Questions about Eloy

[skyhighkiy 0]

Ok, I have a group of buddies that wants to head down to Eloy over X-mas.

However, as I was just asked to come along and don't know anything about Eloy (haven't ventured to ask them, they're not completely sure) I have some questions.

Do they require cypress?
What license do they require?
What is their "altitude" load?
How big is their landing space?
How many people are estimated to be in the air at one time? (Under canopy and in freefall)
cost per jump?
Are hop-n-pops available? (stupid question but I'm not sure if a bigger dz. varies in this area as I've only been to 2)
Are there a lot of extra seminars on canopies and freefall, etc. to take and do they cost and an estimation on this cost?

What is a suggested # of jumps I should acquire before venturing there and is currency a big deal for jumping there? (I average about 6-10 jumps a week, in the air approx. 4 -6 days out of the week)

Thanks!

BE THE BUDDHA!

[CanuckInUSA 0]

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Do they require cypress?

No

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What license do they require?

A ... heck you can even be a student there ...

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What is their "altitude" load?

13000 to 13500 AGL (I think their field elevation is around 1300 MSL). Also during the Holiday Boogie they do offer high altitude jumps out of their King Air and they do provide you with oxygen for those jumps (was it 21000 or 23000 feet AGL). Very cool jumps to make.

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How big is their landing space?

There are two landing areas and then there is the dessert. The main landing area is east/west only and you must follow the first person down. The alternate landing area is any direction, but you should still follow the first down there as well. During the Holiday Boogie there is usually tons of traffic in the air, so keep your head on a swivel and don't even think about trying to be the first person down. Last year I thought I was going to set the pattern as me and another guy landed virtually at the same time (going opposite directions), but little did I know that there was another guy lingering from a load prior to mine and he landed the other way. So I was wrong and Betsy ever so graciously scoulded me. Don't try to be the first one down as someone else has already beaten you to it.

If you can cross-wind it, the main landing area is open to you, but keep in mind that there are world class jumpers (many of whom are swooping) and doing stupid things in the main landing area (well really in both landing areas) will bring you the wrath of Bryan Burke (an awesome guy when you've been good, but a bad guy when you've done stupid shit). Eloy is on top of every thing. It's very impressive to watch how tight a ship they run.

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How many people are estimated to be in the air at one time? (Under canopy and in freefall)

This depends on what aircraft are flying and at what time of year you're there. An Otter and Skyvan (their main work horse aircraft) hold 23 jumpers each. So 23 times the number of aircraft in the air concurrently.

Brains says 22 not 23. One of us is wrong (it could be me), but it really doesn't matter. You get the picture.

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cost per jump?

They have these deals where you buy 12 tickets (what is it again $200) and you must use them within a two day period and you can not transfer the tickets between friends. If you can not use the tickets for what ever reason you can always upgrade them to (what is it again) the regular single ticket price of $18.50 if my memory serves me correct. Plus Eloy is really cool about refunding unused tickets (once they are upgraded) and I don't mind leaving the DZ with unused tickets as it leaves me with an incentive to come back.

Holiday Boogie tickets are cheaper ($15 this year?)

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Are hop-n-pops available?

During non-boogie times, you can do hop n' pops and it's not uncommon to see 4-way teams doing these to practice their exits. But if things get too busy (as they do during the boogie) then there will be no hop n' pop opportunities (unless you're dealing with a low ceiling and the only loads which are flying are hop n' pops).

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Are there a lot of extra seminars on canopies and freefall, etc. to take and do they cost and an estimation on this cost?

During the Holiday boogie there will be a seminar on a different topic every night. During non-boogie dates that all depends on what's going. But the DZ has world class coaches and their time is worth every penny.

The Holiday Boogie is a great time to be there, but any time (out side of the hot summer months with their dust devils) is a good time to be at Eloy. Night times does get chilly and last year we experienced some cool temps during the boogie as well and some of us nicknamed it the "Ice Boogie".

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What is a suggested # of jumps I should acquire before venturing there and is currency a big deal for jumping there? (I average about 6-10 jumps a week, in the air approx. 4 -6 days out of the week)

As long as you're licensed, have an in date reserve and are a current USPA member, you're good to go right now.

Eloy Rocks!!!

One other comment here. Don't miss your load. Eloy will send the airplane regardless of whether or not you are on it. And you can't get your ticket back once they've put the load on a 15 minute call. So be careful not to try to shuffle things with your friends on different loads.

Oh and did I forget to mention that ... Eloy Rocks!!!

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[Brains 2]

Hey Kiy, I see Steve beat me to it, but here is my take anyway since i have already typed it out. I have only been there once, and it was for last years holiday boogie. As always, check the dz website for better info but this is what i remember.

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Do they require cypress?

no

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What license do they require?

your "A" should suffice.

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What is their "altitude" load?

I assume you mean normal jump altitude, we routinely got over 13K last year.

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How big is their landing space?

Main landing area is a little larger than a football field, alternate(student) landing area is about the same, remember, there are hundreds of square miles of desert all around that you can land in with no problems at all. I did last year.

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How many people are estimated to be in the air at one time? (Under canopy and in freefall)

I think they drop a load of jumpers every two minutes, figure 22 on an otter so about that many, not bad really.

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cost per jump?

I don't know off hand but i think for the boogie they are $15 check the Eloy threads or the events section for better ideas.

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Are hop-n-pops available? (stupid question but I'm not sure if a bigger dz. varies in this area as I've only been to 2)

Sure, they are also called balloon jumps. Seriously, with a plane dropping jumpers every two minutes, h-n-p's aren't really a good idea.

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Are there a lot of extra seminars on canopies and freefall, etc. to take and do they cost and an estimation on this cost?

Yes, from very talented professionals, and they are free.

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What is a suggested # of jumps I should acquire before venturing there and is currency a big deal for jumping there? (I average about 6-10 jumps a week, in the air approx. 4 -6 days out of the week)

I would say your currency is ok, if you keep that up before you get there. How many jumps should you have? well that is a loaded question, i know there were some people that went last year to finish their aff stuff and they had no problems. If you aren't comfortable with it, don't jump. There is lots of stuff to do and see.
Hope to see you there.

Jeff

Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you.

[skyhighkiy 0]

Thanks!

BE THE BUDDHA!

[bbarnhouse 0]

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Do they require cypress

No but it isn't a bad idea

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What license do they require?

USPA "A" or equivelant from governing body.

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What is their "altitude" load

Standard is 13,000 ft AGL.

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How big is their landing space

2 large landing areas surrounded by outs.
You can view a picture here
With your experience, I would suggest landing at the South area as that area landings are into the wind.
In the North area it is East to West or vice versa only. In both landing areas the first person down sets the pattern

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How many people are estimated to be in the air at one time? (Under canopy and in freefall)

That depends on what is going on, so it isnt an easy answer. During the Holiday Boogie we generally have 8 aircraft flying about 2 minutes apart.
Otters and SkyVans both carry 23 jumpers.

[The111 1]

I will add another question to this same thread... is there a limit on number of jumpers allowed, and do I need to pre-register? I'm considering coming but don't know when I'll know for sure. I'd like to know soon to get cheap tickets. Speaking of which, does anyone know how to get cheap tickets? :) I don't fly much (short of these little 10 minute flights I manage to make @ the DZ on weekends ).

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[bbarnhouse 0]

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is there a limit on number of jumpers allowed, and do I need to pre-register?

Not yet And you may pre-register on dropzone.com although the registration fee is collected in Eloy.

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Speaking of which, does anyone know how to get cheap tickets?

Southwest Airlines generally has reasonable flights into PHX.
Cherrios!
B2