freeflir29 0 #1 June 29, 2002 Did you ever just have one of those bad days? I was pretty happy to pack my stuff up and leave the DZ. I awoke this morning to the sound of the Otter spinning up. Wanted to sleep more but just couldn't with the sound of the plane. So...I get up and retrieve my gear and proceed to pack. Obviously not paying a hell of a lot of attention during this process. Get on load 3 and do another nice jump with Andre. Screwed up the exit pretty good but got in several Head Down docks and transitions after that. Track away at 4800 or so. Dump....and it opens sorta funny. Just didn't feel "normal" Look at my risers and...."What the fuck is that?" can clearly be heard on my video. Hmmm...seems my dumb ass just packed and proceeded to jump a "step through" First thought...cut it away....then Well, lets not be hasty. It is flying, eliptical, stable, steerable. Lets unstow the brakes and see what happens. Hmm....seems OK. Left turn, right turn. Good to go. I think I'll land this one nice and conservative. Didn't even touch the risers. Start my flare. Oh shit!!! I forgot to flare check it. Hope it doesn't bow tie on me. It didn't I landed fine except for really feeling stupid. Next jump....3 way with one good and one not so good sit flyer. Cool...we get to be first out. I climb out on the camera step and off we go. Chased those guys all around the sky and track away at 4500. As soon as I turn over I realize I'm pointed up the jump run so I carve left about 45 degrees off the aircraft line of flight. Just started to put my arms up to stop my track at about 3200 and "What the fuck???" There is a canopy opening on level with me about 100 yds away. Turn another 45 degrees so we don't open pointed at each other. Delay a couple seconds and dump. What have I not done at this point? Finish stopping the track. Plus I am now "skidding" sideways due to avoiding the other jumper. What do you get when you deploy a Stilletto in that fashion. Nice spinning line twists!!!! Luckily I have "Cat like" reflexes and managed to fight out of them. Needless to say I was a little pissed off that this guy had obviously gotten out within 1 or 2 seconds after us. So....after two kind of screwed up jumps I was happy to pack up my stuff and come in to work. Everyone be careful out there. These two situations could easily have been far worse. I was just lucky today I guess. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbarnhouse 0 #2 June 29, 2002 Well Clay darlin' some days you're better off staying in bed..........NOT! But there are days when I know I should just pack it in for the day becuase it really does'nt look like it's going to get any better. Today was one of those days! My cameraman had proximity issues today, I had issues with stability in a couple of transitions, and after about 7 jumps I threw in the pull-up cord. It just wasn't working....then another camerman asked if I would jump with him (He has been asking for 3 weeks now) and I had to tell him I was done for the day. Mega bummer! Additionally, it's damn hot and tonight is the demo jump at the speedway......I'm tired but am obligated. Time to buck up little buckaroo.......think I'll take a nap first Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #3 June 29, 2002 He might have left sever seconds after you...but could of been backslidding in a sit...or had a REALLY bad head down that was more of a track than a true head down..... Marc otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #4 June 29, 2002 I could see that if it was JUST a proximity issue. The problem is that we were on the SAME level at 3000 feet. Even though I spent the majority of the dive in a sit, if he waited the 6 seconds he should have I don't think that would have happened. I suppose it's possible that he caught us but I think unlikely. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #5 June 29, 2002 jjust wait till you see my sit......I can catch up.....HEHEHE...me and my big fat ass.... Marc otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
