obelixtim

Two crocs sitting on the bank, watching a couple of guys go past in kayaks...... "I love these, chewy on the outside with a soft centre".... Another Gary Larson take. I wonder how he would depict Felix?. My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Physics is Phun. Fizzicks is fun? My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

I'm curious if he dumped higher than planned due to his faceplate being fogged. Also wrt freefall time, Kittenger was towing a drogue, so that would have slowed him down a bit and given him more time. I think comparing freefall time between the two is comparing apples and oranges. I agree, also even though he got out higher,his FF speed would have been high enough to cover that extra distance. Not taking away from Felix, but it just shows what an incredible achievement JK's jump was, all those years ago when so little was known compared to today. As you said, comparing the two is unfair on both men. He was in that spin for quite a while, I didn't think he was going to recover it..... Awesome jump. That shot from above when he was just about to go gave me goosebumps..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

So you're going to quit driving cars too? And you're going to put off your dream for 18 years, because of your wife's irrational fear. Wonderful. Turn in your man card. Join the bowling league. Have you even done a jump? My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

As someone who has rented gear out for over 25 years, the cost of it is built into the gear rental. If someone chops it and it is lost or damaged then it is covered by the rental they pay. Of course I would be annoyed about it, but if comes down to it, I would be far more annoyed at having to deal with an accident or fatality because someone didn't chop. Having said that, I would expect them to help in the search if one is necessary, but if they didn't, I wouldn't be too upset. The bits that usually get lost are things like ripcords and freebags, although as was pointed out, a quick fli in a microlight usually turns up bits and pieces.....the local kids always know there is a small cash reward if they return any lost gear, and that usually works pretty well. The DZO/Jumpmaster should always have a pretty good idea of where the spot is, and the windline, allied to people on the ground taking note of where gear disappears from view usually means its not hard to find as long as it doesn't land in thick bush or water..... Anyone who tries to put a guilt trip on someone for chopping a canopy needs a swift kick in the nuts. People have been killed because they didn't chop a canopy for fear of being bollocked. Losing gear is one of the risks you take if you rent gear. My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Sounds very fishy.....a business deal gone bad maybe, an insurance scam, or a personal vendetta against the DZO ?. 50 rigs is a lot of gear, and not normally something burglars would target, due to its specialised nature. Interesting to find out what develops here.... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Get good at using a camera on the ground..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Happens every time there are night jumps, there is at least one call to the cops about it. When I was a kid, at night we would gallop our horses along the beach at night, with a torch on a length of rope swinging it around in circles. That usually generated a few "sightings". My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

I take it that you think its a good idea that he's doing what he's doing?. If that is the case I hope you are first in line to pick up the pieces of the next wunderkind who tries to knock the planet off its axis. More likely you'll turn green and vomit...... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Not Africa, but Gran Canaria has year round jumping with good weather, however not a lot of sporties jump here, a few Tandems each day is about the limit, My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

We've had 40 jumpers in a Mi 8 before. They are heavy lifters and can go to 13 grand no probs, although chopper pilots tend to get a bit scared going so high...... Also had a 206 on floats which was jumped, as well as a Catalina....although that was a oncer. Squirrel or Jetranger would be the best bet, location wise, unless you can find a Huey flying around somewhere..... Whose CAA rules do Malta operate under, if not their own?. UK?. For those kinds of prices you might as well lease or buy a 206...Here on Gran Canaria two 206's do the job, although they are not very busy. It is very important to have an experienced jump pilot flying whatever machine you get, fixed wing or rotary. A lot of pilots will wreck your machine if they don't know what they are doing. My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Good, you'll need it to be. They don't come cheap, and you'll need a decent one if you want to do tandems. A R 22 just won't cut it!!!. I'm assuming you want to use it for your project next summer.... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

How big is your money tree?. My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

.........so much better than it is today..... Virtual beer to who gets the answer first..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Point of order....that is not my quote. I can swear as well as anyone, but I make a point of not using swear words on the internet. I think you'll find that quote came from someone else. Thanks. My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Can't believe he didn't just pull in a line. Not exactly a stealth landing..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

As far as your old BF goes, there is a saying... "You can't turn sheepshit into raspberry jam, no matter how much sugar you use". You've wasted enough of your life on him, and life is too short for that. Independence is freedom, and should be enjoyed. Its great to be able to do your own thing, when you like, where you like, and with whom you like. Treasure it. My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

OK. Good luck. Especially with finding enough punters to make it viable. Not always easy. It might be an idea to bring in an experienced organiser/jump pilot to talk to CAA. CAA generally have little knowledge of what is involved, and with a busy airport nearby are liable to be conservative intheir thinking, making the whole deal unviable. My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

....................................................................................... Hah! Hah! The last time I jumped a canopy with nylon suspension iine swas 1986 ... and it was round ... and it was green ... and it was static-lined ... and it suffered so many holes - from a partial inversion - that it went straight to the trash after I landed. Modern square canopies have suspension lines made of Dacron, Spectra, HMA, or Vectran. Nylon......A generic term I use, meaning not made of cotton or string.....and easier for whuffos to understand. 1986?. Did you have a break from jumping for a while?. And didn't you have any gaffer tape to repair it with?. Waste of a good canopy... I hope you saved all the 550.... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

There are many questions to be asked here..... Is there an existing DZ on Malta?. Any suitable local aircraft?. Maltese civil aviation rules.....how do they feature?. Is there a busy international airport nearby?.... Is there some sort of special event happening during that time period, or is this simply a money making venture?. How are you going to recruit your tandem passengers?. Locals or tourists?. If you are looking at peak summer season, most European DZ's and Tandem pilots will be busy doing their own thing, which means you'd have to pay a premium, maybe even give guarantees to get them. With no apparent experience, you are biting off a big chunk organising wise.....good luck. At least you'll have good weather..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Why would you need to do that at all?. If you know the canopy is damaged but you are going to stick with it, all you need to do is select a safe landing area and fly conservatively till touchdown. If you look where you are going you have no need to do any hard turns. as I said- I wanted to make sure my canopy is fully useable- meaning I can do with it everything I usually can. If I can't make any hard turns I'd rather chop it. How about on that jump in particular, once you elected to stay with it, you simply fly it cautiously and land safely. First priority. Obviously if it has suffered some damage, you would be foolish to try and fly it as hard as you normally do. After it has been fixed and checked out you can then return to flying it as you normally would. My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Why would you need to do that at all?. If you know the canopy is damaged but you are going to stick with it, all you need to do is select a safe landing area and fly conservatively till touchdown. If you look where you are going you have no need to do any hard turns. My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Heard about a guy who bought a bounce rig. His theory was that it was unlikely two people would ever bounce on the same rig. He never bounced so I guess he was right..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

It can eliminate death. I've seen a disconnected RSL snag a line on a reserve, causing a major problem. Fortunately the jumper landed in a marshy area and walked away wet, but unhurt. He had enough nylon over his head from both malfunctioning canopies to save him that time. He would have got busted up quite badly had he hit hard ground. My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

I am not questioning any decision on whether you chop a canopy or not, its up to you and you alone, and you should always be making that decision early, rather than late. Below 500 feet is not the time to get panicky about it. But really, you need to find out a bit more about how a canopy is built, and the strength that is built into it. A line that has survived the opening shock and subsequent ride for however long is not likely to suddently snap below 500 feet. Sure it has blown a hole, or maybe a whole panel, but it isn't made of tissue paper and string. A canopy is built with reinforcing tape and doubled seams, and the lines are strong nylon. Once open, the stress on it is constant, and it is unlikely to just unzip, as I've already stated. If you trust your rigger, talk to him about it over a beer.... Knowing how a canopy is built is something every skydiver should know. What do you do with your downtime at the DZ??. I fully understand the capability of how much abuse a canopy can take, ive also seen a canopy blow up on opening. my philosophy is "why take a chance?" "blown a hole, or maybe a whole panel, but it isn't made of tissue paper and string..." please enlighten me of what happens to the flight dynamics and how the canopy will flare and what dynamic forces will be placed upon the structure in the area of the hole and or blown panel. "A line that has survived the opening shock and subsequent ride for however long is not likely to suddently snap below 500 feet" i just want to point out the keyword of "not likely" here and point out that it is possible, correct? so now this isnt necessarily an issue of knowledge but more of an issue of comfort level and how conservative we are as individual skydivers. I take into the X factor in my decisions b/c i know i dont know everything. I think I clearly made the point (in another post) about making a decision early and sticking to it, also if there is doubt in your mind that is a good enough reason to chop it. Basically if you are more informed about the construction of your canopy, it would give you a lot more idea what can and can't be landed if you have a problem. The key is the control check after opening. That should tell you right away whether you have a viable canopy, or a ball of crap. Not comfortable = chop. Everyone has different comfort levels. More informed = better decisions. That applies to all aspects of skydiving. My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....