Cessna TTx Model T240

Overview

The Cessna TTx is a composite, fixed-gear, low-wing four-seater produced from 2013 to 2018, and the final evolution of a design that began as the Lancair Columbia 300 in the late 1990s. The lineage runs: Lancair Columbia 300 and 400, acquired by Cessna in 2007, rebranded as the Cessna 350 and 400 Corvalis, then refined into the TTx. Buyers searching under any of those names are looking at variants of the same fundamental airframe: a clean composite structure with a fixed undercarriage, a low drag profile, and a turbocharged Continental engine. The TTx is the most polished iteration, adding the Garmin G2000 touchscreen avionics suite and several refinements to the cabin and systems.

At 235 KTAS, the TTx is the fastest fixed-gear piston single ever certificated. It outpaces the Cirrus SR22T on cruise speed and matches it on service ceiling, while carrying more fuel and offering meaningfully longer range. The tradeoff is four seats versus the SR22’s five, and a used market that is thinner and less liquid.

Key Features for GA Buyers

Speed. 235 KTAS at altitude is the TTx’s headline number and it is genuine. At FL250 on the TSIO-550-C, the aircraft competes with light twins on block time for long trips. No other certificated fixed-gear piston single gets close.

Garmin G2000 avionics. The TTx ships with a fully integrated Garmin G2000 touchscreen glass cockpit: dual 12-inch displays, GFC 700 autopilot, synthetic vision, ADS-B, and TAWS. For buyers accustomed to retrofitted panels, the factory integration is a meaningful quality step.

Composite airframe. The carbon-fibre composite structure is lighter and more aerodynamically refined than metal alternatives. It also requires different inspection techniques and different shops. Composite expertise is concentrated in fewer facilities than sheet-metal knowledge, which affects both annual costs and turnaround times.

Fixed gear. No hydraulic system, no gear doors, no actuators. The fixed undercarriage eliminates a significant category of mechanical failure and simplifies the annual inspection. The aerodynamic penalty is offset by the composite airframe’s low overall drag.

Range. 102 gallons usable and 17 GPH cruise burn yields approximately 1,100 nm with reserves. The TTx is a serious long-range platform for a four-seat aircraft.

Trade-offs

• Four seats, not five. The SR22T seats five; the TTx seats four. For buyers who regularly carry four adults, this is not a constraint. For anyone who occasionally needs a fifth seat, it closes the door entirely.
• Thin used market. Production ended in 2018 after a relatively short run. Late-model examples are scarce and command prices of $500,000 to $700,000 or more. Liquidity at resale is limited compared to the SR22 fleet.
• Composite maintenance specialization. Annual inspections require a shop with composite airframe experience. Not all facilities have it, and those that do often carry a premium. Budget slightly more than a comparable metal-airframe aircraft for annuals.
• Turbocharged engine management. The TSIO-550-C requires careful CHT and TIT management, as with any turbocharged Continental. Shock cooling on descent is the primary discipline required.
• No CAPS. The Cirrus SR22T carries a whole-airframe parachute system. The TTx does not. For buyers to whom CAPS is a meaningful safety consideration, this is a genuine differentiator in favour of the Cirrus.
• Pressurization. Despite the 25,000 ft ceiling, the TTx is unpressurized. Supplemental oxygen is required above 12,500 ft MSL for extended operations.

See Also

• Cirrus SR-22 Turbo – the closest competitor; five seats and CAPS, slightly slower cruise, larger and more liquid used market
• Lancair LC-41 Columbia 400 – the direct predecessor; same airframe and engine, older avionics, lower purchase price
• Lancair LC-40 Columbia 300 – the normally aspirated sibling; lower operating costs, reduced altitude performance
• Piper M350 – pressurized step-up; adds cabin pressurization at the cost of retractable gear complexity and higher operating costs