Local 135 operation needed a co-pilot today, so I helped out. It is a C model with the trailing gear. We were at 7400 lbs which is 400 lbs heavier than my Duke.

It has been many years since I have flown a 421. It gets off the ground a little quicker and the cabin is certainly better for passengers. With that said, the Duke flies so much nicer than this plane. The Duke also climbs 1000 FPM at 140 knots using the same fuel this plane does 125 at 800 FPM. The Lycoming engines also run smoother IMO. The Duke is also faster at 14k using the same fuel flow. I can see why charter prefers the 421 for better cabin entry and seating, but for personal transportation the Duke is much better.

......Ohhhhhhhh boy here we go.....

....the Duke bashers will be coming out of the woodwork!!!

don't the 421C got more seats?

8 is great

How's this...they're BOTH great airplanes

The 421 really has a great comfortable cabin. If you don't have anyone in it or don't care how comfortable they are it is not the right plane for the mission.

Todd mentioned that the 421 flight was being operated under Part 135, so I'm curious if anyone knows of any B60's being operated under Part 135? They would certainly seem capable enough to...

Baggage space is way better in the C421, in the duke its extra.

The 421 is a true cabin class piston twin. The Duke is far from being cabin class but they look cool

The 421 is definitely the winner for baggage space, however, it does not matter we were nearly at max gross with 6 small adults total, 180 gallons of fuel, and 30 lbs of bags. It has the same useful load as the Duke if you take in consideration fuel needed to make a long trip.


The 421 is a nice suburban, but the Duke is a very nice Mercedes sedan.

The baggage space can be very nice. My last flight I had 4 golf bags all in the nose with their respective players in the cabin. No wind range was about 650 nm with that payload.

I love flying the 421C. I fly a straight legged early C and it's a Suburban with wings. This one has a 2200# useful load. We plan about 45 GPH ROP at 65%, ~215KTAS at FL220. They are a comfortable, quite, great performing piston twin. Despite the rumors, they engines are just as dependable as any Continental when operated correctly..

I haven't been in a Duke yet, but from what I've seen they are a different category of airplane...

Jason

A fair comparison would be to fly them both at the "same"Gross weight. I think the rate of climb, speed and fuel burn would a little better or the same as a Duke. The Duke has a loud and smaller cabin, costs less to buy but the same direct operating cost. Some think the Duke is better looking and that is a matter of opinion.

421 in my experience is a 220kt plane at 18k burning 40 gal per hour. It is easy to fly, has a big cabin and it has that wet bar, heated coffee pot and toilette.

If money was not object I would have one.

N766JW out of KSGF http://www.dukepilot.com/biographicalinfo.html

At 19k today we trued out @ 199 knots using 33.5" MP and 1650 RPM running the %#$@ at 16ooish. The fuel computer was broken, so I do not know the actual fuel flow. It is a nice flying plane, but you will not be doing 220 knots on 40 GPH and the climb rate is NOT good. Climbing through 18K we were at 110 indicated to eek out 800 FPM - this was 500 lbs under gross @ 7000 pounds. My Duke was 1000 FPM all the way to 23k using 130 knots indicated at that altitude and 140 knots below 12k at gross weight of 7000 pounds.

It has a nice feel on landing and is super easy to fly. The panel is laid out nice and the seating is far superior to any piston twin, but the performance is not there. I keep hearing about what great short field planes these are and how well they climb, how fast they are, etc. They are definitely better getting off the ground than a Duke, but at gross the Duke will out climb and will leave the 421 behind in cruise on the same fuel flow.

The 421 wins for charter due to the stairs and the cabin size. It is perfect for old men that cannot move as well as they used to getting into the pilot seat and great for passengers that are also physically challenged; however, if the 421 and the Duke were the same price I would still want the Duke for family travel as it is a better airplane for long X-countries with mobile adults.