By PAM GRAHAM
The first passenger aircraft to be built in New Zealand has been cleared for takeoff.
The Civil Aviation Authority handed over a type certificate for the PAC 750XL, designed and built for the adventure tourism market by Pacific Aerospace Corporation, at a function at Hamilton International Airport last night.
The aircraft can take 17 fully kitted skydivers, or eight tandem pairs, and a cameraman to 3600m in 12 minutes and be back on the ground for another load in four minutes.
It is rugged, reliable, easy to run and, at $1.7 million apiece, cheaper than anything else on the international market, said PAC's general manager John McWilliam.
The company has made about 560 aircraft for training and agricultural uses in the past 50 years.
It realised no one was making purpose-built aircraft for skydiving after a visit from United States company Utility Aircraft Corporation in 1998. The American skydiving industry is estimated to use about 600 aircraft, all modified from other uses.
PAC took up the idea and a prototype has been flying since 2001.
The certification marks the "birth" of the aircraft and the first PAC 750XL has been sold to Freefall Great Lakes Skydive Centre in Taupo.
The aircraft has a wide door, high-lift wings and a 750HP Pratt & Whitney engine. McWilliam said it could also be used for medical evacuations, and as a freight or passenger aircraft.
PAC has firm orders for seven aircraft and indications of interest for up to 260.
Kiwi-built plane designed for high-flyers
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