pilotdave

It's sad that skydivers are willing to land in a plane? I can understand Jan's point above that if we're talking about pulling engines after takeoff and having the pilot try to make it back to the runway in one piece, fine...that's an unnecessary risk. But all that the original poster was talking about was having the pilot make a heavy landing once a month for practice. I'd have no problem going for a quick sight seeing flight around the pattern. If I trust the pilot to get me off the ground safely, I definitely trust him to get me back on the ground too. Too bad jump planes can't have a feature found in many large helicopters... One Engine Inop and heavy-weight training modes. Flip a switch and the helicopter acts like you've just had an engine failure (on a multi-engine helicopter) including fake indications on the panel (except it says "TRAINING"). Or another switch to simulate heavy gross weight. No need for ballast. Unfortunately that wouldn't work on a plane. Dave

Since when is landing in a plane so dangerous? As scary as landings are in jump planes, I'd rather land in one than take off in one! Unfortunately it doesn't work that way... Dave

Direct Link: http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/p101/470180.pdf Dave

Can you not see that tandems are different from all of those? Do what you want, but leave the innocent bystanders out of it. Just because they signed the waiver doesn't mean you don't have to TRY to keep them safe. Dave

How bout this? Sony VRD-MC3 http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=VRDMC3 Dave

I've landed in jump planes (with full loads) a bunch of times for various reasons. Not something I love to do, but I wouldn't really have a problem with it for training. I was once on a super otter load with a pilot that was being trained... the plane's owner, who was training the new pilot, asked if we minded him doing some training on that flight. We all said no, not a problem. What we didn't know is that he was planning to pull the power on one engine as we crossed over the treeline at the end of the runway. That was an interesting flight... I don't think we got higher than 400 feet for probably 5 miles. Last year we had the winds pick way up (from 0 to gusting to 30 or so) while we were climbing. Manifest called and told the pilot to land with the load. The pilot had never landed a full caravan on our 1,800 foot runway before. He instilled all sorts of confidence in us when he said something like "I think I can do it..." He wouldn't take the suggestion to fly to a nearby international airport to drop us off. Landing went fine... but I've never heard skydivers so quiet for so long. Then I was on the CASA at jumptown last year that ate a bird in the left engine as we lifted off. That was about the scariest flight I've been on in a long time. No problem with the landing, but from my seat I had no idea if we were heading for the runway or the woods. Just saw trees really close to us out the tailgate every once in a while until we touched down. I think the scariest part of landings in jump planes is that we usually have bad visibility from where we sit. Just have to trust that the pilot is putting the plane where he's supposed to. I talked to our super otter pilot a few years ago about landing with full loads... she said it's actually easier for her than landing empty, but really not a huge difference. Dave

Our DZ operates a grand caravan off of an 1800 foot runway. We're limited to 17 jumpers max, or less depending on the conditions and fuel load (plane has seatbelts for 21). Actual length required will depend on a lot of factors, but the more runway, the better! Dave

You might be right, but they do still make those canopies: http://www.flightconcepts.com/demo.html. So it might not be so old. But still probably not a great canopy choice... Dave

I personally use Note Tab Light. Dave

Here are a few: http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=tags&tags=view&tag=handcam_tandem Dave

They used to have auctions here: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/auctionDB/auction.pl I think ebay works because it's so popular. I think auctions on a small scale, like dropzone.com, would not work well. I think there are much better ways to determine a fair asking price for a piece of equipment than just previous sale prices on one auction site. Dave

Well, there are some things I don't like, but in general, nothing. I sort of like it... if it wasn't pink and with too big a main and too small a reserve. It's comfortable, all the flaps stay closed until they're supposed to open, etc. I have had problems with the pop top... definitely wouldn't buy another fully exposed pop top rig. Hard to find a rigger that packs them well, and no matter what, it works itself a little loose over time and has to be tightened. If the reserve wasn't packed just right, it will stick way up. But basically it's worth too little to sell. Works fine as a backup rig, so I'm keeping it. Reflex, PD150 main, Microraven 120 reserve... nobody wants any of those anymore. Plus, whenever I have it out, I get asked "who's racer is that??" Nothing worse than being thought of as a racer owner!

I bought 10 of those from B&H recently for $2.96 each, including shipping. But maybe shipping is cheaper to my area... only $3.70. No sale though, just their regular price. Dave

Give it to Bill Von. He's a bottomless pit for those things.

Both are stolen from the same place... at least I marked the one I uploaded myself. Might be a repost, but it always gets the same laughs when that tape gets popped in at the DZ.

Ok, I think we're actually saying almost the exact same thing. The person I was describing above had gone through the full ISP. When she said that, I first thought she was nuts. Then it really hit me that her training (in 2005) was FAR different than the training I recieved. First jump courses haven't changed, but what she learned after her first 7 jumps to get her A license were things I learned over my first 200 jumps. Again, I'm talking about the coach jumps. If students aren't being taught anything other than the first 7 levels, they're getting screwed. If a dropzone isn't teaching the skills on the 4 page card, they're not teaching the ISP no matter what they call it. I'm just comparing DZs that have and have not upgraded their student training to the current USPA-accepted best standards. Training has improved amazingly since I finished AFF... at dropzones that have adopted the new training methods. Dave

USPA came out with something better. The old version IS outdated. I did a couple coach jumps before there was such a thing as a USPA coach. I don't think the DZ I learned at did so bad, for late 90s standards. But the "traditional" AFF program has the student pass 7 jumps and then they're on their own to learn, or not learn, anything else. I'm sure flat turns were covered at some point before I got my A license, but nothing like what students are learning now at dropzones that have adopted the ISP (and really teach it all). I'm not talking about whether you call it category A or level 1. I'm talking about what happens after the basic survival skills are taught. If a dropzone teaches all that new stuff about canopy flight that didn't get taught in 1998, then they're doing their job. But if you're with an instructor for 7 jumps and then on your own until you have your A license, you're not learning all you need to know. Dave

http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=4916 for an example of what freefall footage from the HV-10 looks like. Dave

Does your DZ still do the outdated 7-level AFF program, or the complete ISP (levels A-H)? Canopy control is a big part of the ISP, including flat turns. I took the traditional 7-level program before the ISP was created, and I couldn't believe it when one of the new jumpers mentioned that scott miller's course was just a refresher of what she learned in AFF. I sure as heck didn't learn all that in my 7 AFF jumps! Dropzones still doing the old AFF program aren't doing their students any favors, except for maybe saving them some money. Dave

The PC1000 does have an external focus control (little scroll wheel near the lens). I set the focus, then change the function of that wheel to white balance in case I move it by accident. Adjusting the white balance doesn't ruin the video like accidentally adjusting the focus. I actually can't see any difference on the camera's screen when I move the white balance control all the way from one extreme to the other. It doesn't give much control. You change the function of the wheel just by pushing it and holding it... a menu pops up to change it's current function. The internal battery is no prob either... they make a high capacity battery the same size as the standard battery. Lasts nearly 3 hours and doesn't stick out of the camera. No mic input, but I've never seen anyone use a mic for a skydiving video.

Vector 3 for the obvious reasons (NOT looks!) and a Reflex because one came along at the right time and place when I was looking for a first rig. Turns out I was sort of suckered by an insane rigger (he was the cause of a reflex service bulletin) who had a reflex for sale. Not a terrible deal, but the reserve was a 120 and I had about 40 jumps. Been using the Reflex lately as a backup rig... I don't mind the container but my neck doesn't appreciate the PD150 main with a camera helmet. Tried to sell the reflex a long time ago, but it's pretty much not sellable. Experienced jumpers don't want reflexes, and newbies don't want 120 reserves. MIGHT be able to sell it if I put a bigger optimum reserve in it, but at this point I like having a second rig. Just need to get me a better main for it. Dave

Riggers don't generally work for dropzones... they're freelance. Go to a DZ, ask around, find a rigger, and you won't have to worry about it again. In the future, you'll just drop your rig off with a rigger at the end of a weekend of jumping and pick it up the next weekend (or next time you're there). Took me a little while to find a rigger when I moved to CT. First one I tried wouldn't pack a reflex, etc. They don't walk around wearing shirts that say "I'm a rigger" but they're all over the place. I now have my pick of at least 5 or 6 different riggers for a repack and a couple different master riggers for any big stuff. If you are thinking about quitting the sport because you can't find a rigger, well, that's your choice. Seems like a silly reason to me though... Dave

HV-10 freefall footage: http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=4916 Dave

Approved.... Dave

That's interesting. I assume it was a simple way of approving an in-flight door on a plane certified for flight with the door removed? That way, the FAA doesn't have to worry about how the door affects egress or takeoff and landing performance, since it's the same as not having a door at all... What kind of plane? Dave