The Cessna 425 Conquest I was Cessna’s first turbine twin in its 400 series. While similar looking to the piston Cessna 421, it is a completely different design with a bigger wing and empennage. Produced from 1981 to 1986, 236 models were delivered. The Conquest was delivered after Beech captured the turboprop market with its King Air family and did not survive the downturn of the mid-1980s. The highlight of the Conquest I is its Pratt & Whitney PT6A-112 engines. PT6s are known for their reliability and the –112 is among the most reliable.
Some Conquest Is were purchased with ARC radios, while Collins radios were offered as an upgrade. Later model years were reported to have better fit and finish in the interior. The payload of the Conquest I is less than that of the King Air C90, although its range is similar.
The cabin has room in the back for a small emergency-use-only lavatory, which is also part of the internal baggage storage area. The cabin is smaller by about 20 percent compared to the King Air C90 series. Although small, the wide, oval cabin does offer modest comfort. The Cessna Conquest I is known as an excellent entry-level turboprop.
