So what are the thoughts on the Kodiak vs the Caravan for float ops?

182-SS wrote:So what are the thoughts on the Kodiak vs the Caravan for float ops?

Spend the extra 300K on a 208 and make money.

But make sure you put a real mans engine in it: 331-12

Has the lack of IFR certification issue when installing an "after market" engine been sorted out? I understand that this was one of the few downsides to going TPE 331 over factory Pratt. The EX has more giddy-up but without having flown either upgrades I imagine the Garrett still wins in fuel burn and speed. What are the performance issues of the kodiak besides taking less pops and chip?

MF

The Caravan with a -12 beats the Kodiak in every way so there's that. Oh wait I lied; the Kodiak has a lower stall speed by about 2 knots.

So I can assume then that a TPE converted C208 does retain its IFR certification then? I should have know better than trying to get real information from this site. That's the price I pay for being lazy and not contributing I guess.

http://questaircraft.com/wp-content/upl ... tplane.pdf

MF

PS. I would still think the EX 'van increases the general performance gap as it does from the other 208s.
However I like the opening statement in the link attached. Apples to oranges from a design perspective really.
Like comparing KA200 v PC12. No comparison until you use them for the same job...then its apples to apples I guess.

matt foley wrote:Has the lack of IFR certification issue when installing an "after market" engine been sorted out? I understand that this was one of the few downsides to going TPE 331 over factory Pratt. The EX has more giddy-up but without having flown either upgrades I imagine the Garrett still wins in fuel burn and speed. What are the performance issues of the kodiak besides taking less pops and chip?

MF

TC still insists on a factory installed turbine engine for IFR in a single. That doesn't matter to most float operators, however, which was the target audience of this thread, so I think the Garrett Caravan is a reasonable option.

porcsord wrote:But make sure you put a real mans engine in it: 331-12

Beat me to it

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HMDPuqUqOOI

First turbine I ever flew, awesome machine.

Having flown an EX on floats and the -12 on floats there is no comparing the two. That being said the EX is larger as it's a grand caravan. I've never flown a -12 Grand on 8750's but I suspect it would be as close to a competitor to an Otter than you can get... one that goes faster, climbs faster, at the downside of still being a caravan.

Months after TC issued a waiver for the Blackhawk conversion with that allowed IFR ops with pax they did the same for both the Texas Turbine and Aero Twin TPE331 conversions.