View source for Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II

{{short description|Utility aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2021}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name = F406 Caravan II
 |image = File:Cessna F406 HM Coastguard.jpg
 |caption = A Cessna F406 from [[Maritime and Coastguard Agency|HM Coastguard]]
 |type = Twin-engined utility
 |national_origin = [[France]]<br />[[United States]]
 |manufacturer = [[Reims Aviation]]
 |first_flight = 22 September 1983
 |introduction = 
 |retired = 
 |status = In service, production to recommence
 |primary_user = [[Directorate-General of Customs and Indirect Taxes|French DGDDI]]
 |more_users = [[Republic of Korea Navy]] 
 |produced = 1983–2013
 |number_built = 99{{efn|One prototype and 98 production aircraft}}<ref name="tcds" />
 |developed_from = [[Cessna 404 Titan]] 
 |variants = 
}}

The '''Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II''' is a [[turboprop]] twin engine [[utility aircraft]] manufactured and designed by [[Reims Aviation]] in cooperation with [[Cessna]].

==Design and development==
The F406 Caravan II is a twin turboprop engined, fourteen-seat low-wing monoplane of conventional aluminium (airframe) and steel (engine internal parts, exhaust, landing gear) construction. It is a development of the [[Cessna 404 Titan]] with two [[Pratt & Whitney PT6A]] turboprop engines. The aircraft first flew on 22 September 1983<ref name="jawa 88 p79">Taylor 1988, p. 79.</ref> and was produced by [[Reims Aviation]] until the company's 2013 demise.<ref>[http://www.geciaviation.com/en/index.php "GECI Aviation"]. Retrieved 9 June 2012. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316181055/http://www.geciaviation.com/en/index.php |date=March 16, 2012 }}</ref> The F406 is aimed at passenger and small cargo transport as well as civilian and military surveillance. For extra cargo capacity, a cargo pod can be fitted to the belly of the aircraft.

Though the F406 is more expensive to operate than single-engine aircraft of the same passenger capacity such as the [[Cessna 208 Caravan]], having two engines made it comply with European regulations regarding commercial operations, which for a long time only allowed multi-engine aircraft for commercial instrument flight.

In March 2014, Reims Aviation was acquired by Chinese-owned [[Continental Motors Inc]] and renamed ASI Aviation. Two remaining incomplete airframes were finished in France before a shift to [[Mobile, Alabama]] with new avionics, electrical, and hydraulic systems; a new autopilot; and an engine choice of current P&WC PT6A-135 or pistons : [[Continental GTSIO-520]] and/or [[Thielert Centurion#Centurion 3.0|Continental CD-310]] diesel.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://aviationweek.com/ebace-2016/props-and-turboprops-about-enter-marketplace |title= Props And Turboprops About To Enter The Marketplace |date= May 23, 2016 |author= Paul Jackson |work= Aviation Week Network}}</ref> The [[Type Certificate]] transferred but only had approval to produce spare parts and not the whole aircraft.<ref name="tcds" />

==Operators==
[[File:Reims F406 Caravan II, France - Army AN0632367.jpg|thumb|A Cessna F406 of the [[French Army]].]]
[[File:Hellenic Coast Guard Reims-Cessna F406.JPG|thumb|A Cessna F406 of the [[Hellenic Coast Guard]].]]
;{{AUS}}
* [[Aerologistics]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aerologistics.com.au/vehicle/reims-caravan-f406/|title=Survey}}</ref>
* [[Australian Customs and Border Protection Service]]<ref>[http://www.cobham.com/media/939837/492_-_cobham_receives_aud__7_million_additional_contract_extension_from_australian_customs_and_border_protection_service.pdf Cobham Receives AUD$ 7 million Additional Contract Extension from Australian Customs and Border Protection Service], article retrieved 23 July 2013.</ref>
;{{FRA}}
*[[Air Saint-Pierre]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://airsaintpierre.com/en/about/our-fleet/|title= air saint pierre fleet |publisher= airsaintpierre.com |access-date=16 January 2020}}</ref>
*[[French Army]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/world-air-forces-listing-f-i/29591.article |title= World Air Forces listings (French Army)|publisher= flightglobal.com |date=November 1999|access-date=16 January 2020}}</ref>
;{{flag|Germany}}
*[[Air-Taxi Europe]]
*[[Technische Universität Braunschweig]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tu-braunschweig.de/en/iff/research/facilities/research-aircraft|title=The Cessna F406 research aircraft, D-ILAB|website=tu-braunschweig.de}}</ref>
;{{GRE}}
*[[Hellenic Coast Guard]]<ref>"Airscene: Military Affairs: First Hellenic Coast Guard F406 enters service". ''[[Air International]]'', Vol. 60, No. 5, May 2001. p. 262. {{ISSN|0306-5634}}</ref>
;{{flag|Namibia}}
*[[Cabinet of Namibia|Namibian Fisheries and Marine Resources]]
*[[Westair Aviation]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://westair.com.na/|title=WESTAIR – HOME|website=westair.com.na}}</ref>
;{{ROK}}
*[[Republic of Korea Navy]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/world-air-forces-listing-s-t/29594.article|title= World Air Forces listings (ROK Navy)|publisher= flightglobal.com |date=November 1999|access-date=16 January 2020}}</ref>
;{{SEN}}
*[[Arc en Ciel Airlines]]
;{{UK}}
*[[RVL Aviation]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rvl-group.com/about/ | title=About }}</ref>

==Specifications==
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units? = met
|ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988–89<ref name="Janes 88 p80">Taylor 1988, p.80.</ref>
|crew=One<ref name="tcds" />
|capacity=12 passengers
|length m=11.89
|length ft=39
|length in=0
|span m=15.09
|span note=<ref name="tcds">{{Cite web|url=https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/downloads/7311/en|title=Type-Certificate Data Sheet EASA.A.109: F 406: Issue 06 |publisher=EASA |date=29 October 2021 |access-date=21 December 2022 }}</ref>
|span ft=49
|span in=6
|height m=4.01
|height ft=13
|height in=2
|wing area sqm=23.48
|wing area note=<ref name="tcds" />
|wing area sqft=253
|empty weight kg=2,283
|empty weight lb=5,033
|max takeoff weight kg=4,246-4,700<ref>{{cite web | url=https://janes.migavia.com/fra/reims/f406.html | title=Reims F406 Caravan Ii }}</ref>
|max takeoff weight lb=9,360-10,361
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A]]-112 [[turboprop]]
|eng1 kw=373<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=500<!-- prop engines -->
|max speed kmh=424
|max speed note={{efn|Indicated Air Speed.}}
|max speed mph= 263
|cruise speed kmh=388<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed mph=241<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|range km=2,135
|range note={{efn|Max cruise, 45 min reserves}}
|range miles= 1,327
|ceiling m=9,145
|ceiling ft=30,000
|climb rate ms=9.4
|climb rate ftmin=1,850
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|related=
* [[Cessna 404 Titan]] 
* [[Cessna 441 Conquest II]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[Beechcraft Model 99]]
* [[Dornier 228]]
|lists
|see also=
* [[Cessna 208 Caravan]]
}}

==References and notes==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist}}

* Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". ''[[Flight International]]'', 8–14 December 2015, Vol. 188, No. 5517. pp.&nbsp;26–53.
*Taylor, John W.R. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988–89''. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Defence Data, 1988. {{ISBN|0 7106-0867-5}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Reims-Cessna F406}}
* [http://www.reims-aviation-industries.com/ Reims Aviation (official website)]

{{Cessna 310 family}}
{{Cessna}}

[[Category:Reims aircraft|Caravan II]]
[[Category:1980s French civil utility aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1983]]
[[Category:Twin-turboprop tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]