Geophysical Survey Aircraft
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan


Registration:
C-GSGW
C-GSGY
C-GSGZ
C-GSGL
C-GSGV
C-GSGU
C-GSGJ
C-GSGA
Serial #:
208B0646
208B0600
208B0493
208B0783
208B0524
208B0747
208B1187
208B1228

The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan is an all metal, high wing single-engined aircraft powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A engine driving a constant speed, full feathering, reversible propeller.  The aircraft has fixed gear, extendable flaps and manually adjustable trim tabs on the primary controls for the roll and pitch axis and full rudder trim for the yaw axes.  The aircraft is equipped with full de-icing equipment and sufficient avionics for instrument flying including a flight control system and weather radar.  Supplementary fuel can be added for trans-oceanic flight.  The Caravan is certified for IFR flights in known icing conditions.

SGL aircraft have a rigid aluminum and composite material 3 m tail stinger designed to accommodate the magnetometer sensor.  The stinger can be easily removed and the aircraft returned to its original configuration.  There is a camera hole in the belly of the aircraft and provisions for other survey and navigation systems.

The Cessna Grand Caravan uses the extremely reliable Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turbine engine.  They have recorded tens of millions of hours of flight time and with virtually no in-flight engine stoppages due to mechanical failure.  Over 1,300 Caravans are in use around the world.  Because the Caravan has one engine, fixed landing gear, and no single engine control speed limitations, it is considered an easy and very safe aircraft to fly.  The PT6 turbine engine provides ample power for takeoff and climbing over terrain, can withstand frequent rapid power changes, and works well at altitudes up to 7,000 m.  The low stall speeds and ample available power, mean that the Caravan is a safe and effective aircraft for surveys which require low airspeeds, drape flying over rough topography, or flights at high altitudes.

CESSNA 208B SPECIFICATIONS

Crew Capacity:

  • 2 pilots, 1 operator (optional)

Fuselage:

  • semi-monocoque

Wings:

  • strut braced, high wing
  • outboard ailerons with trim tab

Tail:

  • conventional stabilizers
  • elevators and rudder with trim

Power Plant:

  • Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A, 675 shp, free-turbine gas engine
  • three-blade, fully-feathering, constant-speed, reversible propellers

Systems:

  • dual flight controls with IFR instruments and avionics
  • flight control system
  • 2 axis autopilot
  • weather radar
  • full airframe and propeller de-icing

Dimensions:

wing span 52 ft. 1 in. 16.11 m
exterior length 41 ft. 7 in. 12.68 m
exterior height 15 ft. 5.5 in. 4.72 m
interior usable length 15 ft. 10 in. 4.83 m
interior usable width 5 ft. 4 in. 1.63 m
interior height 4 ft. 6 in. 1.37 m
usable fuel capacity (with survey tank) 519 US gallons 2,011 l, usable
type of aviation fuel Jet A, A-1, B, JP-1, 4, 5, 6


Weights:

empty 4,237 lbs. 1,926 kg
maximum take off 9,062 lbs. 4,119 kg


Performance (2000 ft ASL, standard day, MTOW, 1900 rpm, 1375 ft-lb tq):

range, max range power 1450 nm + reserve at 2000 ft. ASL
cruise speed, max range power 155 kts 287 km/h
fuel flow, max range power 50 US gallons/h 189 l/h
stall airspeed, landing configuration 61 kts 113 km/h
service ceiling 25,000 ft. 7,620 m
minimum required runway length 2,500 ft. 765 m
rate of climb 975 ft/min 297 m/min
maximum sustained climb gradient 650 ft/nm 107 m/km


Maximum Endurance:

  • 9 hours plus 1 hour reserve at maximum range power

Engine Overhaul:

  • 3,500 hours

Propeller Overhaul:

  • 3,500 hours

PROVISIONS FOR GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYING

  • Tail stinger 3 m long and 21 cm in diameter, capable of housing a 5.5 kg sensor
  • HF radio
  • Video camera mount with 14 cm diameter glass covered opening in the belly of the aircraft
  • Two instrument racks, standard 48 cm (19 inch) width
  • Radar altimeter, 0-3,000 m
  • Electrical power capacity 28 VDC at 200 amp
  • Static inverters, 115 and 26 VAC - 400 Hz, 110 VAC - 60 Hz
  • Provisions to mount a GPS receiver and antenna plus data link for real time corrections
  • Provisions to mount gamma-ray spectrometer with up to 63 litres (3,840 in3) of detector crystals
  • Provisions to mount SGL airborne gravimeter
  • Cabin fuel tank certified for normal production flying

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