Any skydivers here?

[Shortline]

I'm really looking forward to my move to TX, for the roads, and the other attractions. I love to fly, but with the cost, I just don't get to do much of it. So, like I did when I lived in Germany, I think I am going to get back into the sport of skydiving. It's cheaper than flying, exhilerating, and, makes a great weekend trip on the bike. I found a few skydive centers within 200 miles of where I am moving to, but it looks like Eagle Flight Skydiving, in Granbury, is going to be the closest. (I will have to wait till I get there, to see if the roads leading to the other locations are worth the extra miles). So, I was just curious, do any of you all skydive? Or, fly, at all, for that matter?
TR
El Centro CA
(Arriving TX Nov 11, 2003)

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

:tab Flying commercial sucks. Now that I have that out of the way, I love flying! However, circumstances have just never come together in such a way that it ever bacame a large part of my life. I have been up a few times in small crafts such as a Cessna 151 and 172 but otherwise, nada! Each of those times I loved it. There is a place in Dallas that will give flights in an old Stearman Biplane or in a T6 Texan trainer for about $125. I think they take you up for close to an hour. I have been seriously looking at doing the biplane with the open cockpit. I think that has to just be a total blast. I've never really given serious thought to skydiving. Mostly because I don't know anyone else that does it and I've always been distracted by so many other things like motorcycles, college, car repair bills, etc,...

:tab I just read recently that the FAA is about to release a new set of licensing requirements for pilots. Basically, you have 20 hours of flight and a cursory physical and you get a Sport License. You are restricted to day time flight, good weather, a max gross weight, single engine, etc,... Most of the planes are small kit type planes or you can buy them preassembled. Prices range from around $35K to 75K. This is an attempt to rejumpstart the general public's interest in aviation. Right now it is just so freaking expensive to fly only the relatively wealthy can do if for fun.

:tab I have long dreamed about glider or sail plane flying. I really think that would be the shiznit! There is a place in Durango, Co., where you can go up in sailplanes and fly around in the mountains. One of these years when we get out there I am going to do it!

:tab Right now, a good twisty road is as close to flying as I will be getting :twisted: When I really get in my zone, the motorcycle disappears from my view, the edges of my helmet vanish, and all I notice is the road out in front of me. I don't look down and my instruments or anything, just the road. On a good road with nice curves and elevation changes, this really feels like flying. I get the heavy g and negative g sensations, the swooping, the acceleration and deceleration, everything but the loops :mrgreen:

[leeroy]

Tourmeister, I have done the glider thing in Durango. It will bring tears to your eyes

[BeemerDude]

Tourmeister, I know a guy here in Houston who's both a biker (BMW R1150GS) and a glider-pilot-in-training (GPIT?). Last time I saw him he was working weekends at a glider field on Hwy 36 down near Rosenberg in exchange for lessons. His name is Chris Powers and his website is www.desmoparts.com. You may want to contact him. He's a real interesting and nice guy.

[Wasabi]

I’ve tried the skydiving once several years ago. I went to the Texas Skydive near Denton. I was very disappointed with the lack of organization and haphazard training I got. The jump was great despite the lack of confidence in the instructor I felt at the time. I would do it again if I was with someone who knew what was going on.

I’ve also tried a Paraplane several years ago. There was (may still be there) a small airport in Princeton, north west of Dallas that offered flight lessons. It was very cool. The paraplane is a powered parachute. Very easy to fly and land. I was able to fly around for about 20 min at around 2000 feet at about 25 mph after just an hour of instruction. The company was called Future Flight Inc. If you ever get a chance to try it, do it.

My next flying experience will be a Gyrocopter. There is a local chapter of the PRA (Poplar Rotorcraft Association), in Cado Mills , east of Dallas. They offer individual flight training and I am in contact with the instructor for my first lesson hopefully sometime in January 2004. I’ll let you know how it goes.

[Anonymous]

The drive to Skydive Dallas will be more than worth your time and effort. With a few undred jumps most of which were there I can highly recommend them. Three planes a Cesna Caravan, De Haviland Super Otter and Cesna 152, along with helicopters and ballons on special occasions you will never get bored.

Ropes

[Tourmeister]

Bill, did you ever do the Gyrocopter lessons?

Adios,

[sprack]

If you get the chance come down and checkout Skydive San Marcos. Very professional group of guys.

[Shortline]

Thanks for the heads up, ropes4u and sprack, I may just look into them. I haven't jumped in a few years, but I am getting the bug again. Do either of you jump still? If nothing else, would like to ride up and watch the action, where is Skydive San Marcos? Might very well make for a good destination ride.

TR
Brady TX

[bluedogok]

A friend of mine goes to Skydive Dallas almost every weekend from OKC. She started about 2-3 years ago and is addicted to it now.

[Wasabi]

Scott , Expect to start my Gyroplane flight training sometime in March. I still need to meet the instructor and see the equipment before I pluck my money down. He chagres 1500 for the ground school and flight training for part 103 ultralight license/ permit. The flight school / training is at the Cado Mills airport / field / pasture east of Dallas. Will report back when I know it is a go.

[Shortline]

Wasabi,
Thats pretty interesting, I think it's great the gyroplane is making a comeback, it is one of the safest types of aircraft out there. I am assuming you are going to buy one? Or, is there an FBO somewhere that rents them like a cessna? Let me know, I'm very interested in trying it out. I already have a PPL SEL, working on my insterment under part 61. Unfortunately, I can't afford a plane, and I don't really like to rent....maybe a gyroplane is the way to go? Got any links for me?

TR
Brady TX
herodt@yahoo.com

[train460]

hello friends
several places around houston. Would recomend WWW.skydivespaceland.com
south of houston off of hwy 288 and 1462.
Big place, twin otter, seems well run.
used to jump at skydive spaceland in bryan, till they had to shut down.
thinking of starting back up again tho. also they just opened an indoor skydive place up near conroe, am thinking of visiting them first
Later
Michael Hansen

[Anonymous]

TR, Shortline

The gyroplane guys name is Michael Solano. I spoke to him today and he has moved to a private airport in Whiteright (60 miles north of Dallas). He doesn't have a web page created yet. You are welcome to contact him at 903-815-3494. Hope this is helpful.

One web site that might be usefull http://www.pra007.org/

Bill

[Wasabi]

Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2004 8:43 pm Post subject:

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oops don't know how I got logged off. Try again

TR, Shortline

The gyroplane guys name is Michael Solano. I spoke to him today and he has moved to a private airport in Whiteright (60 miles north of Dallas). He doesn't have a web page created yet. You are welcome to contact him at 903-815-3494. Hope this is helpful.

One web site that might be usefull http://www.pra007.org/

Bill