Cessna 208 Caravan
4 models built 1984–present · 975 on the US register today
The Caravan, a single-engine turboprop utility aircraft on fixed gear with a PT6A and a large cargo door, in production since 1984. The 208 is the original short fuselage; the 208A Cargomaster is the windowless freighter built for FedEx; the 208B Grand Caravan (1986 on) is four feet longer and took over most production, with the 867 shp PT6A-140 Grand Caravan EX from 2013. FedEx feeders, island airlines, skydiving centres and missionary aviation fly them in every climate.
The variants
| MODEL | YEARS | ACTIVE | TAILFAX SCORE | WHAT CHANGED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 208 | 1984–1998 | 118 | 31.9/50 | The original short-fuselage Caravan, 600 shp (675 from 1998) |
| 208A | 1984–1998 | 1 | — | Cargomaster: windowless freighter for FedEx |
| 208B | 1986–present | 645 | 31.1/50 | Grand Caravan: four-foot stretch; 867 shp EX from 2013 |
| 208B | 1986–present | 211 | 31.1/50 | Same aircraft recorded under the Textron Aviation name (2014 on) |
Family fleet, active
975
FAA registry
NTSB events / 1,000, 10 yrs
70.8
69 events over 975 active aircraft, pooled across the family
Data as of: FAA registry Sep 28 · NTSB Oct 2 · scores Sep 30