skydiving the 337

ozonefly · #1 07-03-06, 08:35 AM

Hi everybody,

I'm the owner of a small skydiving company.

We'll be looking soon for an affordable 5 skydiver airplane with a 900fpm climb capacity to become our skydiving airplane.

I though a 337 could do the job and be converted in a super skyrocket in the future.

do you think the 337 could achieve this climb rate ? witch one will do the job ?

do you know if we could modify the main door to build a skydiving door ? or if you could open the door in full flight ( maybe 70 to 80 kts in a slide )

is it possible to feather the rear engine on jump runs ( i don't think it to be necessary but it could be asked by our local authorities) ?

did you heared of someone using 337 on skydiving facilities ?

Is the inside cabin of the 337 bigger than the 185 cabin ? ( we already jumped of 185 )

I know i'm asking many questions.. but that seems to be the place to get answers ..

Thanks,
Vincent.

Mark Hislop · #2 07-03-06, 09:50 AM

Vincent:

The only one of your questions that I can answer positively is that the Skymaster has been used as a skydiving plane. A few years ago, I was visiting the Tower of London. I was wearing a hat that had picture of a 337 on it. One of the castle Yeomen noticed it and told me that when he was in the service (all of the Yeomen are ex- British military non-commissioned officers) he was in a skydiving club that used the Skymaster as a jump plane. I don't remember the details of any modifications to the aircraft though.

Mark

ozonefly · #3 07-04-06, 06:52 AM

it seems like the worst concern on 337 is the noise .. in switzerland we could quickly be unable to fly it because of the noise.

Is the skyrocket with 3 blade hartzell propeller quieter ?

Mark Hislop · #4 07-04-06, 02:14 PM

Vincent:

Are your noise regulations based on absolute noise levels (i.e. noise cannot exceed xx dB level regardless of what aircraft generates the noise) on on aircraft specifications (i.e. aircraft under a certain gross weight cannot exceed yy dB, and over that weight they cannot exceed zz dB). The reason I ask is that I seem to remember that somebody from Europe was inquiring on this forum or on the Cessna Pilots Association forum if there was an STC to lower the gross weight on their 337 to avoid noise regulations. It seems to me that he only had to reduce the Max GW to 4400 lbs. I don't recall if such an STC exists, but you might try a search of this forum to see if you can find that topic.

Of course, if you want to use the 337 as a jump plane, reducing the GW might not be a useful tool anyway, even if it is possible.

Mark

ozonefly · #5 07-04-06, 06:18 PM

The main regulation is the following :

No rules but the neigbours rules.

We can only fly from 9 am to 12 am and 1pm to 7 pm with a pilatus pc6 porter and only 42 days a year..

and this is quite the same thing on many swiss airports ..

So if we want to fly we gotta be quiet .. i would only buy a 337 with a 3 blade or 4 blade conversion if it become as noisy as, let's say, a DR400 or a Cessna 206 for example.

hharney · #6 07-04-06, 06:41 PM

I have 3 blade MT's on my 337C. It has some reduction of sound in the cabin, 2 - 3 decibel decrease, so it must be a little quieter outside. Although my observations by way of video fly-bys does not appear to reflect a noticeable decrease in sound. It does sound different but not necessarily quieter. I would have to venture to guess that a Super Skyrocket with the larger engines even though it has 3 blade Hartzell’s, is going to be louder yet. Just my 3 cents worth.

There are a couple of 337 drivers that have been on the ground while I passed by so maybe they have a different opinion.

WebMaster · #7 07-04-06, 09:09 PM

He's a lot quieter. Significantly so. My wife can hear my plane, says it's the loudest around. His is quiet, and a different noise.

One other consideration is that the strut is behind the door, not in front like a 182.

Oh, and he (Herb and his 3 bladed prop) climbs like a rocket. He out climbed a turbo skymaster.

ozonefly · #8 07-05-06, 02:30 AM

That sounds good to me.

I'd really like to see that ..

WebMaster · #9 07-05-06, 09:23 AM

Here's a link to a page that has some video on it, of Herb's 3 bladed prop in action.
http://www.skymaster.info/vegas/vegas4.html

ozonefly · #10 07-05-06, 09:26 AM

thank you so much for your help .. i really appreciate.

ozonefly · #11 07-05-06, 09:30 AM

seems like your link doesn't work anymore

WebMaster · #12 07-05-06, 09:38 AM

It's Google video. That explains it. It is not available in all countries. Herb has DVD's, I can look at putting something up, I'll be back to you later today.

ozonefly · #13 07-05-06, 10:10 AM

I think i've found it .. they are flying in formation over michigan isn't it ?

But as two different skymasters are flying i just can't tell the difference.

WebMaster · #14 07-05-06, 10:15 AM

The yellow one is Herb, with the 3 bladed prop.

CharlesA · #15 07-15-22, 04:20 PM

I know there were several posts questioning the viability of skydiving from the 337
I didn’t see any final conclusions to the questions, maybe I missed it- Does anyone have specific information that they can point to: STC, Abnormal Procedures, Etc…. That can direct me to authorization of removal of the main cabin door for inflight skydiving- I have a 337E (full size door) and have been approached by a special forces group, that would like to train in the 337, as they will be using these overseas-
Thanks so much!