Possible new role for the 748s?

[hobby]

I read a report today that civil Skyvans are to be used in Para training/requalification because the RAF has insufficient C130s available at present.

Could the airworthy HS748s in the UK be fitted with suitable seats and strop lines and used in the above role? There would be less aircraft take offs/landings for a given number of parachutist exits. The 748s being faster than the Skyvans would also be useful when it is necessary to fly halfway round the UK before dropping the troops.

[DaveB]

Hi James..

I've moved the topic down to E&S as it seems more fitting down here.

As it happens, Skyvans have been used for para training for years.. can't tell you how many times I've seen one over Weston on the Green Other than volume/capacity.. they're probably a lot cheaper to run than a C130 too. I'm not completely sure the 748 is a suitable aircraft for jumping out of unlike the Andover with it's higher empenage and opening rear doors. Any port in a storm of course but the Skyvan is better suited me thinks

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Garry Russell]

G-PIGY is one such Skyvan

The type has bee used since the seventies at least in the UK and in the States

Garry

[Chris558]

Skyvans replaced the balloon at Weston in the mid 90s, as it was cheaper believe it or not, in that no ground crew are required.

As for 748s, well they used to use Valettas for para-drops which are similar configuration. Bring it on, I say - I'd love to hear the whine of 748s again...

[Garry Russell]

The Valettas had a large rear door and didn't have a hot jet exhaust stream blowing across the area.

Garry

[hobby]

Was a 748 or an Andover used when Prince Charles qualified for his parachute wings, he made at least one daylight jump into the sea.

The Belgian Air Force HS748s (definitely not Andovers) were built with a large freight door and could be used to carry 48 parachutists. Photo p89 'Avro 748' by Harry Holmes. In 1996 the BAF celebrated 20 years of accident free operations with three 748s. The BAF also used quick change methods to convert their 748s thus:troop transport/freight dropper/freighter/casevac/VIP duties.

Based on the above i can see no reason - other than running costs that would prevent the UK civilian 748s being used (on contract) for similar duties.

[DaveB]

What's the spares situation like for 748's these days.. particularly their Darts :think: I'll bet 'overwhelming' isn't a word that could be used. I suppose there's no real reason why 748's shouldn't be used other than there are more suitable aircraft more readily available

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Garry Russell]

They are dying out quickly

I don't know how many in service now but in Jan 2007 there were 147....a year and a half later.......August 2008 there were fifty :o

I guess spares are getting hard but there are at least a few kicking about :think:

Garry

[hobby]

A few good HS748s might just be the answer to the Paras qualification problem.

Quite a surprising decrease in numbers available worldwide over an eighteen month period!

Longevity of service is a mystery seeming to favour one type of aircraft rather than another. The HS748 was designed to replace the DC3 with the more modern turboprop power giving it greater speed and carrying capacity than the DC3. This month's issue of 'Air Forces' contains a colour photo of a Bahler conversion of a DC3 taking off from an airport in Afghanistan quite recently - that aircraft being engaged in some form of surveillence work.

The HS748 was a great success when new and one cannot envisage that current HS748 airframes be re-engined with a more modern turbo prop for that would almost certainly mean the redeign of much of the 748 airframe. How strange that the 748 replaced many DC3s yet a modified DC3 seems to have outlived the 748!

Much the same seems to have happened to the 707 with its many re-engined and updated variants now serving as modern refuelling aircraft and command and control aircraft.

[Techy111]

If they want to save money...why not use the AN2....I for one would be ecstatic to jump out of one of those.... Anything to get away from it.... :roll:

Tony