UK-based skydiving company Wingglider has selected GE Aviation's H75 turboprop engine to retrofit its M601-D2-powered Dornier Do28 fleet which is active in the UK, Spain and Portugal.

“The GE-powered Do28 is a reliable companion when taking skydivers up in the air,” says CEO James Swallow. “It has enough room to comfortably fit 15 parachutists. For obvious reasons, the big door is also very convenient. The aircraft is stable; it has a good centre of gravity for 15 skydivers even if they are occupying one part of the aircraft. For our operation, we need rugged and economical engines with easy maintenance, which is why we chose the GE H75.”

Wingglider, headquartered at Hibaldstow airfield in Lincolnshire, has operated turbine aircraft in the parachuting, skydiving and aerial works industry for over 20 years and offers long or short term leases on a number of aircraft. It commonly uses unpaved runways, which the Do28 is well-suited to. The GE H series turboprop enables aircraft to operate at higher outside temperatures, higher altitudes and with reduced maintenance costs.