Cessna 320 Skyknight

Twin Piston· 142 globally registered

The Cessna 320 Skyknight represents Cessna's early 1960s effort to create a pressurized twin-engine executive aircraft for the owner-pilot market. Introduced in 1962 and produced through 1969, the 320 was essentially a pressurized variant of the Model 310 twin, fitted with turbocharged Continental TSIO-520 engines and a cabin pressure differential of 3.35 psi. This pressurization capability allowed comfortable cruise altitudes up to 20,000 feet, a significant advantage over unpressurized light twins of the era. The Skyknight seated four to six occupants and offered a cruise speed around 220 knots, making it competitive with other high-performance piston twins while providing the comfort of a shirt-sleeve environment at altitude. Only 110 Skyknights were built during the seven-year production run, making it relatively rare compared to the thousands of unpressurized 310s that Cessna manufactured. The type found favor with corporate operators, aerial survey companies, and owner-pilots who valued the pressurization and performance but could accept the added complexity and maintenance costs of the turbocharging and pressurization systems. Today the 320 remains in service primarily with specialized operators who appreciate its combination of speed, altitude capability, and useful load for missions like aerial photography and charter work. SkyMeter has tracked 24 flights across 8 airframes and 8 operators, with SOL AERIAL SURVEYS LLC the largest observed operator.