John, the IIIC Merlin is has a 62"wide x 57" tall x 209" (aft of cockpit divider) long cabin. The C441 is 55" wide x 51" tall x 168" (aft of cockpit divider) long cabin. The Merlin design is based on redundancy or a "dual, fail safe" concept. Dual tires all around. Dual, one piece, full length main spars. It is a very stout purpose built twin turboprop that did not come out of a piston design. As a result it is heavier than the C441 and has a lower service ceiling (F310). The Merlin has a cabin diff of 7 psi compared to 6.3 in the C441. C441 has the ability to go higher if you don't mind the cabin alt and there is efficiency to be gained there.

Several years ago I overhauled the Dowty props on the Merlin. I was about ready to go with the MT's but decided to stick with the known safe original prop instead of converting. I recall reading somewhere that MT props were tried on C441 but there were problems (as in nearly loosing the aircraft) and it was scrapped. Maybe you know about that as I no longer recall the details or where I read that.

In 2013, when I purchased the Merlin, I would have given the C441 a closer look was it not for the 2x+ price they were going for then. From the shops I’ve talked to the C441 has at least as many if not more “issue” items than the Merlin. Biggest problem you’ll encounter with a Merlin is a dishonest/incompetant shop. My guess is that will be the same with a 441 also.

The price drop in the 441 series has been much more dramatic than in the Merlin/MU2 aircraft. I could guess at why but don’t have hard data.

Saw a 441 at KBTV with the MT’s this week

There's been a price drop in the 441's? Almost every one is advertised for more than my customer paid in 2017. At that time, Controller had 13-18 for sale at any given time. Today there is eight listed.

I believe the aircraft lost during testing MT props was a Turbo Commander IIRC.

I think your right Jason, it likely was the TC.

I was shopping in 2012. I recall nicer 441’s going for 1.5M+ and nice IIIC Merlins were about half that.

There's been a price drop in the 441's? Almost every one is advertised for more than my customer paid in 2017. At that time, Controller had 13-18 for sale at any given time. Today there is eight listed.

I believe the aircraft lost during testing MT props was a Turbo Commander IIRC.

That's the same as today, at least on the 441 side.

In 2017, I physically looked at 13 441's before we bought the last one. Prices were $595k up to the highest of $1.5M. At that time (possibly the same today), they were selling quicker than I could go look at them and get an offer on the table. We had a large deposit sitting in escrow with no N-number tied to it for about six months. We made offers on three or four. On the final one, we finally figured out that the large broker that was "representing" multiple airplanes that we looked at and made offers on was not actually representing them and was rewriting our offers. Shortly after our purchase, they disappeared off the face of the earth.

Most were in the $1M range. The lower priced had some kind of issues (engine times, P&I, etc.). The top one was an absolute creampuff with an OCD owner/pilot, but more than my buyer wanted to spend. The logbooks were a piece of art! In the end, we ended up with a great airplane.

In 2017, I physically looked at 13 441's before we bought the last one. Prices were $595k up to the highest of $1.5M. At that time (possibly the same today), they were selling quicker than I could go look at them and get an offer on the table. We had a large deposit sitting in escrow with no N-number tied to it for about six months. We made offers on three or four. On the final one, we finally figured out that the large broker that was "representing" multiple airplanes that we looked at and made offers on was not actually representing them and was rewriting our offers. Shortly after our purchase, they disappeared off the face of the earth.

Most were in the $1M range. The lower priced had some kind of issues (engine times, P&I, etc.). The top one was an absolute creampuff with an OCD owner/pilot, but more than my buyer wanted to spend. The logbooks were a piece of art! In the end, we ended up with a great airplane.

Yes it was.

Just to throw in another contender here, the Turbo Commander 1000 and 900 models will at FL350 burn around 380pph and do 300kts. Not quite as efficient as the 441, but almost. And the cabin is bigger.

Yes it was.

Just to throw in another contender here, the Turbo Commander 1000 and 900 models will at FL350 burn around 380pph and do 300kts. Not quite as efficient as the 441, but almost. And the cabin is bigger.

I wouldn't really know, but I assume they'd be pretty similar.