Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight

Wherever you want to go, the Cessna Caravan can get you there. First introduced by Cessna in 1985, the Caravan was designed to land nearly anywhere, on land or water. Undoubtedly, it has lived up to its creators' intentions. Whether supplies need to be brought to a flooded village in the mountains of Peru, an injured person needs to be flown out from a remote lake in Alaska, or an archaeologist wants access to a tiny site in the African desert, the Caravan has what's needed to do the job.

The first amphibious Caravan was certified in March 1986 and was officially rolled out two months later. In the Amphibians, two large floats replace the landing gear. However, each float contains retractable landing gear, making the airplane truly amphibious. Each float can carry 200 pounds of gear inside watertight bulkhead compartments. The Amphibian also has retractable water rudders that provide maneuverability on the water and vertical fins on its horizontal stabilizer that balance the large float surface and provide more control.