AUGUST 2010 The more you think about it, the more the economics of the Cessna 206 make sense. Unlike some of the airplanes, such as Otters and Caravans, that ply the same missions as the 206 does, the Stationair is a true light airplane. It is powered not by a turboprop but by a conventional six-cylinder piston engine. Yet it’s remarkably capable. If you leave out some fuel, it can carry six adults, counting the pilot, and if you leave off some more fuel, it can carry a goodly amount of bags on top of that.
That’s the story of the 206, getting things done and making money in the process. Whether carrying commuters from Seattle to the islands, hauling fish in Alaska, transporting patients in the Outback of Australia or delivering food and medical supplies to indigenous people in the mountains of Ecuador, the 206 is a utility airplane in the true sense of the word. It’s not an overstatement to say that it is still in production solely because of its utility. Like any smart company today, Cessna is not in the business of building products for which there’s not a demand. The 206 earns its keep.
