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Textron Aviation division McCauley Propeller featured its four-blade aluminum constant speed propeller for the Cessna Grand Caravan EX at Aero Friedrichshafen 2025 in Germany.
Textron Aviation this year is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first delivery of its Cessna 208 Caravan single-engine utility turboprop, a multi-mission platform that remains popular and could see even longer life with alternative propulsion.
Textron Cessna delivered 70 Caravans in 2024 and more Caravans in the first quarter this year—23—than any other jet or turboprop in its parent company's portfolio.
Conceived as a rugged utility aircraft with low operating costs, the 10-passenger, 1,070 nm max range, Cessna 208 Caravan entered service in 1985 and has since evolved into four models, including two amphibian variants.
Early Caravans were powered by a 600-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114 engine (upgraded to 675-shp PT6A-114A engine in 1998) and fitted with Bendix/King, Garmin, or mixed avionics. Average retail value of the aircraft on its introduction was $675,000, according to the Aircraft Bluebook.
In collaboration with major launch customer FedEx, Cessna certified the 208B Super Cargomaster with 4-ft. longer fuselage in freight configuration in 1986. This was followed in 1990 by first delivery of the 208B Grand Caravan with extended fuselage (to 41 ft., 7 in. from 37 ft., 7 in.), accommodating up to 14 passengers. Its factory-new, equipped list price was $914,500.
Garmin G1000 avionics became standard on the Grand Caravan in 2008.
Grand Caravan EX
The Grand Caravan EX with 867-shp PT6A-140 engine, McCauley four-blade aluminum, constant-speed propeller and Garmin G1000 NXi avionics entered service in 2013. Deliveries of the amphibian variant began the same year. The more powerful engine delivered a 38% improvement in rate of climb over the Grand Caravan, a 350-ft. reduction in takeoff roll, and a 10-12 ktas improvement in cruise speed on average, according to Cessna.
Maximum range of the Grand Caravan EX is 912 nm, with maximum cruise speed of 185 ktas, the manufacturer says. Its useful load is 3,532 lb. Takeoff ground roll at MTOW (8,807 lb.) on a paved runway, sea level is 1,399 ft.
The factory-new list price of the Grand Caravan EX on its introduction in 2013 was $2.4 million. The 2024 list price was $2.685 million, with a higher average retail value of $2.85 million.
The Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery database in April counted 2,304 208B Caravans in service, stored or parked worldwide.
The International Aircraft Dealers Association Aircraft Exchange in April listed four Grand Caravans for sale: a 2023 Grand Caravan EX with 54 hr. offered by Cessna for $2.995 million, two EX models from 2020-21, and a 2021 Grand Caravan. The website listed one 2021 Caravan for sale.
Upgrades And Alternatives
Waco, Texas-based Blackhawk Aerospace offers XP140 and the Vy engine upgrades for the Caravan and Grand Caravan, featuring P&WC PT6A-140 and PT6A-42A replacement engines, respectively. Each delivers performance benefits including increased climb rate, shorter takeoff distance, and higher maximum cruise speed to earlier Caravans with factory-fitted PT6A-114s.
The Caravan is also a canvas platform for multiple companies developing electric, hybrid-electric and hydrogen propulsion units.
Long Beach, California-based Ampaire has developed the Eco Caravan with AMP-H570 hybrid-electric powertrain, which runs on sustainable aviation fuel. Motor manufacturer magniX first flew its eCaravan with magni500 electric propulsion unit in May 2020. Surf Air Mobility, which has partnerships with magniX and systems integrator AeroTEC, in December 2024 received the first four of 20 Grand Caravan EXs it plans to upgrade with a proprietary electrified powertrain. ZeroAvia is developing its ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain for the turboprop.
“The Cessna Caravan is well known for its dependable and efficient performance, and highly trusted by regional airlines, cargo carriers and charter operators worldwide,” says ZeroAvia. “[H]ydrogen-electric propulsion is the future of truly clean flight, and…the Cessna Grand Caravan is the perfect place to start.”
During a first-quarter earnings call April 24, an analyst asked Textron President and CEO Scott Donnelly if the company has its own plans to electrify the Caravan.
“There are a number of companies out there that are electrifying Caravans,” Donnelly said. “It’s been one of the preferred choices for folks who are working in that space because it has such a huge useful load. To the extent that you have a penalty in terms of battery weight and stuff like that, a Caravan can absorb an awful lot of weight and still provide really good performance with a good payload and hundreds of miles of range.”
Textron Aviation has relationships with and is supporting companies working to certify electric versions of the Caravan, he added.
“They would own a supplemental type certification (STC) that would let you take a Caravan and modify it and put it into service as an electrified aircraft,” Donnelly said. “We have the ability to take that and incorporate that STC basically into our production line. If we see sufficient volume, sufficient demand, we would absolutely look at turning that into a production product.”
Interior And Operating Costs
The Grand Caravan EX cabin measures 54 in. high, 64 in. wide, and 21 ft., 4 in. wide. Baggage capacity is 1,410 lb. by weight and 143 ft.3 by volume.
Yingling Aviation of Wichita, Kansas, offers the Oasis executive interior for Caravans and Grand Caravans with several seating configurations for up to 11 occupants, including crew. One option consists of two forward-facing seats behind the crew, a four-place club seating area with side tables, an aft divan seating two people and a standard flushing toilet approved for occupancy during takeoff and landing.
“Passengers appreciate the Grand Caravan’s ability to reach remote destinations, making it ideal for travel to less accessible areas,” says Chris Crow, Textron Aviation vice president for piston and utility sales. “Additionally, they favor the large windows, which offer excellent views and the ease of entering and exiting the aircraft.
While direct operating costs vary by configuration, owners of a typically configured Cessna Grand Caravan EX can expect to spend around $650 per hr. for an aircraft under warranty, including fuel, labor, parts and engine/prop reserves, Crow says.
N-registered Caravans are required to comply with FAA regulations for an annual/100 hr. inspection. International operators that are allowed to follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance program can use the Task Based Inspection Program, which aligns most inspections to a 12 month or 200-hr. interval, minimizing downtime for unique-interval inspections, Cessna says.
BCA welcomes comment and insight from aircraft dealers and brokers for its monthly 20/Twenty pre-owned aircraft market feature. The focus aircraft for May 2025 is the Dassault Falcon 7X, and for June, the Eclipse 500. To participate, contact bill.carey@aviationweek.com.
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