Mano a Mano’s New Plane in Action

Mano a Mano’s New Plane in Action

In 2018, Mano a Mano purchased a new plane to expand the capacity of our aviation program. After purchasing the new plane in Minnesota last summer and months of training and prep, it was flown from Fleming Field in the Twin Cities to Cochabamba, Bolivia in October 2018. Over the next 5 months, we obtained registration and certification, customs payment, and the approval to purchase jet fuel for the airplane. All was completed and the airplane started flying in early 2019 (5 months is actually an extremely fast turnaround).

Photos from 2019

With the new plane now flying for a few months, here is a slideshow demonstrating its many uses:

How the New Plane Expands the Capacity of Mano a Mano’s Aviation Program

Our pilots say that the airplane has surpassed any and all expectations they had. The Caravan is performing beautifully in Bolivia. It lands and takes off in a third of the length of runway in comparison to a Cessna 206. The airplane climbs like a dream, especially in the early, cool hours of the morning. If the weather is rough at 13,500 feet, the pilots and aircraft easily can choose to climb to 15,500 ft – a difficult task with the 206.

The Caravan is able to carry a monstrous amount of cargo (in comparison to the Cessna 206).  On a recent flight, we were carrying around 2,500 lbs of cargo, as opposed to 770 lbs with the Cessna 206. And we are reaching our destination faster and sooner. With the Caravan we do not have to circle to gain altitude. By the time we reach the high pass, the airplane has gained the altitude necessary. Most importantly, we do not have to go around mountains: the airplane has the power to gain altitude and fly over safely. In this scenario, the Caravan reaches destination in 37 minutes as opposed to 60 minutes with the Cessna 206.

Mano a Mano’s Caravan Landing in the Bolivian Tropics