Claire: Hello everyone, you are listeningto 5 minutes with AOPA-China. I’m Claire.
Nick: Hi, this is Nick. This episode we aregonna talk about skydiving aircraft.
Claire: right, skydiving is an extremesport. It is for the professional adventurers. Amateurs like us can try tandemskydiving.
Nick: Well, I see. So have you tried once?I mean tandem skydiving.
Claire: No, not yet. But I will.
Nick: I saw this on Twitter. “Stupidairline. They fly you in a plane with no air hostess, don’t serve you coke ornuts and midway through the flight at 10000 feet open the door and kick you outof the plane.”
Claire: hahaha. First, allow me to introduceone skydiving airline to you. Tianjin Jin Jin aviation.
Their skydiving business started more thana year ago. Almost 3000 have checked the box on their bucket list.
Nick: I would like to me one of them. Mr. DouRuchao , the president of Jin Jin aviation, has been a friend of AOPA China fora few years. We are so delighted to have him with us as a guest for ourpodcast.
Claire: Before we dive into ourconversation with him, let’s introduce a few of skydiving aircraft. The heroesmake this sport possible.
Nick: Haha sure. The first have to beCessna 182. It is no limousine, however. These little guys are the workhorsesof the skydiving industry, as they are cheap to run and don’t need a longrunway. They can head to the jumpable altitude within 30 minutes. And you areready to go.
Claire:Yes, the 182 has been in productionsince 1956, still enjoys the raging popularity. Another popular jump aircraftis skyvan. It is with larger capacity, a big door and it’s comfortable inside.Well, these edges plus its angular design earned it many nicknames such as :”theshed”, “the schoolbus” and “the flying truck”.
Nick: Sounds strong and capable! To theoperator, more capacity means more cost-effective. Speaking of capacity, skyvanhas a burlier cousin. It can carry one pilot and up to 22 skydivers.
Claire: Wait wait...don’t tell me. Ah, it isTwin otter, I guess.
Nick: Haha right! Twin Otter is theundisputed golden child of skydiving aircraft. This handsome fella has it all:a great big door, a comfy interior, a speedy ride to altitude.
Claire: More importantly, it has doubleturbines which provide safety in case one of them is in a bad mood.
Nick: When it comes to skydiving, myfriends always put Australia, Turkey or the US as their first choices. But nowI think Jin Jin aviation is nearer and more affordable.
Claire: The view is not half bad too. It islocated in Tianjin Douzhuang Airport. We have a few photos provided by them,hope you could feel the vibe.
Nick: the aircraft used is GA8. Threepassengers could try tandem skydiving with the coaches at the same time.
Claire: Next year Cessna 208 will bedeployed for skydiving. More capacity, more fun.
Nick: Jin Jin Aviation focuses on manygeneral aviation businesses, such as pilot training and skydiving services.Especially skydiving services.
Claire: I have heard it is hard to get a reservationduring the peak times.
Nick: Mr. Dou Ruchao is this aviation guru,pilot and aircraft owner, too. In Jin jin Aviation there are 19 aircraft and 13different types.
Claire: a little general aviation museumalready. Fixed-wing, helicopter, turbine and piston, you name it.
Nick: Here we have this audio from Mr. DouRuchao.
Interview record
Claire: Have you experienced skydiving? Doyou want to have a go?
Nick: You can share your stories with us inthe comment section or ask any questions about it below.
Claire: Have a nice weekend.
Words and Expressions
1. Tandem skydive双人高空跳伞
2. Limousine豪华轿车
3. Workhorse埋头苦干的人；耐用的机器
4. Twin Otter: DHC-6飞机，代号双水獭
5. Capacity运力
6. Turbine engine涡轮发动机
7. Piston engine活塞式发动机
这一期，我们来聊一聊用于高空跳伞的飞机。（文末有图片福利哦~）一说到高空跳伞，你是不是感觉肾上腺素激增，血脉喷张？哈哈，当然不会，只有真正体验的时候才会有上述反应（调皮脸）。
跳伞跟航空有什么关系呢，我们可是一个严肃的播客节目！很简单，跳伞的前提是你得先坐飞机飞到至少三千米的高空。
推特上有一个关于跳伞的段子，特别有意思：混蛋航空公司！飞机上没有乘务小姐姐也就算了，还不给可乐和坚果，飞到10000英尺（3000米）的高空竟然打开舱门把我踹了出去！
哈哈十分形象，把体验者从地面送到高空确实是通航的任务。
天津的津津的通航去年就增设了这一业务，已有2000余名体验者去那儿打卡了。津津通航的董事长窦如潮先生跟AOPA是多年的老朋友，我们有幸邀请到他给我们讲述具体信息。在听窦先生讲解前，我们先来介绍几架常用于跳伞的通航飞机吧！
首先当然是踏实肯干，任劳任怨的塞斯纳182了！它并不豪华，却是跳伞界公认的勤劳小标兵，十分耐用。它成本低，易保养，只要你要跳伞，它二话不说，30分钟内准把你送到三千米高空，就是这么实在！
另一架较受欢迎的是SC-7 Skyvan。它本是小型多用途运输机，机身侧面为方形，内部空间宽敞，舱门很大，对于跳伞来说再合适不过了，人称“空中货车”。
内部空间大说明运力大，即一次承载的乘客多，这对于运营者来说是比较节省成本的。说道运力，就不得不介绍跳伞飞机里的明星DHC-6，绰号“双水獭”。它几乎集所有优势于一身：大舱门，舒适的座舱环境，爬升速度快，双发涡轮发动机，即使一发失效，也能保证安全。唯一的缺点就是贵。
津津通航目前跳伞用到的飞机是GA8，一次可搭乘3位体验者和3名教练。明年将会购入塞斯纳208，运力更大，爬升速度更快，座舱更加舒适！
现在听听窦如潮先生对津津通航的介绍，了解中国通航概况：（点击最上方的音频，只有听了才知道哦～）
你体验过跳伞吗？你还知道哪些用于跳伞的通航飞机？欢迎在评论区跟我们分享！
等等，说好的图片福利呢？（捂脸笑）
