Ease and cost of maintenance also were primary considerations, starting with the propeller, a fat, three-blade McCauley. Originally, the Caravan used a composite Hartzell. The switch was made to metal because it costs half as much to buy and repair, according to Cessna — which owns McCauley...
When I bought it, I had lots of hours on my 152, really knowing it and having dropped it into nearly any little backyard type airfield. I changed to the 182 because my focus had altered from saturday afternoon flying to larger journeys all across Europe (and the kids wanted to go along...