Cessna 441 Conquest II

Cessna 441 Conquest II
Role	Utility aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Cessna
First flight	January 10, 1977
Produced	1977–1986
Number built	362
Developed from	Cessna 404 Titan

The Cessna 441 Conquest II is the first turboprop powered aircraft designed by Cessna and was meant to fill the gap between their jets and piston-engined aircraft. It was developed in November 1974, with the first aircraft delivered in September 1977. It is a pressurized, 8–9 passenger turbine development of the Cessna 404 Titan. The ICAO designator as used in flight plans is C441.

Development

The original design from 1972 for this aircraft was known as the Model 435 and was to be powered by Continental GTSIO-520X engines with three-bladed propellers. By 1975, the designed evolved into the turboprop-powered Model 441.^[1] It was certified by the FAA on August 19, 1977.^[3] The high aspect ratio wings use bonded construction techniques.^[4] Cessna renamed the Model 441 the Conquest II in 1983. 1984 models starting with constructor number 195 used lighter-weight, four-bladed McCauley propellers.^[1] A 441 with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-112 turboprops was flown in 1986, but did not enter production. Cessna built 362 of the aircraft between 1977 and 1986.^[2] A smaller aircraft was marketed as the Cessna 425 Conquest I, itself a turbine development of the Cessna 421.

In September 2007, Cessna limited the Conquest II to 22,500 hours of air time through a Supplemental Inspection Document. This makes it effectively mandatory for US air carriers but only advisory for private operators.^[5]

Performance

The Cessna 441 cruises at 316 kn (585 km/h) true airspeed while burning 480 lb (220 kg) of fuel per hour at flight level 290. The aircraft's maximum range is 2,000 nmi (3,700 km) at 260 kn (480 km/h) TAS and 310 lb (140 kg)/h at FL350. With six to nine seats, its 6,400–6,500 lb (2,900–2,900 kg) basic operating weight (BOW) allows a 200–300 lb (91–136 kg) payload at full fuel, but MTOW can be increased by 490 lb (220 kg) with aftermarket modifications.

Upgrades

Most 441s currently in service have been upgraded to TPE331-10 engines and four-bladed propellers (if not originally equipped). The -10 engine increases climb performance, service ceiling, and TBO, while four-blade propellers increase climb rate, cruise speed, and ground clearance, while reducing cabin noise.^[6]

Operators

The Conquest II is operated by corporate owners, air charter operators and previously by the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australia. Examples of the type have been exported to many countries including Austria, Australia, Canada, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Mexico, Norway, Peru, South Africa, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

By May 2019, 290 aircraft remained in service, at a $.75-.9M value down from $1-1.9M in 2011.

Specifications (Conquest II)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83^[7]

General characteristics

Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
Capacity: 8–10 passengers
Length: 39 ft 0 in (11.89 m)
Wingspan: 49 ft 4 in (15.04 m)
Height: 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
Wing area: 253.6 sq ft (23.56 m²)
Aspect ratio: 9.6:1
Airfoil: NACA 23018 at root, NACA 23019 at tip
Empty weight: 5,682 lb (2,577 kg)
Gross weight: 9,850 lb (4,468 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Garrett TPE331-8-403S turboprops, 636 shp (474 kW) each
Propellers: 4-bladed McCauley

Performance

Maximum speed: 340 mph (550 km/h, 300 kn) at 16,000 ft (4,875 m)
Cruise speed: 298 mph (480 km/h, 259 kn) at 35,000 ft (10,700 m)
Stall speed: 86 mph (139 km/h, 75 kn) flaps and gear down
Range: 2,525 mi (4,064 km, 2,194 nmi) at 35,000 ft (10,700 m)
Service ceiling: 35,000 ft (11,000 m)
Rate of climb: 2,435 ft/min (12.37 m/s)

Avionics

Cessna 1000A Integrated Flight Control System

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Phillips, Edward H.: Wings of Cessna, Model 120 to the Citation III, Flying Books, 1986. ISBN 0-911139-05-2
^ ^a ^b ^c Fred George (May 22, 2019). "Cessna Conquest II: Undervalued, Speedy, Fuel Efficient Turboprop". Business & Commercial Aviation.
^ "Type Certificate data sheet No. A28CE" (PDF). FAA. July 29, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 28, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
^ Alan Healy (October 1977). "The New Cessna Conquest". Air Progress.
^ "FAA Clarifies Cessna's Life Limit For The 441 Conquest II". AVweb. September 7, 2007. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023.
^ Huber, Mark (October 2008). "Cessna 441 Conquest II". Business Jet Traveler.
^ Taylor, John W. R. (1982). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks. pp. 353–354. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.