NZ CAA Grants Type Certificate to PAC 750XL -- Press Clips.

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LINK

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Kiwi-built plane designed for high-flyers

21.08.2003
By PAM GRAHAM

The first passenger aircraft to be built in New Zealand has been cleared for takeoff.

The Civil Aviation Authority handed over a type certificate for the PAC 750XL, designed and built for the adventure tourism market by Pacific Aerospace Corporation, at a function at Hamilton International Airport last night.

The aircraft can take 17 fully kitted skydivers, or eight tandem pairs, and a cameraman to 3600m in 12 minutes and be back on the ground for another load in four minutes.

It is rugged, reliable, easy to run and, at $1.7 million apiece, cheaper than anything else on the international market, said PAC's general manager John McWilliam.

The company has made about 560 aircraft for training and agricultural uses in the past 50 years.

It realised no one was making purpose-built aircraft for skydiving after a visit from United States company Utility Aircraft Corporation in 1998. The American skydiving industry is estimated to use about 600 aircraft, all modified from other uses.

PAC took up the idea and a prototype has been flying since 2001.

The certification marks the "birth" of the aircraft and the first PAC 750XL has been sold to Freefall Great Lakes Skydive Centre in Taupo.

The aircraft has a wide door, high-lift wings and a 750HP Pratt & Whitney engine. McWilliam said it could also be used for medical evacuations, and as a freight or passenger aircraft.

PAC has firm orders for seven aircraft and indications of interest for up to 260.

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The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[AggieDave 6]

So how long now before the FAA gives it the ok?

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

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More info about the PAC 750XL INCLUDING seating arrangements for skydivers!

http://www.aerospace.co.nz/downloads/750xl.pdf

Also, check THIS out! Look at that f'in' floater bar will ya! Check out that step!

My question are; why the heck didn't they make it a T-tail and is the left flap stepable?

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The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Remster 30]

Tall people liek me will really like that small door (height wise)

Remster

[AggieDave 6]

The tail is much further away then a king air and is actually further away then a Caravans, but a little lower then a Caravan.

Aparently some folks from Eloy went down under to look at it a few months ago, they said it was fine, won't be a problem at all.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[quade 4]

I dunno, the door looks roughly Twin Otter sized to me.

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The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[AggieDave 6]

Supposedly its bigger then a twin Otter door.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Remster 30]

Height wise? If it is, yahoo!

Remster

[PhreeZone 20]

DISTANCE CARGO DOOR TO HORIZONTAL STABILISER: 121.75” (309.24cm)

The door looks to be about 3 inches taller then an Otter.

That float bar is nothing compared to the bar now installed on N100AP. The people at WFFC got to see the new float bar that is on that Otter, its longer then the one on the 750XL.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

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That float bar is nothing compared to the bar now installed on N100AP.

Photos please.

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The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[skytash 0]

not being an aircraft techy type person I don't fully undertand all the stuff in the .pdf you posted the link to .

My question is, does it have a CoG problem and hence a 'line' over which only a set number of people are allowed to go on exit like Caravans, Lets and Casas, or can you just all pile into the door like on an Otter?

tash

Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

[diablopilot 2]

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It is rugged, reliable, easy to run and, at $1.7 million apiece,

Please rember that this is in Kiwi dollars.

There is no CG problem w/ this A/C like a king air.

The tail whole aircraft spawned from an existing design, the Cresco. I *think* the flap is stepable, and the tail is not any more of a factor than a Caravan.

It's gonna be a monster!

More information at the US Distributors website, UAC

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

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. . . and the tail is not any more of a factor than a Caravan.

You do know who Raoul Gravell is -- right?

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The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[ltdiver 3]

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. . . and the tail is not any more of a factor than a Caravan.

You do know who Raoul Gravell is -- right?

Got to see his helmet after he got back to Perris. Not a pretty sight...

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[Remster 30]

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. . . and the tail is not any more of a factor than a Caravan.

You do know who Raoul Gravell is -- right?

Got to see his helmet after he got back to Perris. Not a pretty sight...

ltdiver

Dont know him... did he hit the tail on exit? Is he OK?

Remster

[mikkey 0]

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It is rugged, reliable, easy to run and, at $1.7 million apiece,

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Please rember that this is in Kiwi dollars.

Which is about US$800 to $900 K depending on current exchange rate (which has fluctuated a lot recently).

Is that about half the price of a new Caravan??

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When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

[diablopilot 2]

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You do know who Raoul Gravell is

Yes, and shit happens sometimes. I've got like 2000 jumps from Caravans. Their cool. Besides who ever though someone could hit the tail of an Otter.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[ltdiver 3]

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Got to see his helmet after he got back to Perris. Not a pretty sight...

ltdiver

Dont know him... did he hit the tail on exit? Is he OK?

[TrickyDicky 0]

From www.utilityaircraft.com

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Gull wing left and right crew doors
Single pilot with removable copilot seat and stick
Jump step
Floater rail
Internal hand rails
Reinforced wing and flap for floaters
Spotting lights
Belts for 18 skydivers
Deflector
Jump door (possibly, closeable in-flight)
Padded floor
Cushions
Rugged interior
Crew intercom and PA
Moving map, GPS
Estimated round trip to 13,000’, 15-16 minutes
FAR 23, VFR day night with optional IFR capability
Free Pratt and Whitney school for operator or support personnel
Factory support
Warrantee
Wing landing lamps
Options: stereo, pulselights, avionics packages

So flap is stepable and with cushions AND a padded floor we're gonna be flying in luxury.

But with its cheap price and the comparison of running costs, I think it could be one sweet A/C to have at your DZ. Maybe ticket prices will come down

UK Skydiver for all your UK skydiving needs.

[vonSanta 0]

Didn't see estimated running cost anywhere? Did I miss anything?

After all, initial purchase price is only one side of the story

Santa Von GrossenArsch
I only come in one flavour
ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

[diablopilot 2]

Hmmm, it is a Single engine P&W powered A/C. Cheaper than twin. Might guess the comarisons are similar to a Caravan?

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Pilot per hour $30.00
Fuel per hour $92.50
Assumed fuel consumption (USG)/hour 50
Engine, prop reserve /hour (2) $53.00

Routine Maintenance P&L/ hr (7) $20.00
Total Cost per hour $195.50

PAC Unfinaced

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[AggieDave 6]

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Might guess the comarisons are similar to a Caravan?

Yup, but you're buying the plane new, they have a financing/rent-to-own type program AND the plane comes with a factory support to fix stuff for the first year.

If I remember correctly included in the purchase price is a free ticket to a class for the airplane for the DZ's A&P to go to. That's pretty cool.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[TrickyDicky 0]

Acording to the website the purchase price is under 2/3 of the cost of a new caravan ($900k compared to $1.5mil!!!)

But the running costs are the same apparently, so overall you make more profit initially out of the XL.

UK Skydiver for all your UK skydiving needs.

[vonSanta 0]

Not too bad; we can also cut off $30 here in Denmark since we can 'pay' a pilot by him getting flight hours :).

I still like our C-182 (Zulu Juliet) though. That 300hp engine makes her sweet.

Santa Von GrossenArsch
I only come in one flavour
ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

[diverdriver 7]

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Not too bad; we can also cut off $30 here in Denmark since we can 'pay' a pilot by him getting flight hours :)

You know, it really irks me when I hear people say that. Why should any pilot work for you then? They deserve to get paid for the job they do. They have bills to pay and a mouth (if not more than one) to feed. Their time is worth something and just getting flight hours isn't everything.

I never flew for free and no self respecting commercial pilot should fly for free either. You want to play? Then you got to pay.

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125