diverdriver

AerOhio south of Cleveland in Ohio. They have Caravan experience. Tim Butcher and Sherry Butcher are the DZOs and Sherry is a USPA Regional Director. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

If he moves to Cali he can be the Kevinator!

Tim and Renee... ease up. I offered my suggestion to help this poster. Not bash him. Geeez. Maybe a friendly reminder from someone who's been there before can help. Not saying he has to be straight sober all the time. I don't believe I said that anywhere. But when he said he's drinking BECAUSE of what he saw that concerns me and I'm suggesting a different path. And yes Tim, suggesting counciling for PTSD is an excellent idea. Sorry I didn't post that one too after suggesting that drinking to cover the pain was less than desirable. I hate doing this but I happen to know what I'm talking about here. I've lost over 20 friends in jump plane accidents and nearly that many to straight skydiving accidents. Not to mention other suicides. All in a less than 10 year skydiving career. So, I happen to be able to say "been there, done that" and I'm trying to reach out to this person who is hurting over this incident. I've retired from jumping (sorry Kate, I'm still just a tourist ) and doubt I'll fly another load of jumpers in the forseeable future. That doesn't mean that I can't help someone out because I've seen it before. God knows I can't wipe what I've seen from my mind no matter how many beers I drank. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

I think you would be able to reduce your turn time. By how much I don't know. Which caravan operators have you been talking to? I know some DZs in the US that might be able to talk to you if you want unless that's what you are already doing. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Dude, that IS fucked up. As trivial as a post is in the internet you have my sympathies too.

freefalle, If you are drinking because of what you see in the ER then you need a new job. For YOUR own safety and future health I suggest this to you. You don't want your drinking to impare your ability in the ER. I would want you sharp as a tack if I came through there. Just a friendly bit of advice to you. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

"Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!" BTW, cabin pressure in airliners is usually about 8000 feet. Well, it depends on the flight cruise altitude. I cruise at about 33,000 normally and don't go above 6k. Those transcon might go higher and bring the pressure up and then again they are rated to a higher differential pressure so they might keep it down too. Just depends. Just saying I've never seen 8,000 on the cabin altitude while cruising in the low to mid 30Ks. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Having a big engine doesn't mean it will be run efficiently. I would say if you want the plane buy it and then adjust your jump ticket price according to how it actually does. Even if it takes 5 minutes more to climb to altitude is that a big deal? Do you run non-stop all day? Or do you shut down a few times even on your busiest days? Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Yes, and I know of at least one DZ.com member who lost a relative in the disaster. I pray for him and his family. I'm not going to post who because it is a private matter but we should all keep it in mind that this world is getting to be a smaller place and everything effects everyone now-a-days. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Actually, I've seen a 2 qt drink dispenser used. The handle is easy to grip and the top is twisted off in free fall. The burble sucks the ashes out with a little tip to the relative wind. If you try this you might want to make a test run with it to make sure that when you do the dive with your dad it all goes well. I have also seen a couple of times where the heavenly soul was laughing down on us as they stayed in the bag. Kind of a heavenly "neener neener neener!" ---- you had to be there. Hope that helps. I'm sure the Jack Burke setup is quite functional too and may be more suited than the plastic 2qt contraption.

Perhaps a better route than the BRS system, which wouldn't have helped in either of those crashes, would be better training of pilots, better use of seatbelts, and not overloading the aircraft (The Taft Twin Beech crash). Pilot error is still the overwhelming cause of most crashes. Proper, regimented training of all jump pilots would do wonders to improving our industry. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

No matter. It's still fucking impressive! I've never gotten the chance to do a plane to plane transfer. That's pretty unique stuff.

For some reason that name sounds familiar. Where did Rob jump normally and where did he get hurt?

I'm getting a warning? You're defending Tunaplanet? Ok... if you must.

Well it seems you really are still learning to fly. We program the Honeywell/Collins and then we also make sure it's doing what it's supposed to be doing. We just don't sit back and sleep on takeoff. If someone runs into a building it's because they meant to do it or they had a situation that overwhelmed them from flying away from the building (engine failure/mechanical failure). Really.....stop wathching your "Die Hard 2,3,4,5" whatever since you clearly don't know anything about airliners. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

I'll take that as a personal attack. You don't have a clue what you are talking about. I happen to take pride in the job I do. And I don't drink and fly and 99.99% of my coworkers don't either. You always have the one in there and they usually get caught at some point. Not ONE...let me repeat since you seem dense...NOT ONE airline crash has EVER been attributed to an intoxicated flight crew member. NOT ONE. Put that in your pipe and smoke it dipstick. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

They don't build lavatories in the cockpit Bill. Sometimes that door has to come open. Doesn't matter how strong it is. I am FOR arming more pilots. I hope one day to become a FFDO. (pronounced Fi-Doe) Chris Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Really? I thought that was Greg Gasson between a plane and an ultralight. Well, at least that's what I saw on "Good Stuff" by Joe Jennings. I could be wrong. Had not heard that Troy did it first. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

They make them in the USA too. The Cessna 303 Crusader (my first multi-engine plane) had counter-rotating props. http://www.acf.clara.net/scale/scale-pics-3/low-wing/cessna-303-crusader/c.jpg Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Two? I thought one of went in at Yuma in late 2001 or maybe early 2002. I remember hearing about it when I was in rigging school. -Blind Anyone have more info about the GKs taking the wings off their Twin Otter when it was taxied in between two hangars that were a weeee bit too close? Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

You could hope. But past experience says those blades go wherever the heck they want to. I've seen reports of props slung on Saab 340s that went into the cabin. I know that one Casa slung the whole prop disc and it was described to have gone forward first before arcing over the top. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Have you also noticed the reinforced fuselage on the exterior of most (all?) Otters for this specific reason? _Am Andy, that's not for catching blades shedding themselves. That's for when you are flying in icing condistions and the ice breaks off and hits the fuselage. If those blades sling you aren't stopping them. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Oh yah!!! I remember that picture! Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

You can wait to start a PT-6 but you don't have to. This "hot start" issue has more to do with Garret engines than Pratt & Whitney. But this "rule" is carried over to all turbines. What I normally do is motor the engine until the T5 temp is down to about 120 and then start. They start just fine. The clicking you hear is the ignitors popping. Shutting down an engine is not the problem. It's the starting that wears on the engine. The start always heats up the parts more than continuous operation. Now, if you are starting it from cold there is a greater thermal increase range it has to go through. That is why you must wait at least 2 minutes before taking off so that the temps can stabalize through the engine before "putting the coals to it". Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Are you a pilot? "Regular Otter" refers to one that has PT-6-20 engines on it. The pull 550 SHP max on T/O. "-300" Otters are super otters that come with PT-6-27 engines on it. It does have the long nose and many have long range wing tanks. The normal tanks are in the belly. Yes, you are sitting on them. No fuel tricks are needed to keep it in balance. Just fill them evenly. The max fuel in the belly is (from memory) 1200#s in the front tank and @1400 #s in the aft tank. When topped off you want to burn down the aft tank for about 30 minutes with crossfeed to even them out. The prop turns at about 1950 RPM for takeoff (again from memory). What else did you want to know? Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125