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Post by 43willys on Sept 16, 2009 17:30:05 GMT 12
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Post by beagle on Sept 16, 2009 18:56:48 GMT 12
so this new version has better stol performance. what did they do to make that happen
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Post by stu on Sept 16, 2009 19:39:11 GMT 12
Impressive.
With take off performance like that, perhaps the rego is somewhat apt for the post flight condition of the underwear unwary pax.
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Post by Naki on Sept 16, 2009 19:46:27 GMT 12
Is JDZ a CT-4F with a glass cockpit?
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Sept 16, 2009 20:06:26 GMT 12
I'm intrigued by the 1000 planes in the Waikato claim,can someone put up the figures?
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Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 16, 2009 21:12:20 GMT 12
Hmm - around 240 Bantams by Max Clear, 320 or so Fletchers, 138 AESL Airtourers/Airtrainers, 14 NZAI Airtrainers, 160 Pacific Aerospace Airtrainers/Crescos/750XLs, 18 Alpha Robins adds up to about 890, quite a few short of the 1000 mark.
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Sept 16, 2009 21:36:41 GMT 12
I figured the word "produced'' is being taken very literally as the first 120 Fletchers were produced in the USA.180 odd were actually produced in the Waikato and the other 20 odd were produced from bits that had already been produced. Not doubt the 1000 figure may have also been produced......from a hat..  ;D |
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Post by Bruce on Sept 16, 2009 22:00:53 GMT 12
I was hoping I could get CKE going in time to pip the other manufacturers to the 1000 mark!
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Post by vgp on Sept 16, 2009 23:13:18 GMT 12
Celebrating 1000 manufactured aircraft The 1000 airplanes have been manufactured by four companies and represent eight models including: five models manufactured by Pacific Aerospace - the P-750 XSTOL, CT-4, Cresco, Fletcher and Air Tourer; Alpha Aviation’s Alpha 160A Trainer; Micro Aviation’s Bantam B22 Microlight; and Autoflight’s Dominator Gyrocopter. The Cluster saw this as a massive milestone and recognized that we needed to embrace this and take this opportunity to show NZ and the rest of the world the aviation industry and the capabilities it has. Minister Gerry Brownlee joined the cluster members to celebrate this event with an air display of the manufactured aircraft types and a celebratory dinner where the future of the cluster was revealed. Max Clear was also recognized for his massive contribution to the aviation industry with his company Micro Aviation and the 334 aircraft produced. Pacific aerospace produced 629 aircraft over 5 different models, Alpha produced 23 and Autoflight 17 dominator gyrocopters over 54 years. With the addition of Auckland based Falcomposites with the Furio, Rotozones Gyrocopter and the potential aircraft designs it is expected that the next 1000 aircraft will be produced within 7-10 years www.aviationcluster.co.nz/news/JDZ Pacific Aerospace CT/4E Airtrainer 241 1179 Aeroplane Pacific Aerospace Limited Private Bag 3027 Waikato Mail Centre Hamilton 3240 www.caa.govt.nz/Script/AirReg3.asp?Mark=jdz&Query3=Get+Reg+Mark |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 16, 2009 23:52:08 GMT 12
"160 Pacific Aerospace Airtrainers/Crescos/750XLs"
Can this please be broken down? I'd have assumed there were loads more Crescos around alone than 160. Amazing. They have been producing them for what, nearly 30 years?
That new Airtrainer looks snazzy, what mark is that? CT/4F?
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Post by ZacYates on Sept 17, 2009 7:16:39 GMT 12
There were only 38 Crescos produced. Believe it or not. And then they stopped production to focus on the 750XL/P-9750 XSTOL. I for one am in favour of recommencing Cresco production if possible, so many folks see the Cresco as the perfect topdresser. The P-750 XSTOL is ideal for skydiving, but apparently a little problematic in the ag role. 58 or so P-750 XSTOLs have been built. Check here for more on the Cresco and 750 production: www.dave.wise.btinternet.co.uk/DWCresco.htm |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 17, 2009 19:15:43 GMT 12
That's amazing Zac, I had no idea that so few of them had been built. We see them so often flying round here, I thought there were hundreds of them. Interesting only three seem to have been written off in crashes after all these years and the rest are listed as current, so they must be reliable and safe too.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 17, 2009 19:18:22 GMT 12
I also meant to add, surely the cresco would have been a major export earner. Why did it not sell well to Australia, Asia and Africa like the Fletcher did?
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Post by eieio on Sept 27, 2009 13:16:40 GMT 12
Was this event supposed to be a secret? Surely a slightly more public event [even directed at aviators] would have not been out of line , too simple and cheap perhaps. Goodwill may not pay the bills but it can be a powerful ally. At least we have this forum to educate us,thanks Dave.
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Post by sqwark2k on Sept 27, 2009 20:18:16 GMT 12
Zac, does the 38 Cresco's produced include the FU-24 conversions.... or 38 new builds
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Post by Bruce on Sept 27, 2009 21:21:08 GMT 12
All Cescos are new build - they are quite different to FU24s, so the turbine Fletcher conversions would be counted under the Fletcher airframe production.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2009 13:49:36 GMT 12
The cresco did not sell big in Australia as there is no where near as much need for topdressing. Instead of one cow per acre it is one cow per square kilometre. Most of the Ag work is seeding or spraying of cotton which is mainly done by air tractors and thrushes as the strips are quite long and flat.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 28, 2009 14:21:37 GMT 12
Thanks Pines, and welcome to the forum
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Post by mstokes on Sept 28, 2009 18:08:46 GMT 12
I have only seen a few Cresco's over here, employed in both geophysical survey and about 3 are topdressing around Armidale for Super Air (Aust) where there is still some fertiliser application done.
I have heard very secret squirrel that there is talk of mating a 750 X/STOL wing onto a Cresco fuselage... this is because a lot of operators are going to require new topdressers in the future, but also as the X/STOL as delivered off the current production line hasn't quite been the most suitable airframe for Topdressing. Tauramanui Aero Co-op found that the X/STOL is very susceptible to cross winds, mainly due to what I think is the larger surface area of the fuselage, most of which is unneccesary for topdressing as the hopper only fills a small segment of the large cross-section and length.
My unnamed (but very reliable) source was referring to the aircraft as the Super Cresco.
I would like to state for the record however that I believe the X/STOL is a brilliant aircraft for what it is designed for and the purposes it serves are very versatile and will drive a lot more sales than building topdressers. The Super Cresco could be a good balance, just need the fuselage jigs and the rest can continue on as normal X/STOL production.
Part of the proviso for starting this production line though would be a requirement for a number of orders, just like the original '50' fletcher orders before production.
All good news for the Waikato and PAC and their employees however!
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Post by fletcherfu24 on Sept 28, 2009 20:33:33 GMT 12
The only problem with that idea is cost,another secret squirrel told me an operator got a quote to replace their entire fleet with Cresco's and it was prohibitive.A Cresco/XL hybrid would be even more expensive.
There is also no Cresco production line,they are essentially all hand built to order.
The other problem at the moment is farmers incomes are way down and many are not applying fertiliser,so not a lot of operators will be splashing out on new large capacity aircraft.I suspect as time goes on there will be a demand for smaller ag aircraft.
Secret squirrel also told me the reason the XL was dropped as a topdresser is it was not as robust as the Cresco.
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;D
