Will a Cessna 421 haul a pilot plus 4 guys and their golf clubs?

Yes. A long way.

50 gph/200KTAS is conservative for a 421C.

Typical useful load is 2000-2400 lbs. 125 gals of fuel will get you 400nm radius of action with VFR reserves. Leaves you 1350 lbs for people, give or take, which will get you 200lb of pilot and 288lb average for pax&clubs.

A better question is the total weight or useful load with full fuel. A typical 421C has a useful load of 2,000 to 2,350. 200 gallons or 1200 pounds leaves 800 to 1150 pounds of people and baggage. Leave 50 gallons of fuel off and you can carry a lot more or use a short runway.

38 gph will give you 200 to 210 KTS ROP. 150 gallons will give a range of 550 to 600 nm VFR no wind.

Charles a 421C does not burn 50gph in cruise. Typical cruise is 38.

For a short trip of 300-400 NM figure 45 GPH with a block speed of 195 knots. 38 GPH in cruise with 200-210 is correct, but you have 20 minutes of 60 GPH and 135-140 knots getting there. you will need 150 gallons to be safe going 400 NM+. That most likely leaves you with 1200 lbs or so useful which is pretty good. Fill the tanks and things change quite a bit just like all planes.

The block gph depends on how high you climb. My 421C has a useful load of 2315 Pounds. With 200 gallons I have 1100 Pounds of payload in the cabin and go a long way IFR.

Like I said.... You are not automatically in cruise at 210 knots and 38 GPH. At 400 miles you are going to 23k and will burn 45-46 GPH block to block with 195 knots. Go 900 miles and you can figure 42 GPH and probably 200-205 block. Block speed will increase with distance flown and GPH will decrease. Either way, you will never see a 210 knots block to block with 38 GPH and no wind.

Like I said.... You are not automatically in cruise at 210 knots and 38 GPH. At 400 miles you are going to 23k and will burn 45-46 GPH block to block with 195 knots. Go 900 miles and you can figure 42 GPH and probably 200-205 block. Block speed will increase with distance flown and GPH will decrease. Either way, you will never see a 210 knots block to block with 38 GPH and no wind.

Duke is roughly 42 GPH on a 900 mile trip with a very quick ground interval and a straight in approach. Figure 215 knots cruise. I realized a 46 GPH consumption on a 295 mile trip recently and 205 knots true at 17k.

If you are getting 210 knots out of the 421C and are doing it on 40 GPH on a short trip you have the fastest and most efficient 421C I have seen. I just have a POS Duke, so I have to live with it's horrible efficiency and slow speeds.

Todd,

The Duke like many beautiful ladies meets the following criteria:
-- High maintenance. (Just read the interior detailing thread you started)
-- Late, therefore it is implicitly slow
-- Expensive, just look at all the potential upgrades and enhancements...
-- She rules the roost. So do not be surprised if she is a Hangar queen.

I am sure I can come up with more. Let me know if I need to compare it to the 421C

Tim

Like my POS Duke better than my POS 421

Rocky,

That is just no fun. Since I am sure you have had both, can you continue my analogy?

Tim

Dillon-

As others have said, "yes" is the answer to your question. One of the best parts about the 421 is that you can put the golf clubs up in the nose compartment.

It's not that hard to find a plane that can carry the weight of 4 guys + golf clubs, but it's really hard to find one which will actually give you a place to PUT the clubs!

Robert

Tim if I were going to fly for hire, no question the 421 is a more versatile plane.
My own experience is they are both expensive to operate,
I went uo from 421b to a souped up KA N290kA. Now that is an expensive way to travel we had 6 on board ATL to Boston. Fuel was 2400 bucks one way. I could have flown all aboard first class for less.
Not enough difference n fuel burn or speed between the 421 and duke to matter.
The enclosed potty on the 421 is a big plus. My family and friends like the duke seats better.
I definitely like the handling and feel of the duke.
Purchase price of Comparable 421, duke and Aerostar are very close. Suits me if others like their planes better, I don't really care.
I'm trying to sell a twin bonanza which have their own pluses and minuses.