Skydive Monterey Bay - New plane, DZO

[brianfry713 0]

Just thought I'd post something about this since I didn't see it on here yet.

Jess Rodriguez has sold the DZ to Greg Nardy. Greg's flying his "Faster then Mullins" King Air for the jump plane. It was getting over 3,000 feet a minute yesterday. It took something like 6 minutes from takeoff to jump run at 15k.

The Otter is still parked in the hangar but is for sale.
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1944678

Videographer, AFFI, and S&TA Terry Goode has left for Skydive Airtight in Oklahoma.

I had a few of the old SMB purple jump tickets and they switched them to their new style recipt-like jump tickets for me. They may not honor the old ones for more than another week or so, if you have any left I'd recommend heading down there or giving them a call.

I was only there for a few jumps but the vibe seems pretty good. There were a few fun jumpers and the view is great as always.

BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI
USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

[skytash 0]

had been wondering why the otter was for sale - at least there's a good reason (being replaced by a fast plane)

tash

Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

[Elisha 1]

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Just thought I'd post something about this since I didn't see it on here yet.

Jess Rodriguez has sold the DZ to Greg Nardy. Greg's flying his "Faster then Mullins" King Air for the jump plane. It was getting over 3,000 feet a minute yesterday. It took something like 6 minutes from takeoff to jump run at 15k.

The Otter is still parked in the hangar but is for sale.
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1944678

Videographer, AFFI, and S&TA Terry Goode has left for Skydive Airtight in Oklahoma.

I had a few of the old SMB purple jump tickets and they switched them to their new style recipt-like jump tickets for me. They may not honor the old ones for more than another week or so, if you have any left I'd recommend heading down there or giving them a call.

I was only there for a few jumps but the vibe seems pretty good. There were a few fun jumpers and the view is great as always.

Woa. I need to make an effort to get down there.

[HydroGuy 0]

What will the cost be for lift tickets?

Get in - Get off - Get away....repeat as neccessary

[brianfry713 0]

I haven't bought any in a while (I had some leftover from a few months ago). According to their web site
http://www.skydivemontereybay.com/
it's $20 each for blocks of 10 or $22 for single tickets to 15k. I think they charge something like $10 extra to go to 18k for fun jumpers when they have a tandem upgrade.

BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI
USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

[idoru99 0]

Hey Brian,
It was good seeing you at SMB again, sorry I didn't get to jump with you. Next time, we got to get a ws jump in, at least. Let me kn ow next time you plan on being in the area and I'll make sure I'll be there.
You're right about the price for the tickets, except that it's a $5 increase to go to 18K.
Brian

<><><><><><><><><><><>

The greatest risk you take in life is the risk you don't take.

[Vectracide 0]

Wow, I dont know about this move. It is a step back in the wrong direction if you ask me. Yeah, KA's are fast but the have a higher exit ground speed and a smaller door....by about 1/2! If you ask any serious RW or FF group which plane they would rather jump for the majority of the time, they would say otter. Hands down. Shit.....a pumped up Porter is better than a fast KA. Yeah its slower, but its got a better glide ratio and a huge door. Cheaper to run to boot. That means cheaper lifts as well.

KA's are great for the DZO that likes to travel, but this doesn't put the jumper incentive / DZ operations first. If your a tandem factory.......fuck it....great plane. Everything else....bleh.

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Controlled and Deliberate.....

[brianfry713 0]

I liked the Otter too, I was just posting that there was a change. In case it hasn't sunk in yet, everyone was putting their helmets on at 5k, a few minutes after take off and enjoying the view. I barely had time to zip up my wings and check my gear before the door was open at 15k. I was shocked at how high we were every time I checked my alti in the plane. Greg seems proud of his plane and how fast it is.

I know many used to consider it just a tandem factory, but from what I can tell so far, it's a different DZ now. There seems to be a lot more love for the fun jumpers. I had to leave early, but I think Greg was going to keep the plane flying as long as people wanted to jump, regardless of whether they had tandems to do or not. Something that, in my limited experience, wasn't common there in the past.

BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI
USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

[Vectracide 0]

15K lifts is pretty nice. Regardless the aircraft. Doubly nice when the ride is that quick...

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Controlled and Deliberate.....

[diverdriver 5]

Wow. SMB sold. Didn't Nardy own Hollister at one point? And Terry G. Wow, hadn't seen that name in awhile. Took Terry for a ride on one of my engine failures back in KC. He bought me a donut.

Thanks Terry! I always did appreciate that.

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

[steveorino 7]

Check out Terry Goodes caricature on sketches on DZonline.info

steveOrino

[riddler 0]

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Didn't Nardy own Hollister at one point?

I understand that the Nardys owned Hollister at one point and sold it. They then started Titusville in Florida (and I believe they still own it). Now they own SMB, and I wish for the best for them and Jess and his family (Jess R, the former owner and USPA regional director).

I've only heard this as an outsider, and I could be wrong.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[hookitt 1]

Close... Greg Nardi and Dave Stewart did own Hollister for a while. That place turned in to a tandem factory and Dave sold his part. Greg eventually sold it to Tim Sayre and Tim really turned the place around and let it be fun again.

Greg took over Titusville. It was already a well established DZ. Now that Greg owns SMB, I wonder what's going to happen? I like Greg, so I hope he caters to fun jumpers more than he used to. SMB is a nice place so I'll give it another shot. due to the new ownership. Besides... Patty loves me ... not.

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I've only heard this as an outsider, and I could be wrong

Outsider... ha.. not that far out Say hello to Jeannie.

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[riddler 0]

Ok, thanks for the correction. I met the Greg and Patty a few months ago at a wedding at thought they seemed like nice folks.

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Outsider... ha

Welll, I have jumped at SMB once or twice Nice view from 15K.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[kelpdiver 2]

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Wow, I dont know about this move. It is a step back in the wrong direction if you ask me. Yeah, KA's are fast but the have a higher exit ground speed and a smaller door....by about 1/2! If you ask any serious RW or FF group which plane they would rather jump for the majority of the time, they would say otter.

Otter does you no good if you can't fill it, and SMB had trouble doing that. Manifest would prod everyone to get on board, then the wind picks up, you lose a couple students, and it's back to the 206.

[Vectracide 0]

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Otter does you no good if you can't fill it, and SMB had trouble doing that. Manifest would prod everyone to get on board, then the wind picks up, you lose a couple students, and it's back to the 206.

Ahh....bummer. I know the feeling at my DZ with our KA. That only reinforces my belief that a nice Porter fills that need perfectly. Its a single engine with 1/2 the maintenace of the KA and Otter, it has a huge door with all kinds of step, and holds 9-10 jumpers. Its the perfect medium for a DZ that can't fill a twin with jumpers consistently. Pop a -34 in one and your golden.

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Controlled and Deliberate.....

[tgoaffi 0]

I miss SMB and the people, but have found myself in a better place (Home with my family and old friends) with a little better future??? Am working hard to make Skydive Airtight an even better place to be. And Chris....I've told the donut story many times over the years, hoping to share another donut with a little less thrill. Miss you all and will hope to see you soon....

[rmsmith 1]

Monterey, CA is a tough market area to run a business that needs a steady stream of young people. The area is very high priced for housing and energy costs, and it will get worse with the looming job cuts as the housing bubble has seen it's peak and is headed downward, probably for several years. Too bad, because I think it's the only west coast DZ near the ocean.

[Speer 0]

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Too bad, because I think it's the only west coast DZ near the ocean.

The close proximity to the ocean is also part of the trouble... high cost as you pointed out, and more chance for wind issues... I would like to visit both Monterey, as well as Lompoc, which is also pretty close to the ocean.

We are reasonably close to the ocean at Skydive San Diego, at least we get a pretty good view on the ride up and at altitude... especially at sunset. The wind consistency at San Diego is fantastic.

Russ

Generally, it is your choice; will your life serve as an example... or a warning?

[diverdriver 5]

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I miss SMB and the people, but have found myself in a better place (Home with my family and old friends) with a little better future??? Am working hard to make Skydive Airtight an even better place to be. And Chris....I've told the donut story many times over the years, hoping to share another donut with a little less thrill. Miss you all and will hope to see you soon....

And I tell the story about your son catching one big ass catfish in the pond at Independence. You guys soaked that thing in milk for ever and then had a cook out. Dang that stuff was good.

Take care Terry.

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

[rmsmith 1]

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Too bad, because I think it's the only west coast DZ near the ocean.

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The close proximity to the ocean is also part of the trouble... high cost as you pointed out, and more chance for wind issues... I would like to visit both Monterey, as well as Lompoc, which is also pretty close to the ocean.

We are reasonably close to the ocean at Skydive San Diego, at least we get a pretty good view on the ride up and at altitude... especially at sunset. The wind consistency at San Diego is fantastic.

However the basic problem from a businessman's perspective is that his customers have disposible income. Monterey, Lompoc, and San Diego are all very expensive places to live right now, and high energy costs are eroding that small remaining margin. The businesses that are able to survive in these areas are able to do so because they are not highly leveraged. The local governments in the Monterey Bay area are all broke too, so taxing anything that shows signs of a pulse will be the philosophy of democracy as the housing boom unravels.

I'd love to move back down south, but it's just too expensive to raise a family there. And I have a very good job too, but the mortgage, food, medical, and other family expenses as well as the 401k contributions get funded first; what's left over is for playing.

[Deuce 1]

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as the housing boom unravels.

I don't know where you are getting that. The media is telling everybody the NorCal housing market is a goner, but I'm a Realtor, and I'm here to tell you it's not.

Overpriced homes aren't selling because they are overpriced. People were panic buying this past spring and overpayed for their houses assuming the market was going to keep going at 25% appreciation a year. Folks that bought over a year ago are still making equity on their sales. I'm not having any trouble with my listings.

There's a cycle in this. People get all worked up and there's a general move towards Arizona, Texas, Montana, or wherever, people spent two winters there and move back.

The problem with Monterey regarding skydiving is mostly one of perception. Even when they had an Otter, people drove further to get to Davis, Byron, Lodi, and Hollister.

[kelpdiver 2]

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The problem with Monterey regarding skydiving is mostly one of perception. Even when they had an Otter, people drove further to get to Davis, Byron, Lodi, and Hollister.

Though for most of us, MB was the furthest. After a while, it seemed crazy to drive past Hollister.

[rmsmith 1]

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as the housing boom unravels.

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I don't know where you are getting that. The media is telling everybody the NorCal housing market is a goner, but I'm a Realtor, and I'm here to tell you it's not.

I was raised in the San Jose area, so I'm no stranger to big real estate price swings. This current upswing is higher than I've ever seen while wages for most people have remained static. The stock options and IO ARM products have been the main drivers behind the high prices out there. The nice places along the coast and the places closet to the jobs will be the last places to sink in value; already places in Modesto are now a tough sell, and the stock prices of the big home builders have been slowly sinking for the past few months. It's been lots of fun for those families with two good incomes who could afford the risk on the way up, but it has been very tough on those average folks who are barely making it from month to month. I know a few who have made out very nicely, and many many more who are hanging on by their finger nails.

BTW, what percentage of your clients use an ARM v. the 30-yr FRM, and what kind of FICO scores do you see these days?

[Deuce 1]

I attempted to PM you this, but you have that turned off, you must be famous in Speakers. We digress here...

I don't do lending yet, but all my stuff for first time buyers has been 100% financing. Pretty much everything else is 5 to 7 year fixed ARMS. Even before the big ARM/3-5 year fixed thing, people were moving every five years or so. For folks who do that, a 5 year fixed 30 year ARM is the way to go.

Where people are blowing it is in not reinvesting their equity in their property. If they take on average half their equity gains each year and spend them on consumables like cars and vacations, when they get to the 30 year point they have the equity of half the house they are living in, and they have mortgage payments till the day they die. By 65 people want to have the ability to consolidate their investments and own at least one house.