In December 2012, Cessna announced the receipt of a type certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the Cessna 208 Grand Caravan EX aircraft. This machine stands out with a new 867 hp PT6A-140 engine manufactured by Pratt & Whitney Canada. The installation of a more powerful engine, as tests showed, significantly improved flight characteristics compared to the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, which used a PT6A-114A engine (675 horsepower).
The nearly 23% increase in thrust could not go unnoticed, and the improvements exceeded the designers’ own expectations. “When we started this project, we envisioned increasing the range of the aircraft’s speed and altitude characteristics. But the performance we evaluated during the certification process with the new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140 engine truly exceeded our ambitions,” said Lenny O’Bannon, Cessna’s Caravan project leader.
Enhanced Performance and Versatility
According to the company’s statement, climb rate indicators increased by 38% compared to the projected 20% increase in rate of climb. Simultaneously, the upgrade led to a 10-knot increase in cruise speed and a maximum cruise speed of up to 361 km/h, as well as the ability to operate the aircraft from short runways. Takeoff distance was reduced by 350 feet, or 20-25%.
Furthermore, the additional thrust reserve is reported to give the aircraft another area of application. The EX will be the first Caravan version that will feel confident on water surfaces thanks to the possibility of using larger floats. Incidentally, Wipline has already prepared a pair of these for the new model.
Capacity and Interior Comfort
The Grand Caravan EX is designed to transport ten to fourteen passengers (or 1520 kg of cargo) over a distance of up to 2000 km. The aircraft’s maximum cruise speed is 361 km/h. This turboprop is equipped with a Garmin G1000 digital avionics suite and an anti-icing system. The aircraft’s cabin can be converted into VIP, cargo, or combined configurations.
In top-tier configurations, Cessna offers several “Oasis” style interior design options, delighting passengers with convertible seats upholstered in natural leather and leather elements in the cabin trim, a minibar, and personal televisions. The customer can choose the number of seats and options from the catalog. VIP configurations include several cabin options for seven, six, and four passengers.
Certification and Capacity Expansion
In 2015, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified the 14-seat version of the Cessna Grand Caravan EX turboprop, representing a 56% increase in capacity compared to the base model. The American aircraft manufacturer, part of the Textron group, reported that the number of seats was increased by narrowing the aisle between seats in the passenger compartment and adding an extra row of seats.
Technical Specifications
| Modification | Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX |
| Wingspan, m | 15.88 |
| Aircraft length, m | 12.67 |
| Aircraft height, m | 4.60 |
| Wing area, m2 | 25.96 |
| Empty weight | 2 336 |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 39 95 |
| Fuel capacity, kg | 1019 |
| Engine type | 1 Turboprop Pratt Whitney Canada PT6A-1 40 |
| Power, hp | 1 x 867 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 375 |
| Cruising speed, km/h | 361 |
| Practical range, km | 1785 |
| Maximum rate of climb, m/min | 405 |
| Practical ceiling, m | 7620 |
| Crew, crew members | 1 |
| Payload | 10-14 passengers or 1520 kg of cargo |
Image and diagram gallery of the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX
 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX |
 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX |
 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX |
 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX. Photo: cessna.txtav.com |
 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX |
 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX |