Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo 2014 - Celebrating 40 years this week!

The annual Sun 'n Fun International Fly In and Expo is celebrating its 40th birthday this week April 1 - 6! Held every year at Florida's Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (LAL). It is one of the largest airshows in the world. If you plan on flying in, don't worry about the airport being full, they have never had to turn airplanes away. 

The theme for this year is "A Fair in the Air to Remember". Some of the highlights include:

• Airshow performers everyday this week
• A performance by the Blue Angels - Fri., Sat. & Sun. - April 4-6 (4pm-6pm)
• Historic and current aircraft static displays
• Take a flight in the world's first mass produced airliner the 1929 Ford Tri-motor ($75)
• Attend the 1st annual Dinner with Legends Banquet
• Visit 100s of exhibitors including, AOPA, EAA, Pilatus, Beechcraft, Soloy Aviation, Cessna, Piaggio, ForeFlight, Garmin, Flying Magazine, Quest Aircraft, SiriusXM just to name a few.
• See one the few Night Airshows in the world. Includes a fireworks show - Sat. April 5  7pm-9pm
• Attend the job fair. Recruiters from major, regional and corporate flight departments will be there.
• Fly in a B-17 Flying Fortress. 1 of only 11 still flying! ($475)
• Hot Air Balloon launch - Sat. April 5 (rides available)

General admission ticket prices are: Adults - $37, Youth (11-17) - $15, 10yrs and under - Free. Preferred seating is an additional $20. Well worth it I think. It gives you seating on the flightline, bag storage, a shade tent, access to bathrooms and free water all day. You can purchase your tickets online here.

If you're flying there and have an extra seat or two or if you need a seat, Sun 'n Fun has a page/forum to help you out. Here is the link.

Unfortunately I will not be able to make it out there this year. But I hope some of you can!

Skydive Las Vegas acquires Sin City Skydiving

In business since 1993, Skydive Las Vegas operates a PAC 750 out of Boulder City Airport (BVU), about 20 miles southeast of "The Strip". Numerous sources have told me that they recently purchased Sin City Skydiving that operates a C206 out of Jean Nevada which is located about 20 miles south of the strip. 

If you visit the Sin City Skydiving site it states: "Sin City Skydiving is on temporary hiatus at this time. For immediate service, please contact Skydive Las Vegas at 702-SKY-DIVE or visit their website at www.skydivelasvegas.com. Blue Skies..."

There is another drop zone, Vegas Extreme Skydiving, operating a PAC 750 out of the same Jean Nevada airport (0L7). It is not known at this time whether Skydive Las Vegas plans on moving their newly acquired company to another airport (ie. North Las Vegas airport), growing it at its current location or simply liquidating it.

It IS known that the two Las Vegas skydiving companies are not the best of friends. So if the two do end up operating out of the same small airport, I foresee at least a couple of arguments and feather ruffling. Hopefully my fellow jump pilots will not get dragged into the drama. I have a feeling this story will have some updates in the near future.

The ATSB has concluded its on-site investigation of the skydiving airplane crash at Caboolture Airfield QLD Australia

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has concluded its on-site investigation concerning a Cessna 206 that crashed on Saturday March 22nd at Caboolture Airfield, Queensland Australia, with a pilot and 4 parachutists on board. Today they released this statement:

Updated: 26 March 2014

"The ATSB team completed its on-site investigation of the accident involving VH-FRT on 25 March 2014. The ATSB has retained several components for further examination. This includes the aircraft’s engine and related components, propeller, various flight control components, some cockpit instruments and parts of the pilot’s seat. The extent to which the ATSB’s examination of the aircraft and components will be able to identify any potential anomalies is limited due to the level of damage that was sustained.

The ATSB has conducted and is analysing a significant number of witness reports. It is also reviewing the aircraft’s maintenance records, operational records for recent flights, and pilot training records. The investigation will also include reviewing potentially-related occurrences to identify if there any common aspects.

A preliminary report is expected within about 30 days of the accident. Should any critical safety issues emerge in the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately bring those issues to the relevant authorities or organisations and publish them as required."

The only photograph that they have released is the one below that shows a small amount of debris and what appears to be a bent propeller in the background.

5 dead in skydiving airplane crash near Brisbane Australia

At approximately 11:30 am local eastern Australian time (Saturday morning) a Cessna 206 with skydivers onboard crashed soon after take off from Caboolture Field near Brisbane Australia. Witnesses said that the airplane veered sharply to the left soon after take off, hitting the ground and bursting into flames. All 5 people onboard died in the crash. It is not clear which skydiving company owned the airplane, there is more than one operating at this field.

Update: According to police the victims were 4 males and 1 female. A male pilot, 2 male skydiving instructors and 2 skydiving customers. The names have not been released yet. 

Bryan Carpenter of Aerodynamic Flight Academy told reporters that, "The Cessna 206 lurched sharply to its left at an altitude of 100 to 200 feet." It is not known what caused the crash. However, according to Mr. Carpenter, "...the engine was delivering power on touch down."

The Blue Angels are back for 2014!

This will be a very busy weekend as far as air shows are concerned. The highlight of this weekends air shows is the NAF El Centro Air Show. The world famous Blue Angels will kick off their year long performance schedule here. If you can not make that air show, don't worry, there will be plenty more and I will be posting every one of them here.

There will be two more west coast shows, the Luke AFB Open House and Air Show and the MCAS Yuma Air Show. Jasper Texas will be having its annual Fly In and Air Show. Titusville Florida will be showcasing lots of warbirds at its Tico Warbird show and the Thunder in the Valley air show will be happening in Columbus Georgia. Have fun everyone!

When Blades Creep

This is a story that I posted on my other blog Caravan Pilots a couple days ago. Considering that this was a jump plane, I figured that it should be posted here as well.

What happened to the Caravan pictured below?  

Turbine Blade Creep - the movement of a turbine blade from its normal alignment, causing it to strike the casing.  Caused by stress from high temperatures and high centrifugal forces.

When Blades Creep!  It sounds like the title of some horror movie doesn't it?  Well, if you don't know what it is... it just might become the title of your very own horrific day.  Read on and study more.

On June 1st, 2008 Grand Caravan N102VE operated by Skydive Greensburg in Indiana experienced a total loss of engine power.  On its second load of the day, it was climbing through 7,000 feet MSL with 14 skydivers on board when there was a CT (compressor  turbine) failure caused by blade creep.  The pilot reported hearing a loud explosion followed by a metal grinding noise coming from the engine.  The aircraft began to vibrate and then smoke filled the cabin when the pilot began emergency shutdown procedures.

He leveled off at 5,000 feet so that the skydivers could exit, which they all did.  He attempted a forced landing at the airport, however he was too high and fast (a common problem during such situations) and landed in an adjacent cornfield upside down, after the left wing and propeller struck the ground first.  Luckily the pilot and all skydivers survived.

The engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney Canada had issued Service Information Letters (SILs) recommending borescope inspections of the CT blades to look for blade creep and fatigue cracks.  However, the owner of this aircraft said that he was unaware of the SILs and did not perform the inspections.

We as pilots can all learn from this accident.  Do not ever assume that the owner of the airplane that you're flying is in compliance with all of the required Airworthiness Directives AND recommended Service Information Letters.  I know a lot of you had never even heard of a SIL.  Search to see if there are any on record for the airplane that you fly. Stay sharp.... fly safe!

USPA Safety Day 2014

The United States Parachute Association (USPA) designates the second Saturday in March of every year to be its Safety Day and this year that happens to be on March 8th.  Started in 1997, it is the day that all of the USPA drop zones around the country gather up their employees and skydivers to review safety issues.  Many of the skydivers are a little rusty from not jumping much (if at all) during the Winter months and is why it is held at this time of year. 

Various people will speak, including the DZO, DZM, S&TA and Jump Pilot.  If that happens to be you, be sure and write down at least an outline of what you want to speak about.  As pilots we are taught that safety is #1, so do not simply stand up and say a couple words.  Take advantage of the fact that you have everyone's attention on the topic of safety.  Personally, I usually talk about Weight & Balance, Safety Belts, Emergency Procedures (ie. departure/en route climb engine out) and Prop Awareness during hot fueling, to name a few.

The only problem with Safety Day is that it's only one day a year.  If I owned a drop zone we would have safety meetings every month.

Hilarious video of camera falling out of airplane and landing in a pigpen.

If you want a good laugh today, check out this hilarious video of a GoPro camera falling out of an airplane and landing in a pigpen. The best part is the pig trying to eat the camera lol

Will Smith goes skydiving at Skydive Dubai

Will Smith and his two sons, Jaden and Trey, recently went skydiving at Skydive Dubai. His youngest son is only 15 years old, which would have been an issue at any U.S. drop zone. 

Although the U.S. government doesn't care how old a skydiver is, the state governments will not allow a parent to sign away the rights of a minor to sue. The USPA requires its member drop zones to only allow skydivers 18 years or older to jump. Now, considering that he is one of the most popular actors on the planet, I'm sure that more than a few drop zones in the U.S. would have surely risked getting sued in exchange for all of the publicity.  However, Mr. Smith decided to jump at Skydive Dubai instead.  Not a bad choice, considering that it is one of the largest, newest and most respected drop zones in the world.

Before skydiving with his sons and to feel more comfortable with his decision to let them jump, The Fresh Prince went skydiving a week prior with his old co-star Alfonso Riberio. He also got some wind tunnel time with the Crown Prince of Dubai.

Stay sharp this Winter

There's usually not as much flying for us Jump Pilots this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere, reference the snowy photo below.  But there is plenty of other aviation related things that you can do to keep your head in the game.  

Read a book that your eyes haven't seen since pilot school, network with other pilots, go "split" some time with a pilot friend and add to your Actual Instrument and Cross Country time or go to a free aviation seminar.  Find some interesting seminar topics on the AOPA site or the FAA site, find their Events List here.  Most recently they presented a seminar titled "iPad in the cockpit". By the way if you haven't subscribed to Fore Flight, do yourself a favor and look into this super helpful ap.

Expose Yourself!

If you're a Jump Pilot or if you're planning on becoming one, you will get the opportunity to travel. You will more than likely have to relocate to another state or country when you get hired and/or the airplane that you fly will be leased by various drop zones around the country that you will have the privilege to travel to. 

When that happens, after you get settled in, I believe that it is important to expose yourself to your new surroundings. Taste the local food, visit local attractions and really get to know the local people.  You'll learn a lot, not just about them, but about yourself as well.

I've flown at 6 different drop zones around the U.S. in 6 years as a contract Jump Pilot and Ferry Pilot and I have always made it a point to do as much exploring as I could of my host state. 

While flying for Capitol Skydiving, I explored some huge local caves and learned why Austin is the "Live Music Capitol of the U.S.". While flying for Skydive Sacramento I snowboarded at nearby Lake Tahoe and explored the beautiful Northern California coast. I have learned so much about this country that I would have never been exposed to if it wasn't for this cool job of mine.  I have also learned that the more I travel, the more I want to travel.

Above are a couple of pictures of Renee and I at Oak Alley Plantation near New Orleans, Louisiana.  Those are 300 year old Oak trees in front of the plantation house. You might recognize this mansion from the movie Interview with a Vampire.

New FAA Advisory Circular recently released concerning Sport Parachuting

A new year, a new Advisory Circular.  If you're a jump pilot, skydiver, rigger or DZO be sure and read the new AC 105-2E.  This AC cancels AC 105-2D, Sport Parachuting which was dated 5/18/11. I tried searching what has changed but no one has taken the time to write it out so I just compared AC 105-2D to 105-2E side by side. It is mostly slight wording changes. However there are a few paragraphs and subparts that have been removed and/or added. To save you a little time, I can direct you to the major changes: 

Ch. 4 "Background", 4C and 4D. Ch. 5 "Skydiver Safety", 5A-5I. Ch. 6 "Parachute Ops onto Airports", 6C and 6D. Ch. 7 "Jump Aircraft Maint. and Pilots", 7A-7C, Fig. 1 changed. Ch. 8 "Pilot Responsibilities", 8A-8H. Ch.11 reduced to paragraph. Ch.12 "Exhibition Jumps" numerous changes. Ch.13 "Parachute Equip", numerous changes. Ch.15 "Parachute Repairs", 15C(1-4). Hope that helps. Click HERE to read it.

Extreme air for professional snowboarders Jamie Anderson and Ty Walker at Skydive Lake Wanaka NZ!

Professional snowboarders Jamie Anderson and Ty Walker recently caught some extreme air after jumping out of Skydive Lake Wanaka's infamous Orange PAC!  

Jamie Anderson is one of the best snowboarders in the world and has won more X-Games medals than I can count and Ty Walker is about to become the youngest member on the U.S. Olympic Snowboarding Team in Sochi Russia.  Start watching and cheering for our team starting February 7, 2014 on NBC and their affiliates.

Should December be Aviation Month?

December is a significant month in aviation history.  On December 17th, 110 years ago, the "Wright Flyer" became the first heavier than air powered machine to achieve controlled sustained flight at Kitty Hawk North Carolina USA.  

On the 5th day in December 1879 an aviation pioneer Clyde Cessna was born in Iowa USA.  

Also, on December 22nd 1964 the "Blackbird" prototype SR-71A-LO first flew from Air Force Plant 42 Palmdale California USA at more than 1000 miles per hour up to higher than 45,000 feet and landed at Edwards Air Force Base.  

Yet again in December, and for all my Caravan C208 fans, don't forget that the first Caravan prototype (N208LP) flight happened on December 9th 1982! This is a short list of numerous milestones that occurred in the 12th month and my reason for nominating December, even though it normally does not have good flying weather, as Aviation Month.

Quest Kodiak about to start its life as a Jump Plane

On a ferry flight to Dekalb Illinois, I parked the airplane that I had just delivered next to this beautiful red Quest Kodiak.  It was about to be converted into a Jump Plane. 

There's not all that many of these aircraft in the air compared to its competition, however that fact is changing quickly with every year that goes by.  These aircraft are very comparable to the industry's beloved Cessna Caravan, one of the most popular and reliable Jump Planes in the world.


SkyDiverDriver.com

Red Bull Air Race Returns for 2014

The Red Bull Air Race is returning to the skies starting February 28 - March 1 2014 in Abu Dhabi UAE.  I haven't personally seen them since 2007 in San Diego, a stop that has been removed from the schedule for 2014.  I will catch up to them in Las Vegas in October.  You can purchase tickets on the Red Bull Air Race site now.  General admission tickets are only $39 and Reserved seat tickets are $59 and include a Hangar Pass.  I hope to see some of you there!

Blue Angels announce 2014 airshow schedule

The Blue Angels have just announced their 2014 airshow schedule! They will be flying from March through November. I'm going to try and make the San Francisco CA or Houston TX show. Hopefully I'll see you there!

Diving Porter at Skydive Dubai

A new season at Skydive Dubai started September 2nd!  If you're on the other side of the globe, be sure and check them out.  One of the nicest, if not THE nicest drop zones in the world!

Reno Air Races 50th year 2013

This Saturday and Sunday is the 50th year of the world famous Reno Air Races! I wish I could be there. "Keep 'em flying!"

All Hail the Pratt & Whitney PT6 Turboprop Engine!

All Hail the Pratt & Whitney PT6!

Below you will see one of the first photos of the infamous Pratt & Whitney PT6 turboprop aircraft engine and its designers. This engine is THE rockstar of the turboprop engine world! 

Important Dates:

• 1958 - Design started
• 1960 Feb. - First ran
• 1961 May - First flew
• 1964 - Entered service
• 2011 - 50th Anniversary 

On its first flight it was mounted as a third engine on the nose of a Beech 18. That would have been an interesting sight! The test aircraft was switched to a Beech King Air in 1980. The first production model was the PT6A-6 and used on the Beech Queen Air.

The original designers of the PT6

According to the manufacturer over 51,000 units have been produced (as of 2015) and the engine has flown over 400 million hours! Considering that it only has an in-flight engine shut-down once every 651,126 hours, it is one of the most reliable aircraft engines ever. There have been over 69 different versions built. Not all of the versions have been for aircraft, some variants have been used for helicopters, boats, hovercraft, land vehicles and auxiliary power units.

TBO (time between overhauls) ranges between 3600 to 9000 hours and hot section inspections are done between 1800 and 2000 hours.

The PT6-114A in the Cessna Caravan only weighs 350lbs and yet puts out almost 700hp! This engine is found in most of the turbo-prop airplanes in the United States, including the Cessna Caravan, de Havilland Twin Otter, Air Tractor, Beech 1900, Beech King Air, Beech 99, PAC 750, Quest Kodiak, Pilatus PC-12, Piaggio Avanti, Shorts 360, AgustaWestland AW139 and many more. ALL great aircraft mainly because of their heart.... the PT6. Keep up the great work Pratt & Whitney!

Be sure and check out our friends at pt6nation.com


CaravanNation.com