KNewman 0 #1 April 10, 2006 Spent a wondefull day at Reaford today (After the winds died down). Got to jump the new Pac. Talk about fun. This thing takes off like a rocket. We were on jump run in 11 minutes!! The ride is very nice, you can see out the windows due to the bench seats (they make for a COMFORTABLE ride). Sorry to ramble, but this plane is cool. Come out to Raeford when you get the chance and have a blast!!!!! Kevin Blue Skies and Stand-up Landings!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pan 0 #2 April 10, 2006 Nice fun jumper plane. not great as a tandem machine. give me an otter. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites BIGUN 1,469 #3 April 10, 2006 Jumped it at Carolina Skysports a couple of weeks ago. It is an awesome A/CNobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bodypilot1 0 #4 April 10, 2006 QuoteNice fun jumper plane. not great as a tandem machine. give me an otter. Agreed, sucks for wingsuits also....... Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites VectorBoy 0 #5 April 10, 2006 Agreed, sucks for wingsuits also....... Be safe Ed Why is that Ed, the smallish door or the low tail? How does it compare to a caravan in those respects? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,469 #3 April 10, 2006 Jumped it at Carolina Skysports a couple of weeks ago. It is an awesome A/CNobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #4 April 10, 2006 QuoteNice fun jumper plane. not great as a tandem machine. give me an otter. Agreed, sucks for wingsuits also....... Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #5 April 10, 2006 Agreed, sucks for wingsuits also....... Be safe Ed Why is that Ed, the smallish door or the low tail? How does it compare to a caravan in those respects? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #6 April 10, 2006 The door is a bit smaller than a caravan, but the fuselage is more curved so standing in the door is easier. There's also a huge step outside, about a foot below the lip of the door. The fuselage is narrower on the inside than a Caravan. So, it's easier for floaters and worse for divers. Not sure how that translates to WS-suitability. Tail is definitely lower, and I know at least one birdie that's clipped the tail of an XL. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BDashe 0 #7 April 10, 2006 I just jumped one a couple weeks ago at ASC in georgia for the Good Vibes boogie. Cool little plane. considering the size it fits a lot of people. Is not the best for tandems, but gets the job done. The speakers were cool, got to listen to music on the way up. it is a little rocket ship, esp. considering it is a single engine, must be a powerful turbine. Pretty cool that it flies with a stick and not yolk. Very true, tough for divers vs. floaters. we tried an 8 way with me being the second least experienced, only linked 5 or six of us. seemed like it was a little touchy while flying, but i liked it. I think itll be an awesome plane for newer DZs that want a turbine but cant afford a king air or otter. :-) Clear skies!So there I was... Making friends and playing nice since 1983 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slotperfect 7 #8 April 10, 2006 I was a soccer Dad this weekend. I'll be out there Friday dirt diving some tandem exits so I can get my behemoth ass out of it on Saturday with paying customers.Arrive Safely John Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlueSBDeath 2 #9 April 10, 2006 That's Funny Anyone have any front float exp with the Pac??? We used to flip out and hang from a big King Air step in Hawaii, can we do that with this beast??? See you all soon ArvelBSBD...........Its all about Respect, USPA#-7062, FB-2197, Outlaw 499 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slotperfect 7 #10 April 10, 2006 Quotecan we do that with this beast??? You can until I step on your little manicured fingers! Are you home yet?Arrive Safely John Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlueSBDeath 2 #11 April 10, 2006 Not yet, 15 April 1100, Doha to Amsterdam to Atlanta to Fayetteville. When I fall off the plane, that means GOOOOO!!!!!! See you all soon, very soon!!! ArvelBSBD...........Its all about Respect, USPA#-7062, FB-2197, Outlaw 499 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EDYDO 0 #12 April 10, 2006 Low wing blocks visibility. Inside fuselage is low and hard to get out fast when more than 4 way. It's great for DZO. For jumpers, it's an "OK" jump plane. Ed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheDonMan 0 #13 April 10, 2006 Hell I've got over 300 tandem jumps out of a Pac and it is actually very easy. At first it took some time to get used to because of the lower door vs. an otter and king Air but it very easy to launch out of a Pac. The most fun exit is having both you and your student sitting on the edge of the door(feet dangling outside) slide out and do a gainer.. it look really good on video. The world is full of willing people, some willing to work, the rest willing to let them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #14 April 10, 2006 QuoteI was a soccer Dad this weekend. I'll be out there Friday dirt diving some tandem exits so I can get my behemoth ass out of it on Saturday with paying customers. Here's the secret. Slide down the bench, to sit on the floor in the doorway with both your and the students feet outside. Then just launch and roll your hips to the relative. Smothest and easiest exit I've ever done with tandems.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
collinb 0 #15 April 10, 2006 we've been using the PAC XL at SkyDance for quite a while now and we started off hating it....especially me as inside center of our 4-way team, I'm on the bigger side! Now we have launched just about everything OK and don't even notice the size of the door! If we screw up an exit these days it is our fault! Tandem guys here seem to be the same, they all sit with feet hanging outside and just roll out and present and seem real happy, I'm sure someone will pipe up. As to front float, or floaters/outside slots in general, we have one outside with their left foot on the wing and hug the plane leaning forward, it is VERY important to turn your hip and shoulders out on start off the count to present to wind (or you can turn your back, wait for everyone to go then dive off wing and chase everyone, that's fun!) Everything else is as close to a “blob” exit from an Otter, just a little tighter…… After the front float we put 3 in the door and can put a rear float or it’s video. The camera step is a little small on the SkyDance plane but it used to be larger when we first got it and we could have a 5th floater, today we just use 4 people out. All the grips are right hand on inside bar, everyone on the lower outer step (important....and you can head jam if you are outside center for 4-way by the way) and grab leg strap with your left hand of person to your left. Everyone is facing forward, which also packs you closer together and makes presenting to relative wind better also, and trails their left leg. On the count rear float/door person gets as low as possible, straightening their right arm to max. Inside we have two people one is taking rear floats left gripper with their left hand and take the middle floats left gripper with his right hand. The next person takes his left hand to insides right leg strap and his right hand takes the left gripper as high as possible of the front float. These people need to be as upright as possible and roll out as outside leaves rather than push out. 7 & 8 are stacked as best as possible behind the first inside pair, it's tight, with me impossible due to my size so 7 is between me and the other first row person and 8 is almost between benches. The blob comes out as a diamond and rear float goes a hair early and drags it down and out and front float really concentrates on presenting and jumping out from the fuselage. The jumpers at Davis are getting pretty good now at launching this blob OK! (we are only just getting to the point where we regularly do 8 or bigger otherwise I believe we’d be hitting it earlier!) if it's a 14 or 15 way the rest of the people are between the benches, watch for the plane bouncing as the blob leaves! It can be a fun "run" to the door. As a 4-way we’re got used to it and love the plane, it is a rocket ship and Ray keeps his prices below all the DZ’s but one in CA! Plus getting to Nationals and the barn door on an Otter is not a handicap. Come out and Skydive with us anytime and we’ll share what we have learned about it. Blue Slies Collin Inside Center, Kaleidoscope Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fast 0 #16 April 10, 2006 Its a cool plane but anything bigger than 8 way sucks for exits. I have been bashed into the floor a few times as a late diver on a 14+video way. Its hard to run anything out of the plane and really easy to hit the door on the way out. Much much better than a king air but its no otter. My team last year did a whole bunch of 4-way practice out of a PAC and launched pretty much every point. When we got in an otter for the meets it felt like we had miles and miles of room in the door. The camera step also is small but it works. I have shot tandem and 4-12 way video off it w/o a problem. I wouldn't call it comfortable cause I prefer to sit on the floor and prefer the extra space inside afforded by no benches. Its fast though and overall I like the plane.~D Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me. Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #17 April 11, 2006 QuoteAs to front float, or floaters/outside slots in general, we have one outside with their left foot on the wing and hug the plane leaning forward... Yup. For Front Front, left foot on wing (not flap!), right foot on step, left arm outside, right arm on inside bar (so Inside Front can take grip). If jump-run is fast, a quick climbout by the Front can really help, as the Front Front can lean against them a little when getting the left foot forward. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #18 April 11, 2006 QuoteNice fun jumper plane. not great as a tandem machine. give me an otter. We still have two Otters at Raeford, as well as the PAC. We got the PAC for those days when you just can seem to scrape 12 people together during the week and other slow days. There could be eight guys sitting there all day refusing to jump the Cessna, so this is the fix. Ours is the first one off the new Canadian production line. We own this aircraft, not lease it. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #19 April 12, 2006 QuoteQuoteNice fun jumper plane. not great as a tandem machine. give me an otter. We still have two Otters at Raeford, as well as the PAC. We got the PAC for those days when you just can seem to scrape 12 people together during the week and other slow days. There could be eight guys sitting there all day refusing to jump the Cessna, so this is the fix. Ours is the first one off the new Canadian production line. We own this aircraft, not lease it. Chuck how many jumpers will make it fly? I'm gonna come check it out fridayScars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeNReN 0 #20 April 12, 2006 QuoteThere could be eight guys sitting there all day refusing to jump the Cessna, so this is the fix. Please tell me your exaggerating Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slotperfect 7 #21 April 12, 2006 6 jumpers . . .Arrive Safely John Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #22 April 12, 2006 QuoteThere could be eight guys sitting there all day refusing to jump the Cessna, so this is the fix. Snobby bitches..... QuoteOurs is the first one off the new Canadian production line. We own this aircraft, not lease it. Bitchin ride, huh?---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #23 April 12, 2006 QuoteOurs is the first one off the new Canadian production line. We own this aircraft, not lease it. Do you know if there are any differences between the Canadian and NZ versions? Could you post closeups of the door & step? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #24 April 12, 2006 AFAIK the ones of the Canadian production line are actually built in NZ, then shipped in the major sub assemblies to Canada and finished there. Saves the cost, risk, and hassle of the ferry process. At least thats what I heard from one of the owners of UAC when I last talked to them about it.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #25 April 12, 2006 QuoteQuoteThere could be eight guys sitting there all day refusing to jump the Cessna, so this is the fix. Please tell me your exaggerating turbine snobs eh? they need to come to atlantic canada where we're lucky to have a 182 instead of a 172!"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
