Two 750XL aircraft bound for Papua New Guinea Defence Force

NZSkydive Ltd.(NZS), the only utility aircraft manufacturing company in the Southern Hemisphere, has delivered the first of two 750XL aircraft to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).

 

The ADF and the PNGDF announced at the Australian Avalon Airshow in March, they are continuing to partner on joint training and capacity building activities, aviation safety, maintenance, and sustainment through their joint Flights of Excellence program. The Commonwealth of Australia has gifted two 750XL aircraft to PNGDF.

 

“Having the ADF & PNGDF as our first customers has been a huge inspiration for everyone at our company” said Stephen Burrows, CEO of NZSkydive Ltd.

“CAA NZ certification to manufacture at the Hamilton Airport factory was received a little over one year ago. Everyone at NZS has huge commitment in the work they do manufacturing this world-renowned utility, 8-seater turbo prop, single engine airplane and to see the first one roll out of the hangar and fly to its new mission fills everyone with pride,” said Burrows.

 

Throughout the operational life of the aircraft in PNG it will carry personnel, freight, perform supply & personnel drops in responding to domestic and regional incidents in some of the most remote and difficult terrain areas in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

The 750XL has incredible short take-off and landing (STOL) ability, able to take-off fully loaded in 721 feet and landing in only 543 feet. It is this capability that makes the 750XL perfect for the many rough strips and landing sites that it will operate to throughout Papua New Guinea.

 

Alongside the aircraft’s STOL capabilities the 750XL also has an outstanding ability to uplift more than the aircraft’s own weight, an accomplished, adaptable, efficient, and reliable airplane – a true workhorse.

 

There are seventeen 750XL aircraft operating in PNG performing transport, supplies, skydiving and surveying activities.

 

The first aircraft will be flown to PNG in April 2023 and the second will be delivered by September 2023.

 

Some of the dedicated staff that built the 750XL, ZK-EPK, including factory cat ‘Asbestos’ and dog ‘Cruiser’, also

Front Row from Left to Right:  Colonel Tony Aseavu, PNG Defence Force’s (PNGDF) Defence Advisor in New Zealand; Brad Gray, GM Safety NZS; Stephen Burrows, CEO NZS; Jacqueline van Poeteren, Commercial Manager- Sales & Marketing NZS; Colonel Sial Diro, PNGDF Attaché to Australia and 4th from the Right Group Captain Stephen Fielder, Director of Australia’s Papua New Guinea Sovereign Air Capability programme. 24 March 2023.

 

NZSkydive Ltd. is a CAANZ certified Manufacturing, Design and Supply Organisation. Established in April 2021 this privately owned company purchased the business assets of Pacific Aerospace Limited through a liquidation process. The owners are Waikato businesspersons and aviation enthusiasts with interests in hospitality, real estate, and aircraft ownership and operation. The business employs fifty personnel at the factory located at the southern end of Hamilton Airport, a site that has produced aircraft for approximately seventy years.

Media Contact Details: 

 

Stephen Burrows, CEO NZSkydive Ltd.

Telephone +64 7 843 6144 (ext. 222) 

Email sburrows@aerospace.co.nz

Website www.aerospace.co.nz

 

 Dated: 24 March 2023