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For decades mainstream politicians of all parties avoided being associated with hatred and bigotry. The few that did were generally shunned. Then Trump came along and tapped into the most vile components of American life and showed how successful it could be.

Newt Gingrich, elected to the house in 1979.

Hi John, Trump. Jerry Baumchen

My old days! Southern Parachute Center, 1968. Mike Marcon

Better side by side images,, 1940 Pioneer P1-B24, 24' container on the right.. Hayden's chute left in the plane now at the Washington Museum.. an early 1940's Pioneer P2-B24 a 24' container. This is the update to the P1 with slight changes.. same size, both 24' containers originally had 24' silk chutes.

Jonbenet Ramsey DNA info just for visual reference. I was surprised they released this

And the likelihood of any of it being Cooper's DNA is probably low. That tie was picked up by agents in Reno, taken to a Penney's, sent to the Crime Lab, sent back to Vegas, then sent again to Crime Lab in 72, sent back to Vegas, then sent to LA in 74, then sent back to Vegas, then sent to Seattle in the 90's, then sent to Crime Lab in 2001, sent back to Seattle, etc. It has seen some miles and numerous hands since NORJAK.

Furry, and majestic from a distance?

"Cindy goes to Sin City" (I don't know if that book exists or not, but if it doesn't, it should)

Always look on the bright side of life!

"Hey, sewer rat may taste like pumpkin pie, but I'd never know 'cause I wouldn't eat the filthy motherfucker. Pigs sleep and root in shit. That's a filthy animal. I ain't eat nothin' that ain't got sense enough to disregard its own feces." ;-)

This is nothing more than a proposal to force DZs to maintain their aircraft, pilot training and operations to normal commercial standards like DZs must do everywhere else in the world. It will not be "devastating regulation". It will be requiring giving paying customers the same amount of assurance that the people selling airplane rides for money do in every other branch of commercial aviation. It is simply time for the industry to grow up and away from being a semi-outlaw sport. Those days are long gone. Skydivers should not be opposing these changes. They should be demanding them.

I had a Raider-230 Nine Cell Canopy in the early 90's. I did about 40 jumps on it and had no Issues and the canopy was jumped quiet a few times after that. Eventually a few years later, it was hard to get a decent Flare out of it, especially in Nil wind Landings. It was gracefully and respectfully retired on a Bonfire to a lot of cheering :) Rodger

>Why do “we” not want the FAA to increase oversight of jump operations? Because: 1) Most skydivers think the government is incompetent, and thus more oversight won't help (in their minds.) 2) Increased oversight will, in many cases, increase the cost of skydiving. Most skydivers do not want to pay more for increased oversight. 3) Increased oversight will increase the hassle to DZO's. Most DZO's prefer less hassle. The good ones think they are already safe enough; the bad ones prefer to spend less on inspections and maintenance.

The FAA regulates both aircraft AND skydiving. The FAR simply "endorses" the USPA as an organization whose proven "best practices" serve as a basis for that regulation. IOW: The FAA allows the USPA to manage the day-to-day, but can void that agreement any time it deems necessary, either in whole or in specific cases. While aircraft crashes are investigated by the FAA and the NTSB, the USPA should at least petition both agencies to participate in skydiving aircraft accident investigations so that it can fulfill its obligation to "self-regulate" and not give the FAA any more reason to micromanage our sport. -JD-

Do you think that a GMDZ that has had the FAA cite the DZ's lack of MX or training as the factor in a crash should be a GMDZ? The fact is the USPA is doing almost nothing. They make the DZO fill out a "form" and according to Ed Scott, they then throw the form away after they made sure the FORM was filled out correctly. Get this for irony.... To be a TI, I have to include my medical (That the FAA does not care exists at ALL, it is pure bowing to Vector). But the GM application does not require a copy of my medical OR a copy of my pilots license to show that I am a commercial pilot with at least a 2nd class medical..... So to be responsible for a single tandem PAX, I have to show proof of a medical, but to fly an entire load of tandems.... USPA does not care! All that is required is that a the DZO write down a name of a chief pilot and sign the pledge * Comply with the USPA Basic Safety Requirements (BSRs), which include compliance with the Federal Aviation Regulations relevant to skydiving operations, including aircraft operations. * Ensure that all pilots employed or utilized for the purpose of parachute operations hold at least a commercial pilot certificate and a second- class medical certificate. * Ensure that all aircraft utilized for the purpose of parachute operations comply with commercial maintenance requirements described in U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.409(a) through (f) as applicable. Hell, why not just have the DZO "attest" to the TI's having a medical? It also asks this question: "Is there adequate initial and recurrent training for jump pilots?" But the only check that any of that is true.... Is did they fill out the FORM correctly.... This from Ed Scott. And from one of the National Directors: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3541729#3541729 That same leader The USPA uses the GM program to demand individual membership. The GM program does nothing for the individual membership.... We all know DZ's that are group members that do not follow the pledge, we know of DZ's that have been cited by the FAA... And they are STILL Group Members. The GM program IS a joke and it should be eliminated. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334