The Cessna 310 is one of the defining light twins of the general-aviation era — a five- to six-seat aircraft that Cessna built in large numbers from 1954 through 1980, producing well over 5,000 examples across the base 310 and the turbocharged T310. Instantly recognizable by the teardrop wingtip fuel tanks that became its signature, the 310 offered business and personal travelers a genuine IFR cabin-class twin at a piston price. The later 310R, powered by 285 hp Continental IO-520-M engines and fitted with refined systems and interior, is the variant most commonly seen in today's market and the standard against which earlier 310s are measured.
Two Continental engines bring two overhaul reserves, two insurance lines, and a maintenance bill that accumulates with every hundred hours — and that reality has always made the 310 a natural co-ownership airplane. A partnership group shares not only the cash cost but the scheduling and proficiency motivation that comes with a type that rewards regular flying. Well-maintained 310Rs are durable, widely supported, and valued for the combination of cabin room, true IFR range, and respectable single-engine performance that made them a first-choice business twin in their day.