Jump Related Accident at Deland, FL

If anything, the jump community is rallying around the pilot in support.

Yeah, I read that.

That reaction seems counter-intuitive, given what happened. Can anyone cast
any light on this situation?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Both the pilot and the deceased were long time, well-liked members of
the community. They were both friends of each other, and mentors to many.

If anything, I see the Skydiving community as a family.. or an army (if
you will) that is closing ranks and considers this a tragic accident,
and not a criminal act. I read some of the Dropzone forums in the
aftermath of the event, and came away with the impression that the
community is fairly tight knit, particularly at the higher levels of
accomplishment or achievement.

Dave

Jay Honeck wrote:
If anything, the jump community is rallying around the pilot in support.


Yeah, I read that.

That reaction seems counter-intuitive, given what happened. Can anyone cast
any light on this situation?

Then again, the statement that these guys were "always playing chicken"
could be a concoction. Some onlooker sees the jump plane diving down, after
a drop, and makes the assumption that the pilot is trying to narrowly miss
the jumper.
My guess is, if it occurred which I doubt, the game of chicken would be
decidedly one-sided, since the parachutist is only going down and the pilot
would have to, more or less, be pointing his aircraft at the jumper.
As we all know, stories like this titillate the non-piloting public and it
sells newspapers, especially if on the front page and folks can see the
headline in a newspaper kiosk.

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:uqT7f.473096$x96.351801@attbi_s72...
If anything, the jump community is rallying around the pilot in support.

Yeah, I read that.

That reaction seems counter-intuitive, given what happened. Can anyone
cast any light on this situation?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"