Caravan: Cessna’s Swiss Army Knife with Wings!

Known for being one of the most versatile and robust aircraft ever produced, the Cessna Caravan has become the DC-3 workhorse of our current times—as Cessna nicknames it, a “Swiss Army Knife with wings”! This pilot favorite does it all, on land or sea: bush flying, geophysical exploration and mapping, patrol, air ambulance, military, sightseeing, corporate, commuter airline, skydiving, cargo, missionary and humanitarian flying, and much more. The Caravan’s almost legendary reputation of safety and reliability remains a comforting constant for those who affectionately refer to the aircraft as their “flying SUV,” “Suburban with a turbine,” or “aerial truck.”

From its coverage of the Caravan’s colorful history to its innovative-yet-conventional aircraft systems, to interesting pilot stories, tips, and beautiful photography throughout, Lewis and Cook’s book is both entertaining and enlightening—Caravan edutainment at its best! The chapters parallel flight phases on a typical mission, and are chock-full of experience, insights and trivia from preflight to postflight—a truly amazing story for all pilots interested in this legendary powerhouse.

Every chapter contains a special topic along with the related phase of flight, comprised of Lewis and Cook’s coverage of pertinent Caravan characteristics, or stories told by pilots flying Caravans in unusual circumstances and faraway places. Two sections of color photography are included, and multiple appendices with further information on specifications and industry contacts for Caravan owners, as well as extensive footnotes and bibliography. Foreword by Steve Stafford.