CAP Members who jump out of perfectly good airplanes..

[NIN]

I figured I'd blunt the usual attack straightaway...

I'm looking to gauge the number of folks in Civil Air Patrol (either here on CAP-Talk, or just anybody in CAP that a CAP-Talk poster might know) who are also skydivers.

I'm not talking "Man, I took a tandem last year and it was AWESOME!" or "Yeah, I did a static line jump in 1978 out of a Cessna 182 over a farmer's field under a round.. It was AWESOME!" or even "I'm a five-jump chump from Benning/USAFA and it SUCKED!"

I'm talking licensed, current jumping skydivers.

As many of you may know, Civil Air Patrol had an active cadre of jumpers in the 1940s and into the early 1950s, jumping from CAP planes using CAP-owned equipment, and organized as "parachute jumping squadrons."  I am not suggesting a restart of that.

Nor am I suggesting that we jump out of CAP planes.  I am fully aware of the provisions of Civil Air Patrol Regulation 60-1 regarding "parachuting activities" from Civil Air Patrol planes, and I am further also fully aware of the the prohibition on parachuting as a cadet activity.

If you're a skydiver, let me know. If you know of a skydiver in your unit, group, wing, whatever, who is not a participant here on CAP-Talk, let me know as well (and if you're feeling sporty, pass along to them my contact information and have them drop me a line directly. Email is in my profile..)

Thanks in advance!

[Stonewall]

Tom and Colin (PJ and Ranger, not the drink Tom Collins) are both Eaker dudes who may not be in CAP anymore but LOVE to jump in their free time. 

I had a check for $3K up in DC (Orange, VA) to get certified up to a certain level or whatever it's called, but that was when I made money.  Maybe when I get back from "a", not "the", desert, I can afford to finish that goal.

[BigMojo]

I was D-pro rated until a gust-front induced downwind landing shattered my left leg (35mph onto a parade route asphalt street hurts btw). But I'll volunteer as event photographer.

Here's a self portrait from "back in the day" using a radio transmitter and a bite switch. It only took 14 rolls of film and several weeks to get this shot. (Back when digital SLR's were cost prohibitive!)

[NIN]

Ben, you're on like Donkey Kong!

(Nice shot, BTW.. I'm not nearly that good)

[BigMojo]

Just wish I could jump with y'all...


My Doc called me Humpty Dumpty...he said, "You can jump again if you want to, but I can't tell you I can put you back together again." After being in some sort of a brace for 6 months, and another 6 of rehab, I walk without a limp, but I don't jump anymore. I went once after rehab to prove to myself I could, and then sold my rig(s).

So, I'm there to hang out of the plane at 14k and shoot or shoot from the ground. I miss being a DZ rat.

[Fifinella]

You know I'm in.

Nice shot, BigMojo.  I  did a little videography in 1994-1995, and have the neck to prove it. 

Blue Skies, y'all.

[♠SARKID♠]

Okay, I haven't gone skydiving though I really really want to. 

But have any of you ever done this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tv5s4o0JOE

Absolutely nuts!  I would Never get that close to a prop.

[SarDragon]

My best SWAG tells me that it would be difficult at best to have any contact with it.

YMMV.

[Fifinella]

But have any of you ever done this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tv5s4o0JOE

Absolutely nuts!  I would Never get that close to a prop.

I'd be more concerned about a jumper damaging the aileron or flap while departing the wing.  This is not a good idea.

[NIN]

Years ago there was a King Air 350 that flew on the skydiving circuit.  T-tail King Air, took 23 jumpers, floated 14.  That plane was AWESOME.  There was a photo of Orly King (big video guy, head-down jumper, etc) standing on top of the t-tail waiting for a group to exit.  The FAA was not amused.

[lordmonar]

What about the guy in one of the SKYS CALL books surfing on the wing of an INVERTED Cessna! 

They taped over the N number so the FAA would have a harder time tracking down the culprits.

[Matt]

... The FAA was not amused.

Well... it does bring a new meaning to the FAA Wings program, no?

[piperl4]

Yea could join that club, does dropping objects count as sky diving?

[NIN]

What about the guy in one of the SKYS CALL books surfing on the wing of an INVERTED Cessna! 

They taped over the N number so the FAA would have a harder time tracking down the culprits.

Patrick

I just dug thru Skies Call (ha! I happen to have a copy! How's that for geeky?) and didn't see such. I did catch the pic of the guy sprawled across the windscreen of what looks like a Beaver or something like that...

Was it in one of the 2nd editions or the later Skies Call II?

[Climbnsink]

I did a few thousand jumps back in the 90's.   Don't miss skydiving I do miss BASE, but the price for that is definitely to high for me now.

[SJFedor]

Once I've got comm single and multi and my CFI ratings done, skydiving is next on the list. either that or helicopters, and i think skydiving will be cheaper.

[BlueLakes1]

I flew the jump plane once...that's plenty close enough to jumping for me!

[BigMojo]

I flew the jump plane once...that's plenty close enough to jumping for me!

After I busted myself up, I flew right seat in the jump plane, a pilatus porter (butt ugly, tail draggin' turboprop). We took pride in getting to the ground faster than the jumpers.  You could feather the prop and go darn near vertical dive with it. There's a pretty cool video out there somewhere of that thing's high angle approach/STOL capabilities. I'll see if I can find it.

<edit> Here's some...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7vrQ2ruJSo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU3RecxHRtk&feature=related

FF to about 50secs in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aznWjdjEJJI

Personal Favorite:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD1xBMthXBs&feature=related

[NIN]

Once I've got comm single and multi and my CFI ratings done, skydiving is next on the list. either that or helicopters, and i think skydiving will be cheaper.

There is an old joke in skydiving: "It costs about $200 for your first jump, then half your money for the rest of your life."

Its not that far off, really.

[NIN]

I flew the jump plane once...that's plenty close enough to jumping for me!

After I busted myself up, I flew right seat in the jump plane, a pilatus porter (butt ugly, tail draggin' turboprop). We took pride in getting to the ground faster than the jumpers.  You could feather the prop and go darn near vertical dive with it. There's a pretty cool video out there somewhere of that thing's high angle approach/STOL capabilities. I'll see if I can find it.
<snip>

Those are quite good, really.

I've been in freefall with Mike Mullins and his King Air, looking at him "communicating" with me (keeping up foreign relations) from about 20 yards away. Me on my belly, accelerating toward the earth, him vertically pointing downwards and going faster than me....

Its odd when the plane you just jumped out of beats you to the ground and is taxiing to get the next load while you're still landing...

They don't call his plane the "Routine Rocket" for nothing. He doesn't get out of the cockpit all day except to pee and grab a sandwich or drink...  35-40 loads per day, all day..... Doesn't even shut down.