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Author Topic: Price of a new 520 in 1954  (Read 9706 times)

Space

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Price of a new 520 in 1954
« on: January 09, 2017, 01:20:31 am »
Interesting to look at 1954 new 520 price c.f. a new 310 price, let alone the C50! I know which one I would prefer today - the one that has stood the test of time!

From an article in Plane & Pilot 2004
http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/article/geronimo/#.WHMoOBR0LzI

Price ruled all, however, and the 1954 Apache was, by far, the least expensive twin on the market, not that much more costly than the single-engine Beechcraft E35 Bonanza. At the time, the only other light-medium twins that were available were hardly so-called trainers, the cabin-class Aero Commander 520, at $73,260, and the Beech C50 Twin Bonanza, a two-row six-seater, not surprisingly at the top of the class at $91,355. A year later, Cessna introduced the 310, but with 240 hp on each wing and a gross weight of 4,600 pounds, the 310 was more than 1,000 pounds heavier than the Apache and hardly intended as a trainer. It also cost nearly $60,000.

Cheers, Space

p.s. I came across the article when researching basic trainers (the pet rock with the charisma of a speed bump)

donv

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Re: Price of a new 520 in 1954
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2017, 12:06:40 pm »
Apache and Commander 520 were not remotely in the same class.

Stephen Matusick

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Re: Price of a new 520 in 1954
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2017, 12:50:33 pm »
Very interesting- I don't know what I consider a trainer twin- certainly not a Twin Commander. I've often thought a Travel Air or one of the Cessna 3 series as a "starter" Twin.

ghancock

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Re: Price of a new 520 in 1954
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2017, 02:27:36 pm »
I would have to say the 310 makes an awesome initial twin/trainer. It is a baby to fly, plenty powerful to fly around on 1 engine and lots of room to move around.  It is also faster than the Apache and looks better :-)

Twin Commander is an awesome twin as well but wouldn't really consider mine a starter.

My 2 cents,

Glenn
--glenn
You can't win an argument with an ignorant person,  they'll just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Space

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Re: Price of a new 520 in 1954
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2017, 10:01:29 pm »
I never suggested AC as an initial trainer. I posted the article for everyone's interest because it showed the price differentials of the popular twins back in the day. I came across the paragraph WHILST I was reading up about possible twin trainers for our FS. I am sorry if I confused anyone.

Thanks Glen for the 310 suggestion, I hadn't considered that but it makes an awful lot of sense for our ops.

cheers, Space

Steve binnette

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Re: Price of a new 520 in 1954
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2017, 12:59:29 pm »
Don't forget the Aztec.  They are built like tanks.  Almost a twin engined cub!

Any of the six cylinder aircraft eat up rental rates.  That's why the Seminole is so popular.

Roy

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Re: Price of a new 520 in 1954
« Reply #6 on: January 14, 2017, 09:35:29 pm »
Agree with Glen's feedback, I did ME and MEI and MEII in a C-310-I, and don't regret a minute of it, especially after being an MEI in a BE76 for a year. The C310 is docile and handle-able yet requires some skill to be a ME, and makes you be a true ME pilot. I did a couple hundred hours in a C310, and after Glen goes through his as he indicates he is, would be a great bird!

At the same time, I agree with Steve; I had a chance to run a long-nose Aztec a couple times (with zero time flying this make/model prior to departure) a couple times that was a very nice, comfortable, formidable ride. Love those O-540 or IO540 engines as much as I did the IO4070's on the C310, and a very stable platform.

Oh a great 500B with RayJays would be my dream airplane near term, before of course a 690A with -10.

And also agree with Steve, the economics of ME training is not for the 6 cylinder world anymore. (too bad).

Flat out, love my C310 time as a ME trainer and runner, love and cherish my AC time I was fortunate to reap under Morris' mentorship, and enjoyed my "Aztruck" time as well.