Originally Posted by
TheSultanofScud
2) The common air carrier Caravan is a 675 SHP aircraft...if you're flying a 600 SHP airframe like I have been for several hundred hours, you're not getting an accurate picture of the Caravan fleet as a whole. The plane moves boxes just fine with 600 horses, but it certainly doesn't have a surplus of power without the more powerful PT6-114A.
I've flown the 208B with the 675 SHP and the 208A with the 600 SHP and while the 208B definitely performs 'better', I would certainly not say it has a surplus of power. The 208A has a lower max takeoff (8200lbs) as opposed to the 208B (9062lbs), and a significantly smaller cabin. Maxing out a 208B into icing conditions, it's still underpowered (even considering the weight restrictions for icing conditions). However I remember hearing that somebody is working on fitting a 1000 SHP PT-6 on it. That would change things.
Originally Posted by
TheSultanofScud
4) I have no complaints about the powerplant. The PT6, as a design, is just short of being bulletproof as far as reliability is concerned.
Like I said, I never experienced any problems myself. I know my old company had three complete engine failures in Caravans during my time there. I also know of other high profile Caravan operators experiencing similar issues. I've heard a ton of people rave about the reliability of the PT-6, but there's something about that engine on the Caravan that's an ongoing problem.
It's a honest, easy to fly, airplane though. Gotta love the heat in the winter also
