3,000th Cessna Caravan family aircraft delivered... 

Textron Aviation announced today that it has delivered a Cessna Grand Caravan EX to Brazilian airline Azul Conecta, a subsidiary of Azul Airlines based at Jundiai Airport in São Paulo. The aircraft represents the 3,000th turboprop in the Cessna Caravan family delivered worldwide. Azul Conecta transports travelers from small towns and remote locations throughout Brazil.

...In Brazil, at  Brazilian airline Azul Conecta 

Textron Aviation employees and Azul Conecta representatives celebrated this milestone with a special delivery ceremony at Textron Aviation's facility in Independence, Kansas. Designed as a rugged utility aircraft with low operating costs, the Caravan was designed for use in remote areas with extreme weather changes, mountainous terrain and difficult landing conditions. The aircraft's versatility has become legendary, and the Caravan continues to be widely used in global markets by a variety of customers, including government agencies, law enforcement and military, air ambulance operators, cargo carriers, corporations and humanitarian organizations.

The Caravan, a history that dates back to 1981 

Four Cessna Caravan models are currently offered: the Caravan 208, the Grand Caravan EX 208B, the Caravan Amphibian and the Grand Caravan EX Amphibian. The program was launched in 1981 and the Caravan 208 made its first flight in 1982. In 1984, the Caravan 208 received its certification and commercialization began a year later in 1985. That year, the aircraft was equipped with FAA-approved floats. In 1986, the Caravan 208B Super Cargomaster, a four-foot extended version in a dedicated cargo configuration, received FAA type certification. In 1998, the Caravan passed the 1,000 aircraft produced and delivered mark. But the "real" sales takeoff would come in the early 2000s, after the aircraft was equipped with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A engine rated at 675 horsepower. Currently the aircraft is undergoing various attempts to re-engineer it with an electric or hybrid electric powertrain. Dante is the latest to offer an electric version of the Caravan, which has been announced for certification in 2025