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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. 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.[5]

Cessna 408 SkyCourier
SkyCourier prototype in flight
Role	Utility aircraft Type of aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Textron Aviation
First flight	May 17, 2020[1]
Introduction	May 9, 2022[2]
Status	In production
Number built	5 (3 prototypes)[3],[4] as of July 2022

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.[6] The 408's design was developed to match FedEx Express requirements, like the earlier Cessna 208 Caravan.[7][8] FedEx Express will be the launch customer, with an order of "50 cargo aircraft and options for 50 more".[6][9] Its unit cost then was $5.5 million.[10]

Initial wind tunnel tests were completed in March 2018.[11] The first flight was originally planned for 2019 and first deliveries anticipated in 2020.[12] The design will be certified to FAR Part 23 standards.[13] 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.[14] A full-scale mockup of the 19-passenger cabin was displayed at the October 2018 National Business Aviation Association convention.[15] The mating of the wing and fuselage of the first aircraft was completed in December 2019.[16]

By March 2020, initial ground testing was completed, checking the fuel system, engines, avionics interfaces and electrical systems.[17] 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.[18] A third test aircraft first flew in September 2020.[3]

In 2021, its equipped price was $6.85M for the freighter and $7.375M for the passenger version.[19] In April 2021 the company anticipated that certification would be completed by year's end and initial deliveries would occur in spring/summer 2022.[20] The SkyCourier made its first public appearance at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh in 2021.[21][22]

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.[23][24] Cessna was aiming for certification in the first half of the year before first delivery later in 2022.[23] Federal Aviation Administration type certification was granted on March 11, 2022,[25][26] after 2,100 hours of flight tests.[27]

The first production aircraft was delivered to FedEx Express in May 2022.[28]

Design

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.[6]

The clean-sheet design should offer better cabin flexibility and payload capability, superior performance and lower operating costs than its competitors.[6] 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 a 87 in (221 cm) cargo door.[13]

Specifications

Data from Cessna.[29]

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

• Aircraft Industries L 410 NG
• Desaer ATL-100
• Dornier 228NG
• Harbin Y-12F
• Indonesian Aerospace N-219
• PZL M28 Skytruck

References

External links

• Official website

На других языках

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[de] Cessna 408 SkyCourier

Die Cessna 408 SkyCourier ist ein zweimotoriges Frachttransport- und Passagierflugzeug mit Turbopropmotoren, das der US-amerikanische Hersteller Textron Aviation entwickelt. Das Projekt wurde am 28. November 2017 veröffentlicht, nachdem FedEx 50 Flugzeuge fest und 50 weitere als Option bestellt hatte.[2] Das als Schulterdecker mit starrem Fahrwerk ausgelegte Kurzstreckenflugzeug ist in zwei Versionen erhältlich, die entweder für den Transport von drei LD3-Containern oder maximal 19 Passagieren ausgelegt sind.[3] Am 9. Mai 2022 wurde die erste Maschine an FedEx ausgeliefert.[4]

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- [en] Cessna 408 SkyCourier

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[fr] Cessna 408 SkyCourier

Le Cessna 408 SkyCourier est un avion bimoteur à turbopropulseurs de Cessna.

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[it] Cessna 408 SkyCourier

Il Cessna 408 SkyCourier è un aeroplano bimotore a turboeliche ad ala alta sviluppato dall'azienda aeronautica statunitense Textron Aviation.

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[ru] Cessna 408 SkyCourier

Cessna 408 SkyCourier — американский перспективный многоцелевой легкомоторный самолёт, разрабатываемый и производимый компанией Textron Aviation.

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