This one of the aircraft I used to fly. We were flying in support of the AK Smoke Jumpers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtfrTMeKgG8

Neat aircraft. Have never seen one in person. What was the performance like?

Anything that looks like a junior C-130 is KEWL!

Nice drop. Right on the money.

quote:

Originally posted by Opus1:
Neat aircraft. Have never seen one in person. What was the performance like?

The Casa 212 was a good performer. It had a nice wing, good power and it was faster than it looked. It also had pretty good STOL capability.

The Army's Golden Knights training center is about an hour north of me (Maxton, NC). I believe they may use this as a jump plane. It's a climbing bitch. BTW, Maxton is a nice re-fuel stop if you are flying the eastern seaboard. During WW2 it was where the Normandy glider pilots got their training. Three runways set in a equilateral triangle with grass landing area in the middle. The FBO has a neat book in the lounge which details the history. Also a commercial jet boneyard too with dozens of worn out 737's, MD 80's, 747's, DC 9's, etc. scattered around.

I believe the Knights do use a Casa 212 as a jump bird, the Army has a few of them. And yes the old Casa climbs like a home sick angel. Especially at light weight.

A friend of mine from Afghanistan set up the Pt. 135 air drop program over there to re supply FOB's. Bad ass dude who really has it together.

Use to toss jumpers out of a Twin Otter...
Lots of fun we operated out of a 1500" grass strip just what the plane was designed for.

Air Force Special Ops used to buy these cash from airlines and use them unmarked in "all kinds of ops"...night goggles and all, off airport...roads, fields...etc. dropping off troops and making spectacular evacuations....lots of stories about these birds!!...n ops too!!
Really fun to fly...great bird for back country Moose hunts with all your buddies!!
Cheers,

quote:

Originally posted by 470EDDY:
Air Force Special Ops used to buy these cash from airlines and use them unmarked in "all kinds of ops"...night goggles and all, off airport...roads, fields...etc. dropping off troops and making spectacular evacuations....lots of stories about these birds!!...n ops too!!
Really fun to fly...great bird for back country Moose hunts with all your buddies!!
Cheers,

They have become the "black ops" bird of choice for many different applications. They are widely used with contractors in Afghanistan as resupply ship, insertion, extraction and they even have a gunship version.