billvon 3,089 #151 December 4, 2011 >From what I've seen, packing looks as complex as stuffing an angry Giant Pacific >Octopus into a tiny suitcase . . . A slippery, angry Giant Pacific Octopus. When I learned to pack it was on DC-5's with about 5000 jumps a piece on them, so at least for me it was more akin to stuffing a giant and grumpy - but sluggish - octopus into a suitcase. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BobMoore 0 #152 December 4, 2011 QuoteWhen I learned to pack it was on DC-5's with about 5000 jumps a piece on them, so at least for me it was more akin to stuffing a giant and grumpy - but sluggish - octopus into a suitcase. Now with the modern ZP canopies it is like stuffing a slippery eel into a tube sock."For you see, an airplane is an airplane. A landing area is a landing area. But a dropzone... a dropzone is the people." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abedy 0 #153 December 5, 2011 Quote From what I've seen, packing looks as complex as stuffing an angry Giant Pacific Octopus into a tiny suitcase- even if you get him in there, he may enact revenge on the way out unless you did it just right. Good picture. You should (and probably will) use it in your cartoons which I'm looking forward to Quote ...but a bit too breezy for student jumps... Yepp, that's a lesson to be learned again and again. You can't change the weather. Or as we put it in German: "Die meiste Zeit des Lebens wartet der Springer vergebens" (Roughly: Most time of their lives skydivers wait in vain.) Cheers and take care. Greetings from rather cold and windy Gera (just came back from the Weihnachtsmarkt and had a glass of white Glühwein.) I'll leave the German words to you to figure out, you'll manage, I'm sure The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Namowal 0 #154 December 16, 2011 Here's what happened on my first solo. When I posted my tandem cartoon up here a few months ago, little did I know I'd one day be posting cartoons about jumping out of the plane all by myself.Who knew? My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #155 December 16, 2011 I love the beer panel at the end ... looks remarkably like my boyfriend did last weekend carrying in the four 12-packs that the two of us owed for our brand-new rigs. (So no, the fines never end, they just get a little less frequent!). "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
obelixtim 150 #156 December 16, 2011 When you are landing and trying to judge when to flare, don't look at the ground immediately below you, it will seem like it is whizzing by and speeding up. This is an illusion as the parachute is not accelerating, its just that your mind has got used to apparently moving slowly, because you are high up with no close reference points immediately before you land. Thus when the eyes do see movement, it tends to exaggerate, making it seem like things are moving faster and faster. This will normally cause you to misjudge your height and flare too soon, or jerk on the toggles. Look at the horizon ahead of you instead, this will give you a more accurate picture of your actual height AND descent rate. Then your flare should be smooth, with full flare just as you touch down. You'll soon get the hang of it, and you'll suddenly start to stand up. Its much easier with a bit of wind though, on windless days its hard to wash all your forward speed off completely. Practise a few flares under canopy, you'll soon get the feel of how the canopy reacts to your toggle input....whether fast or slow.My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Namowal 0 #157 December 16, 2011 Quote I love the beer panel at the end ... looks remarkably like my boyfriend did last weekend carrying in the four 12-packs that the two of us owed for our brand-new rigs. (So no, the fines never end, they just get a little less frequent!). Thanks and congrats on the new rigs. My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Namowal 0 #158 December 16, 2011 Quote When you are landing and trying to judge when to flare, don't look at the ground immediately below you, it will seem like it is whizzing by and speeding up. This is an illusion as the parachute is not accelerating, its just that your mind has got used to apparently moving slowly, because you are high up with no close reference points immediately before you land. Good point. I call it the "freight train illusion" because the same thing happens when you're standing near the tracks watching a train approach at a steady speed. It seems to float in the distance and suddenly zoom up, but it is, in fact, not accelerating. Quote Its much easier with a bit of wind though, on windless days its hard to wash all your forward speed off completely. There was zero wind that day, so that might have been part of the problem. Quote Practice a few flares under canopy, you'll soon get the feel of how the canopy reacts to your toggle input....whether fast or slow. Thanks for the suggestion. :)My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
charlie5 0 #159 December 16, 2011 Love the expression after landing Also the beer, oh so true. The feather butts bounce off ya like raindrops hitting a battle-star when they come in too fast...kinda funny to watch. - airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #160 December 16, 2011 Thank you so much for these they sure made me smile and I can't thank you enough for that! Keep up the amazing work.....no pressure! Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tmccann 1 #161 December 16, 2011 Love the whuffo comment on the "watch"! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ILUVCHUTERS 1 #162 December 16, 2011 Love it!! These make me smile, thanks for sharing. And congrats on your first solo!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,523 #163 December 16, 2011 Quote Love the expression after landing Also the beer, oh so true. Yep. Carrying a couple heavy gearbags? Nothing. Carrying toolboxes and spare parts? Nothing. Carrying two cases (or even 2 six-packs)? A bazillion jumpers will ask "Gee that looks heavy, do youi need some help?" Nice jpb Namo!! The landings will come in time."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
guineapiggie101 0 #164 December 16, 2011 I likes the solo cartoon. Glad your solos are coming along well. Like what the others said, landings will come to you, with time. Some days you will do better than others, that's how it seem like it was with me. Have you had a stand up landing yet? With all the jumps I did, I never had a stand up landing :( See you around the DZ. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #165 December 16, 2011 Are you at the DZ this weekend? If so, id like to say hi, and buy you a beer You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Namowal 0 #166 December 16, 2011 Quote I likes the solo cartoon. Glad your solos are coming along well. Like what the others said, landings will come to you, with time. Some days you will do better than others, that's how it seem like it was with me. Have you had a stand up landing yet? With all the jumps I did, I never had a stand up landing :( See you around the DZ. I've never had a standup landing. I'm not the most coordinated person in the world so it may be awhile. I'm just happy that they've been gentle. I think of them as extra PLF practice.My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Namowal 0 #167 December 17, 2011 Quote Are you at the DZ this weekend? If so, id like to say hi, and buy you a beer I was planning to jump this weekend but it may be too windy. Nobody has to buy me a beer, but I'd be happy to say "hi!" My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #168 December 17, 2011 Quote Quote Are you at the DZ this weekend? If so, id like to say hi, and buy you a beer I was planning to jump this weekend but it may be too windy. Nobody has to buy me a beer, but I'd be happy to say "hi!" it wont be come on out early You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Namowal 0 #169 December 17, 2011 Quote Quote Quote Are you at the DZ this weekend? If so, id like to say hi, and buy you a beer I was planning to jump this weekend but it may be too windy. Nobody has to buy me a beer, but I'd be happy to say "hi!" it wont be come on out early I was planning to... ...but it was cloudy and drizzly this morning (in Los Angeles at least) and my weather source for Elsinore said it there were gusty winds, so I stayed put.If I learn that conditions today were student friendly after all, I'll kick myself.My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #170 December 19, 2011 it was really nice meeting you today.. You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LisaH 0 #171 December 19, 2011 Hey everyone, meet Jennifer. The awesome talent behind these great cartoons. Keep 'em coming! Congratulations on graduating AFF! (Posted with permission) Be yourself! MooOOooOoo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mutumbo 0 #172 December 19, 2011 Congrats!! Thanatos340(on landing rounds)-- Landing procedure: Hand all the way up, Feet and Knees Together and PLF soon as you get bitch slapped by a planet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #173 December 19, 2011 YAY Congrats Jennifer.. Looking forward to reading the AFF grad toon You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Namowal 0 #174 December 19, 2011 Quote it was really nice meeting you today.. It was nice to meet you too! You skydivers are a nice bunch of people.My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Namowal 0 #175 December 19, 2011 Quote Hey everyone, meet Jennifer. The awesome talent behind these great cartoons. Keep 'em coming! Congratulations on graduating AFF! (Posted with permission) I've been unmasked! Thanks for posting.My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
