Pic(k) of the week 2: The skydive elevator

Some of you might know that I spend the early years of my flying career in and around skydiving ("parachuting") operations. I've flown "left seat" in a broad series of skydiving aircraft; Cessna 206, Britten Norman Islander, GAF Nomad, Short Skyvan. Beside I also have "right hand seat" time in the Antonov AN-2, Let L-410,  de Havilland DHC-4 Caribou, C130 Hercules.

A great skydiving aircraft I have never flown in is the Canadian built, de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter. This is the backbone of "Skydive Dubai", a sport parachuting club based in guess where... Dubai! 

2012 Pic(k) of the week: Skydive elevator
The image above of one of the club's two Twin Otters, was made at the second drop zone, SD2, otherwise also called the "Desert campus"; a fully equipped Skydiving center on the Dubai to Al Ain road. Skydivers need a minimum of 100 jumps (B license) to jump at the Dubai Marina drop zone (SD1), which is close to high-rise buildings and is surrounded with lots of water.

The aircraft had just picked up a fresh load of Skydivers and was on its way for another elevator ride to 12000 feet.

Image details:
Nikon D700 with 70-200 2.8. VR2 lens
ISO200, f16, 1/200s, @200mm
RAW development in Lightroom 3
Nik Software SilverEfex 2 for Black and White conversion

Happy shooting,

BJORN
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