Frequently Asked Questions
Who came up with the concept of Sky Dives?
Lee Abrams had to make it a formal program, but he has been going on flying lunch trips for over 30 years; approximately 40 trips a year. That's over 1200 trips just to eat!
What are some of Lee's favorite places?
Chicago: Greek Town, hot dogs, Italian beef, Chicago only specialties like Chicken Vesuvio & Shrimp DeJoghne, unusual ethnic places
New Orleans: everything! Especially Italian accented Creole places.
Kansas City: Arthur Bryant's and LC's, Oklahoma Joes
Buffalo, NY: Charlie the Butcher, Duffs
New Haven: Louis Lunch (inventor of the hamburger); The Clam Pizzas at Pepe's.
The Northeast (Maine/Massachussetts)in general is great stop. Primarily for Lobster pounds and local seafood
Philadelphia/New Jersey: Pizza, Diners, Subs & Old School Italian joints
Anything you won't eat or don't like?
Scrapple, brains, snouts, and organ meats in general are off the menu.
What are the indicators that you have selected a good Sky Dive?
Family owned (and generations of the same family)
Pin ball machine built before 1970
Restaurant has a counter and stools only
Old grizzled characters that have worked at the restaurant for 20+ years
Cooks do no wear gloves
Tables have the gold flecks
There is a working upright kitchen stove in use
Cooks smoking cigarettes
Tractor trailers in the parking lot
Products at the counter including: Alka Seltzer, Cheap Cigars, Clove, Teaberry or Beemans Gum
Off Brand or local Soft Drinks a plus
Condiments, pickles, tomatoes are an additional cost
A full paper towel roll on the tables
Proximity to a non-chain motel within blocks
Pies on display: rotating pie display a plus
No hand-held menus as it's painted on the wall
Blackened smoke stack that you can smell a mile away
Juke Box Has Patsy Cline and James Brown Songs
Characature or painting of Owner on Wall (interior or exterior)
Industrial Brick interior
Home-made condiments availabe for sale
Proximity to Railroads (especially freight yards)
NO's: No credit...no refills...no swearing. No is good.
Menu item names that mean nothing to an out-of-towner
What are the signs you have likely chosen a bad restaurant?
Fake memorabilia / recently constructed building
Intentional misspellings in the name of the restaurant (post 1950)
Vibrating pagers for seating
Waiters introducing themselves or have a standard greeting
Reviews on the wall that are older than five years (acceptable if they are over 30 years)
How long has Lee had his pilot's license?
Lee was certified when he was 17 years old, certified at Midway Airport in 1967. The first plane he learned to fly was an ErCoupe, a plane designed like an automobile that even had a round steering wheel like a car.
What kind of plane is flown for Sky Dives?
The plane is a Cirrus SR22. It's a four-passenger plane, weight approximately 2400 pounds fully fueled, so pack light! 385 HP, 6 cylinder engine. Take off speed is a little over 90 MPH and can fly ~1200 miles fully fueled.
How fast does the Sky Dives plane go?
Typically flies between 230-250MPH, depending on the winds. With a really strong tail wind, he has flown the plane up to 320 MPH.
Can I submit my hometown as a location for a Sky Dive?
Absolutely! You can do so right here.
