Yup.

Piston owners see the HSI and OH costs and faint. But they aren't adding up all the "as you go" costs with piston engines which comes to a pretty tidy sum.

There's a reason the airlines dropped piston transports as fast as they could and moved to jets, even the early inefficient and not that reliable jets.

I believe I am getting my thrust in my MU2 for about the same cost per mile as the 421, all costs included, and that nets me 50% more speed. I was "this close" to buying a 421, it is the best piston traveling machine out there, and decided to skip that step and go turbine. I'm glad I did.

Mike C.

No, the pressure test component of the exhaust AD is once per year. Every 50 hours the requirement is a visual inspection of the exhaust (which can still add up on its own).

No, the pressure test component of the exhaust AD is once per year. Every 50 hours the requirement is a visual inspection of the exhaust (which can still add up on its own).

Every 35 hours when I change the oil we remove the top cowling “only”and visually inspect the exhaust and turbo etc.

It only takes a few minutes and is NOT a big deal. I believe all turbocharged planes should have a visual exhaust inspection at every oil change.

Most, but not all are required every 50 hours or 30 days visual inspection by AD, or overhaul at 12 years... Just like your 421..

The cowling is the least time consuming part of a 421.

On a 421, that is no small effort.

In any case, I think budgeting $1K per 50 hour servicing, oil change and all the other things, is not unreasonable.

Mike C.

I can decowl a 421 in 5 minutes. Its nothing like a Baron.