Aircraft overview

The Cessna 310 / 320 family is a classic piston twin from Cessna, with the Cessna 310 first flown in 1953 and produced from 1954 to 1980. The Cessna 320 Skyknight was a turbocharged development produced during the 1960s. Both aircraft sit in the light twin category, aimed at owner pilots, business transport and charter or training operators needing redundancy, speed and a six seat cabin. The type matters because it helped define the postwar personal and business twin market, with distinctive wingtip fuel tanks on many versions and a long production run that created a broad used fleet.

Performance & specifications

Performance varies significantly by year, engine fit and weight, but a well maintained Cessna 310 commonly cruises in the high 170 to around 190 knot range. Later 310 models used Continental IO-520 engines of 285 hp each, while earlier examples used Continental O-470 or IO-470 engines. The Cessna 320 used turbocharged Continental engines, generally in the 260 hp to 285 hp class depending on variant. Typical range is often around 800 to 1,000 nautical miles with reserves, subject to fuel configuration and power setting. Useful load is commonly in the 1,600 to 2,000 lb range. Service ceiling for normally aspirated 310 models is typically around 20,000 feet, while the turbocharged 320 offers higher altitude capability.

Cabin & avionics

The cabin normally seats up to six, with two front seats, a middle row and compact rear seating. Access, baggage space and rear cabin comfort vary by model year, and later long nose aircraft generally offer improved baggage utility. These aircraft predate integrated factory glass cockpits such as Garmin G1000 or Garmin Perspective, so avionics depend heavily on individual upgrades. Buyers will commonly see legacy analog panels, Garmin GNS or GTN navigators, ADS-B equipment, modern audio panels, engine monitors, digital transponders and, on higher value examples, Aspen or Garmin flight displays and upgraded autopilots.

Buying & value

Condition and maintenance history drive value more than model year alone. Important inspection points include corrosion, fuel system condition, wingtip tank and bladder integrity where applicable, landing gear rigging, exhaust and turbocharger condition on the Cessna 320, engine times, propeller status and compliance with recurring airworthiness directives. Commonly compared variants include the later Cessna 310Q and 310R, plus the turbocharged Cessna 320 for higher altitude operations. On PlaneFox, current asking prices average about EUR 141,000, with listings ranging from roughly EUR 67,000 to EUR 295,000, reflecting large differences in avionics, engines, paint, interior and documentation.