The C&D numbers are suspect, and are mostly geared toward a professionally crewed corporate airplane maintained at a factory service center with a throw them the keys type oversight.

No one in the (very small) MU2 community has ever been surveyed by them. It's unclear where the data is coming from. I don't know if better data would narrow or widen the spread, but I'm pretty sure the C&D numbers are, at best, sort of like EPA mileage numbers.

The C&D numbers are suspect, and are mostly geared toward a professionally crewed corporate airplane maintained at a factory service center with a throw them the keys type oversight.

No one in the (very small) MU2 community has ever been surveyed by them. It's unclear where the data is coming from. I don't know if better data would narrow or widen the spread, but I'm pretty sure the C&D numbers are, at best, sort of like EPA mileage numbers.

one number to hold the keys
one number to fly 'one more mile'

Counting operating cost by the hour is like allocating the cost of a powerboat to the pound of fish caught.

That might be true for running a part 135 op or if you have a business with a travel schedule, but for guys like me that just love flying and want to fly 100-150 hrs a year for proficiency sake, and use the plane for fun trips and stuff, I think a 421 is going to be less than half the cost. I really care about cost per year to do the stuff I want to do with it. Cost per mile is not all that relevant. The B55 is ideal for me because my trips are typically <400 miles and I like the big windows and the view and the flying is part of the experience. If I was regularly going 800+ I think the 421 would be a good option.

The C&D numbers are suspect, and are mostly geared toward a professionally crewed corporate airplane maintained at a factory service center with a throw them the keys type oversight.

No one in the (very small) MU2 community has ever been surveyed by them. It's unclear where the data is coming from. I don't know if better data would narrow or widen the spread, but I'm pretty sure the C&D numbers are, at best, sort of like EPA mileage numbers.

Hello Charles,







I did not even consider the other airframes. That could really help with parts supplies.

I think the Duke would suffer in this department. My understanding is that the Duke is unique in the Beechcraft lineup.

Thanks.

Hello Adam,







Spot on.

This is the exact situation I find my self in at this time in my life.

I wrote in a post a few pages back, I will keep my baron for both short flights (500 nm), or flights with 4 or less people.

As I will be making occasional longer trips, like to Mexico (800-1000 nm) I will desire a cabin class aircraft. On these flights I will frequently want to take more than 4 people.

These cabin class twins, the 421 and the Duke, are becoming very attractive at these prices that seem to still be falling.

The future will be very enteresting for us indeed.

Does anyone have any photos of how the aft potty in the 421 works? Is there a curtain or something for privacy? If so, any pics of it in with the curtain drawn? Are there any options to enclose it with a divider or door?

It is curtained and far enough away from the cabin that I think with cabin noise it's functionally private. I line mine (which no one has used yet) with wal-mart camp toilet bags that zip up after use.

Thanks Charles. Does the curtain run the full width of the cabin or does it just 'box' around the toilet? Good idea with the toilet bags.

Full width.

There are different pottys depending on the year model.

The early 421Cs had a seat, with a bucket underneat (I actually prefer this). The later models have a flushing potty which is heavier, fancier, and you get to carry in the tank and clean it out after use (no thanks).

The curtain runs the full width of the cabin.

Great for #1, workable for #2 in an emergency.

I set mine up with individual bags and powder that turns liquids into a gel while releasing air freshener. Passengers could clean it all up very easily and reset it for the next victim. The pilot only had to take a ziplock bag, with the other bags inside, to the trash upon landing.

http://www.biffybag.com/

I ordered individual bags of this "biffy" powder from the owner of biffybag.

Some have full width curtains and others have a full width wood divider with a sliding door. The electric flushing potty is 60 pounds?

The toilet seat is a legal, belted, seat that someone can sit on, but they will be facing sideways. If a passenger needs to use it as a toilet, the padded seat portion lifts up to reveal a traditional toilet seat over a plastic bucket.

A mentioned, it's usually lined with a plastic bag of some sort and kitty litter or equivalent.



Also worth noting is that there's a relief tube back there as well. In my airplane, no one has ever actually raised the padded seat portion and used the bucket, but lots of people have used the relief tube. I carry a "lady J" adapter in the rear cabinetry for women and it seems to work.

I also stock wet wipes for hands and for the tube itself.

Most airplanes are set up with a curtain that goes the full width and does a pretty good job at privacy. However, it's still close quarters and not something a shy person would appreciate with a plane full of strangers.

Robert

For anyone whose potty is actually going to be used.

http://noodor.com/p/urine-travel-john-t ... bsorb.html


Get a smaller high quality garbage bag and place it in a tray where the electric flusher belongs (put the electric flusher away where you can find it and pass it on to the next owner for him to store when you sell the aircraft)

Sprinkle in a bunch of the smelleze powder and let the kids fill er up! Works like a charm.