Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX (c/n 208B-5252, OK-LOK), static display at Helicopter Show 2019, Hradec Králové, May 2019.
In the early 1980s, Pawnee Division of Cessna Aircraft Company introduced into the market its new single-engine utility aircraft, designated Cessna 208. The aeroplane was created by a team of three renowned aviation professionals with great experience in general aviation – the chief engineer at Pawnee John Berwick, the design engineer Dave Ellis and the well-known test pilot Bruce Barret.
The construction team aimed to create a new generation bush aircraft, able to succeed the then popular de Havilland Beaver and Otter aeroplanes. It had to be not only a mere continuation of the successful line of Cessna utility aircraft, represented by the 180, 185 and 205/206/207 series, but also bring a new quality to local transportation in remote areas.
The Cessna development team spent a lot of time with the company customers flying the aforementioned light aircraft to find what they needs would be in case of operating much bigger aeroplane. In addition, the company engineers performed several trips to remote areas of the United States to evaluate the bush aircraft in their real environment.
In conclusion, Berwick, Ellis and Barret created the aircraft that followed the most frequent requirements they heard – sturdy construction, reliability, repairability and ability to carry relatively big loads. In addition, they also focused on crew comfort and ease of control.
On 9th December 1982, the new Cessna 208 Caravan successfully performed its maiden flight. It was a high wing braced monoplane with cabin able to accommodate two crew members and up to nine passengers or approximately 1,400 kg of cargo. The prototype, and also the first production examples, were powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114 turboprop engine, generating 600 hp.
Although the new aircraft seemed to follow most of the customers´ demands, as well as was continuation of Cessna´s acknowledged series of utility aeroplanes, the moment of the 208 introduction came in the time of crisis on the general aviation market. Therefore, the company management faced the problem if ever begin with serial production of the aircraft.
This question was soon solved by contract signed with Federal Express. The shipping company was looking for a new cargo aircraft to provide its services to small and remote towns and the 208 seemed the best option. In conclusion, the FedEx decided to purchase one hundred of the new Cessna utility aeroplanes, with options for more, even before the serial manufacturing of the 208 was commenced.
Deliveries of the Cessna 208 began in 1985 and soon the aircraft achieved significant success in the general aviation market. The aeroplane was acquired by several civil and military operators all over the world, and used for passenger and cargo transport, VIP flights, air ambulance duties and skydiving, as well as for law enforcement and humanitarian missions. However, the FedEx remains the biggest single operator of the 208, with current fleet of more than 230 examples of the aircraft.
There are several civil and military variants of the Cessna 208 available on the market, both developed by the manufacturer and independently converted. With more than 3,000 aeroplanes built, the 208 series is still in production. According to Textron Aviation, the current owner of the Cessna brand, the Caravan family is currently certified in one hundred countries and the type achieved more than 25 million flight hours in total.
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX featured within our Photo of the Week series, is an upgraded variant of the Grand Caravan model, introduced into the market in 1985. The EX version is equipped with more powerful, 867 hp P&W PT6A-140 turboprop engine which gives the aircraft an improved rate of climb and higher cruise speed.
The aeroplane was manufactured in 2015 and our photo shows it in 2019, when – registered as OK-LOK and being part of the DSA company fleet – this 208B was exhibited at Helicopter Show in Hradec Králové, the Czech Republic. In 2022, the aeroplane was acquired by Wright Air Services Inc. from Fairbanks, Alaska, and registered N682BB.
In November of 2023, the 208B-5252 was slightly damaged at Huslia Airport, Alaska when its propeller struck a snow berm during roll-out. After the necessary repair, the aircraft returned to its airline duty. Nowadays, the Cessna 208 N682BB is still carrying passengers over Alaska.
