JoeWeber

Don't save your jump tickets waiting, Joe. New PAC's and Blackhawk conversions are +/- $1.5M. I've converted 3. Who knows what the tag on these will be but I think new Twin Otters are $6M so they won't be less, I'll guess. For giggles, it's easy math to know what number will work for jump planes. Figure 20% down and the rest at whatever interest rate you like but think 5-8%, 10 year amortization. That'll give you the monthly mortgage payment. Then figure 2% Hull insurance plus $3-5K for a Million Liability. So a $1.2M loan on a $1.5M aircraft @ 5% will have a $12-13K monthly nut or +/-$180K per year before anything else. Maintenance $20-25K, Pilots $40-50K. Now you are at $250K. Fly it 400 Hours and you'll burn 20,000 gallons of Jet at $4 a gallon. So now you're at $330K per year for 400 hours use. So you'll need to get +800 per hour from operations just for the aircraft. And all of that is only if the thing that was designed to last forever actually does. Good luck with that. Also, a pilot error hot start on a -42A can be north of $250K and it is an uninsured loss. Trust me, I know. Then there are engine reserves and etc. so if you aren't taking in $1100 and hour and have a Hot Section Payment in the bank you could be toast any day. So at least for now there is a valuation ceiling that is +/- $1.5M. Of course the $75 jump ticket and the $500 Tandem could change all that fast.

So true. As I said to skybytch separately: "... giving salutes to the new senior jumpers for doing the right things from people like you could easily be the most sport strengthening things you ever said." We're not completely F'n useless :)

Probably, that would be best. Your personal sense of right will never let you be quiet if you see a dangerous thing. Obviously, if it's an immediate thing you have to speak up, even at the risk of being wrong. If it's not or if it's being offered more for your ego than anyones benefit and safety then inform staff or the most experienced and current local jumpers you can find. The reality is that after a few, or several, thousand skydives and decades in the sport currency is a different thing. But one or two jumps a year shouldn't be emulated. And, really, even if it's at the same DZ you'd be a transient jumper at best. Sure, just like back in the day, we still have a cutaway handle, a reserve ripcord handle, a reserve and a main and, maybe, an AAD. But it's not all the same, including how we use the things. As I see it, it's not about you or me or any other old timer. Pass the torch and the authority to the ones who are current and there every day. It's their turn to be senior now, give them their due and their turn to earn respect.

Trust me. I know the people. Just say Joe Weber sent you.

Oh, Ken, you do huggable so good!

Sir, No. Do not learn from us guys. Us guy's should actually not engage you at all except to say: You need to get off of DZ.com and onto a DZ. This is no place for non-skydivers to get information that can be life critical. Find a school with instructors you trust and let them learn about you so they can teach you in a way that works best for you individually.

Teuge in Holland. Jumps are free because the DZ get's paid by windmills which are just like propellers so it's the same. Why other DZ's need money to pay for maintenance, pilots, manifester's , groundskeepers, riggers, lawn mowers, garbage dumpers and the people who unclog the stopped up shitters is a mystery. I think they also have free rides to free places to stay.

Go for it. Sounds like a hoot.

With a fresh "A" license as your entry card, and temporary intentions, you'll not likely be seen as a great DZ building investment by the locals in the next county much less another country. If it's just a few months, buy a few coach jumps, or not, in between your solos and practice those skills until you get home. Then, after having had a taste of $37 jumps, $10 pack jobs and, if needed, $28 gear rental at Empuriabrava, coached jumps in the US will seem quite reasonable. Back in the day has come and gone. Fun it was, but it's a different sport now. A whole lot of what seems so magical in the air these days came from a lot of hard work and a hell of a lot of money spent by talented jumpers who themselves spent a lot of money on coaching or in tunnels. If getting better in the air, being on the good loads, invitationals or competition are your goals then you'll quickly learn that good, solid coaching is an invaluable part of your progression. It is money well spent and a lot cheaper than breaking bad habits. If just being a self satisfied, happy camper weekend jumper is your goal, and there is no reason it shouldn't be, then you are in luck. Just be a decent sort and be at the DZ as frequently as everyone else and you'll certainly be included, helped along and made better. But even then a little solid coaching can be a huge help. (and re-read Wendy's post) With $8500 new rigs, $1200 jump suits, $300 helmets etc.. etc.. I'm often amused at how much money some folks will spend to look good on the ground but not in the air. Don't break the bank and choose your coaches wisely but in the big scheme of an already cash intensive sport good coaching can be great value.

I'll add just this little bit. If everyone considering downsizing at 70 jumps had your thoughtfulness and wisdom we'd have a much safer sport.

Hi Tin, It's sort of a cool idea from back in the day. Unless you also have gear, airlift and a place to land you'll need your local DZ. These day's most places are beyond just selling slots to college club trained jumpers. If they are serious they'll want all of their students trained to the same standard. So first, go to your local DZ and pitch the idea. Once they're on board you'll be able to structure the other bits.

Das ist eine schwer zu beantwortende Frage. Wichtiger als die Zeit für die Überholung des Triebwerks ist die verbleibende Zeit für die Komponenten der Flugzeugzelle. Außerdem gibt es in einigen Flugzeugen bessere Triebwerke. Achtung. Okay. Ich habe zwischen 2016 und 2018 Verträge für gute Flugzeugzellen mit Low-Time-Triebwerken zu Preisen von 750.000 USD bis 1.2000.000 USD abgeschlossen. Heute gibt es keine SC-7 Flugzeuge auf dem Markt, daher wird der Preis hoch sein.

It depends. Are you usually a pain? Are you someone who helps out around the DZ? Did you land off on your last jump? Are you an excellent packer? Am I just generally pissed off that day? Do I need you for a Tandem on the next load? Do you run to the internet crying instead of owning it and saying you F'd up, you are totally sorry, you get it and you will fix this shit? As you can see, it can get very complicated. That said, if it was just a one off dumb ass move I'd give it to the experienced jumpers and let them sort you out.

That's not exactly what I was saying. I was responding specifically to a comment how local law enforcement have on occasions prevented proper analysis and investigations taking place. That is not right. FAA, like CAA, know jack about parachuting. What I was suggesting, was that USPA ask FAA to give authority to suitably qualified parachutists/skydivers to conduct proper investigations of fatal accidents. Effectively giving them the same authority as FAA aircraft accident inspectors. These would be people who hold senior ratings and who have extensive experience in Instructing, Rigging, Tandems etc etc. Their job would be to conduct investigations and produce in depth reports relating to skydiving fatalities. Its exactly what happens in several other countries, so the system has already been tested and proven. This would put the local law enforcement in their rightful place, as supervisors of investigations, but off to one side, except, of course, in the case of foul play, a la the recent Cilliers case in the UK. (Imagine if, in that case, the police had prevented a proper investigation. Cilliers would have got away with his crime. Do we know for sure that hasn't happened already in the US?) FAA need not be involved at all, apart from perhaps receiving a copy of the final report. Tim, That resonates, sure. Are you able to provide nation specific examples of situations when klutzy local law enforcement ruined evidence that, were it not ruined, would have saved the lives of Skydivers? Joe

Sure, but are they landing on property they own or where they have permission 99% of the time? Even if the answer is no, I'm sure there are places in the desert southwest where no one cares or the owners are somewhere greener. It would still be intentional trespass but without anyone complaining for whatever reason it would seem A-O.K. My office has great views of the Oregon wine country, across the valley to the west. In half an hour when it is light enough I'll see one or two rise and drift away, sometimes several, from the launch point 20 miles away. I can see how far North or South they travel but can only guess at how far east or west based on winds. They own a lot of land or have a lot of friends. For sure, from what I hear, they are a squared away outfit and they get great reviews. They must have it worked out somehow. Another Balloon Company on the east side is very open about Balloon Trespass to where they publish this on their website: