On May 20, 2025, Wichita-based Textron Aviation celebrated the fifth anniversary of the first flight of its Cessna C408 SkyCourier multi-role light transport aircraft. The aircraft is a high-wing turboprop-powered utility plane that can be configured to carry cargo, passengers, or for a range of other roles, or even in combination.
The Cessna SkyCourier prototype first took flight on May 17, 2020. Since then, it has become a solution for numerous air freight, passenger, humanitarian and other special mission needs across the world with its ability to land on unimproved runways and transport passengers and cargo simultaneously.
The SkyCourier first earned its certification from the Federal Aviation Administration in March 2022, and has since been certified by various other authorities since, with the latest being Canada in December 2024. The aircraft type offers a combination of performance and lower operating costs for air freight, commuter and special mission operators.
The SkyCourier is powered by two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop engines and features McCauley Propeller Systems’ C779 propellers, which feature full feathering and reversible pitch capabilities. This allows the single turboprop engine to enhance the overall performance of the aircraft while transporting heavy loads. The SkyCourier is operated with digital Garmin G1000 NXi avionics and has a maximum cruise speed of over 230 mph (370 kph) and a 900 nautical-mile (1,667 km) maximum range.
The freighter variant is sized to handle up to three LD3 shipping containers with a 6,000 pounds of payload capability. The 19-passenger variant includes crew and passenger doors for easy boarding, as well as large cabin windows for natural light and views. Both configurations offer single-point pressure refueling to enable faster turnarounds, often at remote airstrips.
To support the growing flight activities of the SkyCourier worldwide, the company announced it is investing in a new 52,000-square-foot expansion of a production flight test hangar in Wichita, Kansas at the company’s headquarters. The expansion will add an additional six hangar bays to the north side of a facility on Textron Aviation’s East Wichita Campus.
“The versatility of the Cessna SkyCourier enables operators to tackle diverse mission profiles and operate in some of the most challenging environments in the world,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing. “With two variants of the aircraft and the optional gravel and combi conversion kits, the SkyCourier has brought innovative solutions to our customers around the globe.”
Having originally been launched in 2017, the Cessna SkyCourier came to life following an order from launch customer FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company, which signed an order for up to 100 aircraft initially, with an initial fleet order of 50 cargo aircraft and options for 50 more.
