New jump-plane from PAC

[riggerrob 643]

Arcus Fire just announced two new single-turbine airplanes for fire-fighters.

They announced an upgrade to PAC 750 to carry 2500 kg of fire-fighting fluids. This modification of the popular PAC 750 jump and agricultural airplane is currently being tested with its new under-belly water tank and drop doors. Most of the airframe will still be built by Pacfic Aero.

Arcus Fire also announced a completely new, high,fire/cargo/passenger airplane called Firecatcher. It has tail feathers similar to PAC 750 but a completely new fuselage that looks like a fat Cessna Caravan. Like the Skycourier - that Cessna is currently test flying - the fuselage is sized for 3 LD3 shipping containers, which should make it popular with courier companies. Like most light turboprops, Firecatcher will be certified to carry 19 passengers ... just short of the requirement for a stewardess. hey hope to fly Firecatcher by 2024.

Arcus Fire specializes in leasing fire-fighting aircraft.

Pacific Aero specializes in manufacturing agricultural airplanes based on the earlier Fletcher and Cresco patterns dating back tot he 1960s.

Flight Structures specializes in designing and certifying aircraft components to New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority standards.

Hopefully skydivers will start jumping out of Firecatchers within a decade. Those lucky jumpers will enjoy stand-up cabins and economical single turboprops made by Pratt & Whitney of Canada.

[timski 80]

I get the affiliation, but I'd come up with a different name for the NON fire equipped version!  

This coming from a very active skydiving career fireman. 

[SethInMI 174]

3 hours ago, timski said:

I'd come up with a different name for the NON fire equipped version!  

lol. yeah. if a pic of a FireCatcher on fire ever gets onto the internet the company would never live it down.

[JerryBaumchen 1,451]

6 hours ago, timski said:

This coming from a very active skydiving career fireman. 

Hi Tim,

Don't you mean firefighter?

https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Lover-Story-Joseph-Wambaugh/dp/1482994895

Jerry Baumchen

Former firefighter

[JoeWeber 2,859]

On 8/25/2020 at 7:14 PM, riggerrob said:

Arcus Fire just announced two new single-turbine airplanes for fire-fighters.

They announced an upgrade to PAC 750 to carry 2500 kg of fire-fighting fluids. This modification of the popular PAC 750 jump and agricultural airplane is currently being tested with its new under-belly water tank and drop doors. Most of the airframe will still be built by Pacfic Aero.

Arcus Fire also announced a completely new, high,fire/cargo/passenger airplane called Firecatcher. It has tail feathers similar to PAC 750 but a completely new fuselage that looks like a fat Cessna Caravan. Like the Skycourier - that Cessna is currently test flying - the fuselage is sized for 3 LD3 shipping containers, which should make it popular with courier companies. Like most light turboprops, Firecatcher will be certified to carry 19 passengers ... just short of the requirement for a stewardess. hey hope to fly Firecatcher by 2024.

Arcus Fire specializes in leasing fire-fighting aircraft.

Pacific Aero specializes in manufacturing agricultural airplanes based on the earlier Fletcher and Cresco patterns dating back tot he 1960s.

Flight Structures specializes in designing and certifying aircraft components to New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority standards.

Hopefully skydivers will start jumping out of Firecatchers within a decade. Those lucky jumpers will enjoy stand-up cabins and economical single turboprops made by Pratt & Whitney of Canada.

The Firecatcher is slated to be powered by the new-ish PT6A-67F, a variant of the well proven 67D model. The 67F is also slated to power the latest Pilatus PC-12 NGX aircraft, although I think that hasn't been announced yet. It's a full electronic digital control variant. No prop lever, electronic fuel control etc.. Over temp and over torque protections etc. Extreme reliability. Just what we want.