Aviatrr

[replyWhich commonly used jump planes are required to have this? I know the Casa is way over that weight limit, is an Otter? How about planes like the Skyvan? Twin Otters are not over 12,500lbs, therefore they are NOT required to be able to climb on one engine. In any aircraft over 12,500lbs(certificated after a certain date - I believe 1964 - anybody else sure of the exact year/date or if it applies to the aircraft in question?), it is illegal to take off at a weight greater than that which would allow a climb on one engine - equal to a 1.6% climb gradient(this is net gradient, for those pilots that understand what I'm saying), which equals, IIRC, 152 feet per nautical mile(that means every 6,076ft traveled horizontally, the airplane should climb 152ft - NOT MUCH!). BUT, you must realize, these numbers are based on a brand new airplane with brand new engines(since these tests were done when the airplane was first certified) - so older airplanes with older engines are not likely to meet this. There IS a fudge factor built in, and it is usually enough to account for these factors, but not always. A popular pilot saying is...."In a twin engine airplane, when one engine fails, the remaining engine will take you to the scene of the crash".. Unfortunately, that is because most pilots of multi-engine aircraft are not current/proficient in single engine procedures. This is why recurrent training is required every 6 months for most of us - but that does not apply to jump pilots. The Casa and Skyvan are over 12,500lbs, but I don't know what year they were certificated - so I'm not 100% sure what requirements apply to them. I am pretty damn sure that the rules I stated above DO apply to them. If in doubt, as the pilots flying them. They will have a TYPE RATING(a specific rating that is required for the Captain in any aircraft over 12,500lbs MGTOW or jet powered) in the aircraft, and should know the applicable requirements. Mike

Sorry dude, but he's wrong in that case....unless he was referring specifically to the CIVILIAN version of it, in which case he might be correct....but the Coasties have put jumpers out of their HH65's over Jacksonville before(that's the only place I have personally witnessed it).. Mike

Supposedly they lost two of three hydraulic systems, leaving them with extremely limited elevator control(I'm assuming they only had elevator trim, not true elevator control, based on some of the info I've seen) and rudder control. The crew did an excellent job getting the airplane on the ground and surviving the incident. Mike

Forget those vacuum bags/machines.....get these.. http://www.packmate.com/share/cgi-bin/site.cgi?site_id=packmate&page_id=home I travel for a living....these are what I use....you close them up, then squeeze the air out(fold 'em and sit on 'em). They are not very expensive - I think around $15-20 for a pack of 5. I've been using the same 5 for over a year - and I'm opening and closing them every day I'm away from home, which is half of the year. I got mine from a store at the mall.....I think it was Brookstone... Mike

That's WAY too easy....when my own reserve pack job saved my butt, I bought myself MANY bottles of liquor.. Mike

Care to elaborate? Will those changes apply to CRW jumps as well? Mike

There's nothing to worry about.....you're coming from Ohio, where the elevation is roughly 1,000ft anyways. Eloy is 1500ft. It's only 500ft difference. You won't even notice the difference. Mike

Whatever you do....DON'T GET AN HP! I've had one almost 3 years....it's been in for warranty work about 10 times. It's a POS, and several guys I work with that have HP notebooks(mine is an HP Pavilion) have had similar problems. Mike

Don't be so sure about that. There is no legal requirement for a twin engine aircraft to climb on one engine unless it is over 12,500lbs or a jet(neither of which apply to the KingAir series, except for the 300, 350, and a couple of ex-military 200's). If the aircraft is at MGTOW, and it's warm out....don't expect that remaining engine to do anything but extend the "gliding" distance. Definitely agree....just don't be under any misconceptions that the airplane WILL climb after an engine failure....it MIGHT, but is not required to. Mike

Bullshit! Is this another ASC? No matter which state you're in, they're the closest and best? Skydive Deland is 20 minutes from Daytona. Skydive SoBe is 3.5 to 4 hours away. Mike

Dauphin is the original name of the helicopter, and there were many variants of it....but the CG version is actually called a Dolphin. They knew that the Coasties wouldn't be able to spell Dauphin if somebody said it to 'em, or be able to pronounce it if they saw it in writing....so they made it easy for 'em. Mike

Depends on the specific helicopter, and how it's equipped. They often have antennaes on the bottom, and those can be quite expensive. I watched a Sikorsky S-76 touch down with the gear retracted one day. Immediately after it touched down(and smashed all the antennaes on the bottom), it lifted back off, the gear came down, and he landed again. Whoops! Most helicopters that sophisticated have a warning system that will give you a warning horn if you go below a certain altitude(usually low, like 5-10' or so) or below a certain altitude/airspeed combination with the gear not down and locked....kinda like retractable gear airplanes have. Mike

I second this. I also have a gear bag from Aero Tech. They are the best built gear bags I have ever seen. Terry(the owner) stands behind everything 100%. He's also a kick ass rigger who's saved my butt a couple times.. Mike

Nice job man. One question....do you stow your slider or just collapse it and pull it down? By stow I mean is there a way to attach it to your rig(such as a velcro strip like I use). If so, did it pull free easily? Mike

Most grocery stores should have them. If they're not in the aisle with other disposable cups, look in the aisle with bathroom stuff....they are often labeled as "bathroom cups" for some reason. I've gotten 'em from Publix and Albertsons here in Florida.. Mike

NICE! I haven't gotten to jump out of one, but I have flown one. Damn sweet helicopters. Mike

Skymama: 26th (late) -3rd Freeflying, hybrids, tracking (in my Pantz that love my ass!), jumps with Newbies who don't know who to ask to jump with them. TB99: 24th (late) - 1st (midday) Mostly wingsuit, but will do freeflying here and there and tracking. Gawain: 29th (early I hope!) - 2nd (through afternoon) RW (mmm 4-way), hybrids. I don't know how to freefly. But I like watching while being a base in a hybrid. WrongWay: 26th thru the 1st FREEFLY, Hybrids, Tracking dives. Gonna take my AD, wish me luck guys!! SEE YA THERE! Groundzero: 26th thru 4th... Bird-man only... when I received my suit there were no instructions on "removing from rig", so sorry that's all I can do. DaGimp 26th-4th FF, RW, Hybrid, Flock, Video, Balloon, Night New Years Eve....Jack of all trades master of none. Taz 25th afternoon till Jan 5th FREEFLY, try my first Birdman, high altitude, Night jump New Year's eve, tracking! I just basically want to jump my ass off and improve my freeflying as much as possible... but I like jumping with newbies too! Alanab: 26th afternoon until jan 1st Freefly, 1st high alti, 1st balloon, 1st night jump, hybrids, maybe some rw. anyone wanna come play with me? Turtlespeed: 24th (Late) to the 28th (mid day) I have recently started flying camera, so anyone wanting some free amature video for belly jumps, let me know and I will do my best. MochaSkyChick: 23rd(Late Maybe) to Jan 3rd Freeflying, RW, Balloon Jumps, High Altitude, tracking, hybrids, hope to try a BirdMan, fun, fun, fun... JTVAL W/ mocha,piglit,brandoliem) 23rd to 2nd jan All stlyes as long as we're having fun and being safe! LouDiamond: 21- 5th jan Teaching Birdman/coaching/ big way flocking/ rodeo/filming . I'll do some bigways and DZ.com jumps and even a hybrid for the fun of it. All low timers are invited to jump with me Deuce,with BigBen, VideoScooter Cornholio, and Skymama. late Friday the 26th,- 31st (maybe 2nd) Amazon 30th DEC- 4 Jan wingnut 24th dec -31st dec birdman, freeflying, free video (you want it i'll do it but i ain't as good as duece) and any rw that only requires me to get in my slot and turn maybe 2 points.. i hate remebering what goes next.. CanuckInUSA Dec 22nd (I hope) - Jan 3rd (I hope) Freeflying, freeflying and some more freeflying from high altitudes. Some hybrids, maybe a balloon jump if I can wake up early enough. Maybe a birdman jump (or two) and of course lots more freeflying. I'm willing to do bigger way jumps with those who are experienced and also willing to do two-way jumps with the new freefliers (I fly a camera and might make you famous). Skypup: 27th - 3rd. (Approx.) RW, Hopefully geting invited on some Big ways, Getting some freefly coaching, Tracking dives, and a few more birdman jumps, and DZ.records of course. Aviatrr 25th(later afternoon) - 31st, maybe as late as the 4th if I can get the time off from work Freeflying, Birdman, hybrids, RW(nothing too serious, just fun stuff), video(of every jump, of course), tracking, high altitude, anything else that anybody wants to do. Willing to jump with anybody, whether they're brand new to the sport or a 15,000 jump wonder. Only firm thing so far is balloon jump on the Sun the 28th PM.

This was forwarded to me on another list....a new canopy control course being offered.

Agreed.....but the question has to be asked...what does this say about their QC? Hopefully there is only one rig that made it through with the Skyhook attached improperly. Of course, now their QC in that area at least will be two or three times as rigorous. Hopefully everybody that has an affected rig will not jump it until it has been inspected, but I seriously doubt that will be the case - especially since it's the weekend. Anybody know how many rigs this SB affects? Based on this.... ...it appears that they mean there will be a reserve PC in tow if you go straight to your reserve(such as a low exit or no pull/cypres fire). Is that the way others read that? This makes me wonder.....in a situation like this, can the FAA step in and ground all affected rigs until they are inspected since this is a TSO'd component? Mike

I jump with two. One is a Ripper, the other is a standard metal hook knife. I have used the Ripper once. Mike

For me it all depends on the specific DZ(landing area size, outs if I don't make it back, obstacles that can create rotors) and whether the wind is steady or gusting. Generally 20-30mph is my limit - again, depending on the previous factors. Sometimes lower. Very rarely higher. Mike

There are several DZ's I won't jump at due to poor A/C maintenance and/or unsafe pilots. I'm probably more critical than many since I fly for a living, and have flown just about every type of aircraft that is used as a jump plane. I don't really care much if the operation is flying an airplane illegally because something is not operating(such as certain gauges, lights, instruments, etc) because EVERY airplane has something on it that could cause it to be grounded....but, I do care if they are flying it in an UNSAFE condition. As you know, there is a big difference between illegal and unsafe. Mike

I don't know what it is, then....but after at least 5 or 6 emails and probably as many messages left on their voicemail over the course of 3-4 weeks I gave up on 'em. I'll try again, and if I get the altimeter repaired, sell it. Thanks. Mike

I'm certainly not trying to impress anybody...but I asked so I would know which area to land in based on what I wanted to do. I guess I'll be landing in the other landing area most of the time if I'd be breaking the rules in the main area. Mike

Good luck getting in touch with them. I have been trying for several months to get mine repaired. I've sent many emails and left many voicemails for them, and the NEVER respond. Apparently, they are happy to sell you a Digitude....but they are NOT willing to give any post sale customer support. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THIS COMPANY! Mike