darkwing

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Everything posted by darkwing

  1. darkwing
    Greg Yarbinet. Definitely not Bill Booth. He invented everything else. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  2. darkwing
    1. a not too stiff brush 2. a damp cloth -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  3. darkwing
    I think the RW model had the lighter suspension lines. What do the suspension lines look like on this one? Do they have a black stripe on them? I have never heard of the R-mod either. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  4. darkwing
    The last guy I saw do that had the rig slide down and rub on the rear tire. It wore through the container, and some suspension lines. It could have been much worse. Actually if I were to have a premature opening, I'd rather have one in freefall than on a motorcycle. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  5. darkwing
    I have been a seller recently, and it strikes me as crazy to suggest that a buyer and I could agree on a price before the buyer gets to inspect the gear. I shipped it to the buyer's rigger. The buyer and rigger inspected it, and then the haggling started. At one point during the negotiations I said soemthing like "If you won't pay me $XXX for it please ship it back tomorrow." In the arrangements was that the potential buyer paid for return shipping/insurance if he didn't buy. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  6. darkwing
    There are several great Florida DZ for winter visits. Spaceland, Lake Wales, and of course Z-Hills have all been good to me at Christmas-time. You should have no shortage of opportunities. Tour around and visit a few. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  7. darkwing
    We get used to it. A long time ago I stopped getting frustrated about it. I figure that I'll just do it another day. I do understand that there is more urgency for the beginning jumper, there just isn't anything you can do about the weather, short of moving to where it is different. I realize that it is difficult to force yourself to be not irritated. Maybe find some jumping related activities to fill the time. Packing practice, rigger training, sewing, dirt diving... -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  8. darkwing
    some of it is just statistics. If you get ten friends to each toss a coin 10 times, they won't all have 5 heads and 5 tails. Some of it is packing technique. If we were really convinced that packing technique didn't make ANY difference wouldn't we just cram reserves in the bag? Suppose being a crappy packer just doubles the chances of a malfunction. This still wouldn't be noticed by most people, and is still subject to some coin-toss statistics. Some of it is gear maintenance. Some of it is paying attention. I have noticed in 30+ years of skydiving that some people don't pay enough attention, and they are more likely (in my opinion) to have a problem. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  9. darkwing
    I agree with most of what has been said, but I want to address the issue of leg straps. I have only two real water landings, both a long time ago. As mentioned above, loosening the leg straps is a hold over from the old days with different canopies and harnesses. With modern canopies and harnesses I would merely clear the free end of each leg strap, so make it more accessible after I hit the water. In other words, I would make sure the free end of each leg strap was pulled out of the leg pad covers, and/or from under the elastic keepers. I believe that anything more is asking for trouble. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  10. darkwing
    Yup, what Pablito said. A TSO is NOT required. The person who said otherwise should read the regs again. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  11. darkwing
    Look at on-line sources for used gear, and you should get a good idea. Remember, it is a lot easier to go down from your asking price, than it is to go up! -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  12. darkwing
    I'm pretty sure there isn't anything explicity about family relationships in the rules. You can't cover all possible biases in the rules, all you can do is make clear the expectation of unbiased judging. I suspect that in the history of judging sports, family relationships are among the least of the biasing factors. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  13. darkwing
    Hey, we are all naked under our clothes. Just remember, someday, if you are lucky, you will be old. How will you look naked then? I'm trying to imagine it right now... Ewwwww! -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  14. darkwing
    I have seen it a couple of times. Last year, during 10-way practice, one of my teammates had this happen. It was a rough exit for several of us. He opened his reserve, but at a good altitude. Many years ago I was in the air with a guy who dislocated a shoulder also, but it wasn't on exit. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  15. darkwing
    I think that the large majority of people do not experience the "drop" feeling you are worried about. Worrying a lot about it would pretty much guarantee that you will experience it though. Make the jump, be happy. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  16. darkwing
    I think it is not necessary. I'd certainly like to see any real data out there. Does your reserve need a subterminal opening before you use it? I believe it is at least 99% urban legend. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  17. darkwing
    I'm sure you could put a test canopy and load on it and have someone deploy it... -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  18. darkwing
    I have a wrist mount altimeter, a Dytter at my left ear and a Pro-Track at my right ear. I want something to get my attention if I have screwed up. NOBODY is immune to losing track of altitude. Anyone who says otherwise is naive (or worse). -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  19. darkwing
    For me, it is about enjoyment, so I recommend that you find a friend or two and have some fun skydives. Plan them, get some recommendations so that they are mutual learning experiences, but have fun. I hear a little too much emphasis on coaching some times. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  20. darkwing
    That's the reason some people WANT to have a motel somewhere else. Gotta sleep some time. Some may take Warren Zevon's advice and "...sleep when I'm dead" -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  21. darkwing
    Really, E-thread? I use B. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  22. darkwing
    Are you sure you want to scrape it and replant? I was under the impression that grass fires had very short recovery times if left alone, just watered. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  23. darkwing
    A slag is a hybrid sleeve/bag. It wasn't anything like a POD. More like a very short sleeve. It didn't enjoy much success. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  24. darkwing
    It depends on whether some of the money goes to a good cause or not. I do not consider the tunnel getting $500 for 30 minutes to be a good cause. -- Jeff My Skydiving History
  25. darkwing
    Aha! And so it starts. Now there is a boogie and RW is forbidden. Never thought I'd live to see this dark day. -- Jeff My Skydiving History