I see something fundamentally flawed in jumping out of a working aircraft: Dougie McCray circa 1989 (my CFI at Lashenden Airfield). However, jumping out of a crashing one is quite right.
I jumped out of perfectly good aircraft 27 times - it ain't natural.
If they were high enough to successfully jump, the plane could have been brought down dead stick buy any half decent pilot. I would venture that this was either a publicity stunt to bring in business or an insurance payoff for a plane that was due for a mandatory engine rebuild that the jump school could not afford.
Tony, I was thinking the same thing but there may have been other circumstances.. still suspicious. 12s from time of engine failure to everyone off the craft?
If you look on youtube and other searches, you will find lots of skydiving aircraft that crash, and a surprising number of people with 'chutes go down with them. In fact, it is rare for the pilot to successfully bail from one of them, even though there is usually a dismounted door for skydiving purposes.
When there is a structural failure (midairs are common), or fire, you have a VERY short time to exit. Once control is effectively lost, if you aren't holding the frame of that OPEN doorway, you're toast.
The other reason for them to bail is with engine failure at night. Deadstick in the dark with a bunch of people wearing 'chutes makes no sense. If the pilot wants to try his luck, that's on him, but no reason to take others with him if it goes bad.
Fortunate folks. There's probably a joke about driving in a truck filled with bubble wrap, but I won't go there. :)
ReplyDeleteYep, I'd be going to buy a lottery ticket! :-)
ReplyDeleteI see something fundamentally flawed in jumping out of a working aircraft: Dougie McCray circa 1989 (my CFI at Lashenden Airfield). However, jumping out of a crashing one is quite right.
ReplyDeleteYou do realize that modern single-engine airplanes have airframe parachute systems, don't you?
ReplyDeleteI jumped out of perfectly good aircraft 27 times - it ain't natural.
ReplyDeleteIf they were high enough to successfully jump, the plane could have been brought down dead stick buy any half decent pilot. I would venture that this was either a publicity stunt to bring in business or an insurance payoff for a plane that was due for a mandatory engine rebuild that the jump school could not afford.
Tony, I was thinking the same thing but there may have been other circumstances.. still suspicious. 12s from time of engine failure to everyone off the craft?
ReplyDeleteIf you look on youtube and other searches, you will find lots of skydiving aircraft that crash, and a surprising number of people with 'chutes go down with them. In fact, it is rare for the pilot to successfully bail from one of them, even though there is usually a dismounted door for skydiving purposes.
ReplyDeleteWhen there is a structural failure (midairs are common), or fire, you have a VERY short time to exit. Once control is effectively lost, if you aren't holding the frame of that OPEN doorway, you're toast.
The other reason for them to bail is with engine failure at night. Deadstick in the dark with a bunch of people wearing 'chutes makes no sense. If the pilot wants to try his luck, that's on him, but no reason to take others with him if it goes bad.