Cessna 208 Caravan

Turboprop single engine • High Wing • Fixed gear

Range Map

Origin:

• nm at current load

• click map to move • two fingers to move map

Payload vs. Range

Configure weights

Occupants

lb + lbs / pax

Select payload

gal

Fuel on board

lbs

Extra weight

Range

Available Range / nm

Mission capable. Aircraft can handle the current load with full fuel tanks.

Fuel capacity reduced by gallons ( gal usable for nm range).

Over max gross weight. Reduce payload by lbs to safely operate this aircraft.

Extra weight is the additional payload available with your selected passengers.

Mission Profile

In production

186

KTAS

Cruise Speed

1,070

Max Range

25,000

Service Ceiling

Occupants

1081

lbs

Wet Payload

Endorsements & ratings:

High-Performance

Estimated Ownership Costs

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About the Cessna 208 Caravan

Type certificated 1984 Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet

Overview

The Cessna 208 Caravan is the short-fuselage member of the Caravan family, a single-engine, fixed-gear turboprop built for utility work: short fields, rough strips, cargo, and high-cycle Part 135 operations. The “675” name refers to its 675-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A, which became standard on the Model 208 and replaced the original 600-shp PT6A-114. Type-certificated in 1984 under FAA TCDS A37CE, it remains in production.

For the GA buyer, the 208 is a payload-and-access airframe rather than a fast one. It cruises near 186 KTAS unpressurized, carries about 3,300 lb of useful load, and operates from surfaces that would ground most cabin-class singles. It trades aerodynamic efficiency for internal volume and dispatch reliability, so its case rests on hauling capacity and field access rather than block speed.

Key Features for GA Buyers

675-shp PT6A-114A. The PT6A carries a 3,600-hour TBO and a broad global overhaul network, which matters for remote and over-water work.
Utility payload. A useful load above 3,300 lb supports passenger, cargo, or mixed loads, and an optional belly cargo pod adds roughly 84 cubic feet without taking cabin space.
Rough-field capability. Fixed tricycle gear and a high wing suit grass, gravel, and unimproved strips, with takeoff and landing ground rolls near 2,000 ft and 1,600 ft.
Mission flexibility. The cabin converts between commuter seating, executive layout, and full cargo in a few hours, which is why the type is common in skydiving, freight, and bush roles.

Trade-offs

Unpressurized. The 25,000 ft ceiling is a structural limit, not a comfortable cruising altitude; passenger missions stay low, and higher legs need supplemental oxygen.
Speed for size. At about 186 KTAS the 208 is slower than cabin-class singles; buyers choose it for volume and field access, not cross-country pace.
Not a dedicated STOL. It performs well for an 8,000-lb airframe, but purpose-built short-field types such as the Kodiak 100 or P-750 XSTOL out-climb and out-land it on the most demanding strips.
Turbine running costs. Jet-A burn near 55 GPH at max cruise and a six-figure engine overhaul make the economics work best at higher annual utilization.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions & Weights

Height: 14.8 ft
Length: 37.6 ft
Parking area (ft²): 2645.46 ft²

Max Takeoff Weight: Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 8,000 lbs
Max Landing Weight: 7,800 lbs
Useful Load: 3,305 lbs
Fuel Capacity: Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 332 gal

Performance

Cruise Speed: Source: third-party reference 186 KTAS
Never-Exceed (V_NE): Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 175 KIAS
Max Structural Cruise (V_NO): Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 175 KIAS
Approach Speed: 79 KIAS
Stall, Clean (V_S₁): 61 KIAS
Range: 1070 NM
Service Ceiling: Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 25,000 ft
Rate of Climb: 1234 fpm
Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle: 2,055 ft
Landing ground roll: 1,625 ft

Engine

Sources

Where the figures on this page come from. Cessna 208 Caravan specifications are traced to published references; estimated values are flagged inline next to the figure.