diverdad 0 #1 December 25, 2005 My wife and I are flying into Oakland the 3rd week in March and driving to Visallia for a conference. I will have a day to go jumping (of course she gets her day at Six Flags also) and wondering where is a good place to go? Sure, I saw the thread about Monterey Bay and that looks good but am trying to get an idea so we can sort of plan where to get rooms. I come from a small Cessna dz so am looking to get to a tubine dz for the highter altitude. Thanks all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #2 December 25, 2005 Central California dz's with turbines include Taft west of Bakersfield (PAC), Lodi north of Stockton (Otter, Beech 99), and Davis west of Sacramento (PAC). Byron has a King Air; they're located closer to SF than the others. Lompoc (on the coast north of Santa Barbara) has a Caravan. I've recently jumped at Lodi, Davis and Byron; I'd recommend any of them if you have your own gear. You could also head south to Elsinore, Perris or San Diego if you don't mind driving a bit further. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WeakMindedFool 0 #3 December 25, 2005 And if you come to Davis you can jump with the Skybytch herself!Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
monkycndo 0 #4 December 25, 2005 Hollister is south of San Jose. They go to 15K for $22 and 18K for $25 when a tandem is going. During March, the weather in the bay area can be a bit iffy at times. Hollister has a weird micro climate that keeps it clearer then most other DZs. All the DZs have nice turbines and I would jump at any of them.50 donations so far. Give it a try. You know you want to spank it Jump an Infinity Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #5 December 25, 2005 From Visalia the closest DZ is a small C182 DZ is 65 miles in Madera. $19 to 10.5K Taft is 109 miles south and should be your closest turbine DZ after that, and since your a farmer in the midwest you'll feel right at home on the drive out there! $22 to 12K (?) Hollister is 160 miles, runs a King Air with a landing area that is a 25 min van ride back to the DZ. Lodi is 172 miles, runs a Beech99 or Otter, grass landing next to hanger. $15 to 13K and $100 tandem for the wife. Byron is 185 miles, runs King Air. $22 to 13K Monteyey is 200 miles and runs just about the fastest King Air on the PLANET. Skydance is 235 miles and runs a PAC. Hope this helps. Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdad 0 #6 December 26, 2005 My wife will be along just to hang out(she's not a jumper), so the Hollister thing wouldn't be a good idea. Landing off the dz, what's up with that anyway. Sounds like a really neat group of jumpers but, I need to find a place nice for her to hang out also. A great group of down to earth jumpers would be awesome also Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #7 December 26, 2005 PM sent Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #8 December 26, 2005 Correction Ed. Byron is $20 to 14K ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #9 December 27, 2005 QuoteCorrection Ed. Byron is $20 to 14K I was about to do that too...ya beat me. Can't let any misinformation spread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brianfry713 0 #10 December 29, 2005 If you go to Hollister, she may get talked into driving the van for $5 a trip .BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdad 0 #11 December 30, 2005 Planning on going to Lodi. Need a place for my wife to hang out and watch what's going on. Also want to go to a lace where I don't have to ride a Cessna. (I do that all the time now) Just want a day to enjoy jumping with some of you from the area. Sounds like Lodi fits the bill pretty well. Of course weather will play a factor when we get out there. Any more info on this is very much appreciated. I'll post again when we are closer ot going. Thanks everybody. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydivexxl 0 #12 January 4, 2006 Quote Hollister is 160 miles, runs a King Air with a landing area that is a 25 min van ride back to the DZ. Be safe Ed Ed, Every time you reply, the van ride gets longer! It's actually closer to 10 minutes. Blog Clicky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #13 January 4, 2006 QuoteEvery time you reply, the van ride gets longer! It's actually closer to 10 minutes. Now THAT depends on who is driving. Actually I was being consevative Andy. If you dont jump there on a regular basis, it seems more like an HOUR! It's all good though. Everyone just gets alittle closer to everyone else on the load, and you realize driving on the road is at times way more dangerous then jump from an airplane. Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #14 January 4, 2006 So, when the Santa Rosa DZ was in business, how long was that van ride? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #15 January 4, 2006 QuoteSo, when the Santa Rosa DZ was in business, how long was that van ride? I have no idea. I jumped there when Colin owned it in the early 90's and we landed on the airport. Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydivexxl 0 #16 January 4, 2006 Quote QuoteEvery time you reply, the van ride gets longer! It's actually closer to 10 minutes. Now THAT depends on who is driving. Actually I was being consevative Andy. If you dont jump there on a regular basis, it seems more like an HOUR! It's all good though. Everyone just gets alittle closer to everyone else on the load, and you realize driving on the road is at times way more dangerous then jump from an airplane. Well said! I actually have 450-500 hours in that van, so i guess I'm pretty acclimated. A few of us can pack in the van as well, so it seems MUCH quicker! Blog Clicky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdad 0 #17 January 4, 2006 You guys are great. I'm sure there's more stuff that has happened in the van that we really don't need to know. What is the deal with having a DZ not by an airport or runway. It's not a new concept you know. Or is like everything else that starts in CA. If we can save just one skydiver by not letting them get near airplanes. Seriously, is this common out there? I don't know any different, I just learned at a dz with private runway and landing next to each other. Scott Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #18 January 4, 2006 Scott, The DZ is on the airport only about 100yrds from the runway where the plane loads, the LZ is not. Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #19 January 4, 2006 Quote QuoteSo, when the Santa Rosa DZ was in business, how long was that van ride? I have no idea. I jumped there when Colin owned it in the early 90's and we landed on the airport. Be safe Ed Do you mean here (off of Slusser road, bisected by a creek/bushes)? http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=santa+rosa,+ca&btnG=Search&ll=38.506216,-122.821355&spn=0.007758,0.021458&t=h Just curious if it was the same landing area when Colin was there. I've yet to meet him when I've been up to Cloverdale, but everyone says I should be glad and he's a grump and they tell him to go home when he is there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdad 0 #20 January 5, 2006 Quote Scott, The DZ is on the airport only about 100yrds from the runway where the plane loads, the LZ is not. Be safe Ed Um.... Maybe it's just because I'm from the midwest but why not land at the dz instead of some field 10 minutes away? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #21 January 5, 2006 QuoteUm.... Maybe it's just because I'm from the midwest but why not land at the dz instead of some field 10 minutes away? Because they're not allowed to land on the airport. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #22 January 5, 2006 Quote Do you mean here (off of Slusser road, bisected by a creek/bushes)? Yes QuoteI've yet to meet him when I've been up to Cloverdale, but everyone says I should be glad and he's a grump and they tell him to go home when he is there. Can you name a DZO that isn't? Seriously, Colins a good guy though.Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdad 0 #23 January 5, 2006 Thanks Lisa. Are there other dz's in CA that are that way or is it just a grumpy airport manager thing? ( I know, all these stupid newbie questions) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #24 January 5, 2006 QuoteQuote Do you mean here (off of Slusser road, bisected by a creek/bushes)? Yes QuoteI've yet to meet him when I've been up to Cloverdale, but everyone says I should be glad and he's a grump and they tell him to go home when he is there. Can you name a DZO that isn't? Seriously, Colins a good guy though.Be safe Ed That's what a couple of people have told me now...but others may interpret the grumpiness wrong. From what those that speak ill of him say though, his record of moving locations and other stuff doesn't seem to bode well though. Matters not to me though, as I'll still pop in on Cloverdale from time to time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brianfry713 0 #25 January 6, 2006 In Byron, Davis, and Lodi there is a landing area near the hangar and runway. In Lompoc (Skydive Santa Barbara), you land fairly close to the runway in a clearing, or the students land in a larger open dried out creek bed. There is a van but it's a short <5 minute walk or even shorter jog to the hangar and runway. In Davis they usually want you to have a B license before you land at the airport, there is a barn about a 5 minute van ride away that the students and A license holders usually land at. Hollister is about a 15 minute van ride from the airport to the LZ. Monterey's LZ is actually on the runway, but it's the opposite end of the runway from the hangar, so it's about a 5 minute van ride. I don't know about Cloverdale, Madera, or Taft.BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
