Cessna 208 Caravan / FedExCessna 208 Caravan FedEx airplane model. Design work for the Caravan dates back to the early eighties. First flight of a prototype occurred on December 9, 1982, and certification was granted in October 1984. When production began the following year, it became the first all new single engine turboprop powered aircraft to achieve production status. The Caravan I has had a close association with US package freight specialist Federal Express (FedEx), on