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Ken I to can atest to them. I used to fly
skydivers [C-182] and we regularly flew formation loads so there would be
8 divers in the air instead of just 4. On the climb we'd fly formation right
through to the drop and then break off. We used to play around a bit, switching
sides, trail, abreast etc. I've flown through the vortices and it
definatly comes off the tips as they roll you the opposite direction depending
which side your on. Also an interesting note, if your closer they have less
effect rather than if your a couple hunder feet behind. When we came up to
the drop we'd tuck in as tight as we where comfortable with. The trail a/c flew
slightly behind and lower so the jumpers could see the jumper exit the first
plane. However if you didn't tuck in close enough.. you heard about it back on
the ground as it took extra time for the jumpers to get together. Basically the
same thing as what Rusty's picture show's. I wish I had some pic's ..
that was definatly the most fun part about that job [that and yanking and
banking into the pattern to get down as fast as poss.] unfortuantly there
wasn't time to take them as I had my hands full :-)
Jarrett Johnson
I was there too. Made a REAL BELIEVER out of me. Small
airplanes do have wake turbulence; Probably off the prop wake
IMHO; others seem to think wing tip vortices. For those who
weren't there: at Tracy'sin 2002 (I think), Finn started his takeoff run
soon after ED had lifted off; as he (Finn) 'rotated' the aircraft rolled left
(hard) and the left wingtip lightly brushed the ground. Scared me silly;
Finn had no idea how close he came to ???????.
Ken Powell
Bryant, Arkansas
501-847-4721
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