Pilot Report: Grand Caravan EX | Aviation International News

Pilot Report: Grand Caravan EX

Cessna’s big utility turboprop single is a capable and all-around solid performer.

(Photo: Matt Thurber)

By Matt Thurber • Editor-in-Chief

October 7, 2017

The Cessna Caravan has been in production since 1984, and earlier this year I had my first opportunity to fly the single-engine utility turboprop from Textron Aviation’s private airport—Beech Factory Airport—in Wichita.

My demo pilot was Terry Allenbaugh, the perfect pilot to show me the Caravan’s capabilities. During his early flying career, Allenbaugh flew one of the first Caravans, Serial Number 8, for Mission Aviation Fellowship in Ethiopia. Although he has flown all the Citations and King Airs, Allenbaugh returned to flying the Caravan as a sales demonstration pilot two years ago, and he is an enthusiastic proponent of the big single-engine turboprop.

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