Cessna 425 Conquest I

Cessna · United States · first flew 1978 · light aircraft

The Cessna 425 Conquest I is a twin-turboprop pressurised business aircraft derived from the Cessna 421 Golden Eagle piston twin, re-engined with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprops. It offered improved altitude capability and reduced maintenance over its piston predecessor.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	10.9 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Twin turboprop re-engine of the 421 Golden Eagle airframe
Low wing with pressurised cabin for six
Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engines in slim nacelles

Closely resembles the Cessna 421 in overall shape; the turboprop engines with five-blade propellers and absence of the 421's distinctive piston cowlings are the primary identifying features.

Specifications

The Cessna 425 Conquest I has a length of 10.9 m (36 ft).
It has a wingspan of 13.45 m (44 ft).
Its maximum speed is 487 km/h (303 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2 pilots + up to 6 passengers.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Cessna developed the 425 in the late 1970s by marrying the proven 421 airframe to PT6A-112 turboprops. First flown in 1978, it entered production in 1980 and was built until 1986 with some 236 delivered. The type competed with the Piper Cheyenne and Beechcraft King Air in the owner-flown turboprop market.

Variants

One main production version; often distinguished from the larger Conquest II (441) by its smaller size and lower power. Some operators fit PT6A-135 engines as an upgrade.

Where you'll see it

Popular with owner-pilots and small charter operators across the Americas and Europe; valued for its straightforward handling and PT6 reliability.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.