Skydiving Aircraft

Cessna 182 Skylane

 Introduced in 1956 and built in the U.S., France and Argentina, it is by far the most common jump plane in the world. The average C182 is powered by the Continental 230hp O-470 engine and can take 4 skydivers to 10,000ft in about 20 mins.

They usually have a modified exit door that swings up like a garage door instead of forward like a car door. They also usually have a small platform or step over the right main landing gear. Operators love the relatively low operating cost and skydivers like the high wing design. 

For a more detailed explanation of how to fly skydivers in the Cessna 182 click here.

To view a Cessna 182Q POH click here.

Cessna 206 Stationair

A popular single engine piston powered jump plane, especially the turbo equipped version. A step up from its sister the C182. It is faster, roomier and the 206 "U" models have a nice sized rear exit door. There are even a few that are converted to turbine power by the Soloy Corporation.

Cessna 208 Caravan

The Cessna Caravan is by far the most common and popular single engine turboprop jump plane in the world. It has one of the most reliable engines ever produced, the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-114A. The C208B Grand Caravan (675hp) climbs good and the Black Hawk (850hp) and Texas Turbines (850hp) conversions climb great with up to 21 skydivers.

What they all have in common and what the skydivers love is the high wing and very large exit door. For information on how to properly fly skydivers in the Caravan click here. To learn more about the mighty Caravan, check out our site dedicated to it, CaravanNation.com

PAC 750XL

The pride of New Zealand! Other than a beefed up Grand Caravan, this is the fastest climbing single engine jump plane in the world. Powered by the PT6A-34, it carries 17 skydivers to 13,000ft in 15 minutes. Complaints from skydivers include the wing spar running across the floor of the cabin that they have to step over, it's low wing and it's tapered smaller exit door compared to that of the Caravan. To learn more about the PAC-750, check out our affiliate website TurbopropNation.com

deHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

This bird has been around since 1966 and is the most common and popular twin engine jump ship in the world. In 2006 Viking Air bought the tooling and Type Certificates and started manufacturing them again. "We CAN rebuild her!"

She is commonly powered by another Pratt & Whitney "Dependable Engine", the PT6A-27. It can haul 23 happy skydivers to 13,000ft in about 13 mins. Skydivers love its high wings and large exit door. To learn more about the Twin Otter, check out our affiliate website TurbopropNation.com

Beech King Air 90

The fastest climbing jump planes in the world are King Airs. They are also the 2nd most common twin engine jump planes in North America. The average King Air with its PT6A-20 engines, can take 15 skydivers to 13,000ft in about 10 mins and burn about 22 US gallons.

The engine upgrades available are the -27, -28 and -135, some with horsepower ratings as high as 750. It is not liked by all skydivers due to its low wing and small door. To learn more about the King Air check out our affiliate website TurbopropNation.com

Shorts SC-7 Skyvan

The Skyvan is a favorite of most skydivers because of its 6 ft tall rear exit ramp. It can haul 23 skydivers up to altitude in a fair amount of time. A rare jump plane, with only 4 drop zones in the U.S. and a couple in Europe that own and fly it. You will mostly see it at large boogies or competitions.

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