 kids college and the desire to retire at age 60. I guess I still respect the hard work it takes to earn $10,000

As my wife keeps reminding me, we can fly first class anywhere anytime for what I spend on airplanes. We fly airplanes for every other non-economical reason.

I think we should pause for a moment and consider what a wonderful traveling machine an unbooted, unradared 58 is. We are not talking about pbj vs steak here. It's regular steak vs. Kobe.

Initial insurance requirements on a 421 with no multi time will probably be $10k more than a baron

Boots are $10k

Fuel bladders aren't cheap

Starter adaptor AD can be $$

Avionics work through pressure vessel requires a DER.

Avionics are more expensive for being over 6000#

True. But...

1) is it worth it to own an airplane? and
2) I have $xx,000/year to spend on an airplane? Can i afford an ABC

Are different questions

Common Core.

I have owned a 421b and a Duke. I have seen no significant difference in operating cost, per mile or per hour.
Duke like most beech is a pilots plane, 421 has more creature comforts.
Full fuel range is about 800 kmiles, with 800-900'lbs payload in Dukes. If you need to stretch it you can get around 1000'miles at 175kt cruise.

You need to have about 100,000 dollars a year that you can take out of the family budget to have a 421 or Duke. Based on 100 hours per year the Direct Operating expense for a 421 will be about 600 dollars per hour. Add in another 15,000 per year for surprises and the total is 75,000. Add in another 25,000 for hotels and entertainment etc. for the family and you are now at 100,000 per year. This does not include the cost of financing, purchase or depreciation which will drive the cost higher.

+1 on the Straight 58. Aside from the increase in capability, 600 horses in the palm of your hand is like crack - but in a good way.

Considering the budget, and mostly shorter flights. Why not go a completely different direction?
Something like a Piper Twin Comanche? UL is about 1400 lbs, 800NM range, ~850lbs with full fuel....
You sacrifice some speed but it will carry the load.
Or stay with a single and get a Piper-260C.
That will carry the load....

Or stay in the Bonanza family and switch to a TKS equipped TN36 with tip tanks?

Tim

First 7 months maintenance for us is around 60k, including prebuy and annual, on what we felt was one of the better 421C specimens available. Granted, most of that was completed at TAS, which will cause some to throw it out the window...there are cheaper options.
On the other hand, dispatch reliability has been 100% and I don't expect the next annual to reach 20k...but there's always the chance it's triple that. Couldn't be happier with the 421 though.
Speaking from experience, do not take your family with you to look at each option unless you're comfortable with the $ first...they WILL pick the most expensive option.

Edit: dispatch reliability is 100% but it did spend an unscheduled week down due to an engine oil pressure problem...no trips were scheduled