rapper4mpi 0 #1 April 1, 2003 The following story is about a jump down south in February, for the record, the cloud cover was scattered: The three of us planned a 3-way freefly out of the Skyvan. As the first few groups left, Mike checked the spot and had the pilot do a go-around. He then left with his student. Swanny, Jeff and I left after them into total cloud cover. After doing a most excellent jump, we broke at 5,000 ft., and tracked away. I pulled at 3,000 ft. just barely out of the clouds. I looked down to see the airport way off in the distance and water (the ocean) below me. I immediately collapsed my slider, brought it down behind my head, loosened my chest strap, unstowed the brakes and went into rear risers to maximize my glide rate. I looked around for Jeff and Swanny but didn’t see them as they decided to pull higher to test their new canopies. I saw a green on the golf course (where Mike landed) and thought for sure I could make it. Using the "spot that doesn’t move" trick, I was confident. At 1,000 ft. I reevaluated my situation which was looking quite grim. I was smack dab in the middle of a swampy, brushy track of land, with little outs, a lot of trees and probably an abundance of snakes and other scary critters below. Not to mention over a not too familiar town. Panic began to settle in, but I talked myself into composure, looked behind me and as my choices for landing areas got smaller and smaller, I spotted a road, with a nice patch of grass on the side, bordered on three sides by power lines. Believe it or not, this was my best option. I landed safely and flawlessly on the side of the road. Wow, what a rush! I was so excited, but quickly began to think about Jeff and Swanny. Sticking out my thumb for a ride, I got picked up by the third car, two old ladies in a Cadillac. I jumped in and we began to head back to the airport. Suddenly I see a familiar person walking along the road, it’s Swanny! Putting down the window I yelled "Need a ride!". Swanny landed in a similar situation, down the side of a road, over a couple of power-line towers. When we got back to the airport and checked in with manifest, we asked about Jeff, had he reported in yet? Good news, he was safe and sound and on his way back to the DZ. Well folks, you wouldn’t believe it unless you saw it for yourself, but Jeff, under a Samurai 150 (2nd jump) landed on the smallest piece of grass (about 40 x 60) surrounded by tall palm trees, a road, power lines and get this, the OCEAN! Yep, Jeff got the luck of the draw and tracked directly away from the DZ and over the ocean. It could have happened to any of us, but it happened to Jeff. In fact, he was trying for at least the waters edge, fully expecting to get wet, but the angels were with him and gave him just a little push so he could land on dry ground. After the ambulance let him go, he was on his way back to the DZ. We all needed lunch. In our defense, we were not the only ones who landed off and in fact, had better landings than most. We owe it all to those Potsdam Demo’s, dodging rednecks and backstops. Attached is a picture of the landing areas in relation to the ret of the world! -Rap offlanding.pdf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #2 April 1, 2003 Wow, that was interesting. What's with the picture? I can't see it.__________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rapper4mpi 0 #3 April 1, 2003 Does that work? -Rap Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
samp76 0 #4 April 1, 2003 Nope Let go of the NUT!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Biscuit 0 #5 April 1, 2003 I think you need adobe. I don't have hardly any fancy stuff on my computer and it opened just fine... ****************************************** The last mosquito that bit me had to book into the Betty Ford Clinic. -Patsy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NightJumper 0 #6 April 1, 2003 Should have just gone for the beach jump, thats what Sebastian is know for Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #7 April 2, 2003 Dude, why using Adobe?. repost the JPG that's all.__________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spy38W 0 #8 April 2, 2003 QuoteDude, why using Adobe?. repost the JPG that's all. The PDF and JPG are the same, I couldn't just click to open the JPG either, but right click and save target as worked for me -- Hook high, flare on time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #9 April 2, 2003 Let's see if this works. He he he...of course it does. __________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamsville 0 #10 April 2, 2003 Don't talk about total "haze" cover, in case others may misinterpret this on a public forum. |I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JYorkster 0 #11 April 2, 2003 Hmmm. Maybe there is actually a reason some of us look to see the DZ BEFORE leving the airplane. Rock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rapper4mpi 0 #12 April 3, 2003 Yup, you are correct, it was an instant of total complacency that could have ended up much worse. However, at large DZs, the spotting is usually left up to the pilot. Also, spotting out of a tailgate is kind of tough when there are groups in front of you. furthermore, on this particular exit, we DID get a go around since the first spot would have been long for us. But yeah, as a rule, if you can't see the airport, you're foolish to get out. -Rap Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
