A 1981 Piper Aztec (250 HP engines) about $157,000. Ells is the owner of Ells Aviation and lives in Paso Robles, Calif. with his wife Audrey. Local Pickup. Griggs Aircraft Refinishing | Aux Fuel System STCs (Such nicknames come from the tank's fish-like profile.) The mains also are the receptacle for the contents of the wing locker tanks. Early models had Goodyears, which caused some problems. Last year my factory gold medallion remans were about 50 hours past TBO when the latest McCauley prop AD for this model left me with no realistic choice but to replace both props. Landing gearThe other 310 system that gets a lot of attention is the landing gear. In the event of a fuel pump or engine failure, the aux tank on that side becomes uselessno crossfeed from the aux tanks, and no transfer is possible. Some Cessna 310 owners have reported problems with the chrome cylinders originally provided by Continental on the O-470 family of engines. Unique angled tie downs secure bladder tanks for airplanes to fwd 9G plus force safely. Used Aircraft Guide: Cessna 310 - Aviation Consumer The Cessna 310's full-fuel payload varies depending upon the model, equipment and fuel tank arrangement. https://www.cessnaflyer.org/cessna-twins/cessna-310/item/1315-the-cross-country-capable-cessna-310.html, https://www.aopa.org/go-fly/aircraft-and-ownership/aircraft-fact-sheets/cessna-310, https://www.aviationconsumer.com/used-aircraft-guide/cessna-310-2/, https://www.risingup.com/planespecs/info/airplane399.shtml, https://bwifly.com/cessna-310-insurance-cost/, Bombardier Challenger 300 Guide and Specs. The 310 is a hefty airplane, particularly in its later variants. document.getElementById("CountryId").value = 1; Spins and aerobatic maneuvers are not permitted in normal category airplanes. The main reason I went with Eagle fuel cells is because they are made from Nitrile that is happy with ethanol. Wait until you have to manage the tanks. When the Cessna 310 was first introduced in 1954, the aviation industry was immersed in the aftermath of two major wars. Usable fuel capacity can be 100, 132, 142, 182 or 203 gallons-from 600 to 1218 pounds of fuel. I think it would sure be worth putting those drains in while I'm changing the bladder. The chart on the right contains construction specific details exhibited from past and present manufacturers. The 310 competed more directly against the Twin Commander 520 (discontinued that same year) and Beech Twin Bonanza, which was dropped a few years later in favor of the Travel Air and 55 Baron. Stalls on the Cessna 310 are not described as particularly nasty but are still not quite as gentle as on Cessnas high-wing singles. For comparison purposes, a 1981 Beech Baron 58 (same horsepower) fetches about $270,000. if(document.URL.indexOf("/register") > -1){ A year later, this family underwent a modification common to almost all Cessna piston-powered aircraft at the time: the blocky, straight-ended vertical stabilizer and rudder were swapped for the now-iconic swept version with the Cessna 310D. Several variants of the IO-470 were used through the 1975 model year in the 310Q. It is broadly accepted that the true competition to the Cessna 310 came in 1970 when Beechcraft introduced their new twin-engine six-seater in the shape of the Beech 58 Baron. The were some fiberglass tanks made to replace bladders in some Cessnas, but the wing has to come off and the root rib removed to get it into the wing. The 310s system on airplanes with all the optional tanks is certainly more complicated than most, and it does have a number of idiosyncrasies not shared by other airplanes. In 1969, Cessna consolidated its model line, offering a turbocharged variant of the 310 alongside the normally aspirated 310P instead of the 320. New bladders cost between $800 and $1,000 apiece; refurbishing costs one-quarter to half as much as new. The IO-470s used on earlier airplanes are much less likely to develop cracks. Production ran from 1954 to 1980, with a total of 5449 Model 310 units produced, plus 577 of the Cessna 320. One of the earmarks of the line's changes concerns horsepower. Many were retrofitted with the later, and better, Clevelands. Certain traits on the Model 310 can catch an inexperienced pilot off-guard in case of single engine failure during take-off or landing. The landing gear retraction mechanism is electrically actuated, with no pneumatic or hydraulic aids, which increases travel time and thus keeps the airframe draggier for longer while the pilot handles the emergency. All rights reserved. New Parts- Our inventory of almost 100,000 part numbers of new surplus Cessna parts includestens of thousands for twins. If the pulled up section is near the wing root the float part of the fuel level sensor will also be pulled up, and the fuel gauge readings will be wrong. However, Ive never seen this done nor was I able to find any information about the repair kits and adhesives referred to in the manuals. Please login to continue enjoying members-only content. But wait, theres more. The Cessna 310 is an American four-to-six-seat, low-wing, twin-engine monoplane produced by Cessna between 1954 and 1980. . First, all 310s suck more fuel from the tanks than the engines will use; both the pressure carburetor and fuel injection models have a return line from the engine compartments. The aux tanks feed directly to the engines, so the only pump that serves these tanks is the engine-driven one. The airplane is powered by two horizontally opposed, six cylinder, direct drive, normally aspirated, air cooled, fuel injected engines. The spoilers can be deployed at any speed, and the POH permits using 15 degrees of flaps below 160 knots. The gap for the turbo models is similar. But the right one was leaking and it did have to be changed. A choice of IO-520 or Voyager IO-550s is offered. Eagle Fuel Cells | Fuel Cells | Eagle River, WI Combined with the relative fragility of the gear, these can be a real problem. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Commit to excellent maintenance and pilot proficiency and youll enjoy one of general aviations great airplanes. The optional auxiliary tanks are available in two sizes. Cessna 310 filter applied; see all. Fuel Capacity: 130 Gallons 50 Gallon Mains 15 Gallon Aux Tanks Weight and Balance: Max Allowable: 4830 lbs Basic Empty Weight: 3287 lbs Useful Load: 1543 lbs Empty Arm: 35.19 inches aft datum Empty Moment: 115674 inch lbs Engine Specs: Right: Continental IO470D Serial Number 75850-0-D 1089.7 SMOH Compressions at May 2007 Annual: 72/73/72/75/73 The market treats the various 310s pretty evenly: theres no real marked jump with model changes as often happens. That hot, dry climate went a long way in allaying my concerns about corrosion in the airframe. Cessna was moving aggressively into the business market, and the 310 was a key part, and first element, of that plan. It is fairly long and spindly, and more delicate than that of some other airplanes. Then I used a mirror and flashlight to make sure I had freed all the clips holding the topand the bottomcorners of the tank in position before removing the bladder. When vents are blocked its not unusual for the floor of the bladder to be pulled up. Due to its popularity and longevity, many modifications and upgrade kits were designed around the Cessna 310 family. All the T310s come with Garrett turbochargers and automatic wastegates and are conservatively boosted. 1959 saw the first big change in the 310, with the switch to fuel-injected 260 HP Continental IO-470D engines and another rise in gross weight This airplane was dubbed the 310C. Then Cessna installed auxiliary tanks in the wings, good for an extra 40 total gallons. Most shops either stock or can order whatever you require to keep it running within short notice. Fuel systemAll of those responding to our request for feedback felt the need to point out that the 310s fuel system has gotten a bad rap, and that its not as tough to deal with as people think. I do not believe they cost more than a couple of knots, and should be installed on all 310s. According to Larry Balls The Twin Cessna Flyer, nearly half of all twin Cessna accidents and incidents are directly related to the gear, and a quarter of all accidents and incidents are related to failure of the nose gear idler bellcrank under the pilots feet. Cessna 182. The three biggest light aircraft fuel bladder companies today are Aero-Tech Services in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., Eagle Fuel Cells in Eagle River, Wis., and Floats & Fuel Cells (FFC) in Memphis, Tenn. Eagle Fuel Cells and Floats & Fuel Cells are CFA supporters. So-called "Stabila Tips," with an upward cant, arrived with the 1963 G model. Along with that, weight and balance has to be watched more closely. For example, a Cessna 310R with low-time engines, a Garmin cockpit, fresh paint, and a well-preserved interior can easily break the $200000 mark in asking price. The 310R also boasted an improved landing gear, though it was still not as rugged as many would like. The auxiliary tanks, in turn, could cause engine sputtering and occasional shutdowns if one is not careful: during turbulence, the Cessna 310s tendency to yaw leads the fuel away from the intake. Cessna part 1200065-5 $1,485.00 SKU: EA-1200065-5E Add Installation Kit For This Fuel Cell: Beyond the initial production models, fuel was distributed between the two main tip tanks, two optional auxiliary ones, and another optional pair in the wing lockers. Starting on with the Cessna 310I, these were replaced by conventional exhaust plumbing. Cessna Fuel Bladder replacement, 180/182 - Backcountry Pilot Payload in a lightly equipped 310C with auxiliary tanks might exceed 700 pounds, while it could be as low as 400 pounds in a 310R. The Hartzell three-blade propellers have also been commonly installed in regular Cessna 310 units without further engine modifications. The 310 doesnt glide well, with big props blanking out much of the wing and flaps that produce a lot more drag than lift. Cessna 310 true cost of ownership | Pilots of America Cessna entered the light-twin market a clear overdog in late 1954. TurtlePac | Flexible Bladder Tanks for Airplanes Confused? The excess is pumped back to the mains and overboard if there isnt room. For some reason, Cessna decided to designate the tip tanks as the mains, and the wing tanks as the auxiliaries. Dont fly again until the blockage is opened. Steve Ells has been an A&P/IA for 39 years and is a commercial pilot with instrument and multi-engine ratings. Answer: With a cruise speed of 183 knots at 7500 ft, the Cessna 310 burns around 25 gph. Copyright 2023 Aviator Insider | A Topsail Media Company | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. As with most structural work, this is a very costly problem to address, but the alternative is retiring the aircraft. The nacelle lockers introduced on the 310I makes loading options even better. Sturdy, low-hour airframes that had enjoyed their heyday during the Second World War and over the Korean peninsula had been struck from the military inventory, and many buyers were quick to snap them up on auctions for prices much below their valuation. In an interview with Cessna Flyer, pilot Gale Cawley of USAF, Indiana ANG, and American Airlines experience described his scheduled annual maintenance costs at around $3600 during his 15-year ownership period.