Beerlight 0 #76 September 5, 2007 How do you work your descent after a load? ie., power settings, descent rate, airspeed, etc? Sounds like fun flying a radial....... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pirana 0 #77 September 5, 2007 QuoteWe have been useing a Piston powered Beaver at Skydive Twincities sence 1983. We fly with 8 jumpers. There are many mods out there for Beavers. Whipair in St.Paul MN does quite a few of them. For the first 15 years our Beav flew in stock form with 8 jumpers and was cramped. We got the cabin mod from Whipair about 10 years ago extending the cabin interior back about 24 inches. We still fly with 8 jumpers and it's almost roomy now. Burns about 12 gal per load of avgas. Time to 10,000 varies with the seasons 14-18 min. On a hot summer day the climb speed is dictated by the oil temp, so time to 10,000 can go to 20-22 min if you have to lower the nose to keep that big radial from bakeing itself. Anyway, I have about 600 hours in it and I love that old plane. Doug It is a great old plane. I've made about 40 of my 600 from that beast, including my first.. With it's flaming roaring pipes, it is also the coolest plane from which to get a buzz job. I know some people do not like to jump it, but I enjoy it occasionally, if nothing for nostalgia. It would be nice if it had a proper door though." . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deadbug 0 #78 September 6, 2007 15" mp 2100rpm 2000fpm aprox. Doug Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygeezer 0 #79 January 17, 2008 I should be taking delivery in May this year of the first kodiak dedicated to a skydive operation. My DZ is Lippspringe DZ in Germany. We are currently working very closely with the Quest team (as are other interested DZO's) on the design and fitting of the 'skydiver fit options' such as: Roller door Floater rails (front and rear) Floater steps (front and rear) Jump lights Static line strongpoint Underwing camera & recording system J/M intercom / jumplights for Jm / pilot communication The Kodiak has been designed to be rugged, easy to maintain and future proof. The Garmin G1000 glass cockpit has TAWS and Mode S integral and is largely maintenance free unlike standard instruments. It will be a fantastic aircraft for whatever use you care to put it to. Skydiving is only one of many uses for the aircraft and I expect it to beat similar aircraft hands down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
monkycndo 0 #80 January 17, 2008 Time for a vacation to Germany. I would like to jump that bird.50 donations so far. Give it a try. You know you want to spank it Jump an Infinity Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #81 January 18, 2008 Quote Quote Quote find a modern jump plane that wasn't derived from another design. the An-2 I think you win. That looks like a fun plane to jump. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jsaxton 0 #82 January 18, 2008 yeah but the PAC has had rudder authority issues on a couple of loads I've been on, hopefully with the higher tail on the Kodiak it won't have the same issues. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unstable 8 #83 January 18, 2008 At first I was optimistic when I saw the Pac and Kodiak, but I'm not 100% sure how I feel now. A single Turbine Designed to get skydivers up, between 1.2 and 1.3 Million Dollars seems like a great Idea, but how much does it really do for the sport in getting us all up there? Maybe when a few of the bigger DZ's trickle them down in a few years, it'll be a hoot, but til then I'm afraid we'll be flying our trusty 182. =========Shaun ========== Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #84 January 19, 2008 Many DZs will never grow beyond piston-pounding Cessnas, so learn to enjoy jumping from Cessnas. Years ago, manifest learned to quit asking me which airplane I preferred, because the answer was always: "Whichever airplane is launching next!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #85 January 19, 2008 Will the static-line anchor run along the floor or the ceiling? Does Bad Lipspringer still train hundreds of British soldiers? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygeezer 0 #86 January 26, 2008 The static line will run along the starboard side fuselage about 40 inches above the floor. This is our preferred option as we believe that a high SL is much safer than a low one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygeezer 0 #87 January 26, 2008 Sorry.........forgot the second part of your question. Yes, Bad Lippspringe is primarily a military DZ and we train about 650 soldiers per year using the SL method. We are an active weekend DZ too and cater for all disciplines. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RMURRAY 1 #88 April 3, 2008 QuoteI should be taking delivery in May this year of the first kodiak dedicated to a skydive operation. My DZ is Lippspringe DZ in Germany. We are currently working very closely with the Quest team (as are other interested DZO's) on the design and fitting of the 'skydiver fit options' such as: Roller door Floater rails (front and rear) Floater steps (front and rear) Jump lights Static line strongpoint Underwing camera & recording system J/M intercom / jumplights for Jm / pilot communication The Kodiak has been designed to be rugged, easy to maintain and future proof. The Garmin G1000 glass cockpit has TAWS and Mode S integral and is largely maintenance free unlike standard instruments. It will be a fantastic aircraft for whatever use you care to put it to. Skydiving is only one of many uses for the aircraft and I expect it to beat similar aircraft hands down. on track to get the Kodiak next month??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RMURRAY 1 #89 June 2, 2008 anybody know if the Kodiak was delivered on time in May? If yes, how is it doing? RM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygeezer 0 #90 June 4, 2008 An update. We will be taking delivery of the Kodiak on June 13th. We will then ferry the aircraft to germany where it will enter service on July 04th at the Joint Service Parachute centre at Bad Lippspringe. (RAPA) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nidaho 0 #91 June 24, 2008 I live in Sandpoint and have been watching this airplane being tested for some time, wishing i could jump it. Found out Friday night there were some jumps being made at the airport, got there Saturday to find it had left for Lost Prairie!!!!!! Damn the luck. Soooooo Fred, Mikie, lets see some video. Went to Quest hanger tonight and met some great people, got a few pics, gotta buy a beer for Paul. Awesome jump plane, nice bars and step, and for the pilots out there, a cable operated door closing mechanism to improve the descent rate and cut down on the whining in cold weather(kidding, I'm kidding!!!). Larry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
padraigbrowne 0 #92 June 24, 2008 A full account from one of the guys collecting the Kodiak can be read here "Today we took N495KQ to Seattle for a meeting with the FAA which went very well. They have approved the findings and results of the test jumps we did the other day and will issue the certificate of conformity tomorrow. Get this: The Kodiak is the very first USA aircraft ever to be certificated for jumping right off the production line. This is great news and a real feather in the cap of Quest. We're now planning to leave here on Wednesday morning. ETA Lippspringe Saturday or Sunday" http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=8742&sid=bc4bfbe280ae80b910bf5691dec5c840&start=48 and here http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=11945&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=32 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ActionAir 0 #93 June 29, 2008 The Kodiak will be a welcome addition to any jump plane line up, even though there are still many unknowns, like W & B, C of G range, etc. Since production is sold out for 3 years, and the PAC 750's production is also sold out through 2010, unfortunately neither airplane will make any real inroads into skydiving quickly enough. Here are a few facts to keep in mind when talking about these planes: The PAC 750 has about 1,000 lbs more useful load and proven wide C of G range. The Kodiak has the door size we wish the PAC 750 had. Every design has its own bag of compromises and trade offs. The PAC 750XL was designed with Skydiving in mind. We also know that as a byproduct it would be a great utility aircraft. The only thing it has in common with the Cresco, is the basic wing and main landing gear. Everything else is new. The tail of the PAC is really a non issue. Yes it looks low setting on the ground, but that is because the plane sets tail low. In flight, on jump run with flaps set at 20% the tail is really high. Anyone that has jumped or operated a PAC knows this. The PAC tail is 8" lower than a Caravan tail, but 18" further aft. I do not know the dimensions of the Kodiak, but the tail appears to be considerably closer to the door. The Kodiak will be a big improvement over the Caravan, which is just underpowered. With Jet-A over $5.00/gal, efficiency is the name of the game. And the reality is if you can afford to maintain and operate a King Air, then you can easily afford the payments on a new, efficient single engine jump plane, be it the PAC or the Kodiak. Just ask the current PAC operators. We will all be much better off and safer, when these new, efficient planes are operating at our DZ’s. For comparative info on jump planes check this out: http://www.utilityaircraft.com/acbuyercomparison2008-9prices.xlsAAP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RMURRAY 1 #94 July 16, 2008 QuoteAn update. We will be taking delivery of the Kodiak on June 13th. We will then ferry the aircraft to germany where it will enter service on July 04th at the Joint Service Parachute centre at Bad Lippspringe. (RAPA) How is the Kodiak working out for you? RM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpwally 0 #95 July 16, 2008 Any Lost Prarie reports?smile, be nice, enjoy life FB # - 1083 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #96 July 17, 2008 From the manufacturer: http://www.questaircraft.com/index.php?filename=trip_log.php Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #97 July 18, 2008 I'm thinking they might be overstating the "and adhering to new changes in FAA 337 modification and jump plane certification rules—has made KODIAK #5 the first new aircraft with a jump package certified through the FAA’s Aircraft Certification Office. " for effect. Several other types of aircraft are certified for jump operations through the FAA since new, and have been for decades.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 0 #98 July 18, 2008 The Bad Lippspringe Kodiak showed up at Teuge july 8th, I missed it (work) but here's some pics. http://www.paracentrumteuge.nl/images/stories/nieuwspagina/kodiak%202.jpg http://www.paracentrumteuge.nl/images/stories/nieuwspagina/kodiak%201.jpg BTW nice colors ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygeezer 0 #99 July 18, 2008 The Kodiak has been in operation at Lippspringe DZ , germany for the last two weeks and has performed brilliantly. The average time from take off to 13,000 to landing is about 23 minutes but we might be able to shave a minute or so off that with more practice. Thats with 4 x 4 way teams + camera men. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,048 #100 July 18, 2008 Hi JP, Quotefirst new aircraft with a jump package certified through the FAA’s Aircraft Certification Office. " for effect. There is a very substantial difference. If it went through the ACO then it was certificated that way as an original certification. An ACO is the office that issues TSO authorizations, for instance; then a local FSDO might issue a Field Alteration to a rig/canopy/etc. I am thinking all other 'certifications' are some sort of mods to an existing certification. I hope that you can understand what I am trying to convey to you. JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
