Cessna’s SkyCourier Gets Down And Dirty With New ‘Gravel Kit’

Textron Aviation announced today (February 7) it now offers an optional “gravel kit” for its utility Cessna SkyCourier turboprop twin. The kit enables operators to use unimproved runways around the world. First deliveries of aircraft equipped with the kits will begin later this month.

Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president of sales and flight operations, said, “The addition of this new gravel kit greatly enhances the already rugged reliability of the SkyCourier. Cessna aircraft have been moving people and critically-needed goods in and out of remote areas for decades, and this new capability allows SkyCourier customers to operate in some of the world’s most demanding environments.”

The SkyCourier is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop engines driving McCauley Propeller C779 110-inch aluminum four-blade propellers, with full feathering with reversible pitch. Maximum cruise speed is more than 200 knots true and maximum range is 900 nautical miles. The SkyCourier cockpit features Garmin’s G1000 NXi avionics.

According to Textron Aviation, the new gravel kit for the SkyCourier “paves the way [their pun, not mine] for further use in global markets by a variety of customers, including government agencies, law enforcement and militaries, air ambulance operators, freight haulers, corporations and humanitarian organizations.”