Six-seat turbocharged light piston twin · Twin-engine piston aircraft · production 1965–1968 · See its reach on the 3D globe
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A Cessna 320F Skyknight costs approximately $159k (€147k) to $190k (€176k) to buy at 1967 market values, and about $199k (€184k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $2,489 (€2,305) per flight hour all-in. It seats 6, cruises at 190 kt (219 mph) and has a published range of 1,000 nm (1,852 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 320 is the turbocharged 310 of the 1960s, built in small numbers and now one of the rarer Cessna twins flying, offering high-altitude performance a normally aspirated light twin cannot reach. For an owner who wants to top weather in a classic airframe it is an interesting and inexpensive way in. Age is the whole story. These are sixty-year-old aeroplanes with 1960s turbocharging, few were built so model-specific parts are scarce and comparable sales are rare, and the Cessna twin inspection regime applies here as it does across the family. Buy it as a project with a known shop and a parts source, not as cheap transport.
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 | 2,404 kg |
|---|---|
| Baggage weight | 91 kg |
| Engine | 2 x Continental TSIO-520-B or TSIO-520-BB, 285 hp each at 2700 rpm |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 6 |
| Reported payload proxy | 913 lb (414 kg) |
| Reported range | 1,000 nm (1,852 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | Not used for mission ranking |
| Cruise speed | 190 kt (219 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 | $454 (€420) |
Good speed and range for a classic twin, but tip tanks, turbo engines, gear and age make maintenance demanding.
Indicative cash costs at 1967 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 | $181k (€168k) | $4,525 (€4,190) | $1.08m (€998k) |
| 80 h / year | $199k (€184k) | $2,489 (€2,305) | $1.17m (€1.08m) |
| 120 h / year | $217k (€201k) | $1,811 (€1,677) | $1.26m (€1.17m) |
| 180 h / year | $245k (€226k) | $1,358 (€1,258) | $1.4m (€1.29m) |
Every figure above is built from a $46k (€43k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $454 (€420) 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 $95k (€88k) 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 320F Skyknight 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 1967 market price for a Cessna 320F Skyknight is $159k (€147k) to $190k (€176k). 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 320F Skyknight works out at roughly $199k (€184k) annually, which is about $2,489 (€2,305) 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 $454 (€420).
Reported range is 1,000 nm (1,852 km). PlaneFit does not yet use this figure for mission ranking on this model.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Cessna 320F Skyknight 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.