Fastest Plane in the Biz: The King Air
The wonderful thing about King Airs
Is King Airs is wonderful things
They zip way up into thin airs
With zoomers that’s made outta springs
They’re bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy fun-fun-fun-fun-fun
But the most wonderful thing about King Airs…
…is that Skydive Kansas City’s got two of ’em!
If you haven’t already been introduced to the wonder that is the King Air skydiving aircraft, let us introduce you to the wonderment. There’s a good reason that sport skydivers’ faces light way up when they hear that a King Air turbine airplane is in the mix at the dropzone they’re headed for, and there are several excellent reasons why. If you think that an aircraft couldn’t possibly make a difference to a first-time tandem skydiver, let us assure you that you’ve got another think coming. Here’s why:
LEAVE ECONOMY BEHIND, Y’AWL. THIS IS THE FIRST-CLASS RIDE.
Let’s start with the fact that most Midwestern dropzones operate the regional puddle-jumper equivalent of skydiving aircraft–the venerable Cessna180. The Cessna is the workhorse of skydiving birds; it’s economical to purchase, to operate and to maintain. It’s pretty fuel-conservative, too. For these reasons, it’s easy for a dropzone to look past the fact that they’re uncomfortable, teeny-tiny, awkward and sloooooooow–and that they can only reasonably go up to around 10,000 feet.
If you want to please skydivers, you’re gonna need a bigger boat.
ROLL BACK THE THROTTLE AND JUMP!
There are plenty of options for burlier, turbine aircraft out there that have been modified for skydiving operations, but we chose the King Air because it adds something important to the rest of the list of turbine aircraft qualities (incl. comfortable, commodious, easy-in-easy-out): it’s fast. Wicked-fast. Lickety-splitsy fast. It hustles a full load of excited jumpers up to full altitude in less than ten minutes–about a third the time it takes for a Cessna 180 to huff and puff its way to a lowly 10,000 feet. We’re not hatin’ on the Cessna, but once you’ve King Aired, you’ll never go happily back to the flying shoebox.
WORTH IT. SO WORTH IT.
Does the King Air cost more to operate than a Cessna? Well–yeah. It requires more love, more precise flying, more investment and more attention. But y’know what? When we kick back and enjoy a smooth, fast, beautiful cruise up to the tippy-top–and we see the beaming faces all around us–we know just how worthwhile it is to have these King Airs at our service. We’re proud to be the only dropzone in the area with a stable of stallions like this’un, and we’re already looking to expand our aircraft offerings.
So: Are you excited to hop into the kind of aircraft that makes the ride as jubilant as the jump? Book now!
Your chariot awaits, my friend.