Jumpers (was F*cking hell!!)

Mike Isaksen wrote:
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





Hi

As a skydiver and former pilot wannabe, who, after discovering
keratoconus in both eyes does neither now I must comment on this from a
skydiver's perspective. Also understand that with over 11 years jumping
I've known a great many pilots.

Check your NOTAMs.

Check them again.

I've only experienced one close encounter of the "plane" kind under
canopy and that was on a cross country canopy glide. But he was close
enough (c-1??) to wave at. This over Waller County Texas (I hate IAH
and all the rest of that- post the name or don't post).

This video shows to me, as a skydiver and as a former freefall
videographer, surprise. "Oh ****!" is not the exclamation of someone,
who, from other posts in this thread seems to think, was "aiming" for
the plane. And which makes me wonder...if you step off a curb into
traffic do you (moron) aim for a car? I doubt it.

'Nother point. Traffic under power is "burdened". 'nuff said?

Regards,
Richard
USAP D-11950

"Richard" wrote in message
...
"Oh ****!" is not the exclamation of someone,
who, from other posts in this thread seems to think, was "aiming" for the
plane. And which makes me wonder...if you step off a curb into traffic do
you (moron) aim for a car? I doubt it.

'Nother point. Traffic under power is "burdened". 'nuff said?

I guess this guy actually didn't see the plane. For a second, I thought he
was aiming at it.

Is that the statement you were referring to?

Actually, it was ONE post-not posts. And "For a second" means just that. For
a second. Like when the plane was plainly (NPI) in sight, started to track
away and then went steady again.

Might want to quit wearing the thongs so tight.

mike