Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II
Utility aircraft From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Utility aircraft From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II is a turboprop twin engine utility aircraft manufactured and designed by Reims Aviation in cooperation with Cessna.
| F406 Caravan II | |
|---|---|
| A Cessna F406 from HM Coastguard | |
| General information | |
| Type | Twin-engined utility |
| National origin | France United States |
| Manufacturer | Reims Aviation |
| Status | In service, production to recommence |
| Primary users | French DGDDI |
| Number built | 99[lower-alpha 1][1] |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1983–2013 |
| First flight | 22 September 1983 |
| Developed from | Cessna 404 Titan |
The F406 Caravan II is a twin turboprop engined, fourteen-seat low-wing monoplane of conventional aluminium (airframe) and steel (engine internal parts, exhaust, landing gear) construction. It is a development of the Cessna 404 Titan with two Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop engines. The aircraft first flew on 22 September 1983[2] and was produced by Reims Aviation until the company's 2013 demise.[3] The F406 is aimed at passenger and small cargo transport as well as civilian and military surveillance. For extra cargo capacity, a cargo pod can be fitted to the belly of the aircraft.
Though the F406 is more expensive to operate than single-engine aircraft of the same passenger capacity such as the Cessna 208 Caravan, having two engines makes it comply with European regulations regarding commercial operations, which only allow multi-engine aircraft for commercial instrument flight.
In March 2014, Reims Aviation was acquired by Chinese-owned Continental Motors Inc and renamed ASI Aviation. Two remaining incomplete airframes were finished in France before a shift to Mobile, Alabama with new avionics, electrical, and hydraulic systems; a new autopilot; and an engine choice of current P&WC PT6A-135 or pistons : Continental GTSIO-520 and/or Continental CD-310 diesel.[4] The Type Certificate transferred but only had approval to produce spare parts and not the whole aircraft.[1]
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988–89[14]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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