Special mission Cessna aircraft delivered to Belize Ministry of National Defense

Textron Aviation Inc. announced Thursday it has delivered a special mission Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft to the Belize Ministry of National Defense and Border Security. The Foreign Military Sale (FMS) contract was executed by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Ala.

The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation.

“The Grand Caravan EX delivered to the Belize Ministry of National Defense and Border Security will be used as a multi-mission platform for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, casualty evacuation, search and rescue, air mobility, light airdrop, and other operations as necessary,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president, Special Mission Sales.

This is the first Caravan EX in service with the Belize Ministry of National Defense and Border Security. The aircraft is fitted with an Electro-Optical/Infra-Red sensor, operator mission console, tactical radios, and data link. Textron Aviation will provide pilot, mission operator, and maintenance training, as well as an in-country field service representative.

Certified worldwide

The Cessna Caravan platform has seen more than 3,000 aircraft delivered that are certified in 100 countries.

In May 2020, the Cessna Grand Caravan, fitted with Hellfire missiles, was considered “appropriate technology” for the Afghanistan Air Force.

King Air turbo-props ordered under FMS

Just last month, the U.S. Army announced they intend to award a contract to Textron Aviation for the FMS sale of two Beechcraft King Air 360 aircraft to Peru.

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NTSB investigating Cessna 150 plane crash in Virginia

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash of a Cessna 150G single-engine plane near Hillsville, Va.

According to news reports, the aircraft departed Twin County Airport in Virginia on Monday morning bound for Burlington Alamance Regional Airport in North Carolina.

The Virginia State Police started search efforts to find the small plane after it never reached its destination.

Search operations began around the Carroll County and Patrick County line Monday evening and resumed by air and on the ground Tuesday morning, WFXR reported.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. EST Tuesday, the NTSB announced on Twitter they were investigating “the Feb. 27 crash” of a Cessna 150G near Hillsville, Va.

Two people have been found dead in the wreckage. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the aircraft (registration N2991J) was manufactured in 1966 and registered to Gregory Campbell of Austinville, Va.

The Cessna 150 is single-engine two-seat general aviation aircraft. The aircraft is one of the most produced aircraft, with over 23,000 manufactured.

This is the third reported fatal plane accident in Virginia under investigation by the NTSB in 2023. Two fatal plane crashes were reported in January near Suffork and Dayton, Va.