Cessna 421C Golden Eagle vs Piper Navajo PA-31

Side-by-side specs, range, and operating costs.

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Dimensions & configuration

Representative planforms, drawn to shared scale.

Cessna 421C Golden Eagle
44 ft × 37 ft ⭥ 12 ft
2× Piston Retractable Pressurized
Piper Navajo PA-31
41 ft × 33 ft ⭥ 13 ft
2× Piston Retractable Unpressurized

Flight Profile

Service ceiling, range, and climb rate.

Tap legend to isolate

Arc represents the climb-cruise-descent profile based on published service ceiling and range. Climb rate annotated on ascent. FL180 (18,000 ft) shown for reference.

Mission Performance

Stall, approach, cruise, range, ceiling and climb: best values are at the top.

Mission performance specifications
Specification Cessna 421C Golden EaglePiper Navajo PA-31
Stall speed 86 kt70 kt
Approach speed 98 kt95 kt
Cruise speed 241 kt215 kt
Range 1197 nm1011 nm
Service ceiling 30200 ft26300 ft
Rate of climb 1940 fpm1445 fpm
Fuel burn 47.0 gph36.5 gph

Each axis is scaled independently across the compared aircraft and printed in its own units; every vertex sits at the published figure. Higher is better on all axes: Stall, Approach and Fuel Burn are inverted (lower = higher). A missing figure breaks the line at that axis.

Fuel Burn & Range

Range, endurance, and what the fuel costs by the hour.

Cessna 421C Golden Eagle Avgas
47.0 gph
Baseline
1,197 nm range 5.1 nm/gal 213 gal usable $306 fuel/hr 4h 31m endurance
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle: 47.0 gph at cruise, 1,197 nautical mile published range, 4 hour 31 minute endurance, 5.1 nautical miles per gallon.
Piper Navajo PA-31 Avgas
36.5 gph
Baseline
1,011 nm range 5.9 nm/gal 192 gal usable $237 fuel/hr 5h 15m endurance
Piper Navajo PA-31: 36.5 gph at cruise, 1,011 nautical mile published range, 5 hour 15 minute endurance, 5.9 nautical miles per gallon.
Avgas range each cell = 1 hr of cruise · width scales with speed tank-dry · at this cruise burn

Bars show published still-air range: select a cell to view cruise-hours and fuel usage. Endurance is full tank at the displayed cruise burn rate; the extra is reserve and economy margin. Estimates only. Always verify against the POH.

Runway Performance

Density altitude adjusted estimates

Outside Air Temp
0°F57°F115°F
Field Elevation
SL4,0008,000 ft

Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle

Landing over 50 ft obstacle

Density Altitude

Monte cristo

Base distance DA penalty
Scale: 6,000 ft

FAA 10%/1,000 ft DA rule of thumb (FAA-H-8083-25B). Turboprops and jets are less sensitive in practice. Always verify against the POH.

Estimated Operating Costs

Hourly direct and annual fixed costs

Scale:
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle Avgas
$598 /hr
Baseline
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle: $598 per flight hour — fuel $306, maintenance and reserve $292.
Piper Navajo PA-31 Avgas
$364 /hr
Baseline
Piper Navajo PA-31: $364 per flight hour — fuel $237, maintenance and reserve $127.
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle Piston
$32,155 /yr Baseline
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle: $32,155 per year — insurance $16,000, hangar $9,600, annual inspection $6,555.
Piper Navajo PA-31 Piston
$12,997 /yr Baseline
Piper Navajo PA-31: $12,997 per year — insurance $3,942, hangar $6,000, annual inspection $3,055.

Estimates only. Hourly direct operating cost, based on fuel price and reserves; Annual fixed costs (insurance, hangar, and inspection). Costs vary by location, pilot profile, and market conditions. See individual aircraft pages for source notes.

Capability & limits

Payload vs useful load limit

+ cargo
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Cessna 421C Golden Eagle Piston
10 / 10 seats cargo 213 gal / 213 gal fuel 922 lbs wet payload 2,200 lbs useful 7,450 lbs MTOW
Piper Navajo PA-31 Piston
8 / 8 seats cargo 192 gal / 192 gal fuel 1,418 lbs wet payload 2,570 lbs useful 6,500 lbs MTOW

Shows selected occupants against full fuel, within the aircraft's useful-load limit. Fuel weight at 6.7 lb/gal jet-A, 6.0 lb/gal avgas; pax and luggage are 190 + 30 . Change payload weights in global settings.

Payload-Range Map

Origin: → · two fingers to move map

+ cargo
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