In article ,
gerrcoin wrote:


Typical seating arrangement (seats removed) is as follows for take off:
Jumper #1 beside the pilot kneeling facing forward
Jumper #2 (jumpmaster) kneeling behind Jumper #1 facing forward
Jumper #4 sitting behind the pilot, back and rig against the back of
the seat
Jumper #3 behind Jumper#4 kneeling between his legs facing forward.

On takeoff everyone leans as far forward as possible to get the
heavest parts of the body, the torso with rig, towards the front.
Jumper #1 needs to watch the right hand control column and
throttle,mixture etc. Jump pilot needs to watch Jumper #1 to make sure
that he doesn't try to use any of the above as a hand hold.

At about 1,000' the jumpers reposition for the climb. Jumper #1 now
sits facing forward with his back and rig to Jumper #2 who faces the
rear. Jumper #4 remains in position while jumper #3 now sits in
betweens his knees facing to the rear. Everyone kneels facing forward
on the jumprun. There are major trim changes involved as the jumpers
shift position and as they depart the aircraft. Now at altitude and
slow on the jumprun a stall is the worst possible senario. This is all
part of the skill of paradrop operations.


Hmm, I've only flown about 1100 loads of jumpers in a 182 but I've got
to say that loading plan leaves a lot to be desired. Those folks on
their knees will not stay put in the event of a crash...the seatbelt
will slip right over the legs. I always had everyone facing aft, which
puts the mass forward, with the seatbelt routed through the parachute
harness.

The last thing I want is skydivers "moving to improve the CG". Once
seated they stay put until jump run where they can get up and turn
around. The less movement they do the lower risk of an open container
in the airplane.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html