In 1999, representatives of the US skydiving market approached Pacific Aerospace wanting an enlarged version of the Cresco aircraft. This aircraft stemmed from a remark that it was a pity that the Cresco couldn’t be used for sky-diving. With the Cresco as a starting point the 750 XL resulted. After the development programme, little of the original Cresco remained. Wings, ailerons, flaps, fuel system, etc. have been either replaced or modified.
First flown on 5 September 2001, the ten seater utility received New Zealand type certification (NZ TC A-14) on 23 July 2003.

On March 10th, 2004, the US Federal Aviation Administration certified the PAC 750XL (since renamed the P-750 XSTOL) under the very latest revisions of Part 23. Taking the aircraft from initial drawings to FAA certification took about 52 months. The P-750 is Single Pilot IFR Certified (FAA) and in 2012 gained certification against ICAO Annex 6 for Single Engine IFR Passenger Transport Operations.

While initially developed for the skydiving market, the attributes of the P-750 XSTOL also made it ideal for other market segments for which it is in wide use around the world particularly freight, passenger and aerial survey work.

The P-750 XSTOL can take off and landing in less than 800 ft (244m), even when it is hot and high. Operate off semi-prepared airstrips in all types of terrain. Carry a load of more than 4,000 lb even in hot and high conditions. The rugged construction has a low 150-hour airframe/engine inspection interval and 39,000 hours before any scheduled airframe maintenance requirement.

The P-750 XSTOL Utility has a 240 cu ft cabin complemented by an optional 70 cu ft cargo pod and 18 cu ft rear storage compartment. It has the ability to carry passengers on one leg then in 30 minutes have the seats removed and stored in the rear compartment making the full cabin and cargo pod available for carrying freight on the return leg. The large single compartment cargo pod with 1,000 lb (454 kg) capacity has no impact on aircraft cruise speed and loading access is via three side doors and one large rear ramp.

For skydiving the P-750 XSTOL has the ability to climb rapidly to jump height (e.g. sea level to 12,000 ft in ten minutes) and then be back at the air strip ready for another load before the jumpers land, enabling the aircraft to average four loads per hour. Able to carry seventeen skydivers or six tandem teams, the wide centre of gravity range making it a very stable jump platform. Able to carry 17 skydivers to altitude and return to the point of departure in approximately 15 to 16 minutes. The climb and descent profile is about half the horizontal airspace of most other jump planes, assisting operation in noise-sensitive areas. Factory installed skydiving modification that can be operated by the pilot ensuring no open-door speed restrictions on descent.

For aerial survey factory-approved modifications support easy installation of camera holes in the floor of the aircraft and side wall mounted track for the attachment of equipment. The P-750 XSTOL is an electrically quiet aircraft with minimal electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and all major control systems mechanical rather than electric. The aircraft structure serves as an effective faraday cage blocking out external static electric fields and can be readily customer-modified for geophysical survey work.

For Crop Dusting, Spraying or Fire Fighting the P-750 XSTOL Agriculture is able to carry a 4,888lb (2,272 kg) hopper load. Operators commonly complete up to 17 cycles (load, take-off, dispense, land) per hour. The hopper can be removed without affecting the airframe, allowing versatility in the roles of the aircraft. The aircraft can be converted to another factory-approved configuration maximising its useful life and resale value.

PAC 750XL-II Test Flight

Gallery

750XL / XLSTOL 750
Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6-34 turboprop, 750 hp
Gross Wing Area: 305.00 sq. ft / 28.34 sq.m
Nett Wing Area: 267.80 sq.ft / 24.88 sq.m
Basic empty weight (Standard IFR): 3,300 lb / 1,497 kg
Max. Ramp Weight: 7,540 lb / 3,420 kg
Max. Take-Off Weight: 7,500 lb / 3,402 kg
Max. Landing Weight: 7,125 lb / 3,232 kg
Max. Useful Load: 4,200 lb / 1,905 kg
C of G range: 102.8 to 124.6 inches aft of datum
Never Exceed Speed (Vne): 170 Knots / 315 KPH
Design Cruising Speed (Vc): 140 Knots / 259 KPH
Max. Manoeuvring Speed (Va): 131 Knots / 243 KPH
Max. Flap Extended Speed (Vfe): 120 Knots / 222 KPH
Stall Speed (Idle Power) With Flaps Down (Vs): 58 Knots / 107 KPH
Max. Range At Opt Speed, 45 min Res 16,000 ft: 1,179 nm / 2,183 KM
Endurance At Opt Speed, 45 min Res: 8 HRS
Average Fuel Consumption: 50 US GAL/H / 192 lt/hr
Fuel Capacity, Useable: 331.8 US GAL / 1,256 lt
Take-Off Ground Roll SL, ISA: 721 ft / 220 m
Take-Off Distance To 15 M (50 FT) ISA: 1,196 ft / 364 m
Landing Ground Roll At Sea Level: 543 ft / 166 m
Landing Distance From 15 M (50 FT): 950 ft / 289 m
Max. Rate Of Climb SL MAUW: 1,067 fpm / 325 m/min
Max. Rate Of Climb at 8,000 ft MAUW: 951 fpm / 290 m/min
Climb To 12,000 ft From Brakes Release: 12 min
Max. Operating Altitude: 20,000 ft / 6,096 m
Service Ceiling (At Max. Weight): 20,000 ft / 6,096 m
Max. Positive G: +3.5 G
Max. Negative G: -1.4 G
Wing Loading: 120.07 kg/sq.m / 24.59 lb/sq.ft
Power Loading: 10.0 lb/shp / 4.5 kg/shp
Flap area: 31.74 sq.ft / 2.95 sq.m
Aileron area: 21.94 sq.ft / 2.04 sq.m
Tailplane area: 33.64 sq.ft / 3.13 sq.m
Elevator area: 27.92 sq.ft / 2.59 sq.m
Fin area: 19.40 sq.ft / 1.80 sq.m
Rudder area: 11.70 sq.ft / 1.09 sq.m