CaravanNation at Oshkosh 2026

Here are the highlights that stood out most for the Caravan community.

FedEx Purple Runway Was on the Ramp, and It Was All Caravan

One of the first things that caught our eye on the static display was a FedEx Cessna Caravan (N718FX) representing the Purple Runway program. If you haven't heard of Purple Runway, it's worth knowing: it's FedEx's accelerated career pathway program that allows pilots to fly for regional FedEx feeder airlines, including Mountain Air Cargo, Empire Airlines, and IFL Group, and guarantees them a direct flow to the mainline FedEx trunk fleet once they meet specific service and flight hour requirements.

The fact that a Caravan was front and center promoting this program is no accident. The 208 is deeply embedded in the FedEx feeder network, and for a lot of pilots, it's the aircraft that starts the journey toward flying wide-body jets for one of the world's largest cargo carriers. If you're a Caravan pilot thinking about where the type can take your career, Purple Runway is a path worth looking into. Explore active pilot positions on AvWrk Jump Pilot & Caravan Jobs.

A Caravan Made History at Oshkosh, Autonomously

The biggest Caravan story of the week, and arguably of the entire show, happened before the gates even opened. On July 17, 2026, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan equipped with Merlin's AI-powered Merlin Pilot autonomy platform landed on Runway 27 at Wittman Regional Airport at 10:02 a.m. CDT, hands off, with only a safety pilot monitoring.

Merlin believes it was the first autonomous landing of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft in EAA AirVenture history.

The ATC exchange that preceded the landing has already become one of those moments people in this community will be quoting for years:

"3 Charlie Bravo, are you the autonomous Caravan?"
"Affirm."

Merlin CEO and founder Matt George put it well: "For more than 70 years, Oshkosh has been where aviation introduces its next chapter. Many members of our team first fell in love with aviation here, so returning to Oshkosh to complete what we believe is the first autonomous landing of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft in EAA AirVenture history makes this milestone especially meaningful."

The demonstration is part of a significant year for Merlin, which went public on Nasdaq in March 2026 and has an active autonomy program with U.S. Special Operations Command for the C-130J. But it's the Caravan that carried the flag at Oshkosh, and that means something to this community.

Autonomous flight technology is advancing fast. Whether that excites you, challenges your thinking, or both, this moment happened in our airplane, at our show. It's worth paying attention to.

What Else Was at Oshkosh 2026

Beyond the Caravan-specific highlights, AirVenture 2026 delivered on all fronts:

• The Flying Bulls made their American debut: The Austrian team flew their fully restored P-38 and DC-6 across the Atlantic, over Iceland and Newfoundland, to make their first-ever appearance at Oshkosh. Stunning aircraft, even by Oshkosh standards.
• Autonomous and eVTOL technology was everywhere: The International Federal Pavilion featured aerospace and government organizations including NORAD, NOAA, NTSB, and the FAA, many of them showcasing autonomous aircraft technologies and the regulatory future of flight. The skies are changing, and Oshkosh made that clear.
• The Special Olympics Airlift was announced: During the show, EAA and leading general aviation organizations announced collective support for the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift, organized by Textron Aviation. Hundreds of volunteer Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker pilots and aircraft will transport Special Olympics athletes to the 2026 USA Games in the Twin Cities, creating the world's largest peacetime airlift. Proud moment for the GA community.

See You Next Year

EAA AirVenture 2027 is already on the calendar: July 26 through August 1, 2027, back at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. Start planning now.

If you were at Oshkosh this year, we'd love to hear what stood out to you. Share your story in the CaravanNation Facebook Group and keep the conversation going all year long.

CaravanNation is the #1 community for Cessna Caravan owners and enthusiasts. Visit CaravanNation.com or join the conversation at facebook.com/groups/208caravan.