Inside The $6 Million Cessna Skycourier

[@MrValjester]

Cessna has a history of producing more expensive aircraft and then trying their level best to strangle the previous less expensive and more efficient model. The C441 Conquest is a great example. On a 300 nm leg, the C441 came in seven to ten minutes behind Cessna’s new Citation jet with fifty percent less fuel. Cessna wanted to get into the business jet market. So they stopped producing the Conquest series aircraft in spite of customer desire for the aircraft. I wonder now if they will stop producing the Caravan?

[@jjsifo1]

Conquest with the Garrets was a great airplane ,fast and a lot of range, never thought or knew the reason for stopping its production.

[@swedzilla]

Canceling the Conquest was a dumb ass decision

[@calvinnickel9995]

The Conquest was small and loud and like all Cessna twins overly complex. It and all other turboprops in that range have never matched the popularity of the King Air-not even Beech’s own replacement for it.

[@supercat380]

ALL CESSNA AIRCRAFT NOT ONLY LOOK NICE, THEY FLY NICE, ARE RELIABLE AND RUGGED AND HAVE GOOD AFFORDABILITY WITH EXCELLENT PRODUCT SUPPORT. CESSNA PRODUCES QUALITY AIRCRAFT!!!

[@jonbutzfiscina1307]

The CASA 212 did this 40 years ago. And it is STOL. But looking at this aircraft, it looks like a twin otter, casa 212, and shorts 360 built in Poland

[@micwell2247]

only thing I can see is where the puke gonna run. In the 360 there was a step up into the pilot seats...stopped getting your shoes trashed

[@Walkercolt1]

Reminds me of the old North American AeroCommander, a great FUN plane to fly, and FULLY aerobatic. The late Bob Hoover did one heck-of-a-show in an AeroCommander. Almost the same as in his P-51D.

[@marksellinger3736]

It took many years, but FINALLY....a replacement for the Twin Otter.

[@LDTV22OfficialChannel]

And best thing is, it allows you to stand upright.

[@CrimsonSurvival]

Nothing can replace the Twin Otter, nothing.

[@NicoArreman]

The Twinotter is a stol airplane and the 408 not😂

[@calvinnickel9995]

@NicoArreman And like that lifted pickup truck.. the number of Twin Otter operators who will exceed the capabilities of this aircraft approaches zero.

[@michaeljackson1364]

this will absolutely not replace the twin otter. It needs 3x the takeoff and landing distance than the Otter

[@troothhertz6297]

Retractable landing gear ,tkx.❤ Nice bird. I would want a vip one

[@blackhawks81H]

Wow, pretty sweet plane. *Gets into BN Islander and takes off from a nearby postage stamp* 😂

[@baronvonteuchter1412]

Or a Kodak 900

[@pushitgently]

Short version of the classic beechcraft 1900 👍👍🙌🙌❤❤

[@BobSaint]

"Shortfield landing ability". Twin Otters around the world laughing their noses off 😂

[@airdad5383]

Wonder if someone will put it on floats or skis someday just like the Twin Otter.

[@carlos-luisluna5828]

The price and operating cost were something I was always interested in knowing. Am I gonna purchase one soon, absolutely not. It is though, good info to be able to determine what other aircraft’s price and operating costs could come out to be, whether more or less than this aircraft. Thank you. Great vid. : )

[@AviationBase]

Thank you Carlos!

[@John-nc4bl]

Cessna should have bumped the size of the 208 Caravan up to the fuselage size of the Skycourier as well as more wing, and hung a stronger Pratt on the nose for a less expensive aircraft to build and operate while being more competitive.

[@thomasburke7995]

They tried.. FEDERAL EXPRESS ask them back in 2005 to size it up.. even with the largest PT6 and a SUPER prop ( think j41) it would very difficult for single PIC operation.

[@petersellgren9452]

This is a CE208B with two engines, pressurization, and modern avionics. Cessna and Federal Express (FedEx) have been trying since 1987 to come up with bigger Caravan. It is a great aircraft to fly. I have 3,000 hours in them. The weakness with the CE-208 was, unpressurized, underpowered at altitude, and icing issues. It is only certified for light to moderate icing conditions. Cessna has changed the deice system, heated the cargo pod, changed the prop, increased the power. Cessna has also experimented with dual engines geared to a common propeller shaft, counter rotating props and other ideas. The end results is cargo demand has increased and the CE-208 is a 37 years old. So, hopefully the Sky Courier will climb above the ice over the Rocky Mountains, go faster, and carry more. It will be nice to be up at high altitudes with out a mask. And maybe fly Cat. IIa approaches to minimums. I was one of the first pilots to fly Cat II approaches in a civilian single engine under Scheduled Cargo Operations Part 135, in 1988. When it absolutely positively has to be there overnight. FedEx is a great company. I miss the people there.

[@CanadianGrenadian]

Hey Peter Sellgren thanks for your comment, I’m a Canadian lover of all DeHavilland Canada aircraft and Twin Otter but boy this is an awesome machine

[@cecielhelder5923]

Not pressurized.@@petersellgren9452

[@jopac4742]

Can it be set up for cargo only? Sorry I read the set after wrote this.

[@Bobtowngarden]

I once owned a motorcycle. Drove it down to North Carolina and traded it in on a Jenny. Charles Lindbergh 1928.

[@CyberSystemOverload]

Nice plane. I wonder of it could get into Lukla? Or is it too big for that airport? If it can I think this powerful machine will be a hit in Nepal.

[@Robert_Kawalec]

Conceptually, it reminds me of the M28 Skytruck.

[@waynefee1561]

Without the Ramp or crane lifting equipment

[@BobSaint]

More like Sherpa, yet also without rear door.

[@onenodokonyero7959]

I LIKE THIS

[@onenodokonyero7959]

Very good

[@grandyhynes1636]

Seems like the shorts skyvan is a better option.....?

[@worldcitizenobjectivethink3764]

The design looks more like a modern Antonov 28, with another tail design and which also could been use for passengers as cargo's.

[@kakumian5159]

Range and hourly fuel burn rate?

[@alphaecoimagenes3805]

Great video, Why it says cabin altitude of 8000ft?, this aircraft has a non pressurized cabin.

[@robertorambelli9618]

Yes, however you can easily achieve a comfortable 8,000 feet cabin at....8,000'😅😅😅

[@joeblow5037]

it would seem they also have a pressurized version good to 26,000 ft

[@robertorambelli9618]

You need to learn the difference between operating ceiling and cabin altitude before you post nonsense here.@@joeblow5037

[@stevensims8922]

you think Cessna would mention that, yet nope @@joeblow5037

[@CanadianGrenadian]

@@joeblow5037I can’t find info about pressurization

[@crasher9131]

I could see it replacing or reinforcing the twin Otter in Alaska

[@markspringer5514]

Everts just took delivery of the first of 4 ordered.

[@CanadianGrenadian]

It will replace the Twotters thus making them more affordable for a slug like me 😅

[@laksi0505]

The left engine has the exhaust on the passenger side, which is not attractive for many companies, because that is also the side for loading and unloading goods and passengers.

[@Captndarty]

This is a small twin engine, relatively speaking, and they’re not going to be loading and unloading passengers with the engines running you buffoon.

[@robertweekley5926]

No Problem, You Shut that Engine Off during Such Operations, even if you need to keep one running, you leave the #2 engine running, on the Right Side! This type of process is common, in tight turn around cycles without ground power systems available.

[@NicoArreman]

he question remains, why didn't they make the exhaust on the outside like the other engine and the second question why can a Haviland with 19 passengers take off from a much shorter runway

[@Upnorthof48]

Looking for a B1900 replacement, hard pass on this variant.

[@bernardfrancis3080]

Not sure about the comparison to the DHC-6 … two very different aircrafts… I think the C-408 being a good option for DHC-6 operators that want additional capacity (freight or cargo) MAX takeoff weight is a lot more for sure

[@John-nc4bl]

They are not two very different aircraft.

[@futurepilot6749]

Does this Aircraft more expensive than the Atr 42?

[@CanadianGrenadian]

You don’t want to fly ATRs in a lot of icing situations. Their horizontal stab is too small. Look at the Dash 8’s horizontal stabilizer. Way bigger. But this Cessna sure serves a purpose unlike any others I’m aware of 🌞

[@airdad5383]

ATR is a part 25 aircraft. Lot bigger and more expensive. Meant for different market.

[@Jon.......]

01:35 | What's the difference between "power outlets" and "USB charging ports" ?

[@NIGGAdatCooks]

probably 12v socket vs dedicated USB ports,12v may push upto 150w power for laptop and other things, dedicated USB just nominal 5v 2.4 Amps each assuming 2 ports are provided.

[@robertweekley5926]

@@NIGGAdatCooks - or maybe a 10-15 Amp Capacity per a standard NEMA AC Plug?

[@markcaplin564]

Could you use it as an air ambulance?

[@AviationBase]

I think so

[@jstratton]

Looks like a Twin Otter and has largely overlapping capabilities.

[@renard8137]

Should have made one with a ramp. Miliary is looking for them.

[@Agwings1960]

The thing is, when you put 19 seats in the aircraft theres no room for baggage and people tend to want their bags with them when they fly somewhere

[@keithb6717]

There’s an optional trailer.

[@AndyMatrix]

900Nm Range and Runway 2750Ft sucks. 1500Nm and 2000ft would be the dream aircraft

[@ryanking6811]

I can’t imagine anyone ever getting one of these in the passenger configuration. It isn’t exactly ground breaking.

[@calvinnickel9995]

This makes perfect sense for passenger operations over short distances (think island hopping like is done with Islander/Trilander/Twin Otter) or aerial tours.

[@SR-bh5jd]

A FedEx, 3 container capacity, short haul.

[@camodudeA51]

I'm placing my order now in case they run out...NOT.

[@BobABooey.]

I saw one today belonging to FedEx.

[@tommypaget2294]

Great, practical design……should have 2 more variants…..1. Retractable landing-gear version……2. Rear-ramp version.

[@AviationBase]

Agreed!

[@troothhertz6297]

And a VIP plane

[@mynamedoesntmatter9013]

At that point, why not just look at purchasing an old B1900 and converting it back to airline duty? Albeit with some charging ports. Aint no one going 900nmi in that plane and CERTAINLY aint no one flying 2-1 config when you got bigger, faster regionals for that duty.

[@bens4352]

Cabin altitude is not a thing with this aircraft. The aircraft is NOT pressurized so the cabin altitude is the same as the aircraft's altitude

[@glenbn]

Hey who is narrating? Sounds just like Tuvoc

[@Iwishiwasflying]

Looks like a mix between a twater aka twin otter and Dornier 228

[@michaelallen7230]

That looks like a high wing Beech 1900.

[@philipmangaoang1352]

Looks like Textron has allowed the Offspring of a 1900 and a Caravan 😂

[@lpdirv]

Why are the wheels so small and the landing distance so ling. Should be able to handle 2000’ and gras/dirt runways. This looks like a pavement princess.

[@calvinnickel9995]

@lpdirv This is a pavement princess just like the Caravan. And the number of operators who will exceed the capabilities of this aircraft in something like a Twin Otter approaches zero. DHC abandoned STOL in the 80s because nobody wanted it.. and Longview will struggle to sell new Twin Otters to those who need this class of aircraft but not the capabilities.

[@paulvanreenen6986]

Why is this just like a DH Twin Otter.

[@airdad5383]

This was built to accommodate Fedex containers for cargo, Twin Otter is a 1960's design and cannot do that due to the fuselage size.

[@hafizuddinmohdlowhim8426]

It is now $8M

[@rodrigootavio534]

No toilette ?

[@AviationBase]

Nope

[@warjacare]

Experimental ?

[@flyguy6296]

Yes... preproduction model. All new models are experimental until it gets a type certificate from the FAA or whatever similar certification agency certifies it.

[@ProDriver007]

1 116 meters isn’t that great when a atr 42 can do it in 800m 900m balanced loads

[@premiercconstruction]

Let’s not pretend as if they did not build this military contracts in mind as well.

[@karl-heinzk5616]

Looks like a copy of the Dornier 228

[@ahl2easy]

Engines are too small, should have gone with -67D

[@jumpinjack1]

That's not what I needed to know.

[@tryphonsoleflorus8308]

Is there a toilet?

[@AviationBase]

No, there isn't

[@heklik]

Big plane with small wheels.

[@davidedan1417]

A 500k Seminole has a retractable landing gear, but this 6 million dollar shitbox doesn’t? Good job Cessna, always on top of

[@lv7603]

Cargo feeder requirements probably dictated the outcome and maintenance costs. This is a cargo plane.

[@CyberSystemOverload]

Clearly you have no idea about airplane design & mission requirements. This was designed first and foremost as a cargo feeder plane for FedEx. Retract gear = more weight, more complexity, just another thing to break, another thing to maintain. The Caravan, Twin Otter and Kodiak also have fixed gear. Simplicity.

[@ProyectosDesolcon]

Good video, but it's performance is too limited, looks more like a Indian Tuk Tuk

[@william7038]

THATS WHAT YOU THINK!

[@murattekin1979t]

👍👋

[@h.s.thompsonduke8105]

Shorts.

[@heklik]

Range less than 400nm 🥴

[@calvinnickel9995]

And…..!? How far do you need to go in an unpressurized aircraft designed for hub and spoke feeder operations?

[@Naija4K]

What a waste!

[@TRPGpilot]

Your father should have pulled out . . .

[@CaliforniaFly]

This airplane is a joke.

[@calvinnickel9995]

Not after it destroys the Twin Otter in sales and sets the precedent for short range passenger and cargo operations for the next 50 years.

[@RyanRuark]

Jazz fonts are distracting