More than 3,000 Cessna Caravan 208s have been delivered since the single-engine turboprop arrived in the mid-1980s, and thousands are still flying, according to aircraft dealer Holstein Aviation. Nearly four decades on, it remains a staple of regional aviation.
FedEx leans on it as the backbone of its regional cargo flying. Commuter airlines use it for passengers, and medevac and skydiving operators rely on it as well. The reason, Holstein says, is a modular cabin that can be reconfigured quickly. It seats between 9 and 14 depending on layout, or it can be set up for freight, or a mix of both.
Built for rough strips
A Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114/114A engine drives the aircraft. Its high wing and rugged landing gear let it use short, unimproved or unpaved runways, which is why it turns up at remote destinations that larger aircraft cannot reach.
It can haul up to 3,000 pounds of payload and fly a range of approximately 1,000 nautical miles, enough for nonstop regional trips.
Why operators pick it
With one engine, the Caravan burns less fuel and costs less to maintain than multi-engine utility aircraft, Holstein says. Caravans fly on nearly every continent, and operators draw on Textron Aviation’s worldwide service network and a mature parts supply chain.
