Cessna 340

Cessna 335/340
1979 Cessna 340A
Role	Light twin aircraft
Manufacturer	Cessna
First flight	1970
Produced	1971-1984
Number built	1351
Developed from	Cessna 310[1]

Interior

Instrument panel

1973 model Cessna 340

1973 model Cessna 340 front view

Airstair door

The Cessna 340 is a twin piston engine pressurized business aircraft that was manufactured by Cessna.^[1][2]

The Cessna 335 is an unpressurized version, which appears the same externally as the 340.^[2] It was much less successful than the 340.^[3]

Development

The 340 was conceived of as a cabin-class development of the successful Cessna 310.^[1]

The 340 is a six seat aircraft, with four passenger seats, an aisle and an airstair door. The tail and landing gear were based on the Cessna 310's units, while its wings were from the Cessna 414. The 340's primary selling features were its spacious, pressurized cabin, the first in a light twin.^[1][2][3]

Work on the 340 began in 1969 and the first aircraft was delivered in 1971, behind schedule as one of the prototypes crashed during flight testing in 1970.^[3]

The early models have two turbocharged Continental TSIO-520-K engines with 285 hp (214 kW) each. Starting in 1976 the engines were upgraded to the more powerful Continental TSIO-520-NB engines of 310hp (233 kW). This variant is known as the 340A and it also features smaller 75.5-inch (1,920 mm) diameter propellers to reduce noise and meet ICAO Annex 16 noise requirements.^[1][3][4]

The Cessna 335, a low-priced, non-pressurized, version powered by 300hp (225 kW) Continental TSIO-520-EB engines that was produced from 1979. It was not a market success, with only 64 built by the time production ended in 1980.^[3]

The 340 was more successful and remained in production until 1984 with 1287 built.^[3]

Variants

340

Pressurized six-seat twin powered by two Continental TSIO-520-K engines of 285 hp (214 kW) each. Certified 15 October 1971.^[3][4]

340A

Pressurized six-seat twin powered by two Continental TSIO-520-NB engines of 310hp (233 kW) each. Certified 19 November 1975^[3][4]

335

Unpressurized six-seat twin powered by Continental TSIO-520-EB engines of 300hp (225 kW) each. Certified 2 October 1979^[3][4]

Riley Jet Prop 340

Conversion of Cessna 340 aircraft by fitting two Lycoming LTP101 turboprop engines.^{[citation needed]}

Riley Rocket 340

Conversion of Cessna 340 aircraft by fitting two 340 hp (254 kW) Lycoming TIO-540-R engines. Also designated R340L.^[5]

Riley Super 340

Conversion of 1972–1975 Cessna 340 aircraft by fitting two 310hp Continental TSIO-520-J/-N engines. Also known as R340 Super.^[6]

Specifications (340A)

Data from Plane & Pilot, Airliners.net, The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Capacity: Five passengers
• Length: 34 ft 4 in (10.46 m)
• Wingspan: 38 ft 1 in (11.62 m)
• Height: 12 ft 7 in (3.84 m)
• Wing area: 184 ft² (17.1 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 23018 (root) NACA 23015 (tip)
• Empty weight: 3,921 lb (1,780 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 5,990 lb (2,719kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Continental TSIO-520-NB 6-cylinder piston engines, 310hp (231 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 244 kts (279 mph, 452km/h)
• Stall speed: 82 knots (94 mph, 153 km/h)
• Range: 1,406 nm (1,606 mi, 2,603 km) at economy cruising speed
• Service ceiling: 29,800 ft (9,085 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,650 ft/min (8.38 m/s)
• Wing loading: 32.55 lb/ft² (159.0kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 9.66 lb/hp (0.12 kW/kg)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Beechcraft Duke
• Piper PA-31 Navajo
• Rockwell Aero Commander
  

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 92. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. ISBN 0-918312-00-0
2. ^ ^{a b c} Montgomery, MR & Gerald Foster: A Field Guide to Airplanes, Second Edition, page 106. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992. ISBN 0-395-62888-1
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Demand Media, Inc (2008). "The Cessna 340 & 335". http://www.airliners.net/aircraft-data/stats.main?id=151. Retrieved 2008-08-09. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Federal Aviation Administration (August 1994). "TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET NO. 3A25". http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library%5CrgMakeModel.nsf/0/B138492F2A94C6058625731A0048EFC8?OpenDocument. Retrieved 2008-08-10. 
5. ^ Taylor 1982, p. 454.
6. ^ Taylor 1988, pp. 461–462.

• Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0 7106-0748-2.
• Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988–89. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data, 1988. ISBN 0 7106-0867-5.