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I kind of like the decent rate that he was getting. Could shave a couple of minutes off of each load and I would be in the background on all the tand vids. I bet that group gets out on the first pass next time.

The FAA used to notify the owner of aircraft new applicable ADs by mail. Now you can get an email. The mechanic that signs off the inspections must check that the airframe, engines, and accessories are in compliance with all past and current ADs. Not to give any one a pass but ADs can be written very complicated and it can be a full time job just to monitor a old multi engine turboprop aircraft's ADs, Life-limits, Calendar, hours, cycles, part power cycles, etc. Most FAA inspectors that walk up to our planes cant know all the required inspections and due times. They have to trust the aircrafts mechanic to have done it correctly or for them to do just an AD compliance check it would take 2 Gov employees and 6 months. Ive watched FAA Inspectors argue for an hour over the wording of an AD. Our old Multi engine turboprop aircraft have great dispatch rates and require less oily wrenching but still need skilled labor to monitor, schedule and preform inspections. Owners must keep the generated capital on hand to pay for required inspections, and replace timed out parts.
Seems common sense but it is easy for a reliable piece of equipment that doesn't break to go past time if know one is paying attention. The Cessna 182 keeps your attention because you have to keep putting parts that fall off back on and money in it Mon thru Fri.

I am hoping to get my Cessna U206 with the PT6-20 up someday.
I operate the piston powered versions with Skydivers out of a 1400 ft grass strip, 880msl and use only 700 - 900ft to break ground.
Performance 3 blade props
Tuned 520 / 550s
Sportsman + WingX

My PT6 206 with the STOL wing mods, No gap seals, and using 30 flaps should fing launch 6 jumpers in 600ft and with reverse use 400 empty. Not flying yet so Im just some jumper with dreams....

You could have 7 Tiger U206s for the 2 mil. 42 way formation loads.

2 mil will only get you 1 good Super Otter. That should last you 3 trouble free years before any big expenses. The best all around jump platform.

SkyPiggy, I understand your feelings. Only one froggy was sacrificed to the gods that evening (poor shots). We all stood around it and said a hunters prayer (nice shot). Next time Ill make him cook it and eat it. That will slow down his desire to kill the froggys and then he will only shoot at targets (torso silhouettes).

For now Id like to keep the DZ small and comfortable for me. Ill keep working on the facilities, grounds, etc to make things nicer. When ever my PT6-206 gets in the air then we can step up the Fun. One of last weeks tandems showing the landing area, pool, swoop pond, shooting range, etc.

Thanks Mike for the post. Had a great time with you, John A, and the rest of the guys and Gals at the DZ. Mike didn't miss seeing the Sunset bikini jump. They were all in the landing area for that! No photos attached to protect the guilty.

I think this is a great idea for a single tandem master operation with handycam. Just have the O-320 or an O-360 parallel valve tuned up at Lycon, graphic engine monitor with fuel flow, Seaplane fixed pitch prop, Sportsman and Wing-X STOl. After the initial investment this plane shouldn't ask for much labor or money and climb strong. Barron Aviation in Hannibal Mo has a 172 Jump ship. Dont know the details on it.

Lots of the small stuff. Cowl internal ducting with inertial separator, Exhaust, engine controls, discussions over oil cooler installation and fuel boost pumps. Not flying yet but still moving fwd. Thanks for the interest.. Ill post visual progress photos as they come up.

As I am moving forward with this PT6-20 U206 project I am looking for comparison information on the Soloy 206. I have my fantasy projected performance numbers on my aircraft and need to know real world numbers on the Soloy. Fuel burn per load, Turn around time per load / altitude, Rate of climb through 10,000 ft, idle fuel flow, and any other useful information. I understand that most of the Soloy 206s used for skydiving are in Europe so feel free to give me the Liters / Meters and Ill do the conversion.

Does anyone have a hack to remote switch the GoPro?

Quote

So, what major hurdles do you have to complete before you are airborne?

All of them.

With the nose gear strut deflated, 600x6 nose tire flat, level surface = 1inch propeller to ground clearance. King Air 90 prop. Might have some side by side comparison photos next month. I hope.

Prop and first cowls out of the molds. Have to cut the holes for the Porter style exhaust and fabricate the access cover.

Thats not enough photos. We need more!! How many passes does it take to empty a load of free fliers from a Caribou? Would love to see one fly off my Ranch but in no way have the jumpers or landing area for a Caribou.

Turbine Caribou? How was it? Ive loadmastered 40 in a Caribous a few times. Real fun. do you get to keep it all summer?

Very nice! How did it work out? Jumper, Pilot, DZO reports how it went + - would be appreciated.

Each target phase date is so hard to predict. I could come up with a date but would be lying to myself and you. If I knew the true future dates I may not have tried to begin. It is going forward and should have a picture of the prop hanging soon. My best guess for kit sales would be 25 over 5 years just in the skydiving world.

Usefull load remains the same. Cross Country fuel burns would be much higher. The main benifits to a Part 135 would be dispach reliability, lack of 100LL avgas.

Your $200K prices are to high as others have stated. I could build a nice jump plane for $275K installed. $100 airframe, $60K engine $15K prop and spinner, first kits $75K, $20K installation. No problem at todays dollars. I hope to do 2/3 the work of a Caravan or Porter and cost half.

PT6-20 in a 206. Ok not on a 206 yet but the next airframe and engine for conversion.

The molds for the cowl have been built and the cowl plug is off the plane. Propeller and spinner shipped today. Ill spend next week chasing installation parts.

If I remember its not there plane. Lease and dont want to modify it to much.

The P 206 fabric door will be unique. Do able but no one has plans. In those skydiving still photos there are many photos that show the construction of the door.