Keys 0 #1 June 4, 2001 I know it's still early in the season, but our pilot SUCKS! We lease the plane/pilot and we got a new one this year.It started clearing up Sunday so we called him out to fly. He acted all bothered because he had to come in, looks up and says, you'll only get 1500. So we get in and fly up. Everything broke apart. It was totally blue. At 3 grand he flattens it out and tells us it's jump run. We were like, Let's go up, it's all blue. Then he reaches over and opens the door.I can understand him being a bit conservative in terms of FAA regs, but what a @#%^. This guy will leave the summer with a zillion hours of twin turbo prop time. He should show a little respect to the people paying him to get those hours.OK. I feel better. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cyberskydive 0 #2 June 4, 2001 Make sure to tell us his name and who he flies for-LOLOur pilot is da bomb! C-28534http://www.sunraydesigns.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grogs 0 #3 June 4, 2001 Our regular pilot is AWESOME. He gets the plane to altitude in a hurry, and he's an expert with the GPS, so the spot is always right on. I still check the spot myself, but if it's anywhere close, I'm going, because he's right a lot more than I am.We do have other pilots out from time to time when Frank's not available though. I remember one guy we had... It took nearly twice as long to get to altitude, then when we turned in and started the jump run, I could feel the plane shaking and the stall buzzer going off, and that was before anyone had even started climbing out. We had an 8-way going out first, which meant 5 people on the outside of the King Air, so I was cramming as far towards the front of the plane as possible and muttering 'power dude, power' under my breath. Fortunately, the plane didn't stall, but that was by far the most nervous I've ever been on a jump run, with the possible exception of my first jump. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutchboy 0 #4 June 4, 2001 Our pilot is the DZO, so we don't have any of these issues.The Dutchboyhttp://www.geocities.com/ppolstra Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pyke 0 #5 June 4, 2001 Like cyber said, ours is the bomb!!!And I am sure he prefers to LICK!!!!!Kia Kaha,PykeNZPF A-2584 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keys 0 #6 June 4, 2001 Last year we had a great pilot named Nick. He nailed the spot every time, the for the ride alongs would dive the King Air after we got out. I'm pretty sure he flew somewhere in Texas last fall. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattb 0 #7 June 4, 2001 No complaints about the regular pilot(s) at Skydive Chicago. If you get the DZO flying you better check the spot for yourself. Never trust somebody who flies a 2:1 canopy to spot - he can get back from just about anyplace while us mortals land off! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keys 0 #8 June 4, 2001 Actually I've been to Skydive Chicago, and yes Roger was at the door. No problems with the spot and the runway really sticks out. It was early spring and one thing struck me, every jump was 12.5 on the dot. You could set your altimeter to it. Do you ever get extra? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkzone 0 #9 June 4, 2001 I reckon one of our girlie pilots sucks, blows *and* swallows!!Whooooohooooo!!! Hahahaha!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
harro 0 #10 June 4, 2001 Replying to :and he's an expert with the GPSYou saying there pilots who aren't?????Think it would be apart of the job desciption Freemind, freesky, freebeer, freefly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cacophony 0 #11 June 5, 2001 Hey Grogs, you mentioned putting 5 people outside of a king air. How the hell did you pull that one off? Was it one of those wide door king airs? Plus, it is possible to stall the plane if everyone crowds the door. This is why its important not to all rush to the back of the plane on jump run. Safe landings,Alex D-23912 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #12 June 5, 2001 I agree with Dutchboy...our pilot is very good. We generaly get 13,500 or maybe even better. He is always there since he is the DZO...no having to call him in. He is also a pretty good mechanic which helps.We have Casa pilots that sometimes come in that are terrible...spot is over a field full of cows in the next county in front of a jet coming from ATL. Spotting from a CASA is fun...how far can you hang off without falling out??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grogs 0 #13 June 5, 2001 QuoteHey Grogs, you mentioned putting 5 people outside of a king air. How the hell did you pull that one off? Was it one of those wide door king airs? Plus, it is possible to stall the plane if everyone crowds the door. This is why its important not to all rush to the back of the plane on jump run. We have a regular door (at least it's the same as the door at Cross Keys and Louisa, so I assume it's regular), but we've got a bar on top that runs about 2 feet in front and in back of the door, so the superfront and super rear are actually completely to the side of the door with just a toe in the very corner of the door and the other 3 are able to get into the door frame area by turning towards the front of the airplane. It's possible, but definitely tight as hell.As for the jump-run, the reason it was scaring me was because we hadn't started moving towards the back of the airplane or climbing out the door and the stall horn was already going off. When the 8-way lined up in the door, I was pushing back towards the instrument panel and pulling the other 5 jumpers not in the group as far forward as they could go. It probably wasn't as bad as it seemed, but we had just had safety day the weekend before and they had talked about how nasty a stall could be on a jump plane, so it was still fesh in my mind. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freefallfreak 0 #14 June 5, 2001 Pyke,Isn't Mark the pilot that landed the King Air wheels up at ASC? I have a pic of him doing a Fly-By over the DZ at less than 20 feet with a jumper standing on the ground almost directly under him. FFF Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grogs 0 #15 June 5, 2001 Oops, missed this one:Quoteand he's an expert with the GPSYou saying there pilots who aren't?????Think it would be apart of the job desciption I'm sure there are pilots out there who can't use a GPS, although I haven't encountered it personally. I did hear a story about a load of jumpers who almost got out over downtown Norfolk because the green light came on and it wasn't exactly conditions the FAA would approve of. Fortunately, there was a hole in the 'industrial haze' and someone had the common sense to look down before he jumped out. It turned out the pilot was at his 2nd waypoint, and thought he was at his 3rd (the airport).As for Frank and the GPS, I guess I would be more accurate saying he's an expert at picking the spot. Most idiots can program a point into the GPS and fly to it, but you still have to figure out the correct ground track and release point to program into it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deleted 0 #16 June 5, 2001 Waaaaa....Waaaaaa (Sound of baby crying)(We only got 3000) Sniff..Sniff.... Waaaa!! ....I should've kicked your ass out at a grand...Signed,JumpPilot who will get a Zillion Hours of Twin Turbo Time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shark 0 #17 June 5, 2001 QuoteJumpPilot who will get a Zillion Hours of Twin Turbo TimeDude or whatever,Yeah, skydivers can bitch a lot, but they also pay your fucking salary, however meager. Besides, there are a lot of us who are pilots, probably with more hours than you. There are also ex-military and/or current dudes who would be happy to put some twenty-mike-mike up your ass or drop some iron in your general vicinity. So dude, be happy you are doing what you are doing.And remember, when shit hit's the fan at altitude, the cargo in the back are wearing parachutes. Check six Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deleted 0 #19 June 5, 2001 Oh, you are right. What was I thinking.I guess I'm having a hard time because my penis is so small, and I'm gay.Sorry, everyone.-- The small-penis gay pilot who will get a zillion hours of twin... oh, fuck it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyboy62000 0 #20 June 5, 2001 On an 8way I did out a Coolidge for my SCR we had 5 outside. We had video and 4 floaters outside. It is possible, but when I tell people who are used to airplanes with big doors they are like, "5 people outside the king air, yeah right".Blue Skies,Adam Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
harro 0 #21 June 5, 2001 replying to :Oh, you are right. What was I thinking.I guess I'm having a hard time because my penis is so small, and I'm gay.Sorry, everyone.-- The small-penis gay pilot who will get a zillion hours of twin... oh, fuck it.Were you dropped on your head as a baby???Freemind, freesky, freebeer, freeflyEdited by harro on 6/4/01 07:38 PM. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PalmettoTiger 1 #22 June 5, 2001 QuoteAnd remember, when shit hit's the fan at altitude, the cargo in the back are wearing parachutes. WAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHOHOHOHOHEEEHEEHEEHEEhicHEEHEEHOHOHOHOHOhic Blues, squares,PTiger*insert witty sig here* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutchboy 0 #23 June 5, 2001 QuoteIsn't Mark the pilot that landed the King Air wheels up at ASC? I have a pic of him doing a Fly-By over the DZ at less than 20 feet with a jumper standing on the ground almost directly under him. Thanks to guys like this you have to get 10-20 hours of dual instruction to even rent a retractable! That's why my prelanding check has the gear down in it 4 times.The Dutchboyhttp://www.geocities.com/ppolstra Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kris 0 #24 June 5, 2001 My home DZ is only a little Cessna DZ but we have this pilot named Kevin who started flying for us last summer. With all of our other pilots it was always, "Left 20, Right 10, damnit! Another go-around!" But with Kevin it's just a look out the door to see where we're at then the cut. He truly understands what a jump-run is.Kris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #25 June 5, 2001 Yes there are pilots who do not understand GPS. It was not even invented when I learned to fly! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites