Leaderboard

Nope. At most, include the slider in the tail roll (so it is kept under control a bit longer) but do not expose it. Exposing it exposes it to all the manipulations you do to the parachute to get it in the bag - and many of those will try to push the slider away from grommets.

Looks like the 737 MAX is going to see some trouble. So far there have been two fatal crashes, with at least one caused by a hack Boeing did to get their plane to be a little more stable. Background - one of the big changes was that the MAX had new engines (CFM LEAP variants) which were more efficient due to their larger fans, but those larger fans also necessitated a lot of airframe changes - longer landing gear, changed engine placement, new engine mounts. These changes caused a pronounced pitch-up moment during some maneuvers, which led test pilots to get very close to stall very quickly. This was deemed unsafe by regulators. So Boeing added an automatic nose-down-trim algorithm to the flight augmentation computer if it sensed a high angle of attack. Per Boeing, this was added "to compensate for some unique aircraft handling characteristics [discovered] during its Part 25 certification." The nose-down trim addition was enough of a fix to satisfy regulators. Since it works by trimming the nose down, it works by effectively tilting the entire horizontal stabilizer down. Thus if it runs away there's no way for the pilot to counteract the nose-down tendency with yoke input alone. And it looks like that's what happened with the first crash. The MCAS (erroneously) sensed a high angle of attack, and started trimming the pitch more and more nose down until it overpowered the pilot. In the second crash, it looks so far like the pilot tried to turn off the trim motors but lost control anyway, perhaps due to the lack of that stabilization. Needless to say, there are ways to shut down the system. Using manual trim (switch on the yoke) will temporarily override the system, as will using the hand trim wheel in the center console. But to get it to shut down for good you have to turn off power to the trim system, which 1) there is no training for right now and 2) then you lose the stability augmentation, which puts you back into the situation that the aircraft failed certification for. So it doesn't look good right now. The right fix is probably an airframe change to move engines/wings/tail around to prevent the pitch-up moment, but that's likely a rebuild-the-plane change. In the meantime Boeing is trying for a software fix, one that will be less likely to erroneously sense a high AOA. But regulators may not be so amenable this time around to a software fix for a fundamental instability.

I started AFF with my brother two weeks after my first tandem in April of 2018. Almost one year later I own all my own gear, have 132 jumps and counting, and have plans to become a coach/AFF instructor in the near future. I was addicted after the first jump and haven't looked back. I picked up a second job working nights as a server at a restaurant so that all my tips can go toward funding my goals of being a great skydiver. For the first 3 or 4 months i dedicated a lot of time going to the DZ, sometimes 4 days a week in between jobs, learning everything I could and making friends with some experienced jumpers. This, for me, has been the journey of a lifetime. I enjoy the challenge of learning new skills both in free fall and under canopy. I enjoy everything skydiving related. I do think about it all the time. My girlfriend is not a skydiver, did one tandem and has no desire to do it again. She supports my goals, and understands this is not an overnight accomplishment and it requires a dedication of time and expenses. I try to only jump one or two days a week when she is working, making sure to give her the time she deserves to do other stuff. My best advice is to be fully prepared to invest alot of time and money learning this sport. You don't necessarily have to spend every weekend at the DZ jumping, but I would suggest going the distance while going for your license. Try not to take too much time off. It help you to accomplish the necessary goals required to be a decent skydiver, not just someone who falls out of a plane. You will also experience some disappointments along the way, especially if you have to repeat a level or don't accomplish a goal you have set for yourself immediately. That's ok! Life is full of ups and downs, don't beat yourself up too much. You'll get it on the next try, or maybe the one after that! Once I got my license, all my own gear and became an independent skydiver , I focused on balancing the rest of my life. I am much more careful with my money; eating out less, cutting out unnecessary spending and I still have my second job to help pay for my skydiving I love what I do and I couldn't be more happy. The people are great, the thrill is amazing, and the feeling of accomplishment and pride is never ending. Each time I nail something I have been working on, it fuels my desire to continue learning and accomplish more. In summary, my two cents is GO FOR IT! I haven't regretted my decision for a second. I hope that I can be one of the few who dedicates the time and effort to enjoy this for years to come! For me, life is too short to not be adventurous, a little crazy, and shoot for the stars. I wish you the best in making your decision!

3.141 close enough for govt. work

The only weaseling going on here is from you and Billy V. Yep, weasel around your ignorant comments and then when called out on it, shout "I know you are but what am I?" Just about what I expected.

Nope, Skydive Hogwarts

Firstly, if you are trying to buy cheap used gear with only the interwebs to help, stop. Go find someone, or more than one someone, who knows something and has seen you fly and land the student canopy. Call or email gear stores with your above questions. Not only can they probably give you advice, they may also have some used gear that will fit you. We call the ratio between your exit weight and the canopy square footage your wing loading. It is a ratio, but we just use the first number. For example, you are 81 kg which is around 170 pounds. Add 20 or so pounds for everything you are wearing puts you at about 190 lbs. exit weight. So you on a 190 square ft canopy would put you at 1.0 wing loading. This is considered to be a reasonable loading for a first canopy. Don't buy an F111 main. They are cheap for a reason. Also consider the size of your reserve. Many people suggest that your first reserve be at 1.0-1.1. This means you will want to look for a reserve of 170 to 190 sq. ft. Personally I would recommend a 1.0 wing loading for your reserve as well, but that's just me. And don't forget the container. It has to fit both canopies and the harness has to fit you. But that's a whole different post. Bottom line? Don't buy anything without running it by someone who knows you, and insist that anything you buy pass an inspection by your rigger before the purchase is final.

Does Savannah have a beach? I thought those people all went to Hilton Head. Don't know. If you can make it to the panhandle, do it. Best beaches, sugar sand, unbelievable blue water color. You're not going to surf there, but it is relaxing Anywhere from Jacksonville down to Daytona, you get a lot of the outflow from the St John's River. The water is murky. Don't expect to see blue water. If you do, it's a gift. Enjoy it. St Augustine has a bunch of beaches, not as far south as Daytona, and the town is pretty nice to hang out in.

9 Months is nothing. They sent a lady to prison for 5 years because she didn't realize she wasn't allowed to vote while on parole.

I agree. Each boob should be judged on it's own merit. A boob lacking elasticity and melanin among other features should be reduced to a civil infraction, while more aesthetically pleasing boobs should be celebrated as a civil service.