Jumpers (was F*cking hell!!)

Gus, hope you don't mind that I cross posted this. The video is incredible
from the jumper perspective. I noticed the plane in the lower left of the
video frame,... and I remember the pilot mantra: if it aint movin in the
windshield, you will hit it.

Jumpers are the only real scary aviation experience I've had. Back in the
late 90's I was acting as safety pilot for a friend and we wanted to fly the
whole approach so we didn't get ATC involved. Well it was quite a surprise
to me when a half dozen chutes "appeared" about four miles ahead. We never
heard the jump plane's call on unicom! And we cleared the area promptly.

Since that event I've permanently changed some of my routine vfr xc habits:
1. I try to get flight following every time.
2. I don't directly overfly airports on xc.
3. I specifically look for and circle the para symbols enroute.

"Gus Cabre" wrote in message ...

Mentioned in the Flyer e-group: skydiver nearly hits aircraft:
http://www.fugly.com/videos/6103/sky..._airplane.html