Blackhawk?

Thanks, that's more than my gut told me...


This makes me love my 421 even more. In Canada the OH would be mandatory anyway plus we cannot operate it on a pt 91 equivalent up North, as we have this wonderful and safe 604 regulations for turboprop owners.
Hilgard

Blackhawk?

I've owned a 425 for about 14 months and 124 hours (essentially air Hobbs). My hourly to date which includes everything (insurance, hangar, training, fuel, MX, the pre buy inspection, etc) for that 124 hour period is $1282. The only thing that number doesn't include is engine and prop reserves (I'm 91 so not planning to overhaul). However in the first 12 months I spent $75K on B.S. "deferred" maintenance as many people do with newly purchased 35 year old airplanes. Also there were expenses associated with the purchase itself. I expect my 2017-18 maintenance including the expensive 2,3,D will probably be about $30K or maybe a little less if I get lucky. I know pretty well what my fixed and variable costs are and assuming I spend $30K on maintenance in 2017-18 then my hourly will be $707 for 110 hours. Of course in future years there will be some big ticket maintenance events and the hourly will be higher but overall I think $700 - $1000 per hour is a reasonable assumption for a 425 that isn't a total P.O.S requiring constant attention.

(EDIT)

Here are some other numbers based on my usage (per year except fuel burn):

Fuel cost per hour average: $207 (55-60 GPH in cruise for -112 engines, 260 KTAS average)
Insurance ($5MM smooth): $9500
Simulator Training: $3500
Subscriptions: $1500
Hangar: $6000
FBO fees: $1000 (that's QuickBooks says, some are probably buried in the fuel cost)
CA property tax: $3500

I have always heard the Piston 421 was very quiet because of geared engines so with the 425 with Blackhawks at 1700--1900 prop speed what does this sound like compared to 421?

I don't know about the -135 engines but with 4 blade props and the -112 engines the noise and vibration are better than a 421C. Definitely less vibration and the noise level seems lower and is at a higher frequency. I put headset jacks in the back but no one uses them. I've heard that about 421's too though.

I only have experience in a 414 and the 425, but between those two the 425 is a fair bit better. The family rarely wears the headsets.

No 414 or 425 time, but no one in the back ever wears headsets in my 421 unless they are pilots and want to harass me.

Robert

421C is very quiet.
425 with 112's is louder but not a lot.
The BH 425 is louder than the 421C and the straight 425 but is still quiet enough to not require head sets.

I love my quiet 421C than can fly at 3,000 feet or 25,000 feet with no penalty.
On 300 to 500 NM trips I am only 15 to 20 minutes behind the 425's for about half the expense.

This stupid thread...

I was well over my addiction to C421's and had stopped gawking at them on Controller for nearly a year and now this darned thread has me lusting for them again. Man they are awesome birds.

I wish I could buy 25-50 hrs time / yr on a nice one.

Don, sounds like the perfect excuse for a partnership

Move a couple hours south, done deal. Plus, it's so much warmer down here.

I don't have headphone jacks in the back of my 421. No one has ever even mentioned it, although most of our flight is at 1700-1800 when not climbing.
For a piston plane they are sure quiet.

Life is short, fly a 421C

Andrew

Life is short, fly a 421C

Andrew