Hamilton's Pacific Aviation Corporation (PAC) today said it had delivered one of its new PAC 750XL aircraft to a Californian company, the first sale of the locally designed and built plane to an overseas buyer.
The aircraft sold to Woodland California-based Utility Aircraft Corporation was one of 18 of the newplanes already sold, and PAC said it had received strong expressions of interest from a further 260 potential buyers of the aircraft.
PAC general manager John McWilliam said the PAC750XL was the first passenger aircraft to be designed and manufactured in New Zealand, and the first new aircraft built in the last 25 years specifically for the burgeoning adventure parachuting market.
The aircraft can take 17 fully kitted skydivers to 11,811ft in 12 minutes. Mr McWilliams said the plane's spacious interior, large exit door, safe jump platform and quick loading capability made it ideal for parachuting.
"Adventure parachuting is the fastest-growing recreational market in the world," he said.
Mr McWilliam says PAC's decision to make a purpose-built aircraft for the parachuting market gave it a big edge over competitors.
However, PAC managing director Brian Hare said the aircraft was not limited to parachuting.
"It's ideal for carrying cargo, reconnaissance, sightseeing, commuting, mineral exploration and for medical and military use," he said.
Mr Hare said the orders for the aircraft and huge interest shown in it were personally satisfying for him.
"The response justifies the faith we placed in it. Some of the early sales have been made sight unseen by the buyers. This is an indication of the integrity of the design and of the confidence the industry has in Pacific Aerospace."
The aircraft is currently undergoing American Federal Aviation Administration certification under a bilateral agreement with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand.
PAC which began 45 years ago, operates from a two production line manufacturing facility at Hamilton International Airport.
It has manufactured components for Boeing, Airbus, and defence aircraft.
The company was also involved in the ANZAC frigate project, producing combat system containers for the modularised frigates.
