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Old 14th February 2001 | 15:41
  #14 (permalink)  
Hot&Heavy
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I highly rate parachute drop flying. I still look back on it as some of the most enjoyable flying I've ever done.

It is a most eerie feeling to have an aircraft jam-packed with meatbombs, all grinning from ear to ear, and then suddenly you're all alone.

I was in the fortunate position to be meatbombing part-time alongside my full-time flying job. Rather than being paid, I had a happy arrangement at the DZ to get free jumps in lieu.

On this basis I only ever paid for a handful of jumps (AFF training course) and the rest were on the house - plus I got to do some crazy flying in a C185. Imagine 5 skydivers hanging off struts, undercarriage, door frames, the wing - anything they could hold onto, so they can all exit together. Great stuff.

Needless to say I love skydiving but have found that most pilots do have a natural aversion to it. I wouldn't say that it's better than sex, but you can have disappointing sex - you can never have a disappointing skydive.

If you are a low-hour wannabee, I reckon this is a great way to build hours. You get to know the aircraft intimately and watch cute tourists fizzing at the bunghole (an old nautical term I picked up somewhere).

H&H