An engine upgrade will boost the Grand Caravan EX—EX for “Extra”—to 867 shaft horsepower, Cessna Aircraft announced July 23.
Cessna has delivered the Caravan with a 675-shaft-horsepower engine for more than 20 years, said Lannie O’Bannion, Cessna Caravan business leader. Now, “It’s time for more power,” he said. Equipped with a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-140, the EX will reach 194 knots without the cargo pod, he said, an increase of about 10 knots.
Cessna said other performance improvements include a 350-foot reduction in takeoff roll and a 20-percent improvement in the rate of climb.
The higher-power aircraft already has its first customer, O’Bannion said: Saudi prince Sultan Bin Salman.
Because of the additional power, the EX will enable a new type of flying for Grand Caravan customers: “The Caravan EX is going to have enough horsepower that we can now float the Grand Caravan,” O’Bannion said. The Grand Caravan EX will have an optional float installation through Wipaire.
Also on display at the Cessna exhibit were a range of aircraft, from the Skycatcher to the American Patriot Citation Mustang.
Sarah Brown
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