diverdriver

And more, stronger, bigger thunderstorms. I know, I know....to the dungeon for negative thinking. Sorry Billvon.

Do what Skydive Monterey Bay did and hang an IO-550 on a 206. 1,100 feet per minute most of the way up to 12K!!! Sweet plane. It was one bad ass jump ship cessna. Chris

We also have Rainbo and Brian Bo (chasingbluesky) at SDC. And eeneR. That's three more at SDC. We should be able to build big stuff all summer! Chris

Yah, and the Arava has a narrower door than the otter. Wider than a DC-3. And coming from someone who hit the door 5 times in two weeks during 10-way practice I'm not sure I'm looking forward to a narrower door. But, we were taking grips and ramming it out so I think we could back off a bit and it'll all work out fine. I love the dive. Me and Rook Nelson were the last two out of the lead Casa during the record attempts in 2000. That was a long, long dive since the base was falling over 150 right out the door of the base otter. I think we should come up with three dates. One for Morris, one for Hinckley, and one for Ottawa. Build on it through the season. Break it, break it again, and break it WAY BIG! Yah, I'll show my tits if we get it. Chris

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/orl-lkldive19031902mar19.story

Oh good. I was beginning to worry that I might have to start posting on rec dot again. Phheeeeeeewwwwwww. Good to know that you really don't have a sense of humor. I mean you never would have been given GREEN status if you were funny or had any type of personality. Right? Chris

You must'n be from aroun' deaz parts. Y'all = You all All Y'all = plural of you all Chris

The program at Skydive Chicago is set up to get you to your A license. The feeling is that you are not given enough training with just 7 levels. Many DZs have accepted that feeling. But they don't include the costs of the coach jumps after AFF level 7 in the price they advertise. SDC puts it all up front. You see exactly what you are being charged throughout your training. You get every student training jump videoed and dubbed to a tape on every jump. You keep the tape and watch it as much as you want. You get advanced canopy training because why should you be a student twice? Why learn on one set of equipement and canopy and then have to re-learn emergency procedures and canopy control when you buy your own gear? The landing area at SDC is 200 acres. You will not be turned away for training at another DZ. You will be incorporated into the program at SDC if you come there without an A license. So, my suggestion would be that if you train in GA then jump until you have your A license. It will be easier on you IMO. You also have the option of 5 turbine DZs in the Chicago area: Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, IL Skydive Illinois in Morris, IL Chicagoland Skydiving in Hinckley, IL Millenium Skydiving in Kankakee, IL Skynights Skydiving in East Troy, WI Chris

Rolling On the Floor, Laughing My Fucking Ass Off just doesn't describe how funny that truly is! Oh, I have to catch my breath........gimme a minute.............BWAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAAA!!!!!! Chris

You have way to much free time on your hands. Post more.

Reminds me of that commercial with the Battle Bots and in one corner there is this amazingly mean looking Bot. The other corner rolls out this little refrigerator. The fight begins and the frig opens up to reveal a beer. The other team is mezmorized like a bug in a blue light. They go in to retrieve said beer and WHAMO!!!! The BIG HAMMER comes down on the mean droid. LMAO every time I see it. Chris

Never ship but for COD. Collect On Delivery. Protects both parties. Chris

Here's the FAA report so far on the GK Porter crash. Not much we didn't know. But I thought the tail of the porter was what hit the cessna. This report says it was its' right wing. I'm sure we'll see more clarifications as things go. They always do. Chris IDENTIFICATION Regis#: A23253 Make/Model: PP3 Description: PILATUS PORTER Date: 03/15/2002 Time: 1700 Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: Y Missing: N Damage: Destroyed LOCATION City: MARANA State: AZ Country: US DESCRIPTION A23252, A U.S. ARMY PILATUS PORTER ACFT, WAS ENTERING THE PATTERN FROM THE EAST WHEN IT STRUCK N8813T ( A CESSNA C-182 ACFT) WITH ITS RIGHT WING, A23253 CRASHED AND WAS DESTROYED, AND ITS PILOT SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES, N8813T RETURNED AND LANDED WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND NO INJURIES REPORTED, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME, MARANA, AZ. INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1 # Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk: # Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk: # Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk: WEATHER: TUS 1655Z VARIABLE 5 10SM CLR 12-15 998 1306 OTHER DATA Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: Military Aircraft Departed: UNKN Dep Date: Dep. Time: Destination: UNKN Flt Plan: UNK Wx Briefing: U Last Radio Cont: UNKN Last Clearance: UNKN FAA FSDO: SCOTTSDALE, AZ (WP07) Entry date: 03/18/2002

Andy, have you looked in the mirror lately? bahahahahahahha JK Chris

No Marc, that would be getting into too much speculation. Oh, and by the way, ice bridging is a myth. But severe ice that builds aft of a boot is real. The only thing you can do is avoid it. And some times that's impossible. Chris

Well, no FAR specifically says you must wear a rig but it says you have to follow the placards. If the placard is there because of the STC then you are violating a FAR by not wearing it. After emailing with Ed Scott at USPA he confirmed there ARE STCs that do not require an emergency rig. And as you pointed out, what is legal by FAR is not necessarily prudent. Are we saying the same thing now? Do you remember where the last attempted pilot Mr. Bill was? Seems I remember Israel being the place but I could be way off. It was out of a Porter too, wasn't it? Chris Schindler ATP/CFII D-19012 www.DiverDriver.com

Easy Andy. There are icing conditions that are beyond the capability of the de-icing boots that are rare and some times very hard to predict. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. From everyone I've talked to (I never met Mark) he was first rate. Take some comfort in the fact that he was in the process of diverting to get out of those conditions. Basicly, he pulled all his handles. It just didn't work out. Go easy Mark. Chris

What's the contact info for Bomber MFG? Website? Chris

Do you have a specific STC in mind? I don't have my old one in front of me. My understanding was that the FAA would approve the STC with the stipulation on there. Now, if there is an STC that does not have it in there your statement could be possible. Not sure I'll run out and chuck my emergency rig just yet though. If you have ANY question about it I would call the local FSDO office and talk with someone. And if you're not sure then wear the rig. There's no law AGAINST wearing it that I've heard of. I imagine I'll be calling our FSDO tomorrow also on this topic to get some more guidance. Just like the seatbelt debate took a few turns this might come back to the point we're at now (wearing the rig) but for a different section of the FARs or ACs. Chris Schindler ATP/CFII D-19012 www.DiverDriver.com

Ok, after saying it and then having to dig for my answer what I have found in the FARs is the requirement for airworthiness. The pilot must follow all posted placards and limitations. So, if an airplane has been modified by STC or removal of the door then there will be a placard or limitation put on the airplane. If the form 337 (STC form) has the requirement (or limitation) that all occupants must wear a single harness dual container parachute OR an approved emergency bail out rig then by FAR it has to be followed even though it isn't spelled out exactly in FAR Part 91 or 105. Looking at Advisory Circular 105-2C Section 14.C says: And yes, this is on my website under Supplements in the Regulations section. Hope this helps a bit. Chris Schindler ATP/CFII D-19012 www.DiverDriver.com

The regs say that anyone sitting in the "cabin" has to have an emergency bail out rig if the door is open in flight. Now, I can not speak to the porter as to whether the pilot is considered to be in the "cabin" or "flight deck". However, if the plane you fly jumpers in has a horizontal tail that can catch a premature deployment then it should be mandatory to wear a bail out rig. That's my personal suggestion. Chris Schindler ATP/CFII D-19012 www.DiverDriver.com

That's the scarriest thing I think about flying jumpers: running into another plane. Blue Skies brother. Chris

Skymedic - Grumpysmurf = NO FUN.

ummmm.....errrrr.....ahhhhh.....ummmmmm