Here is something a little different...Plane down in Alabama

Mike Smith

En-Route
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,626
Location
Prattville, Alabama
Display Name

Display name:
Fresh Prince of PrattVegas
PAC 750, commonly used in the US for skydiving, that was a jump plane in the video

Looks like he tried to make the road and didn't notice that power line.


Status Valid
Manufacturer Name PACIFIC AEROSPACE LTD Certificate Issue Date 03/18/2016
Model 750XL Expiration Date 03/31/2019
Type Aircraft Fixed Wing Single-Engine Type Engine Turbo-prop
Pending Number Change None Dealer No
Date Change Authorized None Mode S Code (base 8 / oct) 52415731
MFR Year 2007 Mode S Code (base 16 / hex) AA1BD9
Type Registration Corporation Fractional Owner NO
Registered Owner
Name RANDIGO LLC
Street 4023 KENNETT PIKE # 901

City WILMINGTON State DELAWARE
County NEW CASTLE Zip Code 19807-2018
Country UNITED STATES
Airworthiness
Engine Manufacturer P&W CANADA Classification Standard
Engine Model PT6A-34 Category Normal
A/W Date 03/29/2013


Pretty sure it belongs to Skydive Alabama
https://www.facebook.com/SkydiveAL/
 
Last edited:
N-Number lookup of N7500P, assuming I read the tail correctly is a PA-24-250

Tim
 
Guy at work flys 750s for a skydiving operation on his week off. Actually not too far from the accident. Ugly, slow, aircraft but he says it's a kick in the pants to fly when it's lightly loaded.
 
PAC 750, commonly used in the US for skydiving, that was a jump plane in the video

The PAC 750 is built in New Zealand. It was based on the Fletcher FU-24 agricultural aircraft of the mid 1950s, and built since the 1960s in NZ.

PAC_Fletcher_Fu24_Aerial_Topdresser.JPG

Interesting history about this airplane. During the Korean War, John Thorp (who later was part of the design team of the Piper Cherokee) built a little low-wing, single-seat taildragger that he was trying to sell as a light-attack, counter-insurgency airplane.

Screen Shot 2017-08-30 at 2.46.00 PM.jpeg

It attracted interest of some New Zealand ag operators, so Thorp and Wendell Fletcher adapted the design for that purpose, and it became the Fletcher FU-24.

There's also a resemblance to the two-seat Thorp SkyScooter (designed in 1945, and recently marketed by Indus Aircraft as an S-LSA), which in turn looks a lot like the Cherokee; and the cranked wing dihedral of the FU-24 and PAC 750 brings to mind another Thorp design, the T-18 homebuilt.

Screen Shot 2017-08-30 at 2.49.53 PM.jpeg

Screen Shot 2017-08-30 at 2.56.49 PM.jpeg
 
Last edited:
I've always said there's no such thing as an ugly aircraft, but only Momma could love this one. :D

I suspect just like the A-10 it gets the job done. ;)
 
Guy at work flys 750s for a skydiving operation on his week off. Actually not too far from the accident. Ugly, slow, aircraft but he says it's a kick in the pants to fly when it's lightly loaded.

Based on what @James331 posted above, this may very well be the plane your coworker flys, I don't suppose the pilot was him?
 
Seemed to be a nice plane. To bad it crashed over the reported lack of fuel.
 
Same registered owner as the King Air that decided it was a good idea to fly straight across the ATL bravo.
 
Slightly off topic. Why do turbo props seem to have extended noses? Engine weighs less, so need extra arm to balance things? Or just the nature of turbines that they are that much longer than piston engines?
 
Slightly off topic. Why do turbo props seem to have extended noses? Engine weighs less, so need extra arm to balance things? Or just the nature of turbines that they are that much longer than piston engines?

Singles? Engine size and shape.

Twins? Radar and baggage
 
Turbines are much lighter than piston options. If adapted to a piston airframe the nose has to be extended for CG.
 
Back
Top