STAR OF THE SHOW
20 Sep 12

By: Brian M Walters

Of the many aircraft at AAD (Africa Aerospace & Defence 2012) that can boast an interesting history, the Pacific Aerospace P-750 XSTOL is surely one, being derived from a light attack aircraft designed by veteran aviators Thorp and Fletcher in 1951.

Although too late to be developed for use in the Korean War as the Fletcher FD-5 Defender, some of its performance qualities led to its use for aerial topdressing.

A requirement for such an aircraft was evident in New Zealand, where Pacific Aerospace (PAC) developed the Cresco 8-600 mainly for topdressing roles, although the aircraft’s fast rate of climb also resulted in its use for sky diving.

The latest derivative of the Cresco is the P-750 XSTOL seen here at AAD and it too is appreciated by skydiving operators, because the aircraft can climb to 12,000ft, unload up to 17 parachutists and return to base within 10 minutes.

The ‘X’ in the title of the P-750 stands for ‘extremely’ and this is no idle boast, because at MTOW and even when it is hot and high, the aircraft can take off and land in less than 800ft. The company also claims the P-750 can perform where others cannot – a claim that has gone unchallenged, as has the declaration that the New Zealand-built aircraft can access twice as many of the world’s landing strips than other utility aircraft.

The manoeuvrability of the P-750 XSTOL is evident from the spirited display flown by Chris Briers of National Airways Corporation, which is marketing the aircraft in this region.

Normally parked outside the company’s chalet 19/20, when released from the static display and shown in its natural environment, not only does the aircraft thrill spectators, but it should convince aviators of its potential.

In addition to carrying passengers (for which it is certified to ICAO Annex 6 for single-engine IFR commercial passenger transport), the P-750 XSTOL can carry cargo in the cabin, with an additional 1,000 lb capacity in an optionally fitted underbelly pod.

The aircraft can also be employed for aerial photography and has been specially fitted for geosurvey work with a magnetic anomaly detector in a sting tail. Readily accepted in Africa, one example is in use on United Nation’s humanitarian air services in South Africa.

Now powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 turboprop and equipped with a cockpit modernised for the 21st century, the Pacific Aero P-750 XSTOL still displays some of its Fletcher origins, but it is quite clearly a multi-role utility aircraft for today.

Source: http://www.ihs.com/events/exhibitions/africa-aerospace-defence-2012/news/sept-20/Star-of-the-show.aspx