Cessna 208 Caravan Southern Airways ExpressCessna 208 Caravan Southern Airways 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. Scale: 1 32. Wingspan 16 1 2 inches, Length 14 inches.