Page 8 - Volume 18 Number 9

nacelles, which are less draggy than conventional drop- down cowl flaps. The nacelles don’t open for inspection on their sides, but they have doors for the accessory section, oil dipstick and filler cap. Only eight quarts are needed to fill the sumps on these engines.Aerodynamic fixes were applied to assure docile flight characteristics; four airflow-smoothing curved devices are located at the outer nacelle and wingroot junctures, and vortex generators are on top of the horizontal stabilizer, forward of the rudder. Otherwise, there are no stall strips or VGs.The nosegear tire is a 6.00 x 6 unit, while the maingear will probably have the optional 6.50 x 8 tires, part of a heavy-duty package that eliminates a landing-weight restriction. The emergency gear extension is simply a free-fall bypass of the hydraulic uplock system, normally sufficient to extend the wheels, but a hand pump is available to give a final nudge if needed. The gear can go down at a robust 175 knots, and once extendedwill withstand redline airspeed. There is a 150-knot retraction limit.The 45,000-BTU heater is under right side of the cockpit and the avionics bay is under the nose baggage bin. The nose baggage door cannot contact the prop even if it comes open. Forward baggage capacity is 150 pounds, or 90 pounds with air conditioning installed, an option in 1983 and 1984. The wing lockers can take 120 pounds (only 60 pounds under the hatch area) and 200 pounds are allowed in the aft cabin. Loading is simple; with a full cabin, put baggage forward, if the cabin’s empty, put the bags aft.Internal AffairsThe relatively-narrow two-section airstair door is similar to the 335/340’s; after 1982, an optional swing-up cargo door, aft of the main door, was offered to simplify loading long and large objects. The cabin’s standard club seating has a worktable on the right wall. The emergency exit is a functional top-hinged hatch around the copilot’s side window that can be opened for ground ventilation or during taxi; no cockpit storm windows were installed.The cockpit follows Cessna’s traditional well-planned twin-engine layout, without the 310’s dog-dish fuel selectors on the floor. The fuel valves are in the lower part of the central pedestal, with trim wheels above6 • TWIN & TURBINESEPTEMBER 2014