National Parchute Test Center

About NPTC
In 1988, Robert A. Mathews and Stephen L. Snyder (1935-1999) established the National Parachute Test Center (NPTC) to provide a facility for the test and evaluation of subsonic aerodynamic decelerators and related equipment. Dunnellon Airport in Marion County, Florida was the chosen location for NPTC because it possessed the best combination of weather, airspace, terrain, political climate, and access to industry.

Shortly after NPTC's establishment it became apparent that this test facility could be utilized by entities other than Radial Corporation. Additionally the facility lends itself not only to the testing of equipment, but to training in the use of this and associated equipment. To that end invitations were extended to various organizations, both private sector and government, to use the facilities.

To date several manufactures have used the facility. However it is the use by U.S. military special operations groups that have lead to a symbiotic relationship, wherein NPTC is able to observe and understand the utilization of equipment and procedures necessary for the accomplishment of the various missions of these groups. This appreciation of the users’ desires and frustrations allows NPTC the opportunity to tailor its designs to include the former and avoid the latter.

Drop Zones
In addition to the drop zones available at Dunnellon Airport, NPTC has several other locations that can be used with some prior coordination. Should a group have specific set of requirements for a drop zone, NPTC stands willing to locate an area and provide the support, ground and/or air, to meet such requirements.

Aircraft
NPTC maintains sufficient aircrafts under contract to accomplish those tasks at hand. Additional aircrafts can be contracted when required. All aircrafts are available for personnel, cargo, and test drops. Estimated costs for these aircrafts are predicated on a base fuel price. Fuel prices continue to fluctuate rapidly and a firm cost can be quoted when only all parameters of the mission have been established.

Facilities
At the Dunnellon Airport, NPTC has two buildings totaling 23,500 sq ft. These buildings are divided into a personal parachute loft, cargo parachute packing area, classroom, video room, shops, and offices. In addition to the normal selection of sewing machines, hand tools, and die sets expected of a parachute loft, NPTC has access to the latest machine tools at Triad EDM which is co-located with NPTC.

Parking for 30 vehicles and 6 mid size aircrafts is available on site. Additional parking can be made available on request. Avgas & JetA are available 24/7. HiPress 02 is available on request.

Dunnellon Airport
NPTC is located on the Dunnellon, Airport, 29° 3'48.45"N - 82°22'37.69"W). The Airport “X35”, which is on the Jax Sectional and the L-19 Chart, has an instrument approach, three runways; 05/23, 4875 by 75 ft lighted; 09/27, 5,000 by 75; and 14/32, 4875 by 150 (Closed), with no obstructions in the infield. The field has both self-service Avgas and JetA, a beacon and unobstructed approaches; rural areas consisting of Horse Farms, Cattle ranches and few residences, surround it. X-35 is on the Ocala “OCF” VOR 230 Radial at 10 NM. Ocala Airport has a 7,000 foot lighted runway with instrument approaches and both full-serviceAvgas and JetA.

The Dunnellon Airport is off airways and has a very low volume of VFR traffic (2006 12/day). The majority of the traffic are local training flights. Airspace to 18,000 ft. MSL is available 24 hours a day on 30 mm notice. Altitudes above 18,000 can be coordinated with JAX Center in as little as 2 hours. Less than 1% of the Para drops conducted on the Dunnellon Airport have encountered a hold due to traffic.

NPTC’s facilities on the Dunnellon Airport consist of two buildings, a parachute loft capable of packing up to G-12 size canopies, with packing table, sewing machines, video editing room, several offices, machine shop and tool rooms. Approximately 22,000 square feet in all with rollup doors, 10 X 16 and a loading dock. NPTC maintains video and still camera equipment, as well as air to air and air to ground communications capabilities. A four-wheel drive truck with a unique hoist, capacity of 3,000 lbs is available for payload recovery. Heavier equipment is on call.

While there is no dormitory at Dunnellon Airport, amenities include air-conditioned sleeping accommodations for security personnel, washrooms with hot showers, and limited messing facilities, microwaves and refrigerators.

Dunnellon Airport has several Drop Zones available for test use. Drop zone #1 is in the East quadrant of the airport with easy access for vehicles, and is used for personnel and low speed dummy drops with payloads up to 600 lbs. The second DZ, T-10, is in the West quadrant, away from the hangars with limited access and it is used for loads up to 3000 lbs. See attachment 6 for a Google Earth photo of X35 an vicinity.

Also available, with prior notice are three additional DZs. The first located 300 degrees 10 NMs from Dunnellon Airport is “Tidewater”, approximately 65 acres, for use by special operations groups as an unknown DZ. The other “Caravelle”, located approximately 40 miles NE of Dunnellon under Restricted Area 2906 (surface to 14,000 ft) is a 10,000 acre parcel suitable for drops up to 20,000 lbs and special operations groups requiring post jump maneuvering room. The Pinecastle Range Complex, under Restricted Area 2910, is approximately 30 NMs East and is available for DOD related projects, NPTC will coordinate its availability with FACSFAC, NAS JAX upon request.

The city of Dunnellon is 4 miles from the Airport. With a population of 2000, Dunnellon has three motels, several banks, restaurants and a shopping mall. Ocala, 15 miles to the east, with a population of 60,000 has numerous motels and restaurants clustered around the 1-75 area within 2 miles of the Ocala Airport. There are rental cars available at the Ocala Airport that can be made available at the Dunnellon Airport with advance notice. Scheduled air service is available into Orlando (90 mi.), Tampa (95 mi.), Jacksonville (100 mi.) and Gainesville (45 mi.). Arrangements can be made to pick up small groups of personnel by air.

Clients
NPTC has been involved in test and evaluation programs of products of various manufactures. The following is a list of some of the firms and products.

Aerobotics, LLC Dragon Train, a guided cargo parachute system, MANPAC, Modular Autonomous Navigation for Parachutist and Cargo.
Para-Flite, Inc.: MT-1X; ParaPoint.
ParaPlane Corporation: ParaPlane.
Performance Designs: Tandem Vector Reserve, TSO testing of multiple canopies.
Pioneer Aerospace: GR-7000, High speed test of an emergency canopy.
Radial Corporation: Orbitrival; VLAAS a Very Low Altitude Assault System, 300Ft-350Lbs-150Kts; Low Intensity LZ Lighting; Inflatable Pilot Chute.
The Relative Workshop: Tandem Vector Reserve.
SSE, Inc.: MSR; MARS FF-3; ParaPoint.
Strong Enterprises: Dual Hawk Tandem Reserve, G-12 Cargo Parachute.
U S B I Scale SRB Recovery Parachute


NPTC has hosted various Military groups at the Dunnellon facility. Most have involved basic and advanced training ie. Tandem; AFF; NODS. DOD teams up to 40 members have been supported for night jumps and other training operations. NPTC was involved in the testing of tandem reserves for high altitude deployment, and has conducted training sessions for Naval Security Teams learning to fly the ParaPlane.


Aircrafts
Operating Costs and Capacities of Aircrafts available at NPTC
KIAS
Aircraft Pax Payload Altitude Min Max Per Hr.
Cessna 180 4 800 14,000 55 100 250
Cessna 210 5 1,000 14,000 70 150 300
Twin Otter* 18 3,000 20,000 65 150 1500
Skyvan* 18 3,600 20,000 65 170 1550
Casa 212* 18 3,600 25,000 85 180 Call
B-25* 0 8,000 14,000 90 250 Call
C-123K* 50 20,000 14,000 90 165 Call
OV-10 4 1,500 20,000 80 300 Call
Above costs are calculated on a fuel price of $3.80 for AvGas and $3.45 JetA.

These figures represent Aircraft operations in the air-drop mode, and reflect the cost of higher insurance, maintenance, and fuel consumption. Costs include flight crew and one loadmaster.

Operations above 14,000 ft require the use of oxygen, which increase operating costs approximately 2%.

Minimum flight time per drop .5 hours for all aircraft except C-l23K, which have a minimum flight time of 1 hour.

*These aircraft require 2 weeks prior notice; all other aircraft are normally available on 48 hr. request.