Why Planes Make All the Difference

Uber? Lyft? Didi? Ola? If you’re going to the same place, how much does it really matter how you get there?

When you’re sharing a ride to the sky, it certainly does matter how you get there. The skydiving aircraft that rolls up for your grand entrance will matter more than almost any other factor you’re shopping for on skydive. If this is news to you, no worries! It’s a surprise to many, and we’re here to help.

1. The different skydiving aircraft at Ramblers 

Ramblers has an incredible fleet of planes to accommodate our jumpers any day of the week, and we are quite fond of these planes that take us up through the skies. Our fleet is made up of two turbine aircraft – Cessna Caravans – one painted in yellow we affectionately call “Homer,” and the other painted blue and white we know as, “Marj”. To round out the fleet we have our little workhorse, the Cessna 182.

Our Cessna 182 flies during most weekdays, taking between 1 to 4 jumpers and a pilot, up to 10,000 feet. The 182 is also used for hop-n-pop (low altitude, low opening jumps, usually for experienced jumpers and occasionally students) jumps. Our Cessna Caravans take up to 16 jumpers and cruise up to 14,000 feet in about 18 minutes. 

2. The skydiving aircraft special occasions

We are quite fortunate here at Ramblers, as on special occasions will be able to do ‘formation loads’ with our two Cessna Caravans! Formation loads are a novelty as they don’t happen often. However, we usually do formation loads when more than a single planes’ capacity of jumpers get together to plan a larger group jump. Doing formation loads enables us to accommodate larger experienced skydiving groups!

And formation loads are so cool – even from the ground – as the two planes fly nearly side-by-side up to height, sometimes up to 18,000 feet! The jumpers then exit simultaneously and fly together to form a big flower-shaped pattern by linking hands. Even from the ground it is captivating watching as the group comes together to build the formation, then breaks away like a firework exploding to open their parachutes.

3. The different skydiving planes = building experience.

No matter if you are a first time tandem student, AFF student or experienced jumper, the opportunity to jump different types of aircraft builds in your repertoire of being able to handle exiting the different planes. Because each planes door operates slightly different – such as the 182 – the door opens up and out, and (depending on your experience) can roll out or climb out onto the strut of the plane. Whereas exiting the Caravan, you can also roll out or practice climbing out of the door and floating out, or exiting from inside and diving out.

In tandem, because you are harnessed to an experienced instructor, your instructor will advise and practice the best exit for each aircraft. 

Now do you get why, in skydiving, planes make all the difference? We’d love to show you ours! Reserve yourself a ride in one of the best skydiving aircraft in the sky. The only thing you’ll enjoy more than being in it is getting out of it (and into your next great adventure)!