Caravan Fuel Burn

[potentialleasee]

Hey all, can anyone give me fuel burn rates for both a standard 675hp Caravan and a Texas Turbines "Supervan" with the 900hp Honeywell climbing at Vy loaded at MTOW? I'm in contact with the companies as well, but I'm interested in comparing the numbers I get from them with the numbers that pilots in the field are getting. Thanks!

[Redneck_pilot86]

around 360 lbs/hr for the 675 HP.

[potentialleasee]

Awesome, thanks man. Anyone have experience with the Texas Turbines model?

[Ralliart]

I had a digital PAR unit in the one I used to fly (675 HP), and if I remember correctly the burn during cruise was around 280-320PPH for 7000-12000ft based on max RPM and 1350-1450 torque. Average was just under 300PPH at 7000ft with 1400 ft/lbs.

[polar one]

I got 350-360 an hour too, like the first poster. Little less at altitude

[potentialleasee]

Sorry to ammend this, I forgot to specify, can you elaborate as to whether that's for the standard or grand caravan? Thanks guys and gals!

[Northern Flyer]

You're going to burn about 350lbs and hour with the PT6. The Garrett will burn about the same. You can basically bank on a drum of fuel per hour.

[polar one]

grand and cruise typically 155kts (flown several of these)\
c208..only a few hours on them but if I recall it had the same engine.same burn..faster cruise (no boots)

[square]

If you're asking for climb, it's 400 pph at full power.

If you're asking about cruise, it's 400 pph at full power.

[potentialleasee]

Thanks square, that's more in line with what the literature on Texas Turbines' website was saying for stock maximum flow. They also said their version maxed out at 435 lb/hr.

[Northern Flyer]

potentiallease, do you have any turbine experience? You could make the fuel burn whatever you want by adjusting the power setting. Your best bet is to just look at the performance charts they will be pretty darn close.

On another note if you can get your hands on the Garrett, thats definitely the one I would get. The only vans I have had experience with have the -114A, but I have used the Garrett's on Otters and they are very nice. Of course more power the better.

[potentialleasee]

No real turbine experience, but I guess what I'm asking is for the burn at max power, because we're interested in the absolute max rate of climb. I think the Garret is the way to go, but I've heard in passing that it's not worth it for our kind of application because the fuel burn increase versus the climb rate increase ends up giving you less feet per minute per fuel dollar if that makes sense...

[Redneck_pilot86]

the 360 lbs/hr was a handy number for averaging in quick flight planning. You will likely see less in cruise, and closer to 400 in climb at max power. We use 1650 lbs and 1750 on the prop for cruise.

[Northern Flyer]

Ok, starting to get the idea.... your just beating around the bush lol. Sounds like sky diving, climb the bag off it than come back down as fast as possible. I don't have any experience with that but I do believe that with some applications the Garrett is approved for beta in flight, hence a faster decent rate. Though I do remember the pt6 prop discing pretty good when the power is brought down to idle.

On another note, I saw a caravan at the factory in Wichita Kansas that was painted up for I believe the Chilean navy that had a roll up rear door that could be remotely opened from the cockpit. Pretty neat!

[potentialleasee]

Yeah, you've got the idea...

[rigpiggy]

a nice turbo otter about 1.2-1.7m a Do228 with more room, 800kish and a rollup door is available, or a twin otter 100 for 600K

[potentialleasee]

If you can find me a decent Twin Otter c/w with engines for $600k I'll buy you a steak dinner....

[tired of the ground]

http://www.controller.com/listingsdetai ... 185003.htm

I'll have mine medium rare please

[potentialleasee]

Yeah, that one's deceiving. We've talked to them, it doesn't come with engines...

[208Drvr]

The grand caravan I fly for a DZ has a pt6 114, 600hp, it burns 100 lbs of fuel per load. Climbing to 14,000 feet I was doing 20 to 25 minute flights with 14 jumpers on board. I average 800 to 1200 fpm climb depending on pax all the way up.

[potentialleasee]

Thanks man.

[fish4life]

I'm sure a pilatus porter would fit the bill nicely if you can find one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilatus_PC-6