pilotdave

http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=5632 Dave

http://www.texasturbines.com/caravan/ttci_c.htm This'd be nice for a DZ. 900 hp for a caravan. Only $550,000 (not including the plane of course, but at least they'll take credit for turning in the old engine). 13 mins to 14,000 feet on a 95 degree day. 5000 hour TBO (for part 91 operators). Dave

Yep, just look at the issue of parachutist magazine that has info about all the director candidates... I don't have it in front of me, but I'm pretty sure BJ Worth reported doing under 50 jumps in the year he organized the 400-way. Dave

Video: http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=5619 Dave

Water training is only as good as the instruction you get. I've heard of people doing it in a 6-inch deep kiddie pool with a 6-pack of beer. Mine was taught by a golden knight that had done live water landings (in modern gear) and taught from the SIM and first hand experience. The getting wet part seems less important than the briefing... at least for people that aren't afraid of the water. But GOOD water training definitely isn't a waste of time. Dave

Just an example of how fast and violent a bag lock can be... http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=3811 Dave

Tandems are fuuuuun!!! I never did one as a student, but I've done about 6 since I had 100+ jumps. I've been a test dummy for a few instructor candidates, including one guy's 2nd ever... another instructor's first at that DZ and first out of anything other than a 206 (maybe his 20th tandem?)... Post-winter recurrency... It's fun stuff. It's free and you don't have to pack. What could be better?? Dave

Cross Keys' skyvan is retired. Reached an airframe limit (max number of landings, I think). Dave

Can you add: "...and it was posted on SkydivingMovies.com over a year ago." ? Dave

I guess DZs aren't the only people using twin otters that way: "Typically, we fly around 75-100 hours per month and can do up to 20 cycles per day. If you stay here long enough you may even have a day where you do 23-24 take offs and landings." And that's on floats, in salt water, in the middle of nowhere. http://www.pilotcareercentre.com/APilotsLifeDetail.asp?APLID=174 Dave

I believe there is an aerodynamic reason for it. The floats protrude far forward and add a lot of vertical surface area. They would tend to move the aerodynamic center forward (causing yaw stability problems), so vertical fins are added to the horizontal stabilizer to counter that. I think the longer nose has the same affect as the floats, so they use the shorter nose on most float equipped models. (There are plenty of pics on the internet of long-nose float-equipped otters). I think the short nose from the -100 series was retained as an option for the -200 series, for float operators. Could be wrong though! Dave

Just FYI: I don't normally approve any videos that are "re-edits" of other peoples work. A lot of people upload compilations or remixes of their favorite videos, and I never approve them (at least not on purpose) unless they have permission from the owners of the original videos. I made an exception in this case, because it was for training purposes and not just a creative edit. I would appreciate a "bibliography" though... at least for the final product (I'll just replace the current one when it's done). The copyright holders should get credit for their work. Also, if the owners of the footage complain, I will have to remove it. I've had that happen before, and the uploader just left a blank spot in the video (I think it said something like "clip removed because of a ___...") and uploaded a new version. BTW, I was shown "Breakaway" (at least I think that's what it was) in my first jump course. I was expected to know the names of the various malfunctions, to be able to differentiate between "nuisances" and malfunctions that required a cutaway. Dave

I don't think it's illegal, but individual airlines may have policies against it. Southwest Airlines does: "Parachutes are allowed in checked or carryon baggage, but may not be worn in flight." Dave

Sky's the Limit in PA. Dave

Ahhh... hehe you had a typo in your post... EH, not DH. Dave

Where you looking those up? Neither 202DH or 204DH is currently registered to an otter or to skydive factory. I mentioned earlier in the thread that N321CY is at Skydive New England in Lebanon, ME. I think a lot of planes get registered by corporations in New Hampshire for tax reasons. Dave

321CY is at Skydive New England in Maine. We had a gorgeous super otter in CT until the end of 2005... FAA registration shows it's been exported to maldives (an island nation in the indian ocean), presumably back into airline service. Maldives seems to be the twin otter capitol of the world: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1007956/L/, http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1052886/L/. Dave

That's what comes with it, but they make a higher capacity battery too. Lasts over 2 hours (close to 3 I think). Same size and shape as the small one. I wrote "Large" and "Small" on mine so I can tell them apart. Dave

You mean the book that says "If the sensor needs to be cleaned directly, have it done by a Canon Service Center." ?? Ok it does go on to explain how to do it. "...the mirror will lockup and the shutter will open to expose the sensor. You can now clean the sensor." Yes, that's really what the XTi manual says about sensor cleaning. So I don't quite think it's the right book to read. Dave

That's almost funny. It would be if there hadn't been a fatal crash and a stupid lawsuit. "Robb said his experience in aviation leads him to the conclusion that skydiving operations should use an air-cooled jet engine in their planes." Oh yeah, he sure sounds experienced! Glad I know that Pratt has good lawyers. This shouldn't be a tough one... Dave

I'm pretty sure this is an example of that happening: http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=3601 Dave

I don't think I'd call those excellent! But that did happen to me recently on my Vector3. Which is why they switched to magnetic riser covers of course, which aren't compatible with cell phone cameras. In my case, the rig had just come back from getting new riser covers that were slightly redesigned to prevent the stiffeners from cracking. Right side hung up. I was able (after spending at least 30 seconds trying to figure out what the heck was wrong and why my head was pinned down partially) to yank on my right rear riser and clear it. Canopy flew surprisingly well that way... I think it would have landed ok, but I never unstowed the brakes as it was. Anyway, never happened again. I think it was just too stiff being brand new. Dave

It was a reference to Duracell's TV commercials (in the US). It made sense... just go with it.

Nope, I completely agree... I also own a Reflex, which does not have secondary riser covers or many of the other improvements on my Vector3, but I'm still willing to jump it. So no, I don't think they're "necessary," just that they're a good thing to have. Rigs without them hold the risers and toggles in just fine... MOST of the time. To my knowledge I've never had any flaps/covers open on my Reflex when they weren't supposed to. But the design does allow for it to happen. There's just no way that could happen on a properly packed vector3 (or similar). Jan mentioned "One scenario I can think of is someone that stows the risers over the top of the secondary riser cover." Maybe possible, but it would look ridiculous packed that way. The risers would be completely exposed on the outside of the rig (because the main riser covers aren't so deep). It's not a realistic scenario... and even if a packer did that, it would be completely obvious. Dave

I have a little trouble understanding how someone doesn't see the benefit of secondary riser covers for any type of skydiving. Have you never seen a toggle floating behind an old javelin or racer in freefall? Haven't you ever had to push someones riser/toggle back into place during a gear check? The secondary riser covers don't only help when the riser cover opens, they help when the riser cover is closed properly. Dave