TYPE: Utility turboprop twin.

PROGRAMME: Announced mid-1982: first flight (F-WZLT) 22 September 1983; French certification 21 December 1984, FAA later first Right production F406 (F-ZBFO) 20 April 1985.

CURRENT VERSIONS: F406 Caravan II: Initial production version, available in passenger, freight (with underbelly cargo pod), medevac. skydiving, aenal survey, training, navaid calibration and target towing variants. These retrospectively known as F406 Mark I.
F406 Mark II: Upgraded version announced (as F406 NG New Generation) in October 2000. First delivery due late 2003 to Daihyaku Shoji. Reims' Japanese agent but delayed until mid-2004. Features include 473.5 kW (635 shp) PT6A-135A engines driving four-blade propellers; reduced structural weight; same MZFW, increase in maximum take-off weight to 4,700 kg (10,361 lb); quickrelease access panels tor easier maintenance: new lightweight instrument panel with liquid crystal displays, redesigned cabin interior by Air Esthetic featuring composites panels that can be painted or upholstered, improved acoustic and thermal insulation, new economically designed seats with integral harnesses tor improved comfort on long missions and integral window blinds; and standard Bendix/King Silver Crown avionics with Silver Crown Plus comms and two-tube KFIS display. Three standard cabin interiors offered: commuter, special missions and VIP. Take-off, climb and OEI rate of climb performance arc improved, and endurance increased by up to one hour.

Additionally, six versions ot the basic Special Missions configuration, each wilh a ventral 360° radar:

Vigilant: Surveillance version (land or sea) with mission equipment to suit customer requirement, including (in latest configuration) Thales Airborne Maritime Situation Control System (AMASCOS) which comprises belly-mounted Telephonies AN/A PS-143, Texas Instruments 1022 or Thales/DASA Ocean Master 100/200 3601 surveillance radars, chin-mounted FL1R turret for FSI Ultra, Inframetrics Mk III. SAGliM Hesis. Star Satire. Thales Chlio or Wescam FLIR, mission management and communications systems and single operator's console in Srs 100 form; or with additional console for electronic surveillance operator in Srs 200. BAE Systems Seaspray 2000 radar for Scottish Fisheries; Texas Instruments AN/ APS-134 radar for Australian Customs.

Vigilant Frontier Border patrol and anti-drug surveillance version with mission equipment including surveillance radar in anti-drug configuration, FLIR and datalink.

Vigilant Polmar II: Pollution surveillance (maritime police) version with SAGEM Cyclope 20001R linescantiet and Lricsson or Terra SLAR.

Vigilant Polmar III: As Polmar II, but based on F406 Mark II airframe. One ordered by French Customs in 2001 for delivery in 2004.

Vigilant Surmar: Surveillance (maritime) version with 360" radar, such as Texas Instruments AN/APS-134 or Telephonies AN/ APS-143 and optional equipment including Litton night vision system. In 1996 Reims developed undenving hardpomts for the F406 which enable it to carry light weapons such as machine gun pods or rocket launchers, or camera pods or SAR liferafts.

Vigilant Surpolmar. Maritime surveillance version for Hellenic Coast Guard, combining Surmar and Polmar missions. Equipment specific to Greek aircraft comprises Surmar suite of Honeywell 1500B radar and FLIR. Systems Star Satire turret aided by Caledonian Airborne Systems track-while-scan system for 20-target tracking; and Polmar suite of Ericsson SLAR. Swedish Space Corporation MSS 5000 and SAGEM Cyclope 2000 ER linescan

Vigilant Comint/lmint: Dedicated communications jnd imaging intelligence version of Ihe Caravan II, developed jointly with Thomson-CSF Communications, first shown at Paris '97- Equipped with Thomson TCC SAS airborne Flint system, an operator's console with MS Windows NT-based workstation and an array of directionfinding antennas housed in a ventral radome. Is also first Vigilant with a pair of undcrwing pylons for carriage of stores which can include gun or rocket pods and airdroppable SAR equipment

CUSTOMERS: One prototype and 89 production aircraft built by mid-2001. F406 is operated by 45 customers in 25 countries including ALH (Netherlands), Acrop Mad (Salvador), Aerovia (Spain), Aerotuy (Venezuela). Air Atlantic (Netherlands), Air Guyane (French Guyana), Air St Martin (Guadeloupe), Aircraft Ing (Kenya), Arcus Air Logistic (Germany), Aviazur (New Caledonia), Blue Bird Aviation (Kenya), Comair (South Africa). DDF (Zimbabwe), Direct Flight (UK), Excel Air (Malta). Fehlhaber Flugdienst (Germany). French Army (two used for target towing), French Customs Service , Grupo America (Salvador), Hellenic Ministry of Merchant Marine , Hellras (Kenya), Kensoraa Ltd (UK). Luchtvaartmij (Netherlands). Namibian Fisheries, National Jet Systems (Australia, see below), NDG Aviation (USA), Overflight Support (South Africa), Polarwing (Finland), Republic of Korea Navy . SAL (Angola), Scan Equipment (Norway), Sembawang (Singapore). Seychelles Coast Guard. Somacvram (Madagascar), Span Aviation (India). TCS (Pakistan), TAAG (Angola), Tanzanian Air. Tawakal Airlines. TCS (Saudi Arabia), Trackmark (Kenya), US Customs Service. US Navy and Wing Airline (Belgium).

French Customs Service received 10 in Surmar and two in Polmar 1/11 configuration One in Polmar III configuration (No 90), ordered in late 2000 and intended for delivery in 2002 but delayed until first quarter 2004. First Surmar (No. 74. although registered as a Vigilant) handed over 11 January 1995. followed by No* 75 find 77 on 12 September 1995. the latter two replacing Cessna 404s in Martinique, French Antilles; National Jet Systems Australia ordered three Vigilant.1, for deliver) carry 1996 for Surveillance Australia programme (aircraft Nos 76.78 and 79) and Scottish Fisheries has tour Vigilanfs for fisheries patrol, the latest delivered in April 1998.

Recent customers for the F406 include the Republic of Korea Navy, which ordered five in target tug configuration, the first delivered on 23 November 1998 and the last in mid-June 1999. total contract value bang US$74 million (1997). and the Hellenic Ministry of Merchant Marine, which, in June 1999. ordered two for delivery in late 2000 as Surpolmar variants and additional one in November 1999; the hrsl Surpolmar (FWWSS/AC 21) for this contract made its maiden flight on 21 August 20IX) and was delivered on 27 March 2001. remaining two received by December 2001. at which time a fourth was under negotiation One to Air Saml Pierre in mid-2003, fined with TCAS n. Total 92 sold by June 2002 (excluding prototype). An agreement with the Brazilian government signed in April 1998 provides lor the purchase of three aircraft in multisensor configurations. Daihyaku Shop of Japan ordered one F406 Mark II during 2000. for deliver) m mid-20fW and operation by an undisclosed local customer.

COSTS: Standard commuter aircraft US$2.2 million (2002). Maritime patrol versions typically US$3 million to US$4 million with mission equipment. Korean Navy contract for five aircraft valued at US$24 million, including technician training and one-year technical support (1997). Greek contract for two Surmars valued at FFr90 million (1999); single Polmar FFr33 million (1999). Direct operating cost US$338 per hour (1997).

DESIGN FEATURES: Extrapolated from Cessna Conquest airframe; wing section NACA 23018 at root and 23012 at tip; dihedral 3' 30* on centre-section, 4r 55' on outer panels; twist —3C; incidence T at root: fin offset V to port; tailplane dihedral 9°; cabin not pressurised.

FLYING CONTROLS: Owiventional and manual: Trim tabs in elevators, port aileron and rudder; hydraulically operated Fowler flaps.

STRUCTURE: Conventional light metal with three-spar fail-safe wing centre-section to SFAR 41C; two-spar outer wings.

LANDING GEAR: Hydraulically retractable tricycle type with single wheel on each unit. Mainwheel tyre size 22x7.75-10. nosewheel 6.00-6. Main units retract inward into wing, nosewheel rearward. Emergency extension by means of a 138 bar (2,000 lb/sq in) rechargeable nitrogen bottle. Cessna oleo-pneumatic shock-absorbers. Main units of articulated (trailing link) type. Single-disc hydraulic brakes. Parking brake.

POWER PLANT: TWO Pratt & Whitney Canada PF6A-112 turboprops (each 373 kW; 500 shp), each driving a McCauley 9910535-2 three-blade, reversible-pitch, and automatically feathering metal propeller. Fuel capacity 1,823 litres (481 US gallons; 401 Imp gallons) of which 1,798 litres (475 US gallons; 395.5 Imp gallons) usable. Oil capacity 17.2 litres (4.5 US gallons; 3.8 Imp gallons).

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of two and up to 12 passengers, in pairs facing forward, with centre aisle, except at rear of cabin in 12/14-seat versions. Alternative basic configurations for six VIP passengers in reclining seats in business version, and for operation in mixed passenger/ freight role. Business version has partition between cabin and flight deck, and lavatory on starboard side at rear. Split main door immediately aft of wing, on port side, with built-in airstair in downward-hinged lower portion. Optional cargo door forward of this door to provide single large opening. Overwing emergency exit on each side. Passenger seats removable tor cargo carrying, or tor conversion to ambulance, air photography, maritime surveillance and other specialised roles. Baggage compartments in nose, with three doors, at rear of cabin and in rear of each engine nacelle. Ventral cargo pod optional.

SYSTEMS: Freon air conditioning system of 17,500 BTU capacity, plus engine bleed air and electric boost heating. Electrical system includes 28 V 250 A starter/generator on each engine and 39 Ah Ni/Cd battery. Hydraulic system, pressure 120 bar (1,750 lb/sq in), for operation of landing gear. Separate hydraulic system for brakes. Optional Goodrich pneumatic de-icing of wings and tail unit and electric windscreen de-icing.

AVIONICS: Standard Bendix/King Silver Crown; Gold Crown optional.
Comms: Dual Bendix/King transceivers.
Radar: Honeywell RDR 2000 weather radar optional. Maritime surveillance radar as described under Current Versions.
Flight: Dual ADF and marker beacon receiver. Autopilot optional.
Instrumentation: Provision for equipment to FAR Pt 135A standards, including dual controls and instrumentation for co-pilot.

EQUIPMENT: Optional cargo interior includes heavy-duty sidewalls, utility floorboards, cabin floodlighting and cargo restraint nets. Optional pylons under each wing for carriage of stores including gun or rocket pods and airdroppable SAR equipment.

DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL:  
Wing span 15.08 m (49 ft 51/2 in)
Wing aspect ratio 9.7
Length overall 11.89 m (39 ft 01/4 in)
Height overall 4.01 m (13 ft 2 in)
Tailplane span 5.87 m (19 ft 3 in)
Wheel track 4.28 m (14 ft 01/2 in)
Wheelbase 3.81 m( 12 ft 6 m)
Propeller diameter 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in)
Cabin door: -Height 1.27 m (4 ft 2 in)
- Width 0.58 m (1 ft 103/4 in)
Cargo double door (optional)  
- Total width 1.24 m (4 ft 1 in)
DIMENSIONS, INTERRNAL:  
Cabin (incl flight deck): - Length 5.71 m ( l 8 ft 83/4 in)
- Max width 1.42 m (4 ft 8 in)
- Max height 1.31 m (4 ft 31/4 in)
- Min height (at rear) 1.21 m (3 ft 111/2 in)
- Width of aisle 0.29 m (111/2 in)
- Volume 8.6 m3 (305 cu ft)
Baggage compartment (nose).  
- Length 2.00 m (6 ft 63/4 in)
- Volume 0.74 m3 (26.0 cu ft)
Nacelle lockers: -Length 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)
- Width 0.73 m (2 ft 43/4 in)
Baggage volume total, internal 2.2 m3 (79 cu ft)
- incl cargo pod 3.5 m3 (124 cu ft)
AREAS:  
Wings, gross 23.48 m2 (252.8 sq ft)
Ailerons (total) 1.36 m2 (14.64 sq ft)
Trailing-edge flaps 3.98 m2 (42.84 sq ft)
Fin 4.05 m2 (43.59 sq ft)
Rudder, incl tab 1.50 m2 (16.15 sq ft)
Tailplane 5.81 m2 (62.54 sq ft)
Elevators. incl tabs 1.66 m2 (17.87 sq ft)
WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS:  
Standard empty weight 2.283 kg (5,033 lb)
Max payload 2.219 kg (4.892 lb)
Max fuel 1.444 kg (3.183 lb)
Max ramp weight 4.502 kg (9.925 lb)
Max T-O and landing weight 4.468 kg (9.850 lb)
Max zero-tuel weight 3.856 kg (8.500 lb)
Max wing loading 190.3 kg/m2 (38.97 lb/sq ft)
Max power loading 599 kg/kW (9.85 lb/shp)
PERFORMANCE:  
Max operating Mach No. (Mmo) 0.52
Max operating speed (Vmo ) 229 kt (424 km/h: 263 mph) IAS
Max cruising speed 246 kt (455 km/h; 283 mph)
Econ cruising speed 200 kt (370 km/h: 230 mph)
Stalling speed:  
- wheels and flaps up 94 kt (174 km/h; 108 mph) IAS
- wheels and flaps down 81 kt (150 km/h: 93 mph) IAS
Max rate of climb at S/L 564 m (1.850 ft )/min
Rate of climb at S/L, OEI 121 m (397 ft)/min
Service ceiling 9.145 m (30.000 ft)
Service ceiling, OEI 4.935 m (16.200 ft)
T-O run 526 m (1.725 ft)
T-O to 15 m (50 ft) 803 m (2.635 ft)
Landing from 15 m (50 ft), without reverse pitch 674 m (2.215 ft)
Range with max fuel, at max cruising speed, 45 min  
reserves 1.153 n miles (2.135 km: 1.327 miles)
g limits +3.6/-1.44
OPERATIONAL NOISE LEVELS:  
Flyover 72.0 EPNdB