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No, I am not a pilot. When I take off within the airplane and feel beneath my feet that lonely piece of the ground mysteriously flying in the sky my only desire is to leave it ASAP and fly "on my own". Because I know how my parachute works but know nothing about the strange sounds the airplane makes sometimes, what do that dozens of airplane indicators mean, what does the pilot thinks...
So you won't find much technical information here. Just my emotions :)
Egorievsk DZ, MI-8's mug |
The MI-8 helicopter is skydiver's best choice in Russia! It carries up to 25 skydivers, runs up fast, ramp door is removed in summer - great for RW. Yes, the helicopters are expensive toys, but there are some left in good condition in the military airoports that are rented for skydiving needs sometimes. That's the secret of the cheap jumps here.
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Summer time at Volosovo DZ |
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MI-2 helicopter at Egorievsk DZ |
Yet another nice helicopter MI-2. Side door wing is removed when it is used for skydives: those ill-mannered skydivers never close the door on exit:). So I don't recommend anybody to try winter skydives from MI-2 unless no other aircraft and you really hungry to jump. The MI-2 usually carries 5-7 jumpers or whole Russian CRW team(8 members + 1 videoman) when they trained at our DZ: these guys set 2 world records! One is in CRW (you might know it) and another is in squeezing the largest number of skydivers into 1 little helicopter.
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This MI-26 belongs to Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. |
MI-26 is the largest helicopter in the world! Sometimes it carries 100 charmed skydivers to 5000 meters. Regretably it is rather noisy inside, and the horizontal speed is low.
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AN-2 also known as "kukuruznik", this means somethins like "an airplane that lives in the corn field" |
AN-2 is one of the most popular Soviet airplanes. You probably saw it in an old war movies. The airplane is simple and reliable, its big wings area allows safe landing when the engine stops. But it cannot carry us too high, 2500-2800 meters is its probable destination. Often used for skydives with round military canopies from 800 meters - I tried this twice. Also I jumped from AN-2 right after passing the AFF course in winter when the most of DZs were closed. Ugh, -15C on the ground, -5C in the air...
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L-410 at Borki DZ, summer 2000 |
Skydiver's dream! What can be better? 20 skydivers on board, 4000 meters is a must, quick ride to altitude, wide door. It's beautiful!
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