shropshire 0 #1 April 6, 2011 Has anyone ever been the last out and closed the a/c before letting go? if so what was the pilots reaction when you you met him later? (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #2 April 6, 2011 Yes Always happy if during the winterscissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #3 April 6, 2011 (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #4 April 6, 2011 QuoteHas anyone ever been the last out and closed the a/c before letting go? I have done this on an Otter my old DZ used to bring in a few weekends each year. When the plane would leave on Sunday night to return to it's home base, the pilot would take one last load up to 5k or 6k, let us out, and then continue on to fly the 200 miles home. I would climb out to the camera step, and lower the door before I left. While I felt like I was doing the pilot the biggest favor of all time, I was later told that if I didn't shut the door, the pilot would have trimmed the plane for cruise, left the cockpit and walked back to shut the door himself. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #5 April 6, 2011 wow - could have lead to an intersting incident .... holy Mary Celeste batman.... (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d100965 0 #6 April 6, 2011 Easily done on a Porter but not strictly necessary.... Check out 30 secs into this old vid.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vywMzAOC5gQ As we were flocking and the pilot was doing fly-bys, he was grateful we shut the door as I believe that's usually done when in a steep descent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #7 April 6, 2011 I also do it on helicoters when door is available. They can fly down faster with door closed, so we can get more altitude for the same flight time/price, or a lower price for the same altitude scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #8 April 6, 2011 have done it quite a few times, but probably the funniest reaction to it I've had happened a couple of years ago. The DZ I was working for offered both 9,000 and 13,000 foot tandem jumps so occasionally we would have mixed loads. I was doing a 9,000 foot tandem on just such a load, and the rest of the load was just to fun jumpers going up to 13,000. Naturally with only 6 people onboard a PAC 750 we were stretched out and lounging pretty good. As I'm headed for the door one of the jumpers calls out "Yeah, and make sure you close the door on the way out." in a smart assed joking sort of way. Judging by his 100 jumps and 6 months experience I figured he'd never seen that before. From the PAC I do seated tandem exits, so on my way out I grabbed the door and pulled it down behind me as I left. The fun jumper came to me afterwards wide eyed and incredulous. :-)---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pchapman 279 #9 April 6, 2011 Yeah. I was last out on a demo jump where the pilot had 150 miles to fly back home. Closed the door on the King Air (not known for slow jump runs), while wearing a big accuracy rig, plus a small knapsack strapped to my stomach. A bit windy but doable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #10 April 6, 2011 (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #11 April 6, 2011 Quote one of the jumpers calls out "Yeah, and make sure you close the door on the way out." in a smart assed joking sort of way. I used to use that line on tandem passengers, until one day one of them told me after landing that he was sorry he forgot to close the door.... Must have been running throughhis mind all the way down....scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,116 #12 April 6, 2011 Done it a few times, once just before the plane left for Lost Prairie. However (important note) check with the pilot before doing this! On some aircraft, it is important for the door to be left open during rapid descents; either the door can't handle the additional airspeed or the recess formed by the closed door (as opposed to the big opening caused by the open door) causes problematic airflow over the tail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #13 April 6, 2011 The only daft question is the one you do not know the answer to as you are roaring through 1,000 feet AGL! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanG 1 #14 April 6, 2011 I rode an Otter down once because of sinus problems. I offered to close the door, but the pilot was adamant about leaving it open. It was at a boogie, so I didn't get the chance to ask him why. - Dan G Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #15 April 6, 2011 Quote Has anyone ever been the last out and closed the a/c before letting go? if so what was the pilots reaction when you you met him later? I used to do it all the time on the Porter... big old sliding door... so Jim would not get cold on his flight home Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drewcarp 0 #16 April 6, 2011 QuoteQuoteHas anyone ever been the last out and closed the a/c before letting go? I have done this on an Otter my old DZ used to bring in a few weekends each year. When the plane would leave on Sunday night to return to it's home base, the pilot would take one last load up to 5k or 6k, let us out, and then continue on to fly the 200 miles home. I would climb out to the camera step, and lower the door before I left. While I felt like I was doing the pilot the biggest favor of all time, I was later told that if I didn't shut the door, the pilot would have trimmed the plane for cruise, left the cockpit and walked back to shut the door himself. Seriously? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hellis 0 #17 April 7, 2011 Quote Quote Quote Has anyone ever been the last out and closed the a/c before letting go? I have done this on an Otter my old DZ used to bring in a few weekends each year. When the plane would leave on Sunday night to return to it's home base, the pilot would take one last load up to 5k or 6k, let us out, and then continue on to fly the 200 miles home. I would climb out to the camera step, and lower the door before I left. While I felt like I was doing the pilot the biggest favor of all time, I was later told that if I didn't shut the door, the pilot would have trimmed the plane for cruise, left the cockpit and walked back to shut the door himself. Seriously? Seriously what? Him closing the door or the pilot doing it? I have tried closing the door on a AN-2 once but i had to give up after a few tries. But our pilot closes the door himself too in the AN-2 if its cold. What could possibly happen? But sadly we dont have a AN-2 anymore Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drewcarp 0 #18 April 7, 2011 Seriously the pilot walking back and closing it. It seems like a little turbulance could sink the whole ship and the W/B change would throw off the trim enough to start a climb. With an auto pilot sure but trusting just the trim? It seems like a pretty bold move IMO but to each his own. So next time I'm last out can I get the pilot to come back and help me spot? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #19 April 7, 2011 Quote So next time I'm last out can I get the pilot to come back and help me spot? If the pilot is back by the door you will have to take what ever the spot is. No one up front to make corrections.SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theonlyski 8 #20 April 7, 2011 Quote Quote So next time I'm last out can I get the pilot to come back and help me spot? If the pilot is back by the door you will have to take what ever the spot is. No one up front to make corrections.Sparky If I see the pilot heading for an open door, I'll go for help."I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890 I'm an asshole, and I approve this message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #21 April 7, 2011 Quote Quote Quote So next time I'm last out can I get the pilot to come back and help me spot? If the pilot is back by the door you will have to take what ever the spot is. No one up front to make corrections.Sparky If I see the pilot heading for an open door, I'll go for help. Coward. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lekstrom10k 0 #22 April 7, 2011 We used to do it a Napoleon as the plane was descending home to Pontiac. We could put one in front and on in back, nod after closing and gone BFD. People are so stuck on themselves these days. Keep your pilot happy and he will do more for you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,116 #23 April 8, 2011 >If the pilot is back by the door you will have to take what ever the spot is. >No one up front to make corrections. A pilot (who will remain unnamed) had been flying all day, and was planning to ferry the plane to another airport after the last load (mostly tandems.) As the last tandem got lined up in the door, the TM felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and the pilot was sitting there on the bench, watching them. According to the TM, the look on the student's face was priceless. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
