While streamlined executive jets command glamorous headlines, true operational logistics belong to single-engine turboprop utility aircraft. Above all, the Cessna 208 Caravan stands as an unchallenged workhorse.
From hauling urgent freight across equatorial rainforests to humanitarian relief missions on unpaved gravel strips, the Caravan’s rugged fixed gear and rock-solid Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop make it one of the most reliable utility aircraft ever built.
The high-performance single-engine piston category has long been dominated by legacy Avgas-powered powerplants. Enter the Diamond DA50 RG, an aircraft our test pilots put through rigorous evaluation over alpine cross-country routes.
Powered by the Continental CD-300 turbocharged diesel powerplant burning widely available Jet-A, the DA50 RG combines European luxury sedan comfort with single-lever FADEC simplicity. Its five-seat cabin, low cabin noise index, and outstanding climb performance make it one of the most compelling cross-country cruisers of this decade.