dthames

You can reduce your weight by no more than the mass of the air that you displace. So, best case, a few grams. You would be better off making a trip to the restroom before the jump. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I'm with you on this. I would like to keep on jumping as long as I can. But someone had the nerve to say "we are waiting for him to screw up" right in front of you. Sorry to say but what a bunch of dicks..... I don't think it was meant as, "screw up and get hurt", but more of "screw up somehow, so we can tease you"......but screw ups often do hurt. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I started jumping about 20 months ago. Almost all of the seasoned jumpers at my DZ have had injuries that took them out of the sport for a while. Some of these were serious injuries and all of them were landing related. After hearing all of the stories I thought, “This not what I signed up for”. One day someone commented that I had no nickname. Someone else said, “We are waiting for him to screw up so we can give him an appropriate one”. I might get hurt, even on the next jump. But my goal is to keep jumping. You can’t keep jumping if you are laid up. All of my skydiving decisions are weighted against what they will do to my chances to keep jumping. I have passed on some things that might have been “fun”. But I did so because I want to do all I can to keep jumping. Maybe that is the old fart in me. Show your friend the wing loading chart. Ask him how important it is that he keeps jumping. Ask him how his canopy choice, regardless of how he plans to fly it, might affect his plans to keep jumping. I am sure this young lady didn’t think she was in over her head. But somehow, something happened that stopped her from jumping. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4501604 Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

While not "hypnosis therapy" we practiced relaxation as you described in childbirth class back in the 80s. I can go to sleep, or very close to sleep, in 2 or 3 minutes pretty much any time I want to. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I have two grown boys and several young people that are close to me that I have coached or encouraged as they learned to drive. One point I always try to make clear that I don't think any of them first grasp, "I is your responsibility not to crash into stuff". They all say, "I know" but most then prove they can't keep from crashing into something. I see skydiving much the same way. Just don't crash into "anything" as a first major step to not getting hurt. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Congratulations, way better than my first flight. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I always wanted to but never enough to actually do it. Until about 20 months ago. I decided that if I was going to do it that I needed to get on with the program before I was really too old to do well at it. Many aspects of jumping are different than I expected. Some things were much harder for me than I expected. Some things are not all that enjoyable, part of the time. But recently I started reaching some of my primary goals. Things are a lot better now, but still some things are touch. If you become a real student of the sport, be ready to study and to work. I read a story even before my first jump. The woman had received her A license and made a statement like, "I am not sure what to do next. You really can't be a casual skydiver". Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Well, yes. We hope so. You'd be surprised how many AFFIs, Coaches and local yahoos want to, and do, let them, and tell them, to do just that. I hope you don't think I'm making this up as I go, do you? Andy, high is good practice, I agree but I chuckle about the "yahoo" part and thinking about my SL training. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

While visiting Zhills early this year, TK put on an accuracy seminar which suggested practicing. Imagine that. If you know you can put yourself down almost exactly where you desire, it makes an off landing less likely to hurt you, damage crops, or make someone mad. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I like this fellow. At least he seeks advice at the DZ from many sources. (camera joke) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OfBirDnUJc Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Mom, Do you have any motion sickness patches? >"No, you don't normally get motion sick still do you?" No, but I don't normally jump from planes either. True story. About jump 95 a friend had a fast landing, flopped on her side and broke her pelvis. Then she called and told her folks she went skydiving and got injured. True story. Education helps reduce worry. You might plan to tell them in a way that shows them some of the facts about the sport and not leave it to what they have seen on TV......Like, I released only one brake and almost died. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I am still curious if they really also ban tracking jumps and if so, what are they trying to make better......not landing off? Thanks, Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

What was helpful to me was to practice my exits a lot on the ground. But in the plane after I am in position I would pause and do a quick visualization in the door right before I gave the count. So after I was ready I would think, “I am going to say Ready, Set, Go, and my actions are going to be Up, Down, Arch”. Then I would do the count and go. But the most important thing was to do what I intended, ARCH and focus 100% on that for those 2 seconds. Of course always work with your instructors on any ideas you have for your improvement. If you are going to pause in the door you would want to get into position early so not to delay others behind you. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I had an interesting experience just a few weeks after getting my A license. It was a super hot Texas summer day and I was sitting right at the door of an Otter. After 1500 feet we opened the door to get some air. After about 3,000 feet and up to the point we closed the door I was thinking, the plane could roll and I could fall right out. It wouldn’t really matter, I could deal with it. The biggest concern was that my goggles were down on my neck and I would have to and off. I had never considered being in a situation where I might fall from a plane and really not have to worry about it. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

What would also prompt their ban on tracking dives? (referring to the poster image file) Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

The time that I got away from the more expensive coached jumps 100% of the time to a time when I could jump for just the lift cost was an important turning point for me. That made things easier on the pocket book and took some performance pressure off. I think the willingness to help by both the DZ and other jumpers is a major influence on how many jumpers view the sport. I did most of my training at a small DZ. As a student, several helped me learn to pack and the one packer that specifically took of his time to help me, I gave him some money and a pan of brownies. My DZ friends helped me progress. Recently I was at a larger DZ and a jumper with more than 200 jumps was trying to learn to pack well enough that they would trust themselves to do all of their own packing. Surprised, I asked about their packing history and training. They had paid to take a packing class and got by enough to get their own license. Realizing that they were in need of help, they asked what could be done for additional training. It was suggested they take the packing class again. The jumper had not learned well in the class and was not interested in repeating the class. But no other options were suggested. I find it hard to fault the DZ for what happened here. But had the events unfolded differently, I think the jumper would have been better off in skills and in attitude. The most encouraging times that I remember is when someone that was part of the DZ staff asked me what my plans and goals were. Then they offered to help guide me to make them happen. Not everyone knows to actively seek out the help that they need. Sometimes jumpers might need a little extra help guiding them to their goals. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I placed my order with Tonysuits (early March 2013) and they gave me a target ship date about 3 months out. But I got my suit much sooner than their projected date. I am sure your mileage may vary. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I made some with a waxy tool dip product that is used to coat sharpened end mills and similar tools for shipment. Using a 41 mag pistol casing (half full of Bulleye powder) like a cookie cutter, I cut a slug out of a 1/2" sheet of this stuff, and crimped the brass. It was a bit oily and would damage the powder if not fired in a day or two. But it would shoot through a 1" pine board at 20 feet. Certainly not the type of thing to play with like a paint ball. At close range in close quarters (varmint in the garage) they were great. They splattered on the concrete if you missed. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

If you are seriously going to track from 13,000 you better have a flight path plan that keeps you a long way away from all other groups. You can’t just track a mile particular without some plan to say halfway close to a fair opening point. If you need to or choose to get out first you can go perpendicular and then back down the line of flight in a big U shape safely. Even getting out last you need a navigation plan when you are going to cover that much ground. The only time I was on a tracking jump that got out first was when there were 2 wingsuit groups on the same load. The trackers were out first and went out and then back down the line of flight. The wingsuit groups went right and left off the line of flight, exiting last. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Nice to also see a wingsuit photo on the cover shot as well. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Would you share how you created the data overlay? Thanks, Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I maintain my own dirt/gravel driveway that is about 1/2 mile long. If someone turns down it by mistake, that is fine. When they leave spinning their tires and the $4 a ton gravel that I put on the road, it is not fine. It becomes very personal. To land in a field that someone has “worked” in an effort to be part of their income will quickly became personal to them. This is not fully appreciated by most jumpers, I would guess. Think of how you feel if a stranger is knelt over your rig when you come back from manifest. While they might not be doing anything wrong, their mere presents can trigger an emotional response. Climbing on the fence can also be a sensitive issue as well. Like Twardo suggested, it is time to work to make a friend if possible. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

What I have observed is that some people jump for a thrill, some jump for a challange to do and learn, and I think many jump for a mixture of both to different degrees. RW is sort of like a dance. It can be very simple or very complicated. For those that like a challange, RW can be an increasing challange with larger groups and a more complicated dive plan. The challange can be forever more difficult without taking crazy risks. Just my 2 cents. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I know aircraft were not in the scope of the article but I have often wondered about jumping from a light plane that has not set up as a jump plane. Are their FAA rules about that? I guess the pilot would need a bailout rig at the least. Thanks. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

If you are trying to do a "group turn" and turn the docked group of 3, yes, it will take considerable more input than you turning alone. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”