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kevin922

Affordable Jet Jumps (DIVERDRIVER PLS RD)

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Speaking of jet jumps - I heard about this new jet from eclipse aviation called the Eclipse 500, evidentally this thing is going to change the way people travel -- affordable "air limo" service and whatnot... the plane brand new is $837,500 which if what I hear is true, that is cheaper than a twin otter? It will cost about $.56 a mile to operate (so they say) has two small jet engines that only weigh like 85 lbs each. It has an all glass cockpit which looks SWEET here

I dont' know how well the exit would work as the door is right in front of the wing pic here

It seats 4 people (with seats) so i'm guessing what, 8 - 10 without seats?

What do you guys thing (especially those in the "know") could this be A) converted to a jump-plane, B) be affordable for a jump plane?


Check out the press release here
Kevin

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Eclipse is located here in Albuquerque, and it is big news. I suppose I can ask someone, but my gut says probably not.

You'd probably have to do major door mods, which would probably drive the total cost back up to normal jump plane range, anyway...
Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

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Well I think even if it were at normal jump plane cost, it still would be something cool - one of those unique jumpships that is a "specialty" aircraft for boogies..


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Eclipse is located here in Albuquerque, and it is big news. I suppose I can ask someone, but my gut says probably not.

You'd probably have to do major door mods, which would probably drive the total cost back up to normal jump plane range, anyway...

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I'm not terribly "in the know", but I do know that exiting from a door that's in FRONT of a wing would have a high risk of impact with the wing.

There's a reason we always exit behind the wing.

Secondly, jet's are a hell of a lot more expensive to maintain then turbo-props, from what I understand.

_Am
__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

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You need something that has a rear exiting door. Any door in front of a wing is not a good thing. Then the engines would be in play with a premature deployment.

What makes a good jump plane?

1. Great power to max weight.
2. Big door rear in the aircraft
3. Simple sytems to fly (easy pilot check out)
4. Single pilot
5. Docile stalling characteristics (doesn't roll on back when tailgate is loaded too much)
6. Is NOT a tailgate aircraft.
Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

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You need something that has a rear exiting door. Any door in front of a wing is not a good thing. Then the engines would be in play with a premature deployment.

What makes a good jump plane?

1. Great power to max weight.
2. Big door rear in the aircraft
3. Simple sytems to fly (easy pilot check out)
4. Single pilot
5. Docile stalling characteristics (doesn't roll on back when tailgate is loaded too much)
6. Is NOT a tailgate aircraft.



Cool, thanks for the explination.. guess i'll have to just use the one i'm getting for the limo service.

hehe

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1. Great power to max weight.
2. Big door rear in the aircraft
3. Simple sytems to fly (easy pilot check out)
4. Single pilot
5. Docile stalling characteristics (doesn't roll on back when tailgate is loaded too much)
7. Twin engine (like an Twin Otter with -27 or greater engines)


Clearly, all true.

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6. Is NOT a tailgate aircraft.



Clearly, this is debatable. You really need to step outside of your SDC dogma once in a while. The populariy alone of tailgate exits make the skyvan and casa two of the most popular jumpships in skydivers minds. Skydivers DROOL over a c-130.

There's a point in this sport where we overlook some degree of safety for fun. Tailgates are an example of this.

_Am
__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

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>>Not even a snow balls chance in hell.
>>
>So you're saying there's a chance? (what movie was that from??)
>

-"So, what are the chances of a girl like you and a guy like me getting together?"
-"Umm.. like... one in a million?"
-"So you're saying there is a chance? YES!"

Or something like that. Jim Carrey in "Dumb and dumber"

Erno

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You really need to step outside of your SDC dogma once in a while.



Andy, Back the Bus Up. I did not say a tailgate aircraft is an "unsafe" jump plane. Your pilot had better have his sh~t wired tight WHEN he stalls the aircraft not IF he gets into a stall. A C-130 is not a regular jump aircraft in civilian skydiving.

My jumping at SDC has nothing to do with my view of jump aircraft. Only my 7 years of flying skydivers and 3,000+ hours flying jump aircraft. How many hours flying do you have Andy? And if you want to send a personal attack on my view I suggest a PM next time.
Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

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DD, just curious. Ever been in a stall situation?



I think your question is "Have I ever stalled a jump plane." And the answer is no. I never have. And people who have flown with me know that I give pretty good jump runs with little prop blast. (That's in the otter of course). I know people who have stalled otters. I know of an incident where an otter stalled on jumprun and caught a jumper on the backpack. Drug him down about 3,000 feet before he rolled off it. It can happen in any aircraft. That is for sure.

If the new PC-XII weren't single engine aircraft I'd love to see them in use for jump ops down the road. They are huge. High T-tail. Big cargo door on left side. Cabin space bigger than a King Air-200. The cargo door may even be larger than an Otter's. But I am a firm believer that a large jump plane (more than 10 jumpers) should be a twin engine aircraft.
Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

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I think your question is "Have I ever stalled a jump plane."



you caught me.:$
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But I am a firm believer that a large jump plane (more than 10 jumpers) should be a twin engine aircraft.



Yeah, that whole "one engine" things gives me the jitters too.
'In an insane society a sane person seems insane.' Mr. Spock

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There was a big write up on that thing in the WSJ a couple months ago. The engines are based on the type used in cruise missles. It's supposed to have better gas mileage than the average SUV, and is designed to be able to take off and land on the majority of municipal air strips.

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