Six-seat light piston twin · Twin-engine piston aircraft · production 1982–1986 · See its reach on the 3D globe
A Cessna 303 Crusader costs approximately $219k (€202k) to $261k (€242k) to buy at 1984 market values, and about $158k (€146k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $1,974 (€1,828) per flight hour all-in. It seats 6, cruises at 180 kt (207 mph) and has a published range of 870 nm (1,611 km), needing about 2,297 ft (700 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The Crusader is the most thoughtfully designed light twin Cessna ever built and one of the few drawn as a twin from a blank sheet rather than grown from a single: counter-rotating engines so there is no critical engine, docile handling and a cabin laid out for six adults. Pilots who fly it are consistently enthusiastic. It arrived into a collapsing market. Only 297 were built between 1981 and 1985, so the fleet is tiny, its engines are a model-specific Continental variant with correspondingly awkward parts and overhaul logistics, and few shops have seen one. Buy it because you want this particular aeroplane, having first confirmed someone nearby can maintain it.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 2,336 kg |
|---|---|
| Usable fuel | 579 L |
| Maximum operating altitude | 25,000 ft |
| Engine | Continental TSIO-520-AE left and LTSIO-520-AE right, 250 hp each |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 6 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 959 lb (435 kg) |
| Published planning range | 870 nm (1,611 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 583 nm (1,080 km) |
| Cruise speed | 180 kt (207 mph) |
| Runway need | ~2,297 ft (700 m) |
| Landing gear | Retractable tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $46k (€43k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $443 (€410) |
A comfortable and modern-feeling light twin for its era, but a small fleet and model-specific parts limit liquidity.
Indicative cash costs at 1984 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $140k (€130k) | $3,505 (€3,245) | $939k (€869k) |
| 80 h / year | $158k (€146k) | $1,974 (€1,828) | $1.03m (€951k) |
| 120 h / year | $176k (€163k) | $1,463 (€1,355) | $1.12m (€1.03m) |
| 180 h / year | $202k (€187k) | $1,123 (€1,040) | $1.25m (€1.16m) |
Every figure above is built from a $46k (€43k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $443 (€410) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $94k (€87k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Cessna 303 Crusader cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
On top of a pilot certificate, this aircraft obliges the person flying it to hold the following. Each one is time and money before the first trip, and insurers usually attach their own minimums on top.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 1984 market price for a Cessna 303 Crusader is $219k (€202k) to $261k (€242k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Cessna 303 Crusader works out at roughly $158k (€146k) annually, which is about $1,974 (€1,828) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $443 (€410).
Published range is 870 nm (1,611 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 583 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Cessna 303 Crusader requires multi-engine rating and complex airplane endorsement. An airplane multi-engine land class rating. Insurers add their own minimum: multi-engine time, time in this make and model, and often a checkout with a named instructor before you fly it solo. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.
Plan on approximately 2,297 ft (700 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.
