flyer299

I have just posted a video on http://www.skydivingmovies.com of a malfunction that we just had at our dropzone. Once the video is fully uplaoded I will post a direct link (unless someone beats me to it. The Name of the file is: TandemMalfunction.wmv Below is the description. Please view the video and lets open this up for discussion. I will later post some of the changes we have made at our dropzone in response to this malfunction. This was an interesting malfunction that happened at my home dropzone. I was not the TI or the Video guy, but I am posting this video with the permission of both the TI and the video guy so that other tandem masters can learn. BTW, I am also a TI at this dropzone. Gear: RWS Victor 2. Malfunction Description: On exit the housing for the secondary drogue release (one on the student side) caught on the door and was pulled OVER the drogue throw handle. When the TI threw the drogue the Drogue and the Bridle went through the loop created by the housing. In drogue fall the drogue inflated but caused the TI to freefall slightly on their side. You can see that the TI knew something was up and was searching with his hand and eye to figure out what was going on. When he released the drogue, the dBag had no where to go and just flopped around back there. The TI quickly deployed the Reserve. It sure was scary to see the Reserve and the drogue dance around together, but the reserve opened cleanly. After the reserve was open, the main began to inflate (not show in the video). The TI then chopped the main and landed with out any issues. I found it amazing watching as the TI released the drogue to see it collapse and keep on falling. Please visit DZ.com in the instructors forum for further comments on this video.

Oh yeah, my student was happy he got 2 freefalls for the price of one. He got on the ground with his friend (also did a tandem on the same load) and was bragging that he got a 2 for 1 special.

You know, 1,000 jumps and almost 4 years before my 1st cutaway (as posted above). 2 weeks later and about 10 tandems later... Cutaway #2. Turns out our Drouge was in need of some TLC and was giving us some really long trap doors. Cutaway #2 ended up in bad body position in the trap door followed by line twists. 1st I thought I would just kick out of them, then I found my self looking up at the horizon. I didn't like that too much, so Chop! The snivle on my reserve was MUCH longer than my 1st cut away, but other than that it was picture perfect.

Touching your Handles several times before every jump is something I teach all of my students. And I live by it myself. For me (jumping back and forth between Tandems and Sport Gear), it is a good way to say, "Hey Brain, these are the handles for this jump!" Once I saw the canopy wasn't going to work, there was no time delay for me to think, I went straight for the handles and it was done before I knew what happened. It was interesting, on the very next jump... Yes I landed and they said, congrats, here is another rig try and keep the main this time. I did a good gear check, and all was ok. I touch all my handles on the way to the plane and all was good. After I hooked my student up, I did my last round of handle touches and guess what... A DROUGE RELEASE WAS MISSING! Needless to say, I let everyone else exit and we road the plane down to correct the issue. I never did find that missing handle. My best guess is that it got caught while I was getting into the plane. We are borrowing a 206 from another dropzone while our 182 is getting a new engine. So we are still working on figuring out the best seating, and the plane was VERY tight. But if that isn't a reason for checking your handles MULTIPLE times before you jump, I don't know what is.

Well, 1,000 jumps, several hundred Tandems, and I had a cut away yesterday. I often wondered what goes through your head when you look up and figure out that you can't land the canopy you have over your head? I wondered if there would be any hesitation or if there would be any fear at all. There wasn't. The opening seemed normal, about the time I started to stuff the rip cord into my shirt (Vector 2 Rig), The canopy started a real good left turn. My 1st thought was break came loose, so I reached up and pulled on both toggles. 1st pump seemed to make the spin faster, Second Pump made it even faster. I didn't hang around to see what the 3rd pump would do. At this time it felt like a faster turn than I ever saw on my Velocity 120. I looked down, Touched Right, Touched Left, Peal and punch, Peal and Punch. Only a few short seconds and I had a good reserve over my head. The whole time, my Passenger was talking about how cool the skydive was. When I chopped, I just said, "Hold on a sec". After we were under the reserve he asked, "Did something just happen?" I turned to face the cut away and pointed, "See that over there, that was our first canopy". His head sunk down and he said, "I feel queasy" Landed in the center of the landing area with out any problems. I will be making a trip the to liquor store this afternoon, Case of beer for the guys and a bottle of the good stuff for my rigger. Blue Skies All!

Our Senior Tandem Master at my Dropzone had that happen too... But the funny part (only funny because everyone landed safe), is that he caused it himself. Tandem master before had a chop, and this new Tandem Master was the packer / rigger. They got the peices back together and he hooked the main up backwards. He took it up on his 1st live tandem, and sure enough... CHOP. He has never hooked up a canopy backwards since.

You need an option for Leg Wrap. I pretty much as a matter of happy lock their legs with mine in the trap door. I've watched one too many videos of students kicking instructors in the head (or atleast almost). That make the trap door just too scary. So I try and control them that way. But I always keep my hands available for emergency or steering.

I've used my Waranty on my Sony Camera and my Digital rebel, both from Best Buy. 1.5 week turn around on both. Once I got a riser slap on my camcorder and it almost ripped the lense right off. They asked, "Did you drop it?", I said, "Not Really" and they fixed it.

Ben, You should stop by lexington sometime before you leave. Been a long time since we've seen you there. As far as big tandem groups, we can pretty much do 2 at a time, unless they want video. A group of 14, we can get done in less than 1/2 a day.

Hell ya. Skydivers getting together to have some nice drinks, you sure they bar is ready for us? Lets just figure out a date and time and do it!

Right after I say Hi to Cindy for you, I'm gonna start begging for her to have you bring the otter back again. I like my small littler C182 Dropzone, but I need a turbin fix everyonce in a while.

Can I come too? I could use a jump right about now.

Terry, When you coming back out again?

I am a jump master at Texas Skydive Center. We handle large groups of Tandems all the time, and 14 is no big deal for us. Yes we jump out of a C182, but we make it fun for the group as each person gets their turn. We have more staff on the weekend than we do on the week days (I am a weekend staffer). But I know for the last 2 fridays we've knock out groups of 14. As far as AFF goes at Texas Skydive Center. I highly recommend giving us a try. We specialize in teaching people how to skydive and I think our AFF program is one of the best in the area. Learning to skydive at a smaller dropzone allows you to focus more on your learning in the early stages. Then moving on to the big Turbine Dropzones becomes more fun. I hope to see you out there, and feel free to PM me about any details you wish.

Yup, I took my wife on 2 of my Eval jumps during the course. She was scared to death, but it was a good time.

Just got it in last week....

Thanks for the input... I think I am just going to Flip a coin ;) I just don't know... I'm just excited to get a new rig!

Well, I started off looking for the best price possible on getting me a second rig... Since I've added in Tie Dye, plus many other options... Now I am just trying to salavage my Checking Account / Credit Cards. My current rig does not have Stainless, and I've never noticed until I looked at the order form and went... HMMMM.... What are your thoughts on Standard Stainless vs. Delux?

I am about to place an order for a new Wings Container... Got all the details worked out. I just have not decided if I am going to get Stainless or not. Seems to be a lot of extra money.... What are the reasons it is worth the money? Any thoughs on Delux or Standard? Thanks Ken

They First told me 4-6 weeks... I begged a little and then I got an email back saying "They had 1 extra in a shipment and would send it to me!" It arrives Tuesday Afternoon! Thanks for the pictures. I know when I put my ring site on my Mindwarp, I was just guessing. What I did worked, but it is good to see other setups before I start putting holes into it!

I got news that my new Optik Illusion is on the way. Does anyone have picures of how they configured their Ring site? I am looking for the most optimal way to do it. Thanks

I just got off the phone with them... I am "in line" for a 4-6 week time frame. She is going to let me know specifically how many people are in front of me today... I have my fingers crossed that I can get it as soon as possible... I am kind of not happy that my Mindwarp didn't work out well :( Ohh well, the Illiusion looks bad ass anyways. Can't wait to get it.

My skills are pretty good... I am able to be where I want to be with out much effort. With that said, I of course still have tons to learn, and I work closely with other Video guys at my dropzone to keep improving. I do have the Chin Cup for the mindwarp. How long is the wait for the Illision?

I've been flying a newer MindWarp with a TRV-19 in a dBox on the side. I am wanting to add a Still to the top (SLR, eLan 7 and Digital Rebel... Not at the same time of course). I got the flat top peice for the mindwarp. I really feel I wasted my money. It doesn't fit, there is no way I would even try to put it on there, just doesn't even look safe at all. Too many gaps (even if I tried to seal it with Silicon) My Question is. Did I miss somthing with the Mindwarp? Or should I by the new Optic Illision? Again my goal is side mount TRV-19 and Top mount SLR. What do you think?

We'll we get a $10 credit for every student we bring. It isn't much but I think it is a nice touch my home DZ offers. I bring quite a few people.