If there was even a situation where one takes a certified plane and moves it into the 'experimental / prototype/ exibition catagory this is the poster child..... IMHO... About all you can do is to rent a truck / trailer and go get the complete project. Bring in back in your possesion and get it flying.... Since you are in the sky diving business using it for a jump plane is out of the question but at least you will regain your property. Take it to Oshkosh and display it... If there is an investor anywhere they will be there to inquire about the potential... The guy who has it now has absolutely no incentive to see the project through.
Sorry for your shitty deal.

Ben.

He will hold the STC and sell the kits. I have paid for the first kit and my contract states I have to buy 2 more once it receives STC. The contract also states he would have it STCd in 1 year. I can understand delays but this is just delayed because they are working on other things making money instead of meeting our agreement. He needs a financial motivation of projected kit sales or stiff penalty for dragging it out. So far I havent created a stiff enough penalty.

Saw this at Creede Colorado back in Sept of '09...weird sounding machine when he went overhead prior to landing!

Skydive206 wrote:He will hold the STC and sell the kits. I have paid for the first kit and my contract states I have to buy 2 more once it receives STC. The contract also states he would have it STCd in 1 year. I can understand delays but this is just delayed because they are working on other things making money instead of meeting our agreement. He needs a financial motivation of projected kit sales or stiff penalty for dragging it out. So far I havent created a stiff enough penalty.

This really sucks. So many people in aviation are trusting and trustworthy that we sometimes get burned, and it really hurts when that happens. Not only monetarily, but our trust in others is betrayed as well.

I hope you get this sorted out, and that he gets the conversion done. The question you may have to ask yourself if he DOES get it done is how you handle the other two conversions.....

Good luck, and keep us posted.

MTV

I have the shop and ability. I can install the kits on my other 2 206s myself. An STCd kit would meet a spec. Pushing it through STC was the part that I was dreading.

A liquidated damages clause is typically a great means of motivation, say 500.00/day. Obviously too late if you already have a contract, but certainly something to address in further dealings.

Real bummer, hate to hear this kind of stuff.

Gb

Still a long way to go but they did something this last couple of weeks.

At least it is something!! Baby steps?

http://youtu.be/CxnzgvfdaDw I started it yesterday. The nose gear strut is flat. Still a lot of work to go. The W/B will tell if the batteries have to be moved. It felt ok dragging it out and during run up. Still a long way to go.

That is awesome!! How much will the strut raise the prop? I suppose all the weight will be in the back of the mains when loaded, so the strut will be practically topped out.

Cant wait to see the flight video!

With the Strut inflated to MMM the prop has 9 inches of clearance. FAA requires 7 inches at that condition. I got the engine rigging close and took it out for taxi test. W/B felt close to original. Power quadrant was easy to use, good directional control during power applications (only 350 hp), great beta and reverse blade angle deceleration, smooth and relatively quiet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFYwNi9KPt8&feature=share&list=UUJriandsmh_Vjas7Ac_cklQ

We always clamped a piece of heavy hose stock around the base of the nose strut, so if the strut were to get deflated, you'd still have good prop clearance, then ran them with the strut pumped up. Split lengthwise a piece of heavy hose material about three inches long, fit it around the strut, and clamp it on with hose clamps. Simple and cheap insurance.

MTV

I do that on my other 206s just for the rock damage and occasional flat strut. Once the eyes are off it a little Ill do that mod to it.

This isnt my Turbine but taken while on my way back from working on it.
Lounging in a hammock while the wife fly's me home. Not my idea, saw a couple of skydiver drivers in a Caravan with a hammock and had to see if it would work for me. Nice on cross countries, smooths out the bumps, and I didnt have to stack everything in the back or to one side. Just reach down and pick up what you want.

That's awesome! That's a common thing we do on C-130s on long flight across the ocean. Crawl into your hammock and sleep off your hangover from St. John's. If you're not flying in a primary crew position that leg of course.

A preliminary W/B has been preformed. Not everything is installed yet and the aircraft was not configured as close to the original W/B as it could have been to get the most accurate change. The mod is currently overweight and fwd CG. Might be 100lbs overweight. One set of batteries are being moved to the baggage compartment now to correct the CG. I feel the modification can be put on a diet and loose 60lbs. The fiberglass cowls are thick and heaver than needed, Oil cooler ducting, inertial separator ducting, internal plenum, and even the hardware selection can all be lightened or redesigned to make them lighter. As this is the prototype and each time a system or part was added now the complexity and weight are up. Ill keep you posted.

Any More pictures?

Thanks

Flew my PT6A-20 U206 on its first flight today. Made 3 flights and it was very uneventful. Nice to fly my F model 206 again. Sportsman, WingX, Superdroops, Garmin package with TIS. The TIS came in helpful while I was climbing at 1800fpm though 9K. This felt like the only time I could hit an airplane 2000 ft above me in a 206. Engine Power envelope expansion next. http://youtu.be/Qn8Z7uMob2A

Very cool Van!

Tadpole wrote:Very cool Van!

X2!!