Cessna 408 SkyCourier

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_408_SkyCourier

The Cessna 408 SkyCourier is an American twin-turboprop, high-wing, utility
aircraft under development by Textron Aviation.

The Model 408 was launched on 28 November 2017 by Textron Aviation, with an
introduction planned for 2020. The 408's design was developed to match FedEx
Express requirements, like the earlier Cessna 208 Caravan. FedEx Express will be
the launch customer, with an order of "50 cargo aircraft and options for 50
more".

Initial wind tunnel tests were completed in March 2018. The first flight is
planned for 2019 and first deliveries anticipated in 2020. The design will be
certified to FAR Part 23 standards. FedEx plans to take monthly deliveries over
four years starting in 2020, and a similar pace for a second batch, if it agrees
to that option. A full-scale mockup of the 19-passenger cabin was displayed at
the October 2018 National Business Aviation Association convention.

In December 2019, Textron announced that they had successfully completed the
mating of the wing assembly to the fuselage of the first SkyCourier aircraft,
with first flight expected in 2020.


Role
Twin Turboprop aircraft

National origin
United States

Manufacturer
Textron Aviation

First flight
mid 2019 (planned)

Introduction
2020 (planned)

Status
Under development

Unit cost

$5.5 million

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 pounds
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.

The clean-sheet design should offer better cabin flexibility and payload
capability, superior performance and lower operating costs than its competitors.
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.

Specifications

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: 54 ft 10 in (16.71 m)
Wingspan: 72 ft 0 in (21.95 m)
Height: 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop, 1,100 hp (820 kW)
each
Propellers: 4-bladed McCauley

Performance
Cruise speed: 230 mph (370 km/h, 200 kn) maximum
Range: 460 mi (740 km, 400 nmi) Cargo Range (with 5,000 lb payload)
Ferry range: 1,000 mi (1,700 km, 900 nmi)
Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
Takeoff Distance : 3,300 ft (1,006 m)

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First Cessna SkyCourier Gets Its Wings

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-n...gets-its-wings

Textron Aviation marked a key milestone in the development of its Cessna
SkyCourier twin utility turboprop, announcing Thursday that it successfully
mated the wings to the fuselage of the first prototype aircraft.

“As expected, the operation was sound as the wings were secured on the fuselage,
and the new Cessna SkyCourier took another major step in its development,” said
Chris Hearne, Textron Aviation's senior vice president of programs and
engineering.

The Wichita airframer added the SkyCourier program is “progressing considerably”
in the assembly of the prototype and five other flight and ground test articles
as well as testing of its landing gear and avionics. The first flight is
expected in 2020.

FedEx is the launch customer for the SkyCourier, with 50 firm orders for the
airplane and options for 50 more. Configurable for both cargo and commuter
operations, it is designed to carry a payload of up to 6,000 pounds with an
87-inch cargo door, a flat floor, and a nearly 70-inch-tall and -wide cabin to
accept three standard LD3 air cargo containers.

In a passenger configuration, it will have seating for up to 19 passengers, with
a netted rear cabin area for luggage and equipment. Capable of flying 200 ktas,
the aircraft is powered by two 1,100-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC
turboprop engines and two new 110-inch McCauley propellers.




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