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 Post subject: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 09:00 
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Location: Charlotte NC (KEQY)
Aircraft: 1972 58 (TH-237)
I've combed the various threads here and people generally seem to really like the 310s if they have owned one. I would love some feedback on how a 310 feels to fly compared to something like a Beech. We don't have any 310's around here for rental that I could rack up 10-15 hours in to really get that feel for it. So what's the fun factor rating?

My frame of reference: I've flown a V35B, SR22, Seneca, Arrow and 172 variants enough to get a solid feel for them. My impressions were that V35B was simply a joy to fly and land. It's like driving a BMW - it's amazing. The SR22 (G1) was "Okay", the Seneca and Arrow were competent trucks and not particularly fun to fly. In fact I'd probably rate the "fun" factor in this order:

1) V35B
2) 172 variants
3) SR22
4) Seneca (almost zero ground visibility)
5) Arrow

So where would you put a 310 in that list? :popcorn:


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 Post subject: Re: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 09:04 
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I haven't flown a 310 but I agree about the ground visibility issue on the Seneca. I was surprised how much less you could see than a low wing single. I guess people don't go on sightseeing flights in a twin, but it took some of the fun out.

My Bonanza is definitely more fun than my Cherokee was. I would put the Arrow above the Seneca personally, maybe that is just the nose heaviness and quirks of the Seneca 1 I flew. I never liked the springs in the controls of the early Cirrus.


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 Post subject: Re: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 09:17 
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Joined: 04/28/09
Posts: 198
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Aircraft: C-310K
Username Protected wrote:
I've combed the various threads here and people generally seem to really like the 310s if they have owned one. I would love some feedback on how a 310 feels to fly compared to something like a Beech. We don't have any 310's around here for rental that I could rack up 10-15 hours in to really get that feel for it. So what's the fun factor rating?

My frame of reference: I've flown a V35B, SR22, Seneca, Arrow and 172 variants enough to get a solid feel for them. My impressions were that V35B was simply a joy to fly and land. It's like driving a BMW - it's amazing. The SR22 (G1) was "Okay", the Seneca and Arrow were competent trucks and not particularly fun to fly. In fact I'd probably rate the "fun" factor in this order:

1) V35B
2) 172 variants
3) SR22
4) Seneca (almost zero ground visibility)
5) Arrow

So where would you put a 310 in that list? :popcorn:


I own and fly a C-310K...hit me up if in the New Orleans area. I'm an MEI so i can give you an endorsement if necessary.

You will like the comfort, feel & handling of the C-310. When you step inside, you'll know that its in a different league compared to light twins derived from singles.
1. No rubbing elbows with passengers...even broad shouldered passengers.
2. You or your passenger can get up and move the rear seats in flight (assuming another pilot at the controls of course)
3. Visibility is excellent. You sit higher than in a Seneca, Baron, seminole, etc.
4. Controls have a heavy feel, but the airplane handles more like a heavy C-172.
5. Engine out manners are good...like any light twins, the further you are from max gross, the better the plane performs on one.
6. The airplane just turns heads... :woot:

I've flown Piper senecas & but i liked the way they handled. I agree visibility is limited by the shape of the cowl, but the twin offers a lot of advantages for that disadvantage.

Look for a ride in one...you won't be disappointed.


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 Post subject: Re: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 10:59 
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Joined: 02/13/10
Posts: 20103
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Location: Castle Rock, Colorado
Aircraft: Prior C310,BE33,SR22
What Zeke said... :cheers:

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Head out on the highway
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 Post subject: Re: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 11:07 
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Joined: 04/16/10
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Location: Wisconsin
Aircraft: CJ4, AmphibBeaver
If I ever sought out to get another un-pressurized piston twin, it would be a C310-R, or a normally aspirated Navajo. (might consider a CR Navajo).

I had a 340 for a year. Liked the way it flew. Nice manners. With the exception of the fuel system, which isn't really that bad, but more complex than a beech, twin cessnas are nice aircraft. I rented/borrowed a 310P a few times as well. Again, I liked the airframe. Very comfortable. With the R model you get 520's and you get good storage options with the nose baggage. A lot of the R model 310s were also fiki.

What's not to love about a Navajo, well except for maybe the velvet interiors that piper put in them back in the day.


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 Post subject: Re: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 11:14 
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Joined: 03/17/08
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Location: KMCW
Aircraft: B55 PII,F-1,L-2,OTW,
The 310 makes you feel like the king of the world. Lovely flying airplane, fantastic visibility, solid feel, but responsive. A little heavier than an -55 Baron, but nearly as responsive.

The thing about Twin Cessnas is the average time on the fleet. Cessnas were owned and flown by companies that worked them and the Barons were more often owner flown.

As a result the average airframe time is much higher, and the tender-loving care factor is much lower. Further, the Baron is a more robust airplane to start with, and as a result there have been far more ADs on the twin Cessnas than on the Beechcraft.

Special attention needs to be paid to the engine mount area for corrosion, the exhaust eats on this area, and it is horribly expensive to fix.

I bought a Baron instead of a -310 for this very reason.

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 Post subject: Re: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 11:24 
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Joined: 06/19/11
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Location: Uruguay
Aircraft: Baron 58
Totally subjective ... having about 300hs in a 55/58 and 1.5hs in a 310, didnt like flying the 310, it felt heavy and not a lot of feeling for seat of the pants (the "fun" part of flying) flying, loved the spaciousness though. 55 feels like a BMW, 58 like an Audi and 310 like a suburban.

I am sure you could fall in love with the 310 once you get used to it's manners...but at first flight the 55 is the sportiest (fun) of them in my extremely limited opinion.

cheers!


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 Post subject: Re: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 11:54 
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Location: Allen, TX (based T31)
Aircraft: BE35,CE650/750,DA900
I've been training for an ME add-on to my commercial, with the MEI coming soon after, using a 310R and an Aztec. The 310 feels solid, like a truck. It's BIG, bigger than a Baron or an Aztec, and you climb up and sit high. It's like a mini-airliner inside, lots of controls, knobs and dials, overwhelming at first. But then it makes sense, and I'm told all the bigger twin Cessnas have the same layout.

In the air, it flies solidly, not unlike a heavy Bonanza. But on landing, the pitch is very heavy, and you have to pull back really hard if you're trimmed for the approach speed. It might be that adding up trim on the flare would help, but I've been too busy to think about that.

It's a bit weird at first, having the tip tanks be the main tanks, and you must use the main/tip tanks first, because the unused fuel always returns to that tank. You have to make room for returning fuel before you can use the wing auxiliaries.

Storage is great - big lockers behind the engines, nose and tail baggage. The "R" model I'm flying is a solid 6 seater, so the passengers aren't cramped. Beautiful plane, but it seems to be a maintenance hog from what I've seen (fortunately not on my nickel!)

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 Post subject: Re: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 13:48 
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"How does a 310 (make you) feel?" Forgive me but I cannot resist...
Like SkyKing!

If I didn't have to pay for it I'd love to have a 310. What's not to like; fast, roomy, nice flying, sounds great (especially the overwing exhaust), and looks terrific. (Just look at Arlen's avatar, the perfect model 310)

Have about 100 hrs in a few different models, was quite impressed.

But the cost of care and feeding stops me cold. Kinda like a SoCal trophy wife I suspect.

George

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 Post subject: Re: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 13:57 
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Location: N. California
Aircraft: C-182
With 50 gallons of fuel in the tip tanks of the 310 it has more roll inertia than most other twins, and at first some pilots new to the airplane will induce wing rocking on final until they get used to it. In that sense it handles just like a Lear, good background to have checking out in an old Lear without the spoilerons.


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 Post subject: Re: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 14:06 
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Location: In between the opioid and marijuana epidemics
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Sitting in any 310 is a regal experience. Imagine having to actually reach for knobs on opposite side of panel. I mean like loosen your seatbelt. A little heavy on controls but responsive. I would really like one.....

But......with everything there is a downside. Like exhaust spraying onto wing/spar or the turbo version having a reputation for cracking or falling off and spraying exhaust onto spar. This was not well thought out. A local 310 was almost totaled twice due to spar corrosion as a result of exhaust. A DER was able to save it. Why not just extend exhaust below wing a a foot like everyone else does? The landing gear also needs to be rigged yearly.

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 Post subject: Re: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 14:09 
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Location: Peachtree City GA / Stoke-On-Trent UK
Aircraft: A33
the 310 with fuel in the tips on final approach, is a great trainer for a lear. The yaw-sensation and required touch on the rudders is almost identical.


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 Post subject: Re: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 15:06 
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Joined: 02/13/10
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Location: Castle Rock, Colorado
Aircraft: Prior C310,BE33,SR22
Username Protected wrote:
But......with everything there is a downside. Like exhaust spraying onto wing/spar or the turbo version having a reputation for cracking or falling off and spraying exhaust onto spar.

Like all brands, a pre-purchase inspection by a knowledgeable examiner is important when you want to buy one.

There are many of these planes flying today that have never had spar corrosion, even the oldest ones (from the 50s and early 60s) that had the over-the-wing exhaust, which seemed to be a cause of the problem on some ...and that was moved to under-the-wing in 1964. The TurbChar planes have an AD on their exhaust that leads to replacement every so many years to avoid those corrosion issues.

These are remarkable old birds that I think are a joy to fly. When you own one, you should try to find an A&P to be its primary caregiver who really knows the model.

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Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
- Mars Bonfire


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 Post subject: Re: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 15:29 
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Location: Good Hope, GA
Aircraft: C421, BE300, EMB500
I've said it before, but it feels like I'm doing something illegal every time I take her out. It's that much fun. As others have said, big, roomy, sits high, sounds like a stock car at idle, and fun. So, fun factor, I'd put at a 10+.
No corrosion issues on this one and she's 64 this yr actually 65, but the airworthiness says 1954. No autopilot and I've flown her from Georgia to west Texas a couple times now.


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 Post subject: Re: How does a 310 feel?
PostPosted: 21 Mar 2018, 16:40 
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Username Protected wrote:
sounds like a stock car at idle


they idle at 3000rpm?


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