THE AIRFORCE - AIRCRAFT - 208 CARAVAN
Aircraft Stats:
208 Caravan
The Caravan is a single-engine, fixed gear short-haul regional and utility aircraft. It typically seats nine passengers, with a one-person crew.
The SAAF acquired the type in 1988. They were first operated with civilian registration (ZS-) numbers.
In 2007 the SAAF awarded a contract on Aerosud and Denel under Project Koiler for a day/night reconnaissance system for the C208.The contract involved the acquisition of three sets of mission equipment and the modification of 11 aircraft, utilising the Argos 410-Z day/night observation pod.
The contracted Argos 410-Z sensor configuration includes the latest generation Carl Zeiss Optronics mid-wave ATTICA thermal imager (FLIR), a 3-CCD daylight TV Camera with powerful Zoom Lens, eye-safe Laser Range Finder, Autotracker, and Mission Awareness Positioning System (MAPS). The MAPS function provides the system operator with GPS coordinates of objects of interest which is achieved by a high accuracy integrated Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU).
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