Textron Aviation has delivered its first Cessna SkyCourier twin-engine turboprop to launch customer FedEx Express.
The aircraft is the first of the 50 SkyCouriers that have been ordered by FedEx. The delivery giant also has purchase rights for 50 additional SkyCourier turboprops.
“The result of four-and-a-half years of collaboration with Textron Aviation on this aircraft, FedEx Express is excited to add the Cessna 408 SkyCourier as part of our fleet modernization program,” Scot Struminger, CEO and Executive Vice President of Aviation at FedEx Express, said.
We are thrilled to announce the first delivery of the @Cessna SkyCourier twin utility turboprop to @FedEx Express. This is the first of 50 freighter aircraft that global logistics firm FedEx Express ordered as the SkyCourier’s launch customer.
— Textron Aviation (@TextronAviation) May 9, 2022
Learn more: https://t.co/qYFA4Vnqcx pic.twitter.com/pJPFQQi2Md
The news comes almost two months after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified Textron’s Cessna SkyCourier.
The design of the Cessna SkyCourier has been developed to match FedEx’s requirements. In 2017, FedEx signed up as the launch customer for an order of up to 100 Cessna SkyCourier turboprops. The first batch of 50 SkyCouriers was scheduled to arrive in mid-2020. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the delivery date was postponed to the first half of 2022.
The Cessna SkyCourier is a twin-engine turboprop capable of carrying three LD3 shipping containers with a maximum payload of 2,722 kilograms (6,000 lbs). The aircraft can also be turned into a passenger jet with a layout of 19 seats and a maximum range of 900 nautical miles (1,667 kilometers).
The Cessna SkyCourier took off for its first test flight in 2020.
In February 2022, Textron rolled out its first production Cessna SkyCourier.