Quote:
Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel
yeah, i would have asked for a parachute before that flight too.
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The AN2 (afectionately called "The maize Jumbo") is one of the best planes in the world. Extremely reliable.
The Guinness Book of World Records states that the 45-year production run for the An-2 was the longest ever, for any aircraft. It is still produced in China under name Y-5
The guys from the sky-diving club have a running joke that only the AN2 pilots are brave enough to be in that airplane during landing ;-)
Believe me, it was one of the weiderst moments in my life when a skydiving instructor opened the door on the airplane and looked out if we are on a proper spot for jumping. We were cruising for quite a long time with open door right in front of me (cca 1m from where I was seated on a long wooden bench (without any kind of seat-belt)) and the plane was banking gently.
Since then I have no fear to fly on anything ;-)
I believe the same AN2 that was already very old 20 years ago serves the skydiving club today.