Cessna 408 SkyCourier

The Cessna 408 SkyCourier is an American utility aircraft designed and built by Textron Aviation. It was launched on November 28, 2017, with an order for 50 from FedEx Express, with the aircraft designed for the needs of its FedEx Feeder service. It made its first flight on May 17, 2020, and was type certified on March 11, 2022. FedEx took delivery of the first production model on May 9, 2022.[3]

Cessna 408 SkyCourier
SkyCourier prototype in flight
Role Utility aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Textron Aviation
First flight May 17, 2020[1]
Introduction May 9, 2022[2]
Status In production
Primary user FedEx Feeder
Number built 25 (July 2023)

The SkyCourier is a twin-turboprop, high-wing aircraft, available with a 19-passenger accommodation, or in a cargo variant sized for three LD3s. The non-pressurized design is built from aluminum and is equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engines and fixed landing gear. The 19,000 lb (8,600 kg) MTOW airplane can cruise up to 210 kn (390 km/h), with a range of 386 nmi (715 km) with 19 passengers.

Development

The Model 408 was launched on November 28, 2017, by Textron Aviation, with an introduction planned for 2020, as a FAR Part 23 type certified design.[4][5] Like the earlier Cessna 208 Caravan, the 408's design was developed with FedEx Express to match the needs of FedEx Feeder service.[6][7] FedEx Express will be the launch customer, with an order of "50 cargo aircraft and options for 50 more".[5][8] Its unit cost then was $5.5 million.[9]

Initial wind tunnel tests were completed in March 2018.[10] The first flight was originally planned for 2019 and first deliveries anticipated in 2020.[11] FedEx initially planned to take monthly deliveries over four years starting in 2020, and a similar pace for a second batch, if it agrees to that option.[12] A full-scale mockup of the 19-passenger cabin was displayed at the October 2018 National Business Aviation Association convention.[13] The mating of the wing and fuselage of the first aircraft was completed in December 2019.[14]

By March 2020, initial ground testing was completed, checking the fuel system, engines, avionics interfaces and electrical systems.[15] The first flight was completed on May 17, 2020, operating from Beech Factory Airport for a 2-hour and 15-minute flight. The prototype aircraft, along with five additional flight and ground test articles, will be used for testing leading to certification.[1] The second prototype first flew in August 2020. It is the first production-conforming aircraft and will be used for testing the engines, propellers, environmental controls and the avionics.[16] A third test aircraft first flew in September 2020.[17]

In April 2021, the company anticipated that certification would be completed by year's end and initial deliveries would occur in spring/summer 2022.[18] The SkyCourier made its first public appearance at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh in 2021.[19][20]

By early 2022, the three test aircraft had accumulated over 2,100 flight hours as the first production aircraft for FedEx was rolled out on February 3, 2022.[21][22] Cessna was aiming for certification in the first half of the year before first delivery later in 2022.[21] Federal Aviation Administration type certification was granted on March 11, 2022,[23][24] after 2,100 hours of flight tests.[25] Certification by the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil was granted on August 8, 2023.[26]

The first production aircraft was delivered to FedEx Express in May 2022.[27]

In February 2023, a gravel runway operations kit was approved for the aircraft.[28] In 2023, its equipped price was $7.195M for the freighter and $7.745M for the passenger version.[29]

The first 19-seat passenger variant was delivered in April 2023 for use by Western Aircraft, Inc. doing business in Hawaii as Lāna’i Air.[30][31]

Design
Forward section of the SkyCourier prototype

The SkyCourier is a twin-turboprop, high-wing, utility aircraft. It will be available in a 19-passenger variant with large cabin windows and separate crew and passenger doors, or in a cargo variant sized for three LD3s and 6,000 lb (2,700 kg) of payload, featuring a "large cargo door and a flat floor cabin". It will cruise up to 200 kn (370 km/h), with a maximum range of 900 nmi (1,700 km). Single-point refueling will speed turnarounds.[5]

The clean-sheet design should offer better cabin flexibility and payload capability, superior performance and lower operating costs than its competitors.[5] The airframe will be built from traditional aluminum materials and will be equipped with proven Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65 engines, fixed landing gear and Garmin G1000 avionics. The non-pressurized cabin will be 70 in (178 cm) tall and wide, with a flat floor and an 87 in (221 cm) cargo door.[4]

Operational history

As of July 25, 2023, a total of 25 model 408s were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[32]

Operators
  • FedEx Express - 50 on order, one delivered as of July 2022[3]
  • Aerus - two on order as of December 2022[33]
  • Western Aircraft, Inc. doing business in Hawaii as Lāna’i Air.[34]

Specifications

Data from Cessna.[35]

General characteristics

  • Capacity: 19 passengers/5,000 lb (2,268 kg) payload (commuter) or 3×LD3s/6,000 lb (2,722 kg) payload (cargo)
  • Length: 55 ft 1 in (16.80 m)
  • Wingspan: 72 ft 3 in (22.02 m)
  • Height: 20 ft 8 in (6.30 m)
  • Wing area: 441.0 sq ft (40.97 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 11.8
  • Empty weight: 12,325 lb (5,591 kg) , Freighter: 11,000 lb (4,990 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 19,000 lb (8,618 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 4,826 lb (2,189 kg) / 720 gal (2,725 L)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop, 1,110 hp (830 kW) each
  • Propellers: 4-bladed McCauley Blackmac aluminum, auto feathering, reverse

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 210 kn (240 mph, 390 km/h) maximum
  • Range: 386 nmi (444 mi, 715 km) with 19 passengers, LRC, 100nmi IFR reserves, FL100
  • Ferry range: 920 nmi (1,060 mi, 1,700 km)
  • Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
  • Takeoff Distance : 3,660 ft (1,116 m)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. "First Cessna SkyCourier twin utility turboprop takes flight" (Press release). Textron Aviation. May 17, 2020. Archived from the original on May 18, 2020.
  2. Hemmerdinger, Jon (May 9, 2022). "Textron delivers first Cessna SkyCourier, to FedEx". Flight.
  3. Hagl, Chase. "Textron Aviation Delivers FedEx's First Cessna SkyCourier". AirlineGeeks. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  4. Kerry Lynch (November 28, 2017). "Textron Launches Cessna SkyCourier with 100-Plane Deal". AIN.
  5. "Textron Aviation unveils new large-utility turboprop, the Cessna SkyCourier; FedEx Express signs as launch customer for up to 100 aircraft" (Press release). Textron Aviation Inc. November 28, 2017.
  6. Bertorelli, Paul (November 30, 2017). "Cessna And FedEx Renew Their Vows". AVweb. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  7. FedEx (November 28, 2017). "FedEx Express Introduces New Feeder Aircraft - Modernization of feeder fleet continues with Cessna SkyCourier 408 designed for FedEx". newsroom.fedex.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  8. "FedEx to be launch customer for new Cessna turboprop". Air Cargo News. November 28, 2017. Archived from the original on October 15, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  9. Molly McMillin (November 28, 2017). "Textron Launches New SkyCourier Turboprop With Cargo, Pax Versions". Aviation Week Network.
  10. Duane Frazier (March 18, 2018). "Cessna SkyCourier completes initial wind tunnel testing". Textron SkyCourier. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  11. Grady, Mary (March 13, 2018). "Textron Reports On SkyCourier Progress". AVweb. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  12. Stephen Trimble (November 28, 2017). "Textron launches Beech 1900-sized SkyCourier with FedEx order". FlightGlobal.
  13. James Wynbrandt (October 17, 2018). "Textron Debuts SkyCourier Mockup in Pax Config". AIN.
  14. "Textron Aviation marks successful wing and fuselage mate of the first Cessna SkyCourier aircraft; begins next phase in development" (Press release). Textron Aviation. December 19, 2019.
  15. Kate Sarsfield (March 23, 2020). "SkyCourier completes initial ground testing". FlightGlobal.
  16. Cook, Marc (August 11, 2020). "Testing, Testing: Second Cessna SkyCourier Flies". AVweb. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  17. Boatman, Julie (October 1, 2020). "Textron Aviation Adds Third SkyCourier to Program". Flying.
  18. Eric Tegler (April 16, 2021). "With Its New SkyCourier, Textron Will Try To Top One of the Most Successful Cargo Aircraft Ever". Forbes. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  19. Phelps, Mark (July 26, 2021). "Cessna SkyCourier Makes Public Debut At AirVenture 2021". AvWeb.
  20. "Cessna 408 SkyCourier Debuts at EAA AirVenture". Flying. July 27, 2021.
  21. Dominic Perry (February 4, 2022). "First production Cessna SkyCourier breaks cover". Flightglobal.
  22. Niles, Russ (February 5, 2022). "First Production SkyCourier Rolled Out". AVweb. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  23. O'Connor, Kate (March 14, 2022). "Cessna SkyCourier Earns FAA Type Certificate". AVweb. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  24. Federal Aviation Administration (March 11, 2022). "Type Certificate Data Sheet No. A00016WI" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  25. "The next big thing in flight has arrived – Cessna SkyCourier twin utility turboprop earns FAA type certification" (Press release). Textron Aviation. March 14, 2022.
  26. Phelps, Mark (August 8, 2023). "Cessna SkyCourier Receives Approval From Brazilian Aviation Authority". AVweb. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  27. O'Connor, Kate (May 9, 2022). "Textron Aviation Delivers First SkyCourier". AVweb. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  28. Phelps, Mark (February 7, 2023). "Cessna's SkyCourier Gets Down And Dirty With New 'Gravel Kit'". AVweb. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  29. "Purchase planning handbook - turboprops table". Business & Commercial Aviation. Second Quarter 2023.
  30. "Aircraft Services & Management | Western Aircraft | Boise, ID". Western Aircraft. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  31. Phelps, Mark (May 23, 2023). "First Passenger-Centric Cessna SkyCourier Delivered". AVweb. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  32. Federal Aviation Administration (July 25, 2022). "Make / Model Inquiry". Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  33. Niles, Russ (December 21, 2022). "Textron Sells SkyCourier Airliners To Mexican Startup". AVweb. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  34. "Aircraft Services & Management | Western Aircraft | Boise, ID". Western Aircraft. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  35. "SkyCourier". Cessna.
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