dzswoop717

I assisted with the installation Of roll up lexan doors in P206, Wide body 182, and narrow body 182 while working for Fayard Enterprises. I also flew the wide body 182 equipped with the roll up door, It worked excellent and the little loss of head room was no big deal. If you are a tall pilot, an aggressive jumper can slam you in the side of the head with the door if they jerk it open without telling you. I always made it clear that I would tell the spotter when he/she could open the door. It was also nice to be able to crack the door during climb out on those hot summer days. The added head room while standing on the step was great for exits and closing the door was as simple as it can get, just reach up and slide the door shut. Larry Penttington at Skydive Suffolk has one of the P206's that we installed a lexan door on, you could give him a call. I highly recommend this style of door.

Hands down, Jim West is the most knowlegeable person in the skydiving industry on the Beech 18.

I couldn't agree more. Our little group gets together a few times each summer and mostly do very simple 4 ways. we look out for each other, practice emergency procedures together and gear check each other. We also break off and pull high and are very selective about the winds we are willing to jump in. We all have 2000+ jumps and have been jumping together for 30 years. We have been jumping this way for the last 10 years with out any issues. Kevin, a couple of jumps might do you some good.

I am restoring a 67 2 door post in my shop right now. It is getting a retro resto. The frame and body are the only thing that are original. Everything else is being replaced with new parts. The guy bought a new 427 crate engine. It was a 6 cylinder car. The owner is the vice president of a large men's clothing company and just wanted to build a car to do burn outs with. I like them original like your car, which by the way is beautiful!!!!!

Sorry I was just trying to let Boomer dog know that there is more than one type of 206. Good luck with your engine overhaul!

A P206, when set up for jumping, has the same top hinged door as a 182. The "P" designation means PASSENGER model. You have been jumping from a U206, the "U" designation means UTILITY model which has the large cargo door aft of the landing gear leg. A P206 Is basicly a stretched 182 and the step is in the same place as stated above. As far as the TURBO goes, it has been done for years in CO. I would find out who has operated one for many years and call them. Don't listen to anybody on here. It may cost you an engine overhaul.

Tink, I have known you a long time and you ain't never gonna stop jumpin'!!!! I go through the same crap every year, I'm old, fat, out of shape, not current, and can't stand the DZ games but, I can't see myself ever hanging it up as long as I can physically get in the plane. You are a "LIFER", you just need a break to get your shit together and you WILL be back. I have made a whopping 11 jumps so far this year but, man I loved every second of each one. I really appreciate every jump I make now.

It was before my jumping career started but, The York Skydivers feilded a team in the mid seventies. They were the "Whirling Dirt Bags". Several of them are still active jumpers. I did a 14 way with a few of them a couple of weekends ago. They are Tom Selway, Jim Selway, Ted Barnes, Skip Eckert, and Bill Martin. I hope I didn't forget anyone.

She is a two timer at the least. I got the same message.

Hey Whit, I remember one of your reserve openings very well. After cutting away from our wrap job on a 9 stack over Raeford in the mid eighties. I got clear of the garbage and cut away only to find myself falling straight at you under your still breathing, freshly unpacked, round reserve. I didn't know weather to pull my reserve or attempt to slide past you in freefall. It all worked out. That was my 1001st jump. Funstuff! You should start jumping again. I have a couple of freshly packed, Cypress equipped rigs and an old Cessna 180 if you want to come to PA to make some jumps. No gear rental fee and jumps are on me.

He sounds like that pilot on one episode of Gilligans Island, " Wrongway" something or other. I don't know what I would do with out a GPS, probably be lost like your buddy.

Thanks for sharing your story. I bet you were more aware of the pilots skills when boarding an airplane after that.

That looks to be the remains of a Cessna 180. Please fill us in.

If you are looking for a Cessna DZ near Pittsburg, try Skydive Rick's in Petersburg OH. The DZ is south of Youngstown and very close to the PA border. They have 2 Cessna 206s and a 182. I was there on Sunday and made 5 jumps from noon until 4pm. You can jump as fast as you can pack. Good luck.

Did any of you old timers jump with the York Skydivers in the mid Sixties to mid seventies? They would hold their MEPA meets at a grass runway north of the town of East Berlin PA. The private air strip was then named Laird's airport. They had a huge sawdust pit for shooting accuracy. The runway is still there but there has only been one load of jumpers flown there since about 1974 or 75.

I got the spring feaver pretty bad this year. Bought myself a "new to me toy", a VERY OLD Cessna 180. I'm Having a blast getting reaquainted with the plane my father taught me to fly when I was 14 years old. I did my first solo flight in Dad's 180 and flew it a few hundred hours before he sold it in 1996. I hope you are having as much fun as I am with your new TOY.

Can anyone help me find the company that builds the lezan jump doors for 182s. Not a roll up Otter type. I have only seen pictures of them. It looks like it is sort of a door inside a door that when installed into the aiframe door way , has the lower front corner and a small door frame around it. It has a top hinge that allows the door to open upward like a regular 182 jump door. I think they are built in NZ. It eliminates the need to install an aircraft piano hinge at the top of the door frame. Any help would be appreciated.

Forums follower "gunpac" aka John Wallace is the 200th holder of "the Skydivers Resurrection Award" as seen in Five-minute call in Parachutist magazine. CONGRATS JOHN!!!!!!

Three step children, all of them made a few jumps at the age of 16. The youngest was a DZ brat that spent from age 5 to 18 at the dz. He packed and worked at the DZ, made about 50 jumps and moved on to other things. He just turned 30 last month. I wish they would have stuck with it but, it just wasn't their cup of tea.

I envy your position in life. In my younger years I had the same drive, accomplished much of your list, and now have no time to persue new challenges. It is a challenge for me just to make the time to make a couple of jumps. Life changes, priorities change, and we grow older. I specifically don't want to be challenged when I am jumping now. It is a cherrished stress relief that can change my state of mind with just one hop and pop. I am challenged in life and work, skydiving is the relief. That is just one reason I keep jumping.

I have been around skydiving since 1966 as a DZ brat. First jump was 1978 and I only missed jumping in one calender year since then. I don't get to jump as much as I would like to, it makes each jump special now. A simple 4 way with my brother and close friends is pricless. I sometimes think about hanging it up but, then on a beutiful day ,like today, I can't stop thinking about it. I appreciate the whole skydiving experience. The dirt dive, ride to altitude, climbout, exit, FF, opening, canopy ride, and landing. I am in my element while jumping like no where else in life. The thoughts of quiting are few and far between and usually only enter my mind when it seems impossible to get away from "real life" long enough to get to the airport to make a couple of jumps. I imagine I will continue to jump as long as I am physically able. I was just wondering how many "lifetime flyers" there are out there and what keeps you jumping?

I haven't been to Skydive PA in several years, and I am not familiar with the new Management, I am sure they are great. But, did you check out Skydive Rick's in OH. I have been to dozens of DZs throughout my skydiving career and I personally don't think you could find a better place to learn to skydive. Great owners, great instructors, nice Cessnas, and good facilities. Their pricing is excellent. I don't go to many DZs any more, We usually just jump out of our own airplanes, but when I am in the Youngstown area, I always try to sneak out to Rick's for a couple of jumps.

Back in the seventies there was this guy who would carry his log book with him where ever he went. He would ACCIDENTLY drop it in front of a pretty girl and at the same time say, "whoops I dropped my skydivers log book". HE NEVER GOT LAID using this trick. Chicks aren't impressed if you skydive.

My work has eaten up my spare time for several years. I would spend the DREAM summer at the airport where I keep my airplanes. Park a camper there, work on my projects, fly everyday, invite friends out to jump a couple of times a week, sit around the camp fire with friends after jumping, cook outs, take family and friends for airplane rides, and relax. Pretty boring, but I haven't had enough aviation time in years. One good summer would put a band aid on the soul until retirement.

The one guy inside the plane at the begining looks like a very young Chuck Prodey. Only guessing.