Hobbies And Interests
Performance Figures
The Caravan's maximum cruise speed is 344 kilometers, or 213.75 miles per hour. Its maximum ceiling is 25,000 feet. Maximum ceiling refers to how high the airplane can fly. The airplane needs 2,055 feet of runway to take off, and 1,625 feet of runway to land. Its rate of climb is 1,234 feet per minute, and its range, fully fueled, is 1,752 kilometers, or 1,089 miles. You must keep in mind range is dependent on payload. The more the payload, the shorter the range. If the airplane is fully loaded, the range will drop significantly.
Engine Specifications
The engine is a Pratt and Whitney PT6A-114A. The listed time between overhauls is 3,600 hours of usage. Pratt and Whitney states this engine is a turboprop engine, meaning it is a turbine engine driving a propeller. It has a shaft horsepower of 675 horsepower, and spins at 1900 RPM. Its diameter is 19 inches, with a length of 62 inches.
Weight Specifications
The empty weight of the airplane is 4,751 lbs. Empty weight refers to no fuel in the tanks, and no payload on board. The maximum weight of the fuel is 2,224 lbs., with the fuel tanks filled to capacity. The maximum payload weight, with full tanks, is 1,060 lbs. If you presume fully-grown adults weigh about 180 lbs., dividing 1,060 by 180 equals a capacity of about six people. The maximum take off weight is 8,000 lbs. This is the combined weight of the airplane, fuel, passengers and cargo. Subtracting 4,751 from 8,000 leaves a capacity of 3,249 lbs. It is up to the pilot or flight engineer to divide up 3,249 lbs. between passengers, cargo and fuel.