It’s back, bigger, better, faster, and with another blade on the prop! Our Cessna Grand Caravan recently returned from its Supervan 900 conversion and we are LOVING IT!!!! It’s not every drop zone that can call its Caravan the “fast plane” with everything else we have on the field. The Supervan is hauling jumpers to altitude fast enough to slide you to the tail if you’re not paying attention to your balance on climb. Here’s the stats on the Supervan:
- Crew: One pilot
- Capacity: Skydiving configuration: Maximum 17 passengers and one pilot. With seats, nine passengers or 14 with FAR Part 23 waiver
- Dimensions
- Length: 12.67 m (41 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 15.88 m (52 ft 1 in)
- Height: 4.32 m (14 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 26.0 m2 (280 sq ft)
Supervan 900 Specifications vs. OEM | ||
---|---|---|
Specification | Standard OEM Grand Caravan* | Supervan 900 |
Engine | PT6A-114A | TPE331-12JR |
Horsepower | 675 shp flat-rated | 900 shp flat-rated |
Torque | 1865 | 2971 ft-lbs |
TBO | 3600 hrs | 7000 hrs |
Max gross weight | 8750 lbs | 9062 lbs * |
Std. empty weight (wheels) | 4575 lbs | 4675 lbs |
Useful Load (wheels) | 4175 lbs | 4387 lbs * |
Climb (ISA- g.w.) | 975 ft/min | 1510 ft/min |
Max Cruise (10,000 ft.) | 175 kts | 198 kts |
Max Cruise fuel flow | 396 lbs/hr | 435 lbs/hr |
Takeoff (ground roll) | 1405 ft. | 1054ft |
Takeoff (50′ obstacle) | 2420 ft | 1875 ft |
Landing (wheels) | 950 ft | 950 ft |
Power loading | 13 lbs/shp | 10.1 lbs/shp |
Stall Speed- flaps | 61 kts | 61 kts |
Endurance (max cruise- standard fuel) | 5.6 hrs | 6.2 hrs |
Range (max cruise- standard fuel) | 915 nm | 1000 nm |
* With gross weight increase kit installed |
I have 03 short Caravan C-208 and I work in Boituva, Sydiver
Center in Brasil. One Caravan is with Black Hawk Upgrade.
Now I am buying one Grand Caravan of Texas Turbines Upgrade,
Garret TPE 331 – 12 JR, 900 SHP. I would like do receive of
your Pilot, wich fly your Supervan the parameters os Climb,
jump and descent in skydive operation of the Supervan.
For the time being, thank you very much.
Renato
The conversion will come with a SRL (Single Red Line) computer on board that will make power management easy. Open it up and the computer will regulate power on the climb. Climb speed is Vy.
During Jumprun, put in 1 or 2 notches of flaps to keep the tail up and reduce speed to 85kts. When the last jumper leaves reduce throttle to idle, flaps up and descend. You’ll want to descend below the speed at which the engine will NTS (Negative Torque Sensor, you’ll learn about that when you get your upgrade). On our planes it’s around 110-125 depending on the plane.
Hope this helps.