Simulated Skydives!

[aa1b 0]

As a flight instructor and skydive pilot I am about to go nuts the last week!
This is a proposal for those who must do something skydiving related:
We get an old Ford Pinto (about the same year as the Cessna's we fly) convert the door to a flying door, cut the muffler off so it sounds like a Cessna, Tear out all the seats, put some sharp objects on the floor so they can poke up thru the carpet into your knees.
To simulate the swerving take-off roll of a young inexperienced pilot we will hire a young child to command the Pinto. Right at the rotation speed we will have someone blow a kazoo to
simulate the STALL warning buzzer to warn us of our impending doom.
As we all know, must young pilots judge rotation or lift off point not by looking at the end of the runway but by the expression of the experienced jumpers...if you don't give the scared look, you don't lift off!
To maximize the effect, turn on the heater as you taxi and make sure all the windows are in the UP position. I know this isn't much but it is all we have right now!

[fred 0]

I was just going to secure a 2-by-4 to the roof of my friend's pickup and practice the "get out and hang" maneuvre along the expressway... maybe climb out and get in the back of the truck.
Problem is, when I look down, it's way past pull-time.

[Michele 1]

So, yesterday, I had reason to be in a glass elevator (I needed altitude, could have used the interior one, but no....).
On the ride down, I looked, judged height, waited, waited, checked the horizon (My feet were level with the outside security guard's head - right height), and FLARED down (in slow motion) to a perfect landing in the lobby in a suit and heels.
Sigh.
Ciels-
Michele
"What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky".
~e e cummings~

[ltdiver 3]

As a 4-way competitor, I've taken to arching on the floor in front of my tv, watching last year's National's video. Choose any slot (I like outside center) and performing all the transitions with them for 35 seconds at a pop! Makes for a great work out, too! :-)
"If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat!"

[FallinWoman 1]

To appease the skydiving nut inside of me I have been using my Mirage Mini-bag as a purse. Every time I put it on I throw my pilot chute, cut away and pull my reserve. I look goofy, but it takes me to the sky, if only for a brief moment!

[FallingMarc 0]

Haha I've been doing that with my bookbag going to class for the past couple of weeks... Actually I realized yesterday that I've also been unconsciously covering my nonexistant BOC handle, on my bookbag, every time my right side brushes up against anything in a crowd.
I'll be out at Archway this saturday, Anne, you gonna be there?
Marc

[lippy 861]

About a month ago I found a good (but slightly painful) skydive simultation.
On the way back to the DZ from a pub, with six drunken jumpers in a van, somebody inevitably yells 'Doooooor', and people started climbing out on the gravel driveway.
The van is lacking a proper step and a strut, but it's a good way to practice your PLF

[FallinWoman 1]

Marc,
ahhhh, YEAH I'll be there Saturday and Sunday!!!
I finally figured out how to land on my feet, so I need to keep practicing!!!