Cessna 208

Single Turboprop

The Cessna 208 Caravan is the workhorse single-engine turboprop that redefined utility aviation when it entered service in 1985. Built to haul cargo, passengers, or both into short strips and remote airfields where jets fear to tread, the Caravan combines a Pratt & Whitney PT6A turbine with a rugged high-wing airframe capable of operating from grass, gravel, and dirt. Its 8,750-pound max takeoff weight and generous cabin volume make it the go-to platform for bush operators, skydive outfits, and regional freight carriers across six continents. FedEx alone operates hundreds as feeder aircraft, and the type has become synonymous with reliable backcountry access in Alaska, northern Canada, and the Australian outback. The Caravan's operating envelope is modest by turboprop standards—cruise speeds around 180 knots, service ceiling near 25,000 feet—but its short-field performance and single-pilot certification have made it an enduring commercial success. More than 2,800 have been delivered since introduction, with production continuing today. Variants include the stretched 208B Grand Caravan, the amphibious Caravan 675 on Wipline floats, and the U-27A military liaison version. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.