"Nick Funk" wrote in message
...
I have seen jump planes beat the sky diver down.

[snip]

Many times the plane is on the runway before the sky diver touches down.

OK, lets explain this a little more to this non pilot and non jumper. Seems
to me that logic dictates that if the divers are all trying to land at the
airport, why would the jump plane try to get there around that same time?

How long does it take for the divers to reach ground? 2 minutes? 4 minutes?
Surely not much more than that. Why would the plane not descend at a pace
to place them in the pattern after the jumpers had cleared the area? Does
the 3-5 minutes flying time the plane saves by trying to beat the jumpers
seem significant?

I would appreciate any responders remembering that I am not a pilot, nor a
jumper. Answers with some supporting details would be appreciated.

Thanks,
GWK