Beech Duke

[RAEstenson]

I have owned a Beech B36TC and a Cessna 340A. I am now looking at buying a Duke. I understand that they can be a maintenance hog. Can anyone suggest where I can get additional information on the Duke or does anyone have any comments on this good looking machine.

[Max Tahir]

I've heard that any Duke built prior to 1976 can be a nightmare; Engines, batteries & turbo chargers need special attention.

[Dave K]

I too love the looks of the Duke and am a true Beech lover. Currently, I fly King Airs for a charter company. I have flown the Cessna 414 and 421 aircraft. My experience with the Turbocharged aircraft is that your maintenance problems are directly related to how well you "baby" your engines and mind the cool down considerations. Others I know who have owned Dukes generally do not have bad things to say about the maintenance on them as long as you treat them well. Beechcraft products tend to be more durable than their Cessna or Piper counterparts and therefore tend to require less frequent maintenance. As you are aware of the proper handling of turbo charged engines by your ownership of the TC Bonanza and C-340, you should know how to treat the engines on the Duke. As far as the airframe, I understand that the Beech QUALITY is evident by less frequent repairs, but when something does need replacement, you can expect to pay for it. I have yet to have the opportunity to fly a Duke, but it is one of the aircraft I would seriously consider for myself if I were to buy an aircraft. Good luck!

[cjrucker]

The reason I stayed away from the Duke after selling my 340, was that I really wanted something bigger. The 340 really is not a 6 adult airplane, and once in a while I load 6 adults in my bird. I'm afraid the Duke is even smaller than the 340. I chose a P-Navajo. Understanding that they are somewhat esoteric and rare, they are a tremendous bargain compared to the 421's that I looked at. Most of the 421's were "well worn" for their asking price. I just finished flight training at Simcom, and they had a pretty good program for the P. I have about 50 hours in the bird and it runs great, is quieter, faster and has a better pressure differential than the 340. By the way it is MUCH roomier too.

Casey Rucker