Just sold my Model 35 and danged if the buyer didn't come up with a tempting offer to bounce around my brain: Basically, "wanna buy 1/2 of my C-401B" - for a seemingly very reasonable/low amount of $$$. (under $50K).

I know there are a million things to consider, but just looking for generalized thoughts on the airplane: Cost per hour, difficulty to fly, etc...

I won't even go into my mission profile, just say I do have a lot of people and gear that I could occasionally fly around. But I'm kind of more curious if this might be a good plane to build some twin engine time in, if the price really seems right. I know the thing carries a hell of a load. Anybody ever heard of using them as a jump plane?

TT 3570, Lt Eng 120, Rt Eng 617
Props 313 - but not flown much the last two years (climate controlled hanger though)

Old GPS and HSI

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Mark

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_402

Mark,

Fixed Cost (Cheap)
If you goal is to carry a bunch of people/stuff, the plane will do the job for a minimal capital investment. That is what it was designed to do, and at less than 50K for 1/2, still does.

Varible Cost (Not cheap)
However, if your goal is to build multi-engine time, a large cabin plane with turbocharged engines is going to be expensive to feed and maintain.

My $.02



If you want to carry lots of stuff and build multi-engine time, and haul sky divers, the plane for you is a Beech 18 or Queen Air!

For the most part... you can get the 401b extremely cheap. $60-70k. So for 50k, that better be a really nice 401b.

I have a couple hundred hours in a 401 - short nose can be a problem as you load it up so there is a rear W+B issue. If we had more than a couple people in the plane we would put one person up in the copilot seat first, then a couple people in the rear facing club seats over the wing, then close the door and I'd make my way to the front either through the back door. All in all was easy to fly and didn't give us much trouble. This was several years ago but I recall some discussion of a spar inspection related to the exhaust system so you might glance at ADs.