Cessna 208 Caravan I

The Cessna 208 Caravan is an unpressurised single-turboprop light utility and passenger aircraft manufactured by Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas. The aircraft is in operation in 70 countries worldwide and is known for its capability to use rough fields and airstrips, its economical operation and versatility for high speeds and heavy loads. The aircraft, with braced high wing and tapered wings and tailplane, has been selected for use by several governments as well as for cargo, air passengers, military and paramilitary roles, for patrol, surveillance and rescue. Over 1,500 Caravans have been delivered since the Caravan 208A entered service in 1985. The 208B stretched Super Cargomaster entered service with Federal Express in 1986 and was upgraded with a new Pratt & Whitney PT6A-114A engine in 1991. Current production versions are the Caravan 625 (the basic Caravan with uprated engine), the Grand Caravan (a 14-passenger version of the stretched 208B), the Super Cargomaster and the Caravan Amphibian. Super Cessna Cargomaster Federal Express operates a fleet of 39 208A Cargomasters and 260 208B stretched Super Cargomasters. The Cargomaster is an all-cargo variant with no side windows and a large cargo door. The aircraft is fitted with additional cargo tiedown points, cargo nets and an underfuselage cargo pannier. A stretched version, the 208G, includes an additional fuselage section or plug to the aft of the wing providing an extra 1.22m of cabin length. The stretched version can carry a payload of 1,587kg. Federal Express uses a two-section over and under cargo door, which can be removed, fixed open or opened in flight for cargo airdrops. Amphibious Cessna 208 Caravan The landing gear can be fitted with amphibian floats, type Wipline 8000, or ski-landing gear. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police operate the Amphibious 208 Caravan. Cessna military variants The military variant carries the US designation U-27A and is used as a troop carrier and cargo airlifter as well as for VIP transportation, air ambulance and medical evacuation, forward air control, infiltration and exfiltration of forces, and as a command center for unmanned air vehicle operations. "The military variant (troop carrier) carries the US designation U-27A." The U-27A is used by the US Central Intelligence Agency and the US State Department. The Caravan 208 is also in service with the Brazilian and Columbian Air Forces and the Chilean Army. The LICA low-intensity conflict aircraft is fitted with a General Dynamics reconnaissance pod on the underside of the fuselage and a GECAL Gatling gun, 0.50 calibre, on the door. The aircraft can also be fitted with systems for an electronic warfare role. Cockpit The cockpit can be fitted with a set of co-pilot instrumentation. The avionics suite is based on the operator's choice of Honeywell or Garmin avionics. The Honeywell Silver Crown avionics suite can include a Kings radio flight control system 250, with KWX 56-colour weather radar, KLN 94 global positioning system with a full colour moving map display, a KMD 850 multi function display and a digital KFC 225 autopilot with an altitude preselect command. The Garmin navigation communications and global positioning system, GNS 340, comprises a GNS 530 wide area active surveillance radar, IFR (instrument flight rules) communications, navigation and global positioning system with a line of communication and glidescope receiver, and a GTX 327 digital transponder for Mode C. In September 2007, Cessna announced that all new Caravan models would be fitted with a glass cockpit which consists of Garmin G1000 integrated avionics system. This includes the GFC700 integrated, dual-channel digital autopilot flight control system, three 10in displays (two primary flight displays and one multifunction display), flight director, go-around mode, wide-area augmentation system (WAAS) and SafeTaxi, a graphical representation of the aircraft in the airport environment. Optional features include TAWS-B, XM radio and XM weather. The Garmin G1000-equipped caravan received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification and began deliveries in April 2008. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification followed in July 2008. Cabin The cabin can be configured to carry nine passengers or up to 14 passengers with a FAR Pt 23 waiver. The cabin is heated and ventilated and can be optionally fitted with air conditioning. "The Cessna Caravan is in operation in 70 countries worldwide and is known for its capability to use rough fields and airstrips." The 9.66m³ cabin is 4.57m in length and 1.57m in width. The cabin is fitted with a flat floor for ease of manoeuvring cargo and can accommodate two standard D-size cargo containers or ten 208l drums. The floor is fitted with cargo tracking attachments. Cessna engines The aircraft is powered by a single Pratt&Whitney Canada PT6A-114A turboprop engine developing 503kW. The engine drives a three-bladed constant speed reversible pitch and feathering propeller. The wing fuel tanks hold 1,257l of usable fuel. The cruise speed at 3,000m is 340km/h. The maximum range for flight at 3,050m with 45 minutes of reserves is 1,780km. The aircraft's de-icing system includes electric propeller de-icing boots, an electrically heated windscreen, heated pitot tube, ice detection systems and a backup electrical system.TKS ice protection from Aerospace Systems & Technology will be available on Caravans with cargo pods from mid-2008. Key Data Crew 2 Passengers (Caravan 625) 9 Passengers (Grand Caravan, Super Cargomaster) 14 Overall Length (Caravan 625) 11.46m Overall Length (Grand Caravan, Super Cargomaster) 12.7m Height (Caravan 625) 4.32m Height (Grand Caravan, Super Cargomaster) 4.7m	Expand Image The Cessna Caravan 625 light utility and passenger aircraft.
	Expand Image The Cessna Grand Caravan.
	Expand Image The amphibious Caravan.
	Expand Image The Special Missions Caravan, in service with the Columbian Air Force.
	Expand Image Federal Express operates a fleet of Cargomaster and Super Cargomasters.
	Expand Image The Grand Caravan is a 14-passenger version of the stretched 208B.
	Expand Image The Caravan 208 is in service with the Chilean Army.
	Expand Image The Caravan can be fitted with amphibious floats or skis.
	Expand Image Over 1,500 Caravans have been delivered since 1985.