cessnas

Dorindarita's Oh NO! Im thinking I will proceed with caution. You people up at Couch Freaks drinking them Dorindarita's looked like you knew how to have a good time. I suppose I will have to give one a try myself. This event is really coming together I cant wait.

From what i understand the BOD has minimal power behind closed doors to control what Mr. Needles, Bangs and Scott are doing. I here you have to be on the inside with those guys to get anything done. I sense something very fishy with this organization. Seems only those that need to know will and the rest including a large portion of the BOD are in the dark. As for the members Im not sure what to say. Roger Nelson was trying to find out what the staff at headquarters made and was told the only way to find this was to sue them. If that is the case we have a huge problem with the industries leaders and the only way to deal with it is by majority unless an attorney on here is able to obtain those figures!!!

Well i have grown up since the age of 2 in this sport with a father that jumped and a mother that to this day does not enjoy the sport or those that we jump with for the most part. I can say that i've seen many failed relationships over successful ones in the sport. If this is something you do once in a great while well it may not be a big deal but, for most its a lifestyle and if you find that person in your life is not interested this will lead to future issues. I've seen DZO's loose many marriage's, i've seen young guys find a girl when they were at the top of their game in skydiving and sell all the gear they owned before they could put thier clothes back on. I personally found that either meeting someone in the sport or finding someone that was not out to change my love and passion for such a great sport was the best mix. Either way i've passed up many of relationships to skydive.

Here is my problem as a DZO. Mark my word this will be the second time a lawfirm will win a case involving a skydiving plane crash in Missouri in less than 10 years. In 1998 a for the lack of a better term poorly managed and ran DZ was operating a fleet of Cessnas. On a nice sunny March day a C-206 has engine problems and tries to make it to a local airport as to not alarm the locals and land with out incident. What happens instead is the plane and engine continue to beat themselves apart until the plane catches on fire the jumpers are left with no options to jump when they could have exited at 4200agl. Instead they all burn up dead on an aiport 6 miles from the DZ. Well Robb and his firm are quick to hit the families up for a class act suit. In the end they found Teledyne Continental the engine manf. with the deep pocket at fault for some BS transfer tube issue that they feel in the investigation caused a main bearing to fail and thus the engine to turn into a lathe in flight until failure and fire. Keep in mind this engine had been operating for approx. 750hrs. and was considered midtime. Well within 4 mos. this center managed to trash 2 more aircraft without any further loss of life. Now we have another plane crash with the same law firm out for the engine manf. Sure all signs lead to this engine having problems but are they all the manf. fault??? I would think the logs will tell some of the story but from what im hearing money was tight and the DZ was running at a loss. Seems similar to the other center i was referring to. Instead we had a KC area DZO that owned shit and an aircraft owner that only cared about his per hour profit for keeping the planes in the air. Not top notch upkeep on the planes and records. He was the pilot as well that was killed along with 5 jumpers 2 of which were my personal friends. My point here is that skydiving centers are structured to be judgement proof for the most part. Hiding and sheltering all the major assests as best they can. If we allow the deep pockets i.e. plane manf., engine manf, insurance companies etc. to save us from the ultimate responsibility of running a difficult business with tight profit margins. Then we need to get ready to get are asses spanked. Im hearing that Pratt and Whitney is calling all types of 135 operater and getting insight on why these engines should not be operated for this type of hard un-desinged use. Its funny that after the KC crash and a 27.5 million suit in which the lawfirm got half. That all I-0520's in the C-206 did not receive an AD (airworthiness directive) Seems if we have an issue with this defective part that brings planes down we need to fix the problem across the board. Should be interesting as to how this one plays out but i can assure you. A deep pocket not the DZ or its affiliates will take the hit. This in the end will affect the cost of parts and aircraft ownership and of course will find its way to you guys the customer in higher jumptickets or less flying turbine aircraft for skydiviing. Lets think about this!!!

Sorry i did not look at your profile but rather saw the post and just wondered. I know most of the KS DZ's are like my operation on the MO side very conservative. Im not on here to start any shit or give you a hard time just curious. In reguards to anyone that has jumped at my DZ over that weight they would have been doing tandems or using C23-D gear otherwise lying to me on their weights. No need to start a new thread you answered my question. Enjoy the Freaks!!

In reply to: I meet all the requirements though I weigh about 280 out the door. My current reserve is a 174 so I'd be fine with that or bigger if need be. Correct me if im wrong but im not aware of any reserves in the industry that are rated at 300lbs. jumper weight and gear, in a 174 sq.ft range. Where do you jump this gear at?? If this is C-23B certifed gear your a test jumper!! As a DZO i would be liable if that gear failed and i put you out of my plane not to mention the rigger who is servicing your gear.

Just did some checking and found that this firm is the same firm that represented the families in the KC crash in 98 that killed 6. The suit was settled for 27.5 million dollars most of it came from Teledyne Continental the engine manf. I was told it was to date the largest general aviation lawsuit won. Just wondering how much longer skydiving aircraft will be considered part 91 general aviation aircraft

Just got off the phone with Tom and they are bringing the aircraft in this evening. So all you hungry turbine jumpers, the aircraft will be online Friday morning ready to go. I also have confirmation of at least 4 other area dzo's and staff that will be coming up to jump with us. Grab your friends and come out to a great facility, free beer, and lots of awesome food.

I just was informed that GoFast will be out for the boogie as well! They are bringing a logo tent, windblades, and FREE GoFast along with HOT GoFast girls to promote the energy drink and the local skydiving scene. Im being told they will have free memorabilia to give to the jumpers as well. I will have a keg on tap for all the jumpers Friday afternoon as well. We are hearing a big response from jumpers all around that are looking forward to coming out and jumping together with all the DZ's in the area. See ya this weekend

The aircraft is a Turbine Porter with a -27 engine. Im told it will turn 3.2 loads an hour so we can keep jumpers moving on the turn times all weekend long. No registration fee lots of good BBQ and free beer Sat.!! As one of 3-4 DZO's that will be attending this event Im looking forward to hanging out and jumping with the midwest jumpers that I have not had a chance to meet and jump with in the past. From what I hear MRVS has first class facilities that will make this a great venue for the midwest jumpers along with some very experienced skydivers to jump with. As for the online information Im not sure what is available but, I can assure you as a local KC DZO this boogie is a GO and is not an April fools joke. I plan to be out on Fri. early to start jumping so come on out and jump with us.

I believe we are going to have the aircraft available for Friday jumping as well. Also DZO Jen Sharp from Skydive Kansas and her group will be out to join us!! Contact the DZ for more info.

I was the primary photographer there for the last 4 yrs the facility operated. I have tons of photos laying around. Let me know what you might want and ill dig it up and send it over. Chris Hall