CESSNA 425 CONQUEST I

• Passengers 5-6

Developed from the Cessna 425 Corsair, the Cessna Conquest I is a comfortable and versatile pressurised turboprop aircraft.

About this aircraft

• The Cessna 425 was built in 1980 as a simple-to-fly and easy-to-transition turboprop to compete with the Beechcraft King Air.
• Originally called the Cessna Corsair, it was upgraded and renamed the Conquest I in 1983.
• The Cessna 425 Conquest I typically seats up to six passengers. A further passenger can sit with a single pilot in the cockpit if the aircraft is owned, but not with a charter.
• The Cessna Conquest I is capable of flying non-stop from London to Nice or New York to Chicago, although its range is lower with a full payload.
• There’s space in the cabin and nose for five suitcases and hand luggage, or 15 suitcases if the two rear seats are removed.
• Over 200 aircraft were built before production of the Conquest I ended in 1986.

Developed from the original Cessna 425, the Cessna Conquest I delivered better performance and comfort at a lower cost than its rivals.

Interior design

The Cessna 425 Conquest I’s cabin has a ‘bizjet’ feel and is designed to give passengers plenty of legroom. It’s typically configured to seat six passengers in a four-seat club, an additional seat on the left rear side, and a belted lavatory seat.

The aircraft’s pressurised and air-conditioned interior is notably quiet for a turboprop of this vintage. There are usually two fold-away tables suitable for work or dining.

Below is a typical configuration found inside a Cessna 425 Conquest I.

Interesting facts to learn before you fly

• Newer, refurbished models may feature screens and a quieter, more modern cabin.
• Various reviewers comment on the aircraft’s roomy cabin and large windows that provide good visibility for a turboprop.
• The lavatory is not enclosed, but a privacy curtain may be installed.
• Cessna’s larger Model 441, a development of the 404 Titan, was renamed the ‘Conquest II’ despite being older than the 425 Conquest I.

Technological features

The original Cessna 425 was equipped with two 450-horsepower Pratt and Whitney PT6 engines driving three-bladed Hartzell 9910438-1 or McCauley 9910535-1 constant-speed propellers.

Most Conquest Is were initially fitted with a 1000-series Cessna avionics system with dual comm radios, dual navs, dual transponders, dual automatic direction finding, dual distance measuring equipment and an autopilot. The aircraft also features Collins avionics with dual VHF 20A comms, dual VIR-30A navs, ADF 60, DME 40, flight instrument system, horizontal situation indicator, Sperry 1000 autopilot, and WXR-300 weather radar systems.

History

Built to compete with the successful Beechcraft King Air, the Cessna 425 was designed to be very comfortable and easy to fly. The first prototype flew in 1978 and FAA certification was granted in 1980. Originally known as the Corsair, the aircraft was renamed the Conquest I in 1983 after customer demands for additional cabin space and increased maximum takeoff weight. Production ended in 1986.

Manufacturer

Cessna was founded in 1927 by Clyde Cessna and Victor Roos. It was originally called the Cessna-Roos Aircraft Company, but Roos’ name was dropped after he resigned just one month into the partnership and sold back his interest to Cessna.

Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, the company specialised in producing small piston-powered planes and business jets. After becoming one of the world’s biggest general aviation producers, it was bought by General Dynamics in 1985 and by Textron in 1992. In March 2014, Cessna stopped operating as a subsidiary company and joined Beechcraft and Hawker as one of the three distinct brands produced by Textron Aviation.

Cost

The average price of a used Cessna 425 Conquest I is around $850,000 (USD).

Charter rates

Charter rates for the Cessna 425 Conquest I vary, depending on the length of the journey you have planned and the airports you decide to fly in and out of.

Contact our team to book a private charter flight on the Cessna 425 Conquest I. For information on other private jets to charter, browse our list of available aircraft.

Wet lease rates

ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) wet lease rates for the Cessna 425 Conquest I vary depending on the aircraft’s age, lease term length, number of guaranteed block hours and average cycle ratio.