Pilot SUCKED out ....

[darkwing 4]

I jumped a 152 (maybe a 150) and it was pretty hard. I can't imagine that someone could quietly slip out on the pilot. Opening a door far enough to get out is a huge aerodynamic change, not to mention the noise and wind. Forcing your way out the door is non-trivial also, even at low speed.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[rgoper 0]

i just got to thinking, no body has been retrieved, not to say one won't be. let's say he wasn't on the plane at all, maybe he fled to avoid prosecution? either that, or he was dead before he got into that cockpit and was thrown out? it is impossible for the pic to not have been aware that he was bailing out, if in fact he did. let's say he did jump out, would it be possible for him to not disturb any pedals, or the yoke? i think not, if he did bail, he was assissted in one way or another. the more i learn, the more possibilities emerge.

--Richard--
"We Will Not Be Shaken By Thugs, And Terroist"

[wildblue 4]

I was thinking this when I first heard it - staged his own death. Again, how hard could it be to find the body?
I'd show the picture around some DZs, see if he's been through training anywhere. Buy a rig, stash it on the plane, make sure everyone sees you getting on the plane, and make sure someone notices the plane coming back empty - like, call while you're still in the air on your way back to the airport.
... hang on... gonna go check who my beneficiary is....

it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality

[trfenwyd 0]

seriously....faking a death to avoid prosecution, probably selling government secrets to somebody who doesn't like us, I smell conspiracy

in vino veritas-
(there is truth in wine)

[narcimund 0]

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I've jumped 152s. It's not that hard.

with, or without jump doors?

Without. Standard forward-opening doors. You have to push, but it's not going very fast. It's a 152 afterall! Just ask the pilot to go slow, unlatch the door, push, and slip through. Yeah yeah yeah, be careful of your handles and whatnot. It's not rocket science.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[happythoughts 0]

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I was thinking this when I first heard it - staged his own death. Again, how hard could it be to find the body?
I'd show the picture around some DZs, see if he's been through training anywhere. Buy a rig, stash it on the plane, make sure everyone sees you getting on the plane, and make sure someone notices the plane coming back empty - like, call while you're still in the air on your way back to the airport.
To get a more detailed plan, rent Terminal Velocity.
... hang on... gonna go check who my beneficiary is....

[pilotdave 0]

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It's not rocket science.

Sounds like he was a rocket scientist though, working for United Space Alliance (the company that operates the space shuttle) and formerly the AIAA.


Dave

[rgoper 0]

The Latest:

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Mystery surrounds the death of 47-year-old Russell Filler, who Waller County authorities believe jumped out of an airplane Sunday. Authorities confirm they were investigating the NASA employee over a stolen computer, but little else about Filler is known. Today, the pilot who was at the controls when Filler allegedly jumped will re-enact the flight for authorities, as the search for Filler's body continues. 11 News reporter George Smith will have the latest on this bizarre story at 5 and 6.

makes ya go hmmmmmmmmmm.

--Richard--
"We Will Not Be Shaken By Thugs, And Terroist"

[happythoughts 0]

"Today, the pilot who was at the controls when Filler allegedly jumped will re-enact the flight for authorities, as the search for Filler's body continues. "

During the re-enactment a Channel 11 News reporter was inadvertently killed. The pilot was not able to explain what happened (again). Channel 11 plans to keep doing re-enactments until the matter is cleared or they run out of reporters.

[rgoper 0]

LOL! wouldn't surprise me at all! people dissapearing, getting run over multiple times by wives...sheesh! they got us beat with all of this B.S.

--Richard--
"We Will Not Be Shaken By Thugs, And Terroist"

[wmw999 2,120]

In the HMMM department:
- a $500 theft, even if it costs you your job, is probably not worth killing yourself over. To just about anyone.
- it's a lot of effort to rent a Cessna 152 and take it to 9000 feet just to make a bandit suicide jump
- It was cold enough on Saturday that a bulky jacket was not an unreasonable thing to wear.
- it wouldn't be that hard to buy a rig without anyone really figuring out what it was for if you planned. Even if you're not a skydiver. Risky, but not that hard.
- 9000 feet gives you plenty of time to suck it low and open where the pilot can't see you easily
- The exit point is very close to an active drop zone. What better place to have an open canopy be unremarkable than close to a drop zone, on a windy day.

I don't think they're going to find a body. I don't think anyone at the DZ had anything to do with this (it's one of two I jump at, and I've talked with a person or two). But the research is not hard to do if you wanted to stage a disappearance.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[freeflir29 0]

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a $500 theft, even if it costs you your job, is probably not worth killing yourself over

It may only be a $500 computer but what was on it? That could be worth much more. Either in dollars or impact on lives.

[happythoughts 0]

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a $500 theft, even if it costs you your job, is probably not worth killing yourself over

It may only be a $500 computer but what was on it? That could be worth much more. Either in dollars or impact on lives.

Probably porn. Running sweaty.honeys.com from the NASA network. Your tax dollars at work.

[jumperconway 0]

No details yet but I heard a few minutes ago that they found the body in a field in that area
Sucks to be him!
C 1045

[rgoper 0]

The Latest:

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Pilot's body found after two day search
11/19/2002

By George Smith / 11 News and Associated Press


Houston (KHOU) -- Searchers Tuesday found the body of a Houston pilot who apparently jumped out of a private plane Sunday at about 9,000 feet.


Waller County Sheriff Randy Smith says the body was found in a field about five miles southwest of Waller. The area near FM 362 and Haley Road is about 40 miles northwest of Houston.


The body of Russell Filler was spotted by searchers in a Department of Public Safety helicopter.


The 47-year-old engineer was with a flight instructor on Sunday, after taking off from an airport in Spring. The flight instructor told authorities he was making a steep turn when he heard a thump and turned to see Filler's feet going out of the plane.


Tuesday, the flight instructor helped authorities re-enact the events leading up to Filler's disappearance and his body was found a few hours later.


Investigators are slowly piecing together the final days of Filler's life. "He'd had some issues, possibly depression issues," said Waller County Sheriff Randy Smith. "Just different things that we're still investigating to get his state of mind."


Sources tell 11 News that Filler had recently called a friend from out of state and said he planned to jump out of a plane. Investigators didn't find a suicide note. But Filler's wallet and car keys were found inside his car.


Filler worked for United Space Alliance. Those who knew him called him intelligent and well thought of by his colleagues. He is a former Chairman of AIAA, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Filler was often pictured with NASA astronauts and a number of members of the Houston Congressional delegation.


Investigators say, however, that last Thursday authorites went to Filler's home in connection with the theft of a computer. At that time, Filler told them he had seen an ad in a grocery store for a five-hundred dollar laptop so he bought it. The laptop belonged to NASA and contained government software, although authorities say it was not sensitive information.


NASA had reported it stolen about a week ago. "This particular computer, a Dell laptop, had a tracking device that was installed in the computer," explained Captain Robert Van Pelt with the Harris County Sheriff's Department. "So when the computer was hooked up to a phone line, it would automatically call a tracking number, a tracking center."

me smellum rat, BIG RAT!

--Richard--
"We Will Not Be Shaken By Thugs, And Terroist"

[freakyrat 1]

I was working when this incident happenned. You folks should have heard the MAYDAY call from the instructor pilot.

Filler told the flight school where he and the instructor departed from that he was recovering from ear problems and that he needed to go up and see if his ear was OK now. He was flying in the left hand seat of the Cessna 150.

The most ridiculous thing about this whole incident is that after it happened the powers to be tried to make a determination if they needed to drug test the controllers who worked the aircraft. Like they had anything to do with this incident.

[jumperconway 0]

Damn, must have been using a Sentinal, SPLAAAATTTT!!!!!,bonk,thuuuddddd!
Hope this does'nt wind up in incidents![;/]
Blue skies Dipshit!

[suz 0]

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whuffos

Waffles???
I do not comprehend here...what are whuffos? or do I not want to know?

Don't bother me, I'm living happily ever after

[CanuckInUSA 0]

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whuffos

Waffles???
I do not comprehend here...what are whuffos? or do I not want to know?

Whuffos are what skydivers call people who don't skydive and it stands for "What for you jump out of them airplanes".

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[suz 0]

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Whuffos are what skydivers call people who don't skydive and it stands for "What for you jump out of them airplanes".

Is there a name for people who arent whuffos, but are skydivers, who don't know what whuffo's are???

Don't bother me, I'm living happily ever after

[CanuckInUSA 0]

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Is there a name for people who arent whuffos, but are skydivers, who don't know what whuffo's are???

New skydivers

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[suz 0]

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New skydivers

Well, it all makes sense now, cheers!!!

Don't bother me, I'm living happily ever after

[lummy 4]

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Well, it all makes sense now, cheers!!!

Just don't make us explain

him...
him...
F*CK HIM!!!

LMAO..

I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. eat sushi, get smoochieTTK#1

[brits17 0]

i was at the dz all day (waller) doing some rigging when all the findings happened. the coast guard actually called us and asked us to stop jumping while their helicopters did a search of the area. i have to admit though, checking out 3 coast guard copters landing on our dz was a pretty cool sight. glad they found him though, at least thats a start to some sort of closure.

_______________________
aerialkinetics.com

[Ducky 0]

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Is there a name for people who arent whuffos, but are skydivers, who don't know what whuffo's are???

whuffos


kwak

Sometimes your the bug, sometimes your the windshield. Sometimes your the hammer sometimes your the nail. Question is Hun, Do you wanna get hammered or do you wanna get nailed?????