BigMikeH77

Okay on a related note... My son is turning 14 this summer and wants to pack next year, so I figured I'd start teaching him this season... Easy enough, he already helps with gear checks. My daughter is 11 and comes to the DZ with me from time to time.. But neither of them really WANT to spend time there just yet, fair enough, I mean they don't get to do a whole lot (although they love watching me land and my son consistently roots for me to fall on my butt). So.... What can I do to make it more fun for THEM, so they warm up to the environment?

That is a mentality of cowardice and has no place in any branch of service.

I had a nest of those yellowjackets inside my BBQ grill. I tried everything to get rid of em'. When that didn't work, I too went the gasoline/match route but was astonished by the fact that the instant the petrol hit their nest, they ALL dropped dead. That was cool.

Okay I'm wrong it wasn't packed into the main of the jumper on yellow/black. HOWEVER.. The exit shows the yellow/black wingsuit exiting first, and then the video switches to the POV of the yellow/black jumper. Meaning, there was someone above him. The rock could have originated in THAT main, or maybe even have been deliberately dropped. Just being cautious about believing such an incredible story.

The canopy above the jumper's head. In the video, didn't he clearly point out that it happened right after opening?

Very incredible - could have been a rock that got packed into the canopy, too.

Mermaid

Jackass

Whatever you do, HAVE IT LOOKED OVER before you buy. If they won't allow an inspection by a reputable rigger at a known DZ, there's a reason - and it's not because they "got burned in the past".

I'm really sorry to hear that too It looks to add up around $10,500 replacement cost, give or take. Does your friend have a renters/homeowners policy? that might cover the theft (minus deductible of course) and a lot of underwriters now pay claims at replacement value. Some of the things like Jackets, gopros, backpacks and laptop are long gone, but we all know that the gear won't be flying anywhere, at least in the US. Here in Colorado we recently had several house rigs stolen from a DZ, and a few days later numb-nuts tried selling the "used gear" to another DZ. There's always a possibility of something like that happening, so posting and letting everyone know is a VERY good thing. ----edit to include a more realistic replacement estimate----

Some folks can buy an all new rig right off the bat, some can't. I agree it DOES make lots of good sense to consider, when buying your first, that you will be downsizing most likely and learning more about different disciplines... And if you spend $6k+ on all new stuff then come to find out it doesn't suit your fancy in a season or two, then you'll end up taking that "new car hit". I went polar and extreme opposite. I knew what I wanted, got an older C/H that needed some updating and TLC and a reserve that is in fine shape.. Getting the main I had planned for next month finally. It took a while but when its all done I'll have a good, reliable rig at an extremely reasonable price. In the mean time though, I'm jumping less because the cost of a rental doubles what it would cost me to jump my own gear. If you can swing new stuff right out of starving student status, then good on you. If you can't that's cool too, now you've got a goal to work towards.

^^Best advice right there IMO.

Thats excellent work! Great job keeping focused

Absolutely. And look out for phrases like "I got burned once and wont ship to a rigger." I thought for sure someone in this relatively close knit sport wouldn't screw a jumper fresh off starving student status, but they ARE out there. Quote

This is ALL good advice. I learned the hard way by trusting some jackass here on a DZ.com classified, just because he was a "master rigger" and had his picture on the dropzone's website... and I got hosed. ------------------------------------------------------------ Expert Advice Used Gear Inspections/Escrow Written by Mike Gruwell (Published in the June 2006 issue of Skydiving Magazine.) If the used skydiving gear you are buying isn't local or hasn't been serviced by your local rigger recently, a "pre-buy" inspection should be a condition of the final sale. Having an established rigger, rigging loft or drop zone owner act as the middle-man in all used gear purchases not only protects the buyer, but also the seller. As the potential buyer, you want to know the used container, canopy or automatic opener is as advertised and is airworthy. You also want to make sure the container actually fits you. Once you've determined a certain piece of used skydiving gear seems to be the right size, condition and price, you will want to make arrangements to have the items shipped to your rigger for a pre-buy inspection. If this involves a container, make sure you arrange to be there after delivery to make the most important determination: fit. If the container doesn't fit properly, it's not going to matter if it's airworthy or not. Harnesses can be modified or resized, but the cost of harness work can add hundreds of dollars to your used gear purchase. Before shipping, the seller will want to know you have the money for the gear. The rigger, rigging loft or drop zone receiving the gear for the pre-buy inspection can hold a check, money order or credit card information as an escrow service, pending the pre-buy inspection. If the buyer is happy with the gear, payment can be sent to the buyer with the gear staying in possession of the rigger until payment has cleared. This protects the seller from a bum buyer running off with the gear without paying. The details of who pays for shipping to the rigger (and who would pay for the shipping back if the gear doesn't fit or isn't what was expected) should be worked out beforehand. It should also be decided who pays for the inspection/rigging of the gear (usually the buyer). If the gear is as advertised and fits, payment is sent. Once payment clears, the seller contacts the rigger or drop zone to release the gear to the buyer. If the gear isn't as advertised, or there is extra repair work that needs to be completed by the rigger, then a discussion has to take place to decide if the gear goes back to the seller or if a lower price is negotiated. Most of the time if the seller agrees to a pre-buy inspection and the buyer agrees to an escrow service arrangement of payment, the deal goes smoothly. More than likely the gear will be as advertised and the payment will clear. New skydivers should beware and shy away from a skydiver selling gear that won't agree to a pre-buy inspection. And above all else, ask your trusted instructor or rigger about any used (or new) gear deal before purchase.

I find that theory, while interesting and entertaining, quite incredible. If the Iranian government wanted these two so badly, they wouldn't have ordered a 777 with 230 other people on board to bring them back... They would have used other, more discreet methods surely.

No reason, are you kidding me? Suppose an unknown aircraft of unknown origin with no identifying signals being transmitted, and no communications, and lets face it - probably no nav lights with the window shades down... Suppose an A/C like that comes in toward manhattan from the atlantic ocean, then turns away from the country but still really close. Do you think for a MOMENT that it wouldn't be shot down? It's extremely plausible. In all likelihood, it was shot down by Malaysian Air Defense Artillery or a scrambled fighter. Even though it wasn't hostile they might think "better safe than sorry" and shoot first before doing a complete assessment. Just look at their handling of this mess. Changing their story every other day, they're like bumbling idiots. They're covering up.

Seriously... Talk to Joe - He's offering to help, which is what you want. Dont keep asking what to do, call the man.

I posted early last week that my theory involves the A/C being shot down by malaysian air defenses near the Adaman Sea. No one really commented on it or anything but now it's looking more and more plausible.

I SO need to go to the tunnel. I have no skillz. I'm tired of the marijuana puns about Denver and Colorado. I mean, its neat and nice and we're really taking steps forward here but theres SO much more to see and do.

Dude.

Hopefully there will be more details available in the morning.

This is true... One of the things I learned on the day of my FJC (and to this day) was to show a little humility and for god's sake don't be afraid to ask and make sure you understand the answer. This is kind of a dead horse, isn't it? We've already determined that Flores is a work of art that had no business in the sky.

That's very interesting. And also contradicts the Malaysian military. Smack Dab in the middle of the south China Sea. That's not anyones airspace, is it?

I really can't. Trying not to gamble anymore. But I DO think that is a very plausible and reasonable scenario.