Cessna 208 Caravan

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Cessna Model: 208. Nickname: Caravan
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Turboprop
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: Single P&W PT6

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/2/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 14
> Number of Times Flown: 10
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: 208, 208A, 208B

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 125
> Date First Flown: 6/21/2002
> Location First Flown: Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, KS (KICT)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Cessna Aircraft, Dale Bleakney

Recollections: My first flight in the Caravan was to evaluate a system in development called “Flight Information Service-Broadcast” (FIS-B).  FIS-B is a series of ground stations that transmit information about weather and traffic to aircraft equipped with the proper receiver and displayed on an aircraft’s multi-function display (MFD).  This system is now fully established and very useful…back then it was new, and magic.  I do not recall who the manufacturer of the FIS-B equipment was when I flew in the Caravan, but it was likely either Garmin or King (Honeywell).  I was lucky enough to be in flight test in Wichita when many of these new avionics systems were being developed and, coming out of the military, I learned a LOT.