{"id":29810,"date":"2024-12-09T09:28:42","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T17:28:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skydiveperris.com\/?p=29810"},"modified":"2025-06-09T13:04:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T20:04:23","slug":"skydiving-from-a-jet-dc9-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skydiveperris.com\/blog\/skydiving-from-a-jet-dc9-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Skydiving from a Jet (DC-9) at Skydive Perris"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the most important, but sometimes overlooked, components of an awesome skydive is the skydiving airplane! For some \u2013 especially those accustomed to having a world-class fleet<\/a> at their home dropzone \u2013 jump planes sort of fade into the background. But the most recent addition to the Skydive Perris lineup has everyone\u2019s <\/em>attention: our SKYDIVING JET!! And she\u2019s not just popular because she\u2019s new on the scene \u2013 as the world\u2019s only <\/em>skydiving jet, our DC-9 is an international sensation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to learn about the crown jewel of our fleet, including her history and journey back to the skies, what it\u2019s like to skydive from a jet plane, and how YOU can have a piece of the action. It is the closest you can come to skydiving out of a 747!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"dc-9<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How It All Started <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, a little back story on our magnificent DC-9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just 10 of these aircraft were built for Scandinavian Airlines for use at airports at high elevations with short runways. These \u201cSeries 21\u201d models entered service in 1969 but, due to their highly specialized design, were discontinued for lack of additional orders. The Douglas Aircraft Company went on to focus on other variants of the DC-9 family that had broader market demand, leaving most of these perfect-for-Perris aircraft to aviation history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of our DC-9-21, it was destined to a scrapheap in Victorville, California after facing an expensive engine repair \u2013 a fate DZOs Ben and Diane Conatser<\/a> couldn\u2019t bear to accept. With the Perris Valley Airport located at an elevation of 1,420 feet and featuring a 5,100-foot runway, the aircraft had the potential to offer a novel experience of absolutely epic proportions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bennie purchased it in 2003, bought QEC engines, brought it to Perris, and began to work with the Douglas Aircraft Company and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to prepare it for skydiving operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unprecedented Modifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To ready our DC-9 for human flight, <\/em>Bennie implemented several modifications, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Removal of Ventral Stair Steps<\/strong>
    <\/strong>The aircraft’s rear ventral airstair, originally designed for passenger boarding and deplaning, was removed to create a clear and unobstructed exit path for skydivers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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