Just finished my first season flying skydivers in a 182. Had a blast! I found a job for the winter doing the same in a Caravan. Already have some time in a Beech 1900, so familiar with turboprops. Any advise would be appreciated from someone that has done this type of flying.
Will be flying skydivers in a Grand Caravan - need advise
- Thread starter Parkite
- Start date
TFaudree_ERAU
Mashin' dem buttons
USMCmech
Well-Known Member
Re: Will be flying skydivers in a Grand Caravan - need advis
The Caravan handles EXACTLY like the 182, so you already know what it's like to fly.
The only real difference is the descent, as soon as your jumpers are clear yank the power lever to idle and point the nose down. You can easily get 4-5K FPM downhill. If you can't beat a tandem load to the ground you need to surrender your man card.
It's really that simple of an airplane, almost pilot proof.
The Caravan handles EXACTLY like the 182, so you already know what it's like to fly.
The only real difference is the descent, as soon as your jumpers are clear yank the power lever to idle and point the nose down. You can easily get 4-5K FPM downhill. If you can't beat a tandem load to the ground you need to surrender your man card.
It's really that simple of an airplane, almost pilot proof.
moxiepilot
Well-Known Member
Re: Will be flying skydivers in a Grand Caravan - need advis
Some things don't add up for me. You've been flying a 182 and are moving into a caravan and are looking for advice, but you throw out that you've got 1900 time? Now that that's out of the way, I'll chalk up that time for what it;s worth.
The caravan is a real easy airplane. You'll fly with a few hundred # of fuel each wing and fly it exactly the same way you flew the 182. Like has been stated, you can point it at the ground with a good bank and get down darn quick.
Only advice I have is remember the fuel so that you don't hear that annoying horn on startup.
Some things don't add up for me. You've been flying a 182 and are moving into a caravan and are looking for advice, but you throw out that you've got 1900 time? Now that that's out of the way, I'll chalk up that time for what it;s worth.
The caravan is a real easy airplane. You'll fly with a few hundred # of fuel each wing and fly it exactly the same way you flew the 182. Like has been stated, you can point it at the ground with a good bank and get down darn quick.
Only advice I have is remember the fuel so that you don't hear that annoying horn on startup.
Re: Will be flying skydivers in a Grand Caravan - need advis
Thanks for the replies.
Pachong, No this is not in Otay so no you would not have "chopped up any our dudes".:laff:
ERAU - No apologies necessary. Gotta love it.
USM/Moxie - 4-5K downhill sounds very nice. On the 182 I keep the VSI pegged at 3K and airspeed against the yellow arc as much as possible. It will be nice not to have to worry about shock cooling. It's been 3 years since I flew the 1900. I decided to get into flying skydivers mainly due to lack of currency (other than some time in a DC-3 which was the coolest thing ever). Also after having been at the regionals, I have no desire to go back. Plan to get enough SE/ME turbine PIC time to bypass them. Already have a King Air job lined up for the spring. Main thing is that I am having the best time! Any other advise would be appreciated.
Thanks for the replies.
Pachong, No this is not in Otay so no you would not have "chopped up any our dudes".:laff:
ERAU - No apologies necessary. Gotta love it.
USM/Moxie - 4-5K downhill sounds very nice. On the 182 I keep the VSI pegged at 3K and airspeed against the yellow arc as much as possible. It will be nice not to have to worry about shock cooling. It's been 3 years since I flew the 1900. I decided to get into flying skydivers mainly due to lack of currency (other than some time in a DC-3 which was the coolest thing ever). Also after having been at the regionals, I have no desire to go back. Plan to get enough SE/ME turbine PIC time to bypass them. Already have a King Air job lined up for the spring. Main thing is that I am having the best time! Any other advise would be appreciated.
Re: Will be flying skydivers in a Grand Caravan - need advis
Check out the video I took with a wing strut mounted camera recently - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKRa2JqCWZE If you have a fast connection switch to 780P and full screen in the lower right. People ask me all the time if I get paid to do this!
Check out the video I took with a wing strut mounted camera recently - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKRa2JqCWZE If you have a fast connection switch to 780P and full screen in the lower right. People ask me all the time if I get paid to do this!
moxiepilot
Well-Known Member
Re: Will be flying skydivers in a Grand Caravan - need advis
Meh, yellow arcs are for pansies. Vne baby, then you're a DZ pilot.
Meh, yellow arcs are for pansies. Vne baby, then you're a DZ pilot.
R
Roger, Roger
Guest
spbrian
Well-Known Member
Re: Will be flying skydivers in a Grand Caravan - need advis
Be careful when taking off, if you have anybody sitting on the aft shelf in a grand the CG is way outside of limits and you may be unable to have enough forward yoke to keep from stalling on takeoff. 20 Degrees of flaps treated me real nice out of 3k foot airports.
It's been a long long time but start the jump run on a grand at about 95KIAS and as the jumpers exit slow to 85, flaps 10 works nicely on jump run. Be careful hanging a lot of people trying to get a formation going out the door. The plane gets real tail heavy (that's why you start at a higher speed on the run and slow as the solo's depart). I have had 4 people in the door and 3 on the outside of the plane once and it was not great, lots of forward yoke and trimming until they exited then capture the loss of the weight with aft yoke and trim up, then repeat.
Careful with the flaps on descent, they are ok to take up to VNE at flaps 10 but for wear and tear not a great idea.
Be careful when taking off, if you have anybody sitting on the aft shelf in a grand the CG is way outside of limits and you may be unable to have enough forward yoke to keep from stalling on takeoff. 20 Degrees of flaps treated me real nice out of 3k foot airports.
It's been a long long time but start the jump run on a grand at about 95KIAS and as the jumpers exit slow to 85, flaps 10 works nicely on jump run. Be careful hanging a lot of people trying to get a formation going out the door. The plane gets real tail heavy (that's why you start at a higher speed on the run and slow as the solo's depart). I have had 4 people in the door and 3 on the outside of the plane once and it was not great, lots of forward yoke and trimming until they exited then capture the loss of the weight with aft yoke and trim up, then repeat.
Careful with the flaps on descent, they are ok to take up to VNE at flaps 10 but for wear and tear not a great idea.
Re: Will be flying skydivers in a Grand Caravan - need advis
Thanks, this is helpful. Jergar999, yes size does have it's advantages! No this this a stock grand. I found this thread on another board which had some good info too - http://diverdriver.com/forum/index.php?topic=447.0
Thanks, this is helpful. Jergar999, yes size does have it's advantages! No this this a stock grand. I found this thread on another board which had some good info too - http://diverdriver.com/forum/index.php?topic=447.0