Cessna 335 Aircraft

The Cessna 335 (1980) is a six-seat, twin-engine, retractable-gear piston aircraft - two turbocharged Continental TSIO-520 engines (about 300 hp each), cruising around 200 knots with a 26,000-foot service ceiling. It uses essentially the same airframe as the Cessna 340 but is not pressurized, which is the defining distinction buyers must understand before choosing between the two.

335 versus 340: the critical difference. The 340 is pressurized; the 335 is not. Both share the fuselage, twin-engine configuration, and the 26,000-foot ceiling the turbochargers provide. But above roughly 10,000-12,000 feet the 335's occupants need supplemental oxygen, while the 340's pressurized cabin holds a comfortable cabin altitude. For buyers who regularly fly above the weather or over mountains, this is decisive. The 335's lower acquisition cost versus a 340 is the reason to consider it when pressurization is not essential.

Twin-engine performance. At 200 knots the 335 matches the 340's turbocharged speed while carrying around 1,900 lbs useful load. Two turbocharged engines require a multi-engine rating, two overhauls, and doubled maintenance scope versus a single - though the 335 avoids the 340's pressurization-system upkeep.

Buy it if you need twin-engine safety margins, 200-knot cruise, and high-altitude ceiling without the cost of pressurization maintenance - and supplemental oxygen at altitude is acceptable for your missions.