Flying into Jalgaon in VT-RKE, a 9-year-old ATR 72 delivered to Alliance Air in July 2017. Pleasantly surprised that there were direct flights from Mumbai to Jalgaon. This route I presume, is part of the UDAAN scheme to improve regional connectivity in India. There were no meals served on this flight, and carrying your own entertainment was the way to go for this flight.
The pilots of this flight were both Goans who had completed their flying from New Zealand, and both recognised me having an NZICPA jacket on. One had completed his flying from Paraparam and the other from Dunedin.
Flew into Jalgoan on the 26th of January, but I could not get an Aerodrome entry pass till the 30th of January due to Republic Day security measures.
After getting an Aerodrome Entry permit, I got busy snapping their fleet. Skynex Aero have 2 types of single-engine aircraft in its fleet. The Piper Archer X, which is powered by a liquid-cooled Continental CD-155 Diesel engine with FADEC driving a three-blade MT-Natural composite constant speed propeller. These aircraft are equipped with G1000 avionics without autopilot. They also have 2 C172, one powered by the above-mentioned engine and the other powered by a Lycoming engine situated at the Mehsana base. Here are a few pictures of the fleet.
VT-CZR snapped here, sitting in the hangar for its routine maintenance checks. Skynex promptly track the hours remaining on each aircraft and services them regularly. MSN 2881238 (7 years old) is one of the oldest Piper Archers in the Skynex fleet.
VT-CZR snapped here, all set to go for a few night sorties.
VT-KDS (MSN 17280679), aged 27 years old (the oldest aircraft in Skynex's fleet), is often known as the killer(because I fly this XD) among students, because this aircraft does not appear on ADS-B. There are a lot of items which are inoperative on this aircraft, and ADS-B is one of them. However, besides all its shortcomings, this aircraft flies pretty well.
VT-KTU 2881797 1-year-old Piper Archer (former N797DX) seen here parked up in the Skynex Apron. Quite rare to see so many aircraft parked up because most of the time (weather permitting) all of the aircraft are up in the air flying!
VT-NXA
2881638, formerly N80674, seen parked up at the Jalgoan apron.
VT-NXA is seen here again, this time in the hangar, possibly for some routine inspections. A pretty cool feature of Skynex Aero's maintenance team is that they work around the clock, day and night!
VT-NXB 2881677, formerly N80769, seen on the Skynex apron after hours. When there's night flying happening, the apron is always lit, and there are comparatively fewer students and staff at night. Travel to and from the airport at night is not easy.
VT-NXE 2881808, formerly N807DX, spotted on the Skynex Apron
VT-NXF 2881809, formerly N809DX, seen in the night light at the Skynex apron.
VT-NXJ 2881835 formerly N835DX
VT-NXG 2881832 N832DX shining outside the Jalgaon sun with the new Skynex hangar under construction in the background.
VT-NXK 2881836 N836DX seen parked inside the Skynex hangar after a routine check
Flyola Aviation Academy's newest addition to the fleet - VT-OLP, formerly SE-LZH, a 20-year-old C172R with a standard Lycoming engine with 2 prop blades.
