Any skydiver drivers out there?
Join Date: Dec 2004
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one more here on the islander, I love flying this a/c. only complaint is the weird gull wing type control yoke but otherwise its a joy.
And in relation to my previous query about ops in IMC, I dont have the luxury of the texan weather unfortunately, and a few guys here who fly with me one on a turbine and the other twin and the other on 206's consistently battle with the non flying office staff who have no problem pointing out the CV Pile or the constant new fresh face every single week standing outside inquiring about a position. This is the only downer I encounter in this otherwise fine past time.
And in relation to my previous query about ops in IMC, I dont have the luxury of the texan weather unfortunately, and a few guys here who fly with me one on a turbine and the other twin and the other on 206's consistently battle with the non flying office staff who have no problem pointing out the CV Pile or the constant new fresh face every single week standing outside inquiring about a position. This is the only downer I encounter in this otherwise fine past time.
Last edited by celtflyer; 16th May 2005 at 14:59.
Join Date: Jun 2004
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Another meatbomber here................the day job is now a 757...but I get to pole about in a Crand Caravan when I get a chance!...it beats the hell out of golf, I get to do steep turns, fly formations..and best of all cycle the boots on a regular basis!(this is the UK after all)
Oh and theres a queue of captains I fly with who all want to have a go!
*had to get the spelling right!
Oh and theres a queue of captains I fly with who all want to have a go!
*had to get the spelling right!
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Hello diverdrivers!!
I started with a C206 and now flying the best of the best: the Pilatus turbo Porter! 14 min to FL140 and 3 min later, you are refuelling while looking your "passengers" landing.
This is exactly what I think. Especially when you have a group of 9 jumpers or 9 groups of 1 jumper!
When the skydiver lands on the target, that is because he is good. When he doesn't touch the target, it's the pilot's fault!!
I started with a C206 and now flying the best of the best: the Pilatus turbo Porter! 14 min to FL140 and 3 min later, you are refuelling while looking your "passengers" landing.
My experience however, is that it is quite a challenge everytime again with different winds and different altitudes to arrive on the exitpoint on the desired altitude exactly at the right time.
When the skydiver lands on the target, that is because he is good. When he doesn't touch the target, it's the pilot's fault!!
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Gday all,
Young Diver Drivers,
keep to your own personal "minimums" re wx, loads etc and you will be fine.
Remember, most jumpers are easily fightened in a clapped out 182 or other and your career at the local DZ will be short lived if you get out of your depth and give 'em a fright.
Keep at it, stay safe and you will learn a lot and have a great time!
Some of the best fun I have ever had in the industry.
Myself and most others I flew with in the Skydiving scene made it to airlines of varying sizes, types and levels of renumeration, but all agree, It was f#@&ing good fun!
Cheers,
Contract Con
DH82a,C182,C206,C208 and PA31 jump pilot
(now B737)
Young Diver Drivers,
keep to your own personal "minimums" re wx, loads etc and you will be fine.
Remember, most jumpers are easily fightened in a clapped out 182 or other and your career at the local DZ will be short lived if you get out of your depth and give 'em a fright.
Keep at it, stay safe and you will learn a lot and have a great time!
Some of the best fun I have ever had in the industry.
Myself and most others I flew with in the Skydiving scene made it to airlines of varying sizes, types and levels of renumeration, but all agree, It was f#@&ing good fun!
Cheers,
Contract Con
DH82a,C182,C206,C208 and PA31 jump pilot
(now B737)
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Me too..centuries ago..
Before my 737 and Jest Ranger days I ratteld in a couple of hundred jumps (Shobdon, Shotteswell, Bidford, Sibson and USA)
Hung up my Para-Commander in '74 though after making a big hole in the ground at Sibson. (The plates and pins in my right leg and ankle still set off airport security scanners...)
Holy Heavens we got up to some bluddy sill pranks in those days!
Cheers, bm
Hung up my Para-Commander in '74 though after making a big hole in the ground at Sibson. (The plates and pins in my right leg and ankle still set off airport security scanners...)
Holy Heavens we got up to some bluddy sill pranks in those days!
Cheers, bm
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Spent a fair amount of time flying jumpers, 182's & 206's, Fun times. Planes were in OK condition, cant say the same for some of those dodgy old pilot rigs .
Does anyone know of a pilot rig being jumped? Cant say I'd want to land one of those roundies!!
Does anyone know of a pilot rig being jumped? Cant say I'd want to land one of those roundies!!
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Hey Onan!
Used to fly meatbombs back when I lived on an airport and got called whenever the regular guy didn't show - on one particularily memorable day I was on final having turfed the lot of them when the gear wouldn't work - bunch of ****s had pulled my gear CB!
Sheesh!
Bug
Used to fly meatbombs back when I lived on an airport and got called whenever the regular guy didn't show - on one particularily memorable day I was on final having turfed the lot of them when the gear wouldn't work - bunch of ****s had pulled my gear CB!
Sheesh!
Bug
I'matightbastard
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I don't know how I feel about that sort of thing (I do really 
). I know it's a bit of an outlaw passtime, but taking the keys with you on exit, or otherwise screwing with the aircraft, just seems a little bit too stupid to me. Fortunately I haven't had to contend with that.
I did hear of a similar situation where revenge was exacted by packing a brick into the guy's main. I suppose that's equally stupid eally.
). I know it's a bit of an outlaw passtime, but taking the keys with you on exit, or otherwise screwing with the aircraft, just seems a little bit too stupid to me. Fortunately I haven't had to contend with that. I did hear of a similar situation where revenge was exacted by packing a brick into the guy's main. I suppose that's equally stupid eally.
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Another Ex jump pilot here. Mainly Cessna 206/7 and BN2 Islanders. It seems these days it is inevitable that in northern Europe you will be expected to fly in IMC but my advice is don't be bullied and know your limitations. Flying IMC with a changing C of G can be challenging.
Had a few moments in my 1000+ hrs of dropping. The one that springs to mind is when a reasonably experienced jumper decided to sit up to watch the first group exit in a Cessna 206. When he momentarily sat down again he managed to hook some part of his rig over the P2 yolk and then tried to exit. I ended up with the column in my lap with full aileron deflection! I managed to disentangle him and recover with a height loss of about 4000 feet still IMC! Hysterically on landing another jumper/ Cameraman who was rear floating marched over and challenged me about the run in speed. Needless to say I was not a happy bunny. Other incidents include a first time jumper retracting the flaps on rotation and another opening the P2 door whilst trying to lift himself up to see out. I turned the handle round after that.
Datsun180B: There was an incident in your neck of the woods where a skydiver struck the tail of Cessna 208 Caravan and hung up on it after a premature opening in the door. The pilot bailed out, at I believe less than 1000 feet. He survived but unfortunately the skydiver didn’t. Can’t find the official report but found this at http://www.maximonline.com/grit/arti...icle_5170.html
1. 14,000 ft. The Cessna Caravan, carrying 11 skydivers and piloted by Barry Dawson, reaches its drop altitude and levels off. As a four-member formation team exits, a skydiver’s chute opens prematurely, sucking him out of the plane.
2. 13,900 ft. The diver strikes the tail of the plane. His parachute becomes entangled around the horizontal stabilizer, causing the tail to twist 45 degrees to the right and the Cessna to pitch 20 degrees downward. The pilot figures out what has happened and instructs all the remaining passengers on board to exit the doomed aircraft immediately.
3. 9,000 ft. The tail of the plane snaps off seconds after the last diver exits. The pilot transmits a Mayday, shuts down the engine, and prepares to bail. But as he releases the controls, the plane heads into a steep nosedive.
4. 9,000–3,000 ft. Massive acceleration and G-forces pin the pilot against the plane’s floor. Using seat belts as leverage, he manages to climb from the cockpit back to the cabin. Once there he discovers that the plane’s only exit, the roller door, has slammed shut.
5. 3,000–1,000 ft. The pilot manages to wedge the door open. He slips through and, with a final heave, escapes. Seconds later the Cessna fireballs into the ground.
ABO944: Headcorn parachute club operate an Islander in Southern England but only use it for students and Demo’s I believe. Their main aircraft are a Let 410 (foreign crewed) in the summer and a Turbine beaver in the winter. You could try Netheravon in Wiltshire where they have an impressive fleet of Jump planes and plenty of flying.
Full list of UK DZ’s at www.bpa.org.uk/
Some other useful links: www.diverdriver.com/ http://www.dropzone.com/
Happy day’s but always broke!
STOL
Had a few moments in my 1000+ hrs of dropping. The one that springs to mind is when a reasonably experienced jumper decided to sit up to watch the first group exit in a Cessna 206. When he momentarily sat down again he managed to hook some part of his rig over the P2 yolk and then tried to exit. I ended up with the column in my lap with full aileron deflection! I managed to disentangle him and recover with a height loss of about 4000 feet still IMC! Hysterically on landing another jumper/ Cameraman who was rear floating marched over and challenged me about the run in speed. Needless to say I was not a happy bunny. Other incidents include a first time jumper retracting the flaps on rotation and another opening the P2 door whilst trying to lift himself up to see out. I turned the handle round after that.
Datsun180B: There was an incident in your neck of the woods where a skydiver struck the tail of Cessna 208 Caravan and hung up on it after a premature opening in the door. The pilot bailed out, at I believe less than 1000 feet. He survived but unfortunately the skydiver didn’t. Can’t find the official report but found this at http://www.maximonline.com/grit/arti...icle_5170.html
1. 14,000 ft. The Cessna Caravan, carrying 11 skydivers and piloted by Barry Dawson, reaches its drop altitude and levels off. As a four-member formation team exits, a skydiver’s chute opens prematurely, sucking him out of the plane.
2. 13,900 ft. The diver strikes the tail of the plane. His parachute becomes entangled around the horizontal stabilizer, causing the tail to twist 45 degrees to the right and the Cessna to pitch 20 degrees downward. The pilot figures out what has happened and instructs all the remaining passengers on board to exit the doomed aircraft immediately.
3. 9,000 ft. The tail of the plane snaps off seconds after the last diver exits. The pilot transmits a Mayday, shuts down the engine, and prepares to bail. But as he releases the controls, the plane heads into a steep nosedive.
4. 9,000–3,000 ft. Massive acceleration and G-forces pin the pilot against the plane’s floor. Using seat belts as leverage, he manages to climb from the cockpit back to the cabin. Once there he discovers that the plane’s only exit, the roller door, has slammed shut.
5. 3,000–1,000 ft. The pilot manages to wedge the door open. He slips through and, with a final heave, escapes. Seconds later the Cessna fireballs into the ground.
ABO944: Headcorn parachute club operate an Islander in Southern England but only use it for students and Demo’s I believe. Their main aircraft are a Let 410 (foreign crewed) in the summer and a Turbine beaver in the winter. You could try Netheravon in Wiltshire where they have an impressive fleet of Jump planes and plenty of flying.
Full list of UK DZ’s at www.bpa.org.uk/
Some other useful links: www.diverdriver.com/ http://www.dropzone.com/
Happy day’s but always broke!
STOL
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Have flown and skydived for around 30 years now. Regarding the comment about jumping out of a "good airplane," I am an A&P and can show you places on most airplanes you would not want to see.
Was at the Krakow (Poland) boogie in 1989 and jumped out of Russian military planes. That really made me want to get away from them as landing did not look to be very safe.
Flew a Soloy 206 out of Meissendorf Germany for many years. 900 meter grass strip with 30 meter trees at one end. Very nice airplane for the job and fun to boot.
Been flying only jets for the last 15 years and kinda miss parachute flying as well as jumping. Just no time lately.
CD
Was at the Krakow (Poland) boogie in 1989 and jumped out of Russian military planes. That really made me want to get away from them as landing did not look to be very safe.
Flew a Soloy 206 out of Meissendorf Germany for many years. 900 meter grass strip with 30 meter trees at one end. Very nice airplane for the job and fun to boot.
Been flying only jets for the last 15 years and kinda miss parachute flying as well as jumping. Just no time lately.
CD
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I’ll be starting as a drop pilot next year on the BN2T Turbine Islander. I’m looking forward to it, but some experienced diver drivers have recommended wearing a pilot rig. Do many drop pilots flying turbines wear an emergency parachute/ pilot rig?
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Simple advice
Will964...
Some simple advice which should not be taken lightly...wear a pilot rig!!!
You need to appreciate the consequences, and just how many things could go wrong on any one sortie...even on a turbine.
Read the article at the link provided by STOL a few posts back.
C182/C206/C208/PAC750XL
Some simple advice which should not be taken lightly...wear a pilot rig!!!
You need to appreciate the consequences, and just how many things could go wrong on any one sortie...even on a turbine.
Read the article at the link provided by STOL a few posts back.
C182/C206/C208/PAC750XL
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DO NOT every fly parachutists without having a pilot rig on yourself! If someone goes out the door and gets hung up on the horiz stab, you are either going to jump out of the plane or go down with it.
Personally I feel that all DZ pilots should have a few jumps under their belt. Makes them understand it a lot better.
All in all its very fun flying. Flying jets is just not the same.
CD
Personally I feel that all DZ pilots should have a few jumps under their belt. Makes them understand it a lot better.
All in all its very fun flying. Flying jets is just not the same.
CD