Sletzer

That sucks, I can see this scenario unfolding: Wew, I can't believe I came out of that malfunction with barely a scratch! Damn that was scary, glad I survived. All I have to do now is walk across this field and ....... You guys stay safe out there! I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

I wish they'd make an, um, square 4 somewhere in the Southeast. I've had great experiences with the square one guys in Cali, too bad their closest shop (NJ) is 14 hours from my house. Weeee. I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

quote: But I also found some study that basically says that "as long as you do not jump UP from King Air, you`ll miss the tail" ______________________________________________ This is from one of my other posts: "I climbed out the door and JUMPED a student style exit- found out later I almost hit the back stablizer " _______________________________ SO I have to agree that it's possible to hit the tail, but you have to jump UP from the door to hit it, or if the pilot is still climbing when you exit, it could also happen. I'm fortunate enough that the pilots at my home DZ are very experienced , and the aircraft is well maintained enough to have an incredible climb rate, which I've heard an undermaintaned king air cannot do consistently for a long period of time. (Also I trust the DZO and his maintenance). I suppose if I'm really worried about the aircraft stalling on jumprun- eight minutes isn't too long to keep all your gear on and be ready to file out the door in an orderly fashion I do see your point about king airs DIABLOPILOT, so I have to ask, what is your favorite jump plane? And is there any jump plane that doesn't have any serious negatives? I'm still pretty new to all this, so I'm curious about what else is out there. Maybe I just need to crash the nearest boogie...... I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

How about a little more info such as license requirements to compete and costs. Thx I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

The door (see through slide up jump door on a King Air) really does say that on a sticker on the metal of one f the door window pane holders about 2 feet from bottom of the door. It's the kind that slides up a track across the roof toward the other side of the cabin. Still, I have seen some jumpers have to give the door a few tugs after not realizing you've got to pull pretty good to get it moving. (Not difficult to do by any means, some people are just hesitant) Once you get it up a few inches it slides up just fine. Anyway, I could see your point being valid. No sense in screaming/crying/pissing yourself. Just open the door and get out That's why I was wondering about that sitcker.... you might have to kick it just right to get the door clear of the aircraft, and after a few kicks it might have taken less time to pull it up and open. I guess you only kick the door off if ....... Damn those stickers! I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

Here's an interesting question: If you're in a King Air with a jump door that slides up, when the shit hits the fan do you pull the door up, or try to kick the shit out of it where the label says "in case of emergency kick here." I could imagine arguments either way. It can be hard to pull open the door very quickly- I've seen some people have to tug twice to get it up. But it also might take several kicks to clear the plastic door from the sliders, and it could cause a hang up problem for people trying to exit. I'm not sure how I'd react, but if the plane was going out of control I can't see sliding the door up very do-able. I'd probably kick it HARD, then force my way out. Hmmmm, dunno. Anyone got any input? (I'm gonna have to ask this one at safety day) I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

I took my AFF courses here and have been jumping with Skydive Atlanta ever since. The staff is very experienced, the people here really watch out for each other. Expect someone to check your rig without you having to ask if you are new. If you are experienced, people will still watch out for you, there's no bitching if you ask for a pin check even on a full load. The aircraft is one of the highlights. The Super King Air gets loads to 14,000 feet in 8 minutes, or even less if the plane isn't fully loaded. GPS equipped plane makes spotting that much easier. The pilots are all very experinced jumpers so they take that into consideraton on every jump run. (I.E. they won't just dump you out somewhere so they can go home- the spots are very good before you even check them). Plane has A/C for those hot days, and a really cool purple suede lineing. HUGE indoor area to hang out- two very large padded packing areas in hangar. Big screen TV to watch your last jump- nice sound system for listening to music while packing. They've got about 10 couches to relax on in between jumps. The landing zone is very large and there are a TON of outs all around the DZ. If the spot was off by several miles you could still easily find a nice field to land in any direction. Only down side is the remote location (like all DZ's) and if you're doing AFF expect to be there all day. Someone doing a tandem can probably be in and out in a few hours with a smile on their face and video in hand. Overall just a good place to jump. I respect and trust all the instructors, all the other jumpers are great people as well. With a fresh "A" license I was jumping with groups of the very experienced local guys- because they asked me. very friendl people. Outside jumpers are easily accepted, and will have a great time for a weekend trip or a new home DZ. Awsome people, awsome skydives. What more could you want?

I realize that there are people who jump canopies in the 90-100 square foot range, but a 37 is waaaaaaay smaller. I'm assuming he's an amazing canopy pilot- and he still had to run out that canopy at a very high speed. Incredible. Guess there really was no point, I was just trying to wrap my mind around someone jumping something that small and that fast. I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

Hey! I've made all my jumps but one from a King Air, and I kinda like it. Sure I have to stuff my newbie ass out a tiny door, but how can you complain with 8 minutes to 14k? I'm usually out of the plane by the second noxious gas attack instead the 5th or 6th I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

Now that's funny! A little Hitchhiker Guide to the Galaxy perhaps? I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

Nice, I'm going to sing that to my girlfriend tonight I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

That post and picture made me laugh out loud Not trying to be an ass but I'm getting a new rig next month and Iknow I'm about to go through the same hell as you guys. Btw, all the chutes I've seen have fit inside the D-bag a little better. But I'm still new at this, so knows.... Looking at the picture I can imagine you spent 15 minutes trying to slip that first $#^@^ rubberband into the grommet. Talk about a tight fit! And with a new canopy? Wow. Can't wait till I go though this.... I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

Okay, I have to ask. Is anyone jumping a chute even CLOSE to as small as Luigi? And, does that name make you think of Mario whenever you hear it.....? Just a thought.... I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

nevermind, besides the one in West Virginia referred to Deland has one by Scott Miller. Two good options, guess that answers my question

I'd love to find one in the Southeast. Anywhere in Georgia, Alabama, or possibly northern Florida. PM me or post with any info- thanks! I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

I jumped my own pack for the first time yesterday (best opening I've had but I still don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell I would have done my first hop & pop with my first pack job. Koodos on the big brass ones. I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

hahahahhaaaaaaaaa

Ohhh, now that's funny! The thought of someone doing that to me crossed through my mind more than once. I bet those were "exciting" first few seconds as you realized you were no longer in the plane! I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

It was a Super King Air, but like I said, I JUMPED my student style exit (I was used to diving out). Meaning I jumped UP and out when I left the plane. It was a really bad mistake- one I won't ever make again. That's a big reason I needed to focus on the next jump and nail it. This sport seems to have a really steep learning curve- at least I've ticked off one more thing I'll conscientiously never do again. And my coach is the one who told me I almost hit the plane- I didn't realize it at first. Hope that clarifies things. (Glad yours went like butter, I'd like to think all mine except the first one will too

I know one way to find out

He came to Auburn University when I went there. Funny guy. He opend up for Mitch Hepburn who was late because he was getting f*cked up. Mitch OD'd on heroine like a week later. Anyway, Jim Breuer is hilarious, and this post was a downer. TEQUILLA! I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

Watching the plane climb after I saddled out was a really cool moment for me, too. I won't forget it anytime soon. When I set up to land I realized there was 25 people looking at ME because everyone else was still in the plane.... time to pull it together and land that puppy I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

I think that's the thing, for AFF it's terrifyingly low, for S/L students it's too high

I did my required hop and pop a few weeks back and was just wondering how that went for everyone else. Here's how mine went: Did high altitude H&P check jump with a decent exit. Planned on doing my H&P at 3500 on 1st try. First attempt- pilot forgot and went to 5000 before someone let him know, I got out around 5500. *side note*There's something about having 14 experienced jumpers staring at you when a)you've never spotted the airplane before, b)you're exiting the plane as low as or lower than you've ever even pulled before and c)holy f*cking sh*t the ground is right there! I climbed out the door and JUMPED a student style exit- found out later I almost hit the back stablizer (pilot had slowed down, so it was my fault), tumbled once and rolled left at the same time. Would have been a cool corkscrew if I had done it on purpose. Got stable and deployed, after burning 1500-2000 of altitude. I knew right off the bat I had fucked it up and I was PISSED at myself, but then I realized I was fortunate the pilot took me up higher than usual. Still would have been ok, but it would have been SCARY. Talked to coach about what I did, made adjustments, and.. Next load up, door opened at 3000, spot the aircraft, out the door just under 3500. Perfect exit & pull in just under 2 seconds (what my coach required), landed in target on ground. I was pumped because I nailed it, and I had bounced back from a shitty dive to a great one. Not to mention I hadn't ever "failed" a jump before, and I was able to get my shit together and pull it off. Was funny afterwords, my coach told me when I exited the first time everyone on the plane went "ohhhhhh shit!" because I fucked up and almost creamed the stabalizer. The second jump he watched the exit, turned and said "he passed it!" and everyone went nuts. I'm "sure" they were all cheering for my great accomplishment (Problably because they didn't have to sit though anymore crazy H&P's but it made me feel good none the less. I had another guy at my DZ say that he kind of freaked on his H&P and deployed his pc while flailing around on his back but got his main open at about 1200. Anyway, just wondering if anyone has any cool stories or memories from their first H&P back in the day or even from a few weeks ago.... I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251

Will do I will be kissing hands and shaking babies all afternoon. Thanks for all your support! *bows* SCS #8251