Yep,

Sell your 3 planes & buy a C-421. At least now you know you don't need to spend 5 figures on maintenance ad nauseum

Says the guy with a CJ!

Robert

Nose baggage and wing lockers on 340. Actually a very useable cabin.

340 has lots of storage, but not as much as 414 or 421. In the nose, I usually load a full-size rolling garment bag, 2 roller-board style bags, a duffle (gym-bag) bag, and a beach-style bag. smaller bags help it go in easier.

in the wing locker, I carry a military style helmet-bag that has my wife's espresso machine, grinder, and milk frother (don't even ask). there's also a full set of tools (I guess you need them in a 37 year old twin), window covers (or a Bruce's cover- depends on the mission), spare oil, and a refueling mat. room to spare.

there's also space behind the pilot's seat for at least 2 duffle bags, and an aft-cabin baggage shelf.

space is never an issue.

N

421--Top of food chain indeed.

Sorry, thread resurrection, because I started one myself not finding this one in a search (although arguably, if I run a couple searches and can't find what I need in the first couple pages of each search, I'll just start a new thread).

I am involved in my own maintenance.

I most certainly understand quality and on time.

For the rest, that's absolutely right, but many of us don't depend on our planes for a living don't care if it takes a little longer.

It doesn't mean we don't understand it. I've been flying for a living for 25 years, licensed for 30, worked Corporate, Charter, now airlines; pistons, turboprops, jets, been there done that. I understand it just fine. I don't NEED it on my personal plane. I'd rather save the AMU's.

My Baron will be in the shop going on 30 days - I presently don't care because I'm nursing a shoulder post-op. But even when I'm flying, I don't mind waiting a week to save $1,000 on a part when it's coming out of my pocket and the plane doesn't generate revenue as it is.

Both my 530w and Trig had to come out for software update to talk to each other for ADS-B. I pulled them myself, drove down to Avionics, had lunch with a buddy. Came back a week later, picked said radios up, put them back in myself, shop charged 0.5 to diagnose issue and check installation of radios and make logbook entry.

Saved 2 hours of labor and shipping charges.

We just found a big hole in the left front induction tube because that's where I told the shop to go look when they wanted to start pulling jugs (thanks to BT!). Now I'm getting a serviceable used induction tube off an identical engine cheap and saving buying a $1,500 part from Beechcraft plus about a couple days of labor.

When it comes time to annual I'll spend a day of my time pulling all the panels and putting them back on when done and helping set up jacks, etc, because it's my day off and I like doing it. I'll also save $1,000 on the annual doing it.

Owner involved maintenance can save thousands of dollars for people who aren't needing an asset to generate revenue. I get where you're coming from, but don't knock the people who are in a different boat.

There's also the tax difference between working and leisure airplanes that favors trading money for lower downtime on working airplanes.

If I spend an extra (pre-tax) $1000 on maintenance on a working airplane, that is deductible against profits in that endeavor, meaning it cost me $500 or so out of pocket after tax.

If I spend an extra (post-tax) $1000 on maintenance on a leisure airplane, I had to earn an extra $2000 pre-tax to leave me with the $1000 post-tax to pay the bill. (Same factor of 2, just working in the other direction.

The 340, 414, and 421 have the same systems and MX. The overall cost is slightly more for the 421.

My Ram VII “direct operating cost” was 500 and hour based on 100 hours per year.
My 421C direct operating cost is 600 per hour based on 100 hours per year.

My 421 annuals including parts average 12,000 per year. A VERY EXPERIENCED owner can perform a lot MX on a 340, 414 and 421.

I just replaced everything FF with factory new engines, turbo system, engine mounts,
Exhaust, props , hoses etc.
17,000 at 75% TAS 220kts.

We're likely doing one side this year, leaning towards factory new.
If you don't mind sharing, what are we looking at, ballpark?

one arm + 1/2 leg...

I have flown my children often in the Baron 58. This past weekend my daughters and I checked out a 414A. Dam...........no comparison....we all love the cabin size.

of course the devil is in the details and costs to operate..........

and in the end it will come down to "dam it, i want one. or maybe a 340.... lol

and anyway still too much to learn..............and I love my Baron

Brenda

We're likely doing one side this year, leaning towards factory new.
If you don't mind sharing, what are we looking at, ballpark?

Factory New is Factory New.
Factory Rebuilt is approximately 90% new parts
And a good choice. Call Air Power and talk to Joe Artiles he can tell you about all the new parts in the Rebuilt engines.

I bought Factory New engines and replaced every nut bolt screw, engine mounts, exhaust, props, gov., turbos etc firewall forward. Everything replaced to factory new condition.
Cost was 110,000 per side.

It’s not necessary to do as much as I did and you can spend a lot less.

That’s 155k Aus - plus freight.

Thanks for letting me know. Does that include installation costs?

My 340 is for sale here:
viewtopic.php?f=43&t=165070&view=unread#unread

And on controller. Not as large as a 414, but it’s faster. And less costly than a 421.