pilotdave

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Everything posted by pilotdave

  1. pilotdave
    As I said earlier, I was surprised to find that booties sped me up a bit, and I've stopped wearing weights for almost all jumps since I got them. I'm just guessing I'm jumping with my legs up more now to prevent moving forward, and it's making me fall faster. I had been wearing 6 lbs though. Like you said, it doesn't sound like much but it makes a huge difference to me. Dave
  2. pilotdave
    Rules it out for my DZ.... oh well. We'll have to stick with a super otter. shucks. Dave
  3. pilotdave
    Yeah, having worked at Pratt's Turbine Module Center (not pratt canada... I worked on a military turbojet program), I got to see how expensive this stuff gets. The engine program I was working on was much higher tech (higher temperature) than a turboprop and had a much higher price tag, but I can how the dollars would add up. The raw castings for the turbine components of the engine I worked on would probably cost more than a PT-6. And the more work done on each piece, the more its value goes up. There were something like 300 to 400 different inspection steps that went on during the production of a single turbine vane (the non moving part of the turbine, at the hottest part of the engine). Paying for all those man-hours adds up. Dave
  4. pilotdave
    I'm just curious... what's the seating arrangement for 5 jumpers in a 182? I did 7 182 jumps last weekend and I just can't figure out where you'd put another person. MAYBE it would work with people on their knees instead of sitting down. So how do you do it? My ass is still sore from sitting in that thing for so long. Dave
  5. pilotdave
    Ha... it was there, I swear! I even looked at it after posting. Somehow I hit the edit post button and deleted the attachment. I shouldn't be allowed to operate a computer within 2 hours of waking up... Dave
  6. pilotdave
    I've worn weights every time I've been in a tunnel.
  7. pilotdave
    Looks like they've thought of the door issue... Attached is their "para" cabin layout. Looks like it has an inward swinging door. Probably just needs a beef up around the door frame. Edit: This is a layout for the PC-12M, not a standard PC-12. Dunno if it could be converted. Dave
  8. pilotdave
    My AFF instructors put weights on me for my first release dive. Get used to em! You wanna be able to fall with others in a neutral body position, not arching as hard as you can. Got a tight and slippery jumpsuit? If not, start with that. I added booties to my jumpsuit a couple months ago and to my surprise (and opposite what a bunch of people on here told me), my fallrate INCREASED. I've stopped wearing weights for almost all my jumps now. Such a pleasure to not have to wear em. I was so used to them that I'd even put them on for solo jumps. Dave
  9. pilotdave
    I think the PC-12 is set up with 9 passenger seats. I'm assuming you can get a few more than that in there with the seats removed, but I have no clue about center of gravity issues, takeoff distance, and all that stuff that determines how many jumpers you can actually take and whether or not it might make a good jump plane. Dave
  10. pilotdave
    The going rate for a used PC-12 is still over $2 mil so it's gonna be a while. I don't know the dimensions of the cargo door, but it sure looks jumpable to me. Price has got to come down to a point where it can compete with caravans, etc though, which is about a 50% decrease from the current prices. Airstair door would be nice... load from the front, jump from the back... I think we could get used to that.
  11. pilotdave
    I don't know of any, but don't think that just because nothing shows up on dropzone.com it means nothing happened. Skydiving is a much bigger world than this website sometimes leads ya to believe... Dave
  12. pilotdave
    That will work but you might want to save some money and get 802.11b instead of 802.11g. b is a little slower, but PLENTY fast for surfing the net. Much faster than your DSL connection, so it won't be a bottleneck. Use 802.11g if you want to share files quickly between multiple computers within your network. Then again, g is cheap enough now that it might be worth the extra money. But your internet wont be any faster with g than b. Also I prefer linksys over netgear, but there's nothing wrong with netgear. Also, yeah, there will be ethernet ports on the router for your PC, but you might find a USB wireless adapter more convenient. That way you don't need the wireless router even in the same room as the computer. That's how I set up a network for my parents. Router connects to their cable modem, next to their cable box. Their PC is in another room, and I can use my laptop wirelessly all over the house... except the kitchen for some reason. Fridge must block the signal. Dave Dave
  13. pilotdave
    Awesome... but your link doesnt work. Says I'm not the owner of the album. Dave
  14. pilotdave
    Better link: http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=1614 Dave
  15. pilotdave
    I've landed in 7 or 8 foot tall corn a couple times. Sucks, doesn't it?? Our little landing area is almost surrounded by cornfields. Great outs in the spring, but so annoying this time of year. Gotta plan your route out from the air, and hopefully not fall down and get disoriented on landing. Deciding when to flare can be tough. Flare at the top and you're gonna stop too high. I tried to start my flare right about when my feet hit the corn, but you better know how tall it is before ya try to land in it. Luckily corn is pretty soft! Dave
  16. pilotdave
    You can see lots of skydiving scenes from TV and movies at http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=category&id=14. Almost every TV show mentioned is on there... Didn't see anyone mention the ER skydiving scene, lots of shows on TLC/Discovery channels, real TV almost always has skydiving, and even the weather channel did a show about skydiving and how weather affects it. Dave
  17. pilotdave
    http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=1610 Very nicely done. Dave
  18. pilotdave
    Not sure what you mean by that. Weighing yourself WITH GEAR ON is the best way to do it. Weighing yourself with gear off and estimating the weight of your gear is good enough. Not taking into account the weight of your gear is not good enough and doesn't err on the side of caution at all. Dave
  19. pilotdave
    Worst case scenario is with the main, so keep it in the calculation. Dave
  20. pilotdave
    The PAC 750 is a $995,000 plane. Sure, with financing a DZ doesn't need to have $1 mil on hand to buy the thing, but it is not a cheap option. I think it'll be helped by very high used prices for caravans. The operating costs will be much lower than a twin otter or kingair, but I just hope the purchase price doesn't stop DZs from buying them. How many DZs have ever bought a brand new plane? Maybe the 750XL will be more popular years down the road when cargo operators are selling em used. Aircraft cost comparison - damn those are big numbers...
  21. pilotdave
    "The serial numbers of the Javelin containers are 12425,12426,12427(all with a DOM 09/96) & 13702,13703,13704,13705 (with a DOM of 07/97) Each has a fully adjustable harness for all shapes & sizes!" Dave
  22. pilotdave
    Or from a mere embarrassment into a main/reserve entanglement. Hey I'm not opposed to AADs and think they're great, but they've got downsides too! Dave
  23. pilotdave
    You think if he knew, the accident wouldn't have happened? He'd have decided to switch DZs to somewhere that uses a different brand of student rig? What would they have told him? There was a single accident in the X million number of jumps that had been put on those containers around the world and the company released a service bulletin requiring an inspection, which was complied with. Should they also have told the student about the grommet issue from a few years ago and the reserve ripcord pin issue, and every other SB thats ever come out? I think saying "skydiving is dangerous, sign this waiver" is good enough. Dave
  24. pilotdave
    Just to make sure ya understand, "beginner" containers are no simpler or easier to use than the high end containers. You're probably best off getting something used for your first rig. But unless you just want to save money, look at all containers. There are better options than the dolphin. If you think you'll be keeping your first container for a long time and buying used, defintiely make sure you get something with no velcro. Dave
  25. pilotdave
    If you really wanna build time (and have fun doing it), you could buy a cheap plane. I was so tempted when I met a guy selling an ercoupe for $15,000. Used like 5 gallons per hour of gas, and he told me he paid almost nothing for insurance... less than my car insurance. Also flies so slow, you'll build hours very quickly trying to go anywhere in it. Dave