Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight

In the initial design of the Caravan, Cessna took the fuselage of a Model 207 Stationair and enlarged it. However, it didn't take Cessna long to realize that in order to create a plane that provided enough cargo and fuel-carrying space, they'd have to start from close to scratch. They used sections of the 207 in the first prototype, but the ultimate design of the Caravan had no real predecessor.

Caravans have large fuel tanks and tough, sturdy landing gear to ensure the aircraft's reliability on rough, unpaved airstrips. (And that landing gear can easily be replaced with floats in order to handle water landings.) Caravans also sport large wings for quick liftoffs on short, rough runways. One hundred and seventy-four square feet of wing area provide 335 gallons of fuel capacity. The oil-only strut in the nose gear acts as a shock absorber, cushioning the engine from large loads placed onto it by the engine mounts as the airplane rolls over rocks and potholes.