riddler

That may be a rule at your dropzone (and it isn't a bad rule ), but it's not a USPA rule, unless they've changed this year. I'm looking at the 2003 IRM, Tandem Instructor Rating Course (yellow pages), section 4-5.3 a and b: Obviously most people will have a fair number of solos jumps, which don't count, but it's possible to have 300 group skydives and zero solos. Personally, I don't know many tandem instructors that would let you jump with them at 300 jumps, either. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Erica - in general it's hard to compare 7 cells to 9 cells. If they were all made by the same manufacturer, then it would be easier, but different canopies have different flight characteristics. That having been said , I will say that I own a both a Triathalon (7 cell) and a Lotus (9 cell). In my experience with both, the 9-cell glides much better, so I had to retrain myself a bit on landings. The 7-cell seems to come in at the same angle, even when I flare. It changes slightly, but not much, so the "spot" where I'm landing stays about the same, even after I start to flare. In other words, the glide angle, or angle that I am approaching the ground stays about the same throughout the landing. This is also in part because I am loaded at 1:1. It also means I use a smooth consistent flare from top to bottom of brakes when I land. The 9-cell canopy is MUCH different. This is in part because I have a higher (1.3) wingload. But it is also due to the flatter canopy (9-cells don't "bow" as much as 7-cells). If I use a smooth, consistent flare on this canopy, I usually crash. So I started doing a 2-stage flare. The first stage, I would pull down to just above my shoulders. This would really flatten out my glide so I was moving more across the surface of the ground. Then I would have to hold it there, gliding along, until the speed bleeds off and I slowly lose altitude. Now, at this stage, if I pull down too far, my body pops back up and I might crash. Likewise, if I let up a little on the toggles, I'll touch down too quickly while still having a lot of forward speed, so I'll definitely crash. So I had to learn to balance between the two. Find the right toggle input for that first stage that wasn't too much or too little. And also keeping in mind that I will be zooming across the ground a bit, so I shouldn't look down and I need to be patient and let the speed slowly bleed off. The second stage is right when I plan to touch down. 2-3 seconds prior, my arms are already halfway down from the first stage, so I just finish it off with a smooth consistent flare from that point down. Flaring during the second stage is just the same as landing the 7-cell - finish with a smooth, consistent flare. And now that I have about 100 jumps on this 9-cell, I am refining my landing to a 3-stage flare. The first stage is only about 2-3 inches, which does most of the planing out, so now I'm moving almost horizontal to the ground. The second stage flaring to just above my shoulders, and during this stage, I wait patiently until most of my forward speed is bled off. I use that when I start to get close to the ground and I want my glide angle to get really flat, and wait for forward speed to slow down. The third stage is just to finish, and a smooth, consistent flare from my shoulders all the way down. This is when I'm low and slow and I want to get the canopy behind me somewhat to really put on the brakes. On a nine-cell or a high wingloading, you can't be afraid of speed on landing. Speed = lift, so the more forward speed you have, the less vertical speed. Then the trick is to be patient and wait for that forward speed to bleed off before you finish the flare. Ideally your forward and vertical speed will be zero at the point your feet touch the ground. BTW - on turning. In my (limited) experience, 7-cell vs. 9-cell doesn't make a big difference in turning. That has much more to do with the ratio of wingspan (left to right) to the length (front to back) of the canopy. Diablo is a good example of a canopy that turns fast because it has a low ratio of span to length.

Being separated from your main before your reserve is deployed is always more than a good idea. But I think being clear from your main is different than being stable. Read Bill von Novak's article on RSLs and stability (point 1): http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=18

Wendy, in your experience, do you feel rounds were more susceptible to malfunctions that required a cutaway? I know that's a hard question to answer because of all the factors - obviously bad packing, highly-elliptical squares, et al are all factors. I'm just curious if a "typical" round (if there is such a thing) is more prone to a mal than a "typical square" (if there is such a thing).

There is, however, only one CO skydiver with hair like this

You definitely won't be practicing rule #11. ----- 11. Stay warm. ----- Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I had a dream last night ... Sebazz was green. It was ... terrifying ... Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Looked like fruit-looping a four-way Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

It's possible to talk under very special circumstances. Tandem instructors can usually talk to the students, but if you watch video, the instructor is putting his mouth right next to the student's ear and talking LOUDLY. We had some marines come in for tandems last year and they were razzing one because the video showed that and they said it looked like the instructor was kissing his neck On the "hill", subterminal, you can sometimes hear people shouting at you if you're close. I have no idea why this is, but you'll hear stories about it, and I heard it myself once. It amy be because the relative wind is pushing your voice sideways. I had a deathgrip on a girl's arms on exit, and she had one shoulder that had a tendency to dislocate. She screamed "LET GO" and I did Wasn't expecting that. She was OK, but I was pretty startled. 99.9% of the time, all you hear is wind. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

0:0:0 It's a cold weekend when I strike out! Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Might I suggest that the reason you have so many liberals at your dropzone is because you live in California? It might be the state, not the sport In my observation, travelling to different dropzones in different states, there are more right-wing, gun-totin' skydivers than free-love, liberal skydivers. But not in California Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

When I teach AFF, I show them the adjustable straps on the rigs and say "one size fits all, no size fits well". Although the DZ I work at just got about 20 brand spanking new RWS student rigs, and they are noice!!! I always tell the students how lucky they are, and "in my day ..." Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Dammit Jim, I was guessing five minutes, and you took a whole 10! Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I have several machines, but this is the one I'm using at the moment. You guys post cool pics and I steal them and put them on my desktop Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Go to the individual dropzones in person and ask them. Definitely do not get discouraged if one DZ says no - just go to another one. There will always be a DZ that is willing to accept your circumstances, which aren't that unusual BTW. Heck, I've had friends learn to jump that were blind, physically impaired, under 18, etc. Bottom line is although there are some rules and lots of guidelines, individual dropzones can accommodate just about any person. You just have to find one that will help you.

Your mother is the only one who truly loves you. I give it only a quarter of an ass Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Don't feel bad Erica - you don't have to be smart, you can get away with being cute

And for yet another pic of the birthday boy, please check out November Parachutist, page 21 BEER! Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Our very own Hookitt!! Who turns 40 (ouch ) today! May I be the very first to say: Him?! Him?! Fuck Him! Fuck him right in the ear! Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Go south, young man

1:1:0 Hooknswoop trimmed the 5-inch pocket on my slider down to 3 inches, so I had to test it out on Saturday after class. My openings were about 2,000 feet with that 6-inch pocket - now they're down to a reasonable 1,000 feet. I have to roll the tail a little less to get to my desired 800 feet. Thanks Hook! AFF on Saturday - it was a challenge this week! It was also cold!! 24 below at altitude. I was fine until I opened, but when I grabbed toggles, my gloved hands felt like blocks of ice. bbrrrrr. Back on Sunday, but low clouds kept first load to 6,200 feet, and there weren't a lot of jumpers there to keep the King Air busy, so I didn't stick around. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I wish it would, but I don't think it will. It would be nice to see us striving to move outside and explore the rest of the universe, but you could make the argument that we need to solve our problems here on earth before we take those same problems to other planets. America isn't interested in human achievement, and I really don't think it ever has been. The space race of decades ago was fueled by fear, not by a desire to increase human potential. Right now, in terms of space exploration, we don't have anything to fear from a country that is technically decades behind us. America is interested in money, and it will continue to take only baby-steps in space exploration until there is an economic incentive to do so. All those interplanetary probes that are always scanning for heat and water should be scanning for gold or diamonds. You can bet if there was gold on Mars, we would be halfway there by now. The next space race won't be between countries. It will be between corporations that are trying to extract a profit from whatever dollars are out there. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I use "wings level" every time I work with students. It makes sense and the students understand what it means with little or no elaboration. I think "wings level" every time I land. It works for me. Now if I can just learn to flare a little higher ... I also still think "eat the carrot" when I land I hope this isn't inappropriate for this thread, but Skratch also has some good words of wisdom for coaches and prospective coaches that has helped me: http://indra.net/~bdaniels/ftw/cc_coach_handout.html Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Wow - sounds awesome. They have a phenomenon called "runners high" in running that sounds very similar. Supposed to be a rush of endorphine/adrenaline/other-brain-goodies that makes you feel invincible and serene. I wonder if there's like a "jumper's high" or something like that. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Ya know what I hate? I hate when spammers spam you with software to fight spam. That's like a doctor going around and breaking arms and then offering to fix you for $50. I think HH has set up some anti-spam measures here on DZ.com - I just don't know how to use 'em, since I don't get spammed here. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD