NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/rec/skydivin/3827

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-24 | 1.8 KB

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From: [e-mail] (JASON WILLIAM JARVIS)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Re: Military Flights
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 23 Jan 93 21:06:38 GMT
Sender: [e-mail]
Organization: Acadia University
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    The DZ I jump at is at a small civil airport with just one runway, but
about 20 miles down the road is an air force base with three squadrons of CP-
140 Auroras (that's the same as a P-3C Orion to all you Yankees), and a SAR
squadron with some Hercs and choppers.  They know where we are, but every
once in a while, a Herc likes to do a *very low* emergency approach, and we
get the choppers rattling by just to say "Hi!".  When I was taking my first
lesson this fall, there was a SAR competition going on at the base, and
there were Buffalo aircraft all over the place on ops.  By the time we went
up, though, they were all gone.  I kinda wished I could have jumped from it
instead of the 182, though, it looked a bit more stable.
     The real problem we have with the Auroras is that they're painted grey,
and are an absolute bitch to see from the air.  I've been flying with a
friend before, and we've had to do a quick dive to get out of their way,
because they told the tower where they were, which was right on our ass! The
wingtip vortices are really strong, and could rip the wings right off a 172
or 182 if you were close enough.  Even with chutes on or not, I would
imagine that your chances of getting out of a 182 in that circumstance
wouldn't do you much good.
     Not a nice thought. . . .

                    Jason