Wipaire announces C208B Grand Caravan on floats

[kevinsky18]

Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 23, 2012– Wipaire, Inc. has announced its intent to certify the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan on Wipline 8750 floats. The Wipline 8750 was certified in July of 2012 for the Cessna 208 Caravan and epitomizes Wipaire’s dedication to continuous innovation. An evolution of the successful Wipline 7000 and Wipline 8000 floats, the new Wipline 8750 incorporates an improved main gear retraction mechanism for low maintenance, an improved oleo design, and visible mechanical gear position indicators. The hull design has been modified to improve handling characteristics in rough water and more buoyancy has been added to the aft of the float for operations at high weights.

Wipaire’s engineering team has completed significant structural testing on the float and is working on a gross weight increase for the 208B Grand Caravan. Wipline 8750 floats will open up new frontiers for the Grand Caravan, which has not previously been certified on floats.

Wipaire also holds a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the installation of single-point fueling on the 208B Grand Caravan.

A Grand Caravan on Wipline 8750 floats is available for viewing at EAA Airventure in the Cessna display.

[ragbagflyer]

Link please?

[rigpiggy]

Unless they run a -42, or a tpe331 why bother. The regular 208 is a dog on floats, lets make it worse. Good plan, Not

[kevinsky18]

Rumour has it that they are looking at different engine upgrades as part of the float conversion, possibly the Blackhawk conversion. Another rumour is that Cessna may offer the Blackhawk conversion off the factory line thus getting past one of the major drawbacks of all other engine upgrades which is the loss of IFR certification. I'm not at Osh this year, perhaps someone who is could get more info.

[1000 HP]

That's awesome

Super bad news for the new Twin Otter and will drop the prices even further for the regular C208 Amphib.

As far as being a dog on floats, 90% of the lakes don't need STOL capability, they need load capability. I'd say that I only needed the Otter 10 percent of the time and the rest of the time I would have preferred the speed of the Caravan. Perhaps on the coast with the big waves STOL would be good, but the one time I flew in an Otter out there the water was a mere light chop. Despite the comments I just made, I'd take a Polish Otter over anything else just because they are a blast to fly

[Caracrane]

With new PWC PT-6-140 that can pull out 1075 HP but derated to 867 HP for the Van. Improved rate of climb by 20%, cruising speed +10 kts with better performance at high alt/temp.

They were working on that project back in 2004 when I was last at Wipaire in south St-Paul.

[kevinsky18]

With new PWC PT-6-140 that can pull out 1075 HP but derated to 867 HP for the Van. Improved rate of climb by 20%, cruising speed +10 kts with better performance at high alt/temp.

They were working on that project back in 2004 when I was last at Wipaire in south St-Paul.

Sounds like exactly what the Caravan has been needing. What sort of efficiency / fuel burn does this new engine get?

[kevinsky18]

If you follow the PWC link below it takes you to the PT6-140 specs. If you click on the "Aircraft" tab it lists only one plane, "Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX"

http://www.pwc.ca/en/engines/pt6a-140

[kevinsky18]

http://www.cessna.com/NewReleases/Featu ... 64882.html


Cessna Grand Caravan EX; More Power, Greater Performance
OSHKOSH, Wis., July 23, 2012 — Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) announced the latest innovation in the Cessna Caravan product line, the Cessna Grand Caravan EX.

The Grand Caravan EX offers increased horsepower (HP) which improves the aircraft’s performance in current mission profiles and allows for missions to extend into regions of the world with higher altitudes and higher temperatures.

Powered by the new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140 engine, the available power in the Grand Caravan EX has increased almost 25 percent, from 675 HP to 867 HP. This improvement boosts the aircraft’s performance, including a 350 foot reduction in takeoff roll, a 20 percent improvement in the rate of climb, and a 10-12 knot cruise speed improvement over average.

“We listened carefully to our customers when designing the EX, and we think they will be pleased with the outcome,” said Lannie O’Bannion, Cessna business leader for the Caravan. “The Grand Caravan EX will climb faster, and have the power and capacity to take on missions in parts of the world with higher elevations and higher temperatures while still delivering on utility. It’s what the Caravan has always been about, and the new enhancements make the Grand Caravan EX an indispensible tool for customers who operate in diverse areas of the world.”

“We anticipate continued success for the Caravan in business and personal use,” continued O’Bannion. “The Caravan has proven to be an incredibly reliable and versatile aircraft. This significant increase in performance not only improves performance in current operations, it will make the Grand Caravan EX a fantastic solution for customers and operations in new markets and remote locations. Simply put, this aircraft places more of the world within reach.”

The EX is the latest example of Cessna’s efforts to place more innovative products in the aviation marketplace. For the first time since the Grand Caravan was introduced in 1994, the Grand Caravan EX can be modified for amphibious missions with floats provided by Wipaire, Inc. The avionics suite will remain the proven Garmin G1000, the executive “Oasis” interior will be available for the EX, and exterior lights are being moved to longer-life LEDs. “We kept the customer in mind throughout the entire development process on this aircraft”, said O’Bannion. “While providing more range and power, we have also delivered a new product that will have a minimal impact on direct operating costs.”

Entry into service for the Grand Caravan EX is expected to be in the fourth quarter 2012.

[jspitfire]

I was checking it out here at Oshkosh yesterday, looks like a great machine! I'll try and get some pics today.

[jspitfire]

As Promised!

[Slats]

Super bad news for the new Twin Otter

Really? Have they also managed to improve the van's engine out climb performance with 17 people on board?

[kevinsky18]

The floats look like they cut a very serious V grove through the water. I assume this is for the reported better big water handling. I wonder what that means for other handling characteristics?

[longjon]

Super bad news for the new Twin Otter???
I was thinking the same thing, how soon will we see the DHC-6 fleet in the Dives replaced with this new Cessna. Are the customers waiting for their new Otters with oil companies as clients going to cancel?

[1000 HP]

I doubt it will hurt the passenger operations too much, but I would be interested to see the payload comparison Grand Caravan vs Twin Otter and also a price comparison. Loan interest can kill you if you over-extend. Oil companies like 2 engines but the mining companies that I have flown people and freight for to don't seem to care about number of engines. Single engine will be restricted to 9 passengers in Canada, unless you get an approval like they have on the West Coast. I believe Harbour Air flies more than 9 in the Otter. Probably you can fly more in some of the African countries. One engine is cheaper maintenance and nicer on the dock. Nobody gets chopped up.

Nice pics jspitfire! First ones I've seen.

[fish4life]

I heard way back that the original floats they designed had an incorrect angle of incidence with the wing which partially contributed to the dog in water characteristics. I wouldn't be surprised if this one was substantially better partially due to that as well

[1000 HP]

I hope you can haul boats on the float. I heard the C208 was not allowed to haul external loads. I'd hauled about 60 loads externally before I heard the news. Never bothered to confirm it as fact.

I know with a 16' widebeam lund it's gets airborn easy on land but not easy on water (same load)

[kevinsky18]

The Caravan actually has an STC for external loads. Held by Air Tindi I believe. Although technically I don't think their STC will apply to the Grand as it's a different model plane and different model floats.

[Meatservo]

Personally I think anyone looking to replace their twin otters with single engine planes would be currently flying turbo-otters. Twin engines and DeHavilland toughness are still desireable for some applications despite the fact that the twin's useful load is becoming distinctly old-fashioned. They tend to have higher-time captains, and the two-crew, all-weather, multi-engine thing is favoured by a lot of potential customers. Having flown all these floatplanes and more besides, I would have to say that once having flown a twin otter for a long time I'm not sure a guy would be all that interested in the single engine planes anymore, so if my attitude is typical or reasonable it's safe to say that things like the Caravan are going to be flown by lower time guys. I think a company would be wise to factor this into their calculations.

I'm no expert on the CARS but I heard (when I worked there) that the reason HA's turbo otters are allowed to haul more than nine is due to the plane's having been designed to do so before the nine-max rule came into effect. A "grandfather clause" if you will. I'm more than willing to accept that I may be wrong: I'm just parroting what I heard from someone else. I don't think TC will approve any new-built aircraft to carry more than 9.

I always thought the Caravan was a decent floatplane. There were times I wished I was in a turbo-otter, but there were also times I was sitting in the Otter and wishing I was in the Caravan. The Achilles' heel in my opinion was the floats, which I did not consider to be hardy enough for real bush operations, but they would do if you were careful. I believe Wipline has addressed some of the issues in the decade or so since I last saw a pair.

[kevinsky18]

Is this the first 208B Amphib to go into commercial operation?

http://www.airmeiya.com/www/HdClsConten ... asp?id=816

Looks like the Chinese are getting serious about seaplanes. Check out their vision for a seaplane base.

http://www.airmeiya.com/www/HdClsConten ... Classid=44

Whether that base gets built or not I don't know but impressive vision none the less.

[ragbagflyer]

Is this the first 208B Amphib to go into commercial operation?

Those look like regular vans to me. There is no fuselage plug forward of the wing as far as I can tell.

[collegeboy]

Is this the first 208B Amphib to go into commercial operation?

They are regular Vans. The strut is right behind the pilots door. Spent the better part or a month looking for it when I started flying a Grand full time getting out to hold onto to jump of the plane.

CB

['CauseTheCaravanCan]

it's so much bigger than my husbands'

I am a sucker for the name though "Grand Amphibian"
hubba hubba


I wonder how long before evil Mike will show up and say he's gonna revolutionize bush flying in the north again.

[CLguy]

Longjon you don't have to worry about the Caravan replacing the Twin Otter fleet in the Maldives. They have already been there and tried that and they all ended up bent. The Caravan cannot take the continual pounding in the heavy seas.

[Rowdy]

Longjon you don't have to worry about the Caravan replacing the Twin Otter fleet in the Maldives. They have already been there and tried that and they all ended up bent. The Caravan cannot take the continual pounding in the heavy seas.

Truth! Even the robust Twin Otters are taking a beating in that environment.