miked10270

Hah... Nice try FFF, but my med are working fine (once again the dog is well asleep... NOW ANSWER THE QUESTIONS!!!!! Mike D10270

"Have you been a good boy?" Err... Depends... wha are the consequences of the various answers? Thinking "Very, VERY bad" sounds promising.... Or how about "Very good & very quiet... HELP ME!!!! Mike D10270.

Hi Frank, Zennie, "Sue...Sue...Sue...Sue...Sue..." When in Rome.... After all, just 'cos you (Frank) live in a country with a semi-sensible legal system that seeks reasonable compensation rather than setting it at $50 less than what it'll cost the other guys insurance company to defend the action all the way to the Supreme Court (where Tee's 4-3 win will be assured as her Republican Party Membership card & contribution receipt falls to the floor in front of the Judges), that doesn't mean that Tee should be in any way sensible with her claim! Anyway, neither of you have fully considered the MASSIVE psychological harm suffered by Tee's inability to skydive... Or the harm her future career as a world-class competition skydiver! Not to mention her pushing forward the frontiers of the sport in the future if her (frankly amazing) career hadn't been cruelly interrupted by the wholly reckless actions of the defendant (unquote & step down from soapbox). Get with the program guys. Mike D10270

Hi Sis, Yeah... One other point... No-one has heard from RodeoChic since FFF asked her out on "that" date. Is she still in the grip of some sexual ecstasy? Or (as I suspect)... Is she so traumatised by the whole experience to post on how it went!? No one knows what effect his supplying the wrong flavour MD20/20 has had on her psyche! Did the dumpster lid crack her head as she attempted to leave? If so, has she regained consciousness? Did she suffer from an excess of meths & pass out while FFF (cad that he is) leave her in the dumpster when it was taken away to the landfill? Is R-Chic still wandering around lost, confused & suffering acute alcohol poisoning (Get the clear Meths you idiot, not the purple stuff) on some rubbish tip? When FFF was showing her the city did the poor girl fall off his window-cleaning gantry? Perhaps he tried a quality date! IS R-Chic still washing dishes in a kitchen without an online computer? Why didn't FFF offer to work off the dinner bill? Did he abandon her in his efforts to score with a (anonymous) waitress? Methinks FFF has a lot of questions to answer! Hopefully, one day R-Chic will post if only to let us know she has recovered (or even just survived)! Mike D10270.

So they're back together again... I mean JKA and the (Whip) Sistah... Not JKA's... Errr... Assets. So... when're we getting the Pic Posts back again girls? Oh, BTW, nice to see you back JKA, where've you been (apart from being Sangiro's "Laptop")? Mike D10270.

HI BW, First, when you remove the battery on a Time-Out, touch both terminals simultaneously with the metal screwdriver shaft to clear the memory before installing the new battery. After new battery installation or after international flight, depress both buttons simultaneously & hold down until it starts bleeping. it should emit a series of about 20 beeps getting faster & faster. That's it "set" & ready to use. to set the "break-off" height briefly press one of the buttons. it will emit beeps at half second intervals, one for each 1,000ft of altitude, it indicates =500ft with a one second pause, then another beep. It's settable from 3-12,000ft in 500ft increments. For example; Beep.beep.beep.beep. = 4,000ft Beep.beep.beep.beep....beep = 4,500ft Beep.beep.beep.beep.beep = 5,000ft. Increase or decrease break-off alert by pressing & holdng either the "up" or "down" buttons. "Deploy" (rapid continuous beeps) is factory set at 2,500ft. "Flat-line" is factory set at 1,500ft. on take off, at 300ft, the unit will beep twice, pause, then beep to indicate set breakoff height. that means the unit is set & good. If it gives one long beep at 300ft, then the break-off height beeps, that means the battery is low. Still good for this jump, but then replace. At break-off height the unit will emit the appropriate beeps again (this is a good time to check your alti against the Time-Out & another alti). Hope this helps, Mike D10270.

Hi there, Right on Rob!!!!! The limiting factor on reserve size should be exit weight & hence wing loading. 7-cell F-111 canopy means 1.1lbs/ft2. The reason for this is that, as Rob says, reserve canopies have not progressed significantly in design since the days of the Pegasus/Fury. In the same time, mains have gone from 7-cell to 9-cell, F-111 to ZP, cross bracing, airlocks, "Eagle-trim"... These are the things that have made loading a main canopy out from around 1.0lbs/ft2 to 2.0lbs/ft2+ a practicable proposition. These are also the things that are missing from a reserve! Then there is the whole Cypres/consciousness issue. IE.. you're unconscious, your Cypres fires & saves your life, then your 1.7lb/ft2 loaded reserve slams you into the ground hard enough to kill you! Mike D10270.

Hi Geoff, WE do have gear reviews on Dropzone.com, but they're dependent on folk posting the reviews in the first place, so they're kind of patchy . Mike D10270.

Hi Dan, Short answer is yes it's possible. No it doesn't have to go back to Airtec or SSK. If my memory serves me correctly... The reason that the "field replaceable cutter" wasn't fitted from the start was that at first Airtec wanted the fired Cypres back to look at how the unit performed. That has changed & all the early ones were upgraded to "Field-replaceable cutters" during the 4-year check. Mike D10270.

Hi Skreamer, I didn't include Audibles 'cos thay're not "mandatory", just as in the US I would have left out the "headwear" part of the check. Yeah... Excuses, excuses... To be honest I don't commonly ask about audibles "Have you got one? Is it on? Is it set?" 'cos I'm not fully familiar with all the different audibles available & I take the view that if the jumper is using one, then he's set it. Then again, think I'll change my "Buddy-check" lines.... Mike D10270.

Hi Kerb, As Rob says, it depends on the individual centre's policy on repeated levels. It seems that you're getting a fair deal on jump costs at the moment. Some centres charge reeats on a "slot" basis, where you pay only for jump tickets for you & instructors, kit hire & packing, but that can easily come to $80 per jump anyway. Plus, these centres would charge more on your early repeats where you had 2 instructors!! Keep going, you'll get there. Mike D10270.

Hi Kerb, From the tone of your post, this was a kind of "back in the saddle" jump, not a progression jump. That's cool, and probably what you needed. As you say, think "progression" on your next one. Mike D10270.

Hi there, Canopy collisions can fall into one of 3 distinct categories... Bounce. Wrap. Entanglement. Obviously "Bounce" (as in bounce off) is preferable, so... If you ARE going to collide, GO BIG!!! Going into a star means that the chances of going through lines is minimised - & how hard can a nylon inflatable hit you anyway. Going big can spreads the load. So... Arms out (still holding the toggles so reduce speed) & legs open. Arch. Assuming thathasn't worked, you're going to find yourself either "Entangled" in the other canopies lines, or "Wrapped" in the other canopy. "Step 1" is DON'T PANIC!! Both jumpers check alti, & shout it out (in case the other can't see their alti). "Step 2" is THINK!! One of you is almost certainly higher than the other. High man almost certainly still has a good canopy at the moment, so you have 2 persons under at least one good canopy. High man stow toggles (a loose toggle later on can complicate things). check & shout alti. It's gonna be the high man who's entangled or wrapped. high man try to free himself or get view of his canopy. If high man can't free himself, high man gets hold of low man's lines/canopy as high as possible & positive grip. get hold of as many lines as possible, ideally at the cascades, or get hold of 2 cells, well seperated. Check alti & shout it. Low man chops (if there's the height) & as the load comes off the low man's main then it's gona do 2 things... First it's gonna want to go UP relative to the high man 'cos the load's gone off it. the idea behind high man having hold of the low canopy is so it doesn't foul the high canopy when low man chops. Secondly, now the load's off it, it should be amenable to collapse so high man should be able to get it under stowed to an extent. The VITAL parts of this situation is THINK AND COMMUNICATE. "Positive" communication only please (imagine hearing only part of a negative message, like "Dont........" or "........cutaway"). Hope this helps, Mike D10270.

Hmmm.... Personally I'm going to reserve judgement on the whole "FFF=Sexgod" thing UNTIL I SEE A POST ON THE SUBJECT FROM SOMEONE I TRUST! So far, it's ALL been from an anonymous source - let's wait until R-Chic has dumpster-dated him & then we'll know. Of course girls, by then it may be too late!! Mike D10270.

Hi there, This has come out of a previous thread - "I can't understand this". Just my $0.02 0n checking out another on your load... Personally I start at the top of the front & work down, then top of the back & work down. This is a "touch" check (so no fighting over who checks Freeflyplaymate, guys). Anyway: 1. 3 rings - correctly assembled, loop not frayed, RSL routing (front), riser covers secure. down to 2. Chest strap - correctly threaded, excess stowed. down to 3. Cutaway & reserve - accessible, visible, secure. down to 4. Harness - not twisted, leg straps not twisted, threaded & fastened correctly, excess stowed. around to 5. Reserve flap - pin secure, visible cable in good condition, cable free, cover properly closed, RSL routing (back), AAD on. nb; if it's a Pop-top, then ask your buddy if he's checked his reserve pin(s) & switched his AAD on. down to 6. Main flap - main pin secure, bridle not tight (to stop pin releasing), pin cover properly closed. follow bridle to 7. Deployment pocket/handle - bridle "clear" (not twisted through harness), main handle secure, properly stowed. finally 8. Accessories - Altimeter worn & properly set (zeroed), knife, helmet, gloves. Talk to your "buddy", if the kit is not familiar to you, or you aren't sure about something - ask him. If he/she doesn't know, ask others! Use your eyes & your hands. Be systematic in your checks. This is not designed to be a comprehensive "riggers" kit check, it's purpose is to pick up on the sort of small but fundamental mistakes that could end up with your buddy in trouble. This is not an insult to your buddy's ability to check his own kit - it's just a case of a fresh pair of eyes... Assume that there is something wrong with the kit! I know of some riggers who'll gear up with an unairworthy kit and ask for a check just to see if the fault gets picked up - hence to "shake the complacency" of someone who passes him as "good to jump"! Personally, I think such a check is "best practice". SCUBA divers won't get their toes wet without a similar check! Thoughts... Opinions... Bill... Mike D10270.

Hi there, this whole "Chest Strap" issue strikes me as a compelling argument for USPA to follow the BPA practice of "formalising" manifest & some form of "buddy checks". In effect, everyone manifested on a lift is checked by another jumper (students must be checed by an instructor, a "qualified" parachutist can check other qualified parachutists) and the persn who does the checking "signs off" on manifest against the name of the person they checked. the argument is that after numerous jumps, if you're distracted or in a hurry, it's easy to make a small but fundamental mistake, so getting a check by another person should pick up on this. It literally takes less than a minute to check another jumper out - 2 minutes & they've returned the favour. Mike D01270.

Hi Chic, (& FFF too, I suppose), Yeah... At the moment the best I can offer is perhaps a quiet camping expedition in the lovely Scottish Glens. The soft light through the rain. The moist air ('cos of the rain). The fine Scots whiskies, made with the purest of water (something we're not short of here - 'cos of the rain). the romantic mountains shrouded in cloud (which supplies the rain). The quiet, still Lochs (filled thanks to all the sodding rain!!). A (very rainproof) tent. the lady's virtue intact (Iona is sharpening the bamboo sticks on suspicion even as I type)!! Still, thanks to the F & M epidemic, many farms are holding impromptu barbecues... At least, that's what they look like, with all the sheep & cattle on fires. But, then again, it still beats the Hyatt-Regency Dumpster! Maybe you could offer to pay her flight on "Northworst" just to get her in the mood for your date? Mike D10270.

... Plus the "Acid Mesh" issue... Age of the round reserves out there... Mike D10270.

Hmmm... At first I did wonder WHY this was posted in "safety & training"... But I suppose in the circumstances it does make a strange kind of sense..... Mike D10270.

Hi tefkros, I'm surprised you've never met the sort of people who think there's only one way to do something, & don't know enough to realise that there may be alternatives. Remember the "New Words" thread?... In particular "Ignoranus" - a person who's stupid AND an asshole! Mike D10270.

Hey Tee, Sorry to hear that... What can I say... SUE-SUE-SUE-SUE-SUE-SUE-SUE...... Don't think "new rig"... Think "New Lear 45", then let yourself get beat down a bit, maybe down to around "new Beech 350"... Plus Hummer to replace your car (just in case he does it again). Hope the recovery is quick & complete (but - as your attorney will surely say

Hey FFF, Knowing you as I do (NOT of course in the Biblical sense), I'm surprised you haven't asked the lady which flavor of MD20/20 she wants in her brown paper bag?!. ALso... Is she aware yet that your "Usual Suite" at the Hyatt-Regency is actually the dumpster in the alley behind the kitchen?... Or are you going to splash out on the Parking assistant's booth?. Carriage ride through the city? You working as a driver now?? What about the view over the city? I heard you were sacked from the window cleaner job! Hope I haven't "spoilt the surprise", Mike D10270.

Hi Chic, I always thought the old joke ran "What do you call a skydiver without a GIRL friend... Homeless". I thought it only applied to male skydivers. Seriously, "licking your wounds" is best done with people who you're most comfortable with, so your parents home is probably the best place to be. Once you recover a bit, chat to the "Sistah" from Texas.... She should have a few "nice" ideas (for you, not him) from the "Little black Book of Evil Retribution" (like getting him a years subscription to "Gay Big-Boys Monthly", "Which Public Lavatory (George Michael Exclusive)" & "Incest Weekly"... All delivered to his works address in clear plastic covers. Just a stray thought or two... Mike D10270.

Hi Froggie, I'm prettysure "FREEFALLFREAKESS" isn't in use... Hope she comes back

Hey Frog, Some memory you've got!!!! Not sure I'd want you doing real CPR on me - "Breath... One... Two... three... Errr... Hmmm... Don't remind me... It's... Errr..." Beeeeeeeeeeeee............ Anyway... Firstly Lauren (my daughter) wouldn't have anything to do with the school "parachute" 'cos it was ROUND... "That's not a real parachute, real parachutes are square!!" Secondly, Lauren HAD BETTER have the manners to write "PLEASE don't fuck up ON landing!" using correct grammar & punctuation or it's no more flying for her. Still, what does one expext from a colonial child. Mike D10270 (tongue firmly in cheek).