Skydiving....wow!
- Thread starter scuba
- Start date
[ QUOTE ]
G Pilot said:
...that was the most dangerous thing I've ever done in an airplane. Planes were always under maintained, all the profits went into skydiving and maintenance came last.
[/ QUOTE ]
Must not apply only to the planes, at least in Hawaii:
The local skydive outfit in the area where I work (there are several in Hawaii, but just one in my district) experienced a bad stretch late last year when twice in as many months the chutes - yes, note the plural - failed to open. My guys got the call on the unattended death(s) of course, so I ambled out to go see for myself. Wish I didn't. First one was a tandem jump and like scuba, the gal victim was a birthday present first-timer and the instructor was an older bearded guy who had done hundreds of jumps - the size of the divot in the grassy ground caused by their impact was unbelievable, won't even begin to describe their bodies - although the looks on their faces were - peaceful...
A few weeks later the second one was a solo female, first chute didn't open, second chute roman-candled but at least slowed her descent slightly. Upon our arrival, to our great relief she was screaming at the top of her lungs from the pain to both her compacted legs - their total length was about a foot from her feet to her hips. Oh well, at least no Unattended Death report had to be filed unlike the first two people...
I'll tell ya right now man, there is NO WAY I am ever doing this -- <font color="red">EVER</font>.
G Pilot said:
...that was the most dangerous thing I've ever done in an airplane. Planes were always under maintained, all the profits went into skydiving and maintenance came last.
[/ QUOTE ]
Must not apply only to the planes, at least in Hawaii:
The local skydive outfit in the area where I work (there are several in Hawaii, but just one in my district) experienced a bad stretch late last year when twice in as many months the chutes - yes, note the plural - failed to open. My guys got the call on the unattended death(s) of course, so I ambled out to go see for myself. Wish I didn't. First one was a tandem jump and like scuba, the gal victim was a birthday present first-timer and the instructor was an older bearded guy who had done hundreds of jumps - the size of the divot in the grassy ground caused by their impact was unbelievable, won't even begin to describe their bodies - although the looks on their faces were - peaceful...
A few weeks later the second one was a solo female, first chute didn't open, second chute roman-candled but at least slowed her descent slightly. Upon our arrival, to our great relief she was screaming at the top of her lungs from the pain to both her compacted legs - their total length was about a foot from her feet to her hips. Oh well, at least no Unattended Death report had to be filed unlike the first two people...
I'll tell ya right now man, there is NO WAY I am ever doing this -- <font color="red">EVER</font>.
[ QUOTE ]
G Pilot said:
I flew jump planes for 4 years and all I have to say is that was the most dangerous thing I've ever done in an airplane. Those guys are a different breed. Planes were always under maintained, all the profits went into skydiving and maintenance came last. I finally called in and told them I could fly until some issues were dealt with. Never called me back.
[/ QUOTE ]
In every place I've worked, same applies, maintenance is last priority. Only if it's falling apart does machinery get the proper attention they deserve. And then, it's just a bandage job. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif
G Pilot said:
I flew jump planes for 4 years and all I have to say is that was the most dangerous thing I've ever done in an airplane. Those guys are a different breed. Planes were always under maintained, all the profits went into skydiving and maintenance came last. I finally called in and told them I could fly until some issues were dealt with. Never called me back.
[/ QUOTE ]
In every place I've worked, same applies, maintenance is last priority. Only if it's falling apart does machinery get the proper attention they deserve. And then, it's just a bandage job. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Icebreak
Flashlight Enthusiast
CPFer CloudDancer skydives. 10,000 plus jumps. Bottom right, brown helmet in this "USA" configuration just before it was completed.
Here is CloudDancer with a small group of friends. 4:00, brown helmet.
Last year, regarding a CPF thread about skydiving, he told me he likes to do high altitude "drop and pops" in the evening. Stalls his square 3+ mi. above North Carolina and watches the moon glint off of the Atlantic while enjoying some quiet and peaceful solitude.
-----------
- Jeff
Here is CloudDancer with a small group of friends. 4:00, brown helmet.
Last year, regarding a CPF thread about skydiving, he told me he likes to do high altitude "drop and pops" in the evening. Stalls his square 3+ mi. above North Carolina and watches the moon glint off of the Atlantic while enjoying some quiet and peaceful solitude.
-----------
- Jeff
eebowler
Flashlight Enthusiast
Any idea of how much $$$ it costs to do a dive for the first time?
eebowler
Flashlight Enthusiast
Actually, for a once in a lifetime experience, I wouldn't mind paying that much. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Being a non-US or Canadian resident however, adds in extra $$$ to the equation.
bobisculous
Flashlight Enthusiast
Boy, I would love to do that for my upcoming birthday. Looks like so much fun. Either that, or at least these new Air Fan Cylinders out now. In a 10ft diameter cylinder thats 100 feet high and a 1000hp fan below you. You wear an oversize jump suit type thing, and you become airborne...anyone done that? Real skydiving sounds better...
Cameron
Cameron
