nightjumps 1 #51 July 23, 2003 And now that you've heard all the scary shit and the seed of concern has been planted, please don't allow it to grow. In most cases, those tail strikes are less a result of pilot creativity and more the result of very experienced skydivers getting a little overly creative. As you progress through the sport, you will find that 99.99% of skydiver injuries and worse are the result of that skydiver creativity. For example, we could reduce the number of injuries and fatalities exponentially each year if we formalized a process of education rather than experimentation of "Hook Turns" (a whole separate issue). What you need to focus on is this - Your Instructors go through a rigorous training program to get the ratings they hold; whether its AFF or Tandem. Their whole reason to exist is to ensure that you are properly trained as a student and to ensure you have a safe skydive as a student. You have responsibilities and they have responsibilities. Their responsibility is to train you well, assist on the skydive and do their best to ensure that you have a safe skydive. Your responsibilities are to actively listen and perform in accordance with the dive flow of each level of training. Now, I can assure you that they will do their job. I can share with you more than one story or video of an instructor who went above and beyond the call of their own safety to ensure the student's safety was top priority. Where you are learning to skydive, they have some of the best instructors on the planet. They will do their job. The very first thing to focus on is your instructor's training. The very last thing to even think about is hitting the aircraft. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #52 July 23, 2003 QuoteQuotejust wondering about collisions whilst exiting the craft, if any do happen. This is probably not a normal question, but, i'm really abnormal. You are jumping a Caravan. I've never heard of a tail stike in one. And while you are doing aff it shouldn't be any trouble. We had a very experienced jumper hit the tail of our Grand Caravan 2 weeks ago. I was sitting near the door when it happened... He wasn't wearing a helmet either. There was a big dent in the stabilo, we thought from his head . I had packed his chute, and I had to assure the whole load a couple of times that YEAH HIS MAIN IS ORANGE, HE'S under his MAIN.... The pilot had to shout a couple of times that he landed alright before everybody would settle down again... Turned out the jumper saw it coming and fended it off with his upper arm. Big dent, but no bruise??!!BTW this was AFAIK a combination of non-cut, climbing and a positive exit. He went UP instead of down ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot90 0 #53 July 23, 2003 QuoteWe had a very experienced jumper hit the tail of our Grand Caravan 2 weeks ago. I was sitting near the door when it happened..... BTW this was AFAIK a combination of non-cut, climbing and a positive exit. He went UP instead of down thanks I'll pass that along to the gang ok has anyone heard of a aff jump hitting the tail? AS a jumper on jump #3 she has a lot to think about. Hitting the tail would be extreemly low on the list. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
outofit 0 #54 July 24, 2003 that guy at skydive suffolk was also a former navy seal if i remember correctly. It is better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bclark 0 #55 July 25, 2003 Quotewe have a twin bonanza at our dz and it is one of the first things you get told at the dz is that if you are on the outside of the plane you have to leave from the bar under the door because if you jump from the door frame you will hit the tail... exiting it as rear rear floater with three peole on the bar under the dorr though still give plenty of clearance and diving from the back of the wing isn't a problem either... i rather like diving from the wing... just have to be sure to stay aft and not get to forward and stall the plane.... Hey Dave, We have been flying the shit out of the T-Bone for the last 2 years and I have yet to see or hear of anyone strike the tail. There is, however a nice dent on the tail where some military dude exited in a climb configuration. I will rear float as far rear on that T-Bone as any other airplane, even w/a camera helmet. We have had 2 on the wing and three on the step before. (We do have an exceptional pilot). I have seen and heard of tail strikes on King Airs AND Caravan's. But I don't think that is the airplanes fault. I think it is jumpers exiting before the plane is in jump run configuration / pilots who don't know what the fuck they are doing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #56 July 25, 2003 I guess you're refering to the B90 series and not the 200 series here? It was quite common for divers to lose a shoe (in pre bootie days) on exit. There's no chance on your AFF L1. Enjoy your AFF! tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
