Jumpers having fun aboard N355B, by Andy Keech, January 31, 2011 The photos showing skydivers massed on the Electra were taken on a flight out of the Zephyrhills Parachute Center about 30 miles northeast of Tampa, Florida on July 15, 1978. Andy Keech took the photos after jumping from the plane. Andy prefers to leave it as a mystery how he managed to get the photo from in front of the plane, and jokingly says he jumped off the nose and did a quick 180 to take the photo. The jumpers exited the cabin on both sides and those on the right side climbed over the top of the fuselage to join their companions on the left. Nylon ropes were rigged on the fuselage to assist the jumpers in climbing over. One of the jumpers who wishes to remain anonymous describes the escapade this way: "The plan was flawless, and well rehearsed on the ground. The climbout went as easily as usual. Nobody had trouble hopping over and we were all crouched together. I got to my knees and gave the signal to stand up, which this group of pros did. We were up, well momentarily at least. We had forgotten only one tiny detail; aerodynamics. That wall of bodies had completely blocked the airflow over the tail." The pilot, Dan Bossard, later said that there was absolutely no feeling on the elevator. The plane pitched steeply nose down. The story teller continues: "I collapsed onto the fuselage and the Gs went negative. I was floating about 6 in (15 cm) off the skin, looking bug-eyed over the nose at the ground. I'm not sure whether I had one of those perceptual time dilations or not. But I remember seeing my hands trying, rather slowly considering my panic, to backpedal and keep me from going over the precipice. However the funniest image I have is of some of the other jumpers, mouths open, eyes wide looking over their shoulders at the prop. In slow motion, they were running and trying to pull themselves hand-over-hand up the nylon rope. They were simply jogging in place because their feet were not touching anything but the space between them and the wing." "After enough jumpers had been blown off or airspeed increased, Dan was able to bring the nose up. We went from negative to positive Gs rather abruptly. People were pinned to the wings and I ate the fuselage. The plane bucked one more time. We didn't go negative again, but with only a couple times the force of gravity, more people took the opportunity to leave. The Lockheed rose up to smite us once again, but much more gently than was its first blow. At that point, the few of us remaining decided that a little fresh air would do us some good." Both Dan and Andy give high marks to the Electra, describing it as "well behaved and capable." Jumpers liked it especially as it allowed fun things to be done while feeling safe aboard.