BeechTalk - BT - How I set out to buy an MU-2 and ended up in a 441

Username Protected · **Posted:** 27 Oct 2016, 09:14

Single pilot jets fly much higher so those risks are taken in many types of aircraft.
The key is to be prepared for pressurization anomalies and have a plan. Test the masks before each flight like you're supposed to. Brief the emergency descent at cruise so you're ready. Tell your passengers about it as well or you will scare the S**T out of them if it happens for real. A friend of mine was in a private jet a while ago and they did an emergency descent. Scared the crap out of him.
I have a pulse ox and use my iphone altitude alerter as a back up as well in the event the ships systems were to slowly fail.

JP, The cabin alt for FL350 in the Conquest 2 should be under 11,000. You might not be getting max diff. or you have some leaks.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 27 Oct 2016, 09:18

What a great post JP. Thanks for taking the time to write that up. Such an impressive machine she is.

BTW, my offices are based at KTOL, where National Flight is located. I see 441's in there almost every time I'm there. From your perspective, are they highly regarded in the 441 world?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 27 Oct 2016, 10:06

Great post. The pilots I have talked to that have run up and down the food chain list the 441 as one of their favorites. It does everything well. :clap:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 27 Oct 2016, 11:49

Martti - you are correct, I was going off memory. I should have double checked first.

Don - I was there two weeks ago picking up an overhauled part, could have had lunch!

As for National Flight, I picked them in part because of their reputation. Many of the people I spoke with during my overhaul process held them in high regard. Additionally, many of the 441's that were for sale seemed to have been overhauled by NF. In the event of a sale, I figured overhauls by NF would remove any obstacles as it related to the overhauls.

I found them to be incredibly responsive and very thorough. We've had some post-overhaul items to deal with and they have helped immediately.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 27 Oct 2016, 12:09

Username Protected wrote:

Single pilot jets fly much higher so those risks are taken in many types of aircraft.
The key is to be prepared for pressurization anomalies and have a plan. Test the masks before each flight like you're supposed to. Brief the emergency descent at cruise so you're ready. Tell your passengers about it as well or you will scare the S**T out of them if it happens for real. A friend of mine was in a private jet a while ago and they did an emergency descent. Scared the crap out of him.
I have a pulse ox and use my iphone altitude alerter as a back up as well in the event the ships systems were to slowly fail.

JP, The cabin alt for FL350 in the Conquest 2 should be under 11,000. You might not be getting max diff. or you have some leaks.

Just for reference those SP jet guys should have a mask on above FL350 per FAR.

Not many do. Conquest are great airplanes.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 29 Oct 2016, 17:10

Got FlightAware unlocked, thought this pic of Seattle to Charlotte non-stop was pretty cool.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 29 Oct 2016, 17:18

Dayum....

Username Protected · **Posted:** 29 Oct 2016, 23:19

Hi JP,

2000 NM. That is REALLY awesome. Wonder what other airplane (besides some Commanders) could do that! Something big and expensive for sure!

Congrats with a sweeet ride

For curiosity, I flightplanned the same trip for tomorrow morning (with my441 profile) - It is showing a 980 lb reserve!

I flew 8 people 1250 NM a few weeks ago, legally. Next Friday I am flying a trip with 9 passengers, 10 total. Love the capability of sometimes long legs and other times shorter trips with more people.

For sure a versatile airplane.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 Mar 2017, 07:59

JP,

I just realized your bird lives at MY AIRPORT!

My, she is PURDY! :drool:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 05 Oct 2025, 09:55

Bringing back a very old thread. Any updates from the OP?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 Oct 2025, 00:38

I helped design, test and certify the 441 (fuel system and engine installation), and went through both groundings for tail problems, although I was not involved in that aspect. I flew right seat on a few service tests, and got one landing.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 Oct 2025, 09:07

Username Protected wrote:

I helped design, test and certify the 441 (fuel system and engine installation), and went through both groundings for tail problems, although I was not involved in that aspect. I flew right seat on a few service tests, and got one landing.

Bill -probably a question that deserves its own thread, but…

Has the Cessna fleet aged as you expected it to? Did y'all give any thought to how the planes would be doing - or if they’d even be flying! - 45+ years later?

Robert

Username Protected · **Posted:** 06 Oct 2025, 22:04

Username Protected wrote:

Great post. The pilots I have talked to that have run up and down the food chain list the 441 as one of their favorites. It does everything well. :clap:

That's because I helped design, test, and certify it.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Oct 2025, 08:08

Username Protected wrote:

I can't envision a scenario where you move up to the Mustang and regret it. I wish I had gone straight from the Bo to the Mustang and saved myself the steps in between.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 07 Oct 2025, 10:59

Username Protected wrote:

I can't envision a scenario where you move up to the Mustang and regret it. I wish I had gone straight from the Bo to the Mustang and saved myself the steps in between.