diverdriver

First. Do NOT ask the pilot for zero G to get you out the door. It's not necessary and can actually risk the group hitting the horizontal tail if done too agressively. Groups that have launched from my Otter have done just fine pointing it out the door with part of the raft exposed through the doorway. The two get in and the front float guy can really launch it well with good presentation to the relative wind. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

No, they are not "-34" Otters. I think you will find that they are plenty fast for yah though. There was a plan last winter to upgrade the engines but in the end we just put on overhauled "-27" engines. Flown by a sharp pilot they can be just as fast as a "Super Duper" Otter with a mediocre pilot. The "-34s" can't pull anymore torgue than a "-27" engine. They can just maintain it to a higher altitude. On a normal day SDC Otters can make max power up to about 7-8K. That doesn't leave much altitude where a "-34" Otter can pull more power before dropping at 13-14K. They're beneficial when the field elevation is 3-4k above sea level to begin with and it's hot out. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Ummm....maybe my words weren't clear. I'm in favor of the DZ winning this battle. I think they should just pass the cost on to her if she demands an interpretor. Was that better? Chris

Those things you pointed out are necessary to everyone's life. Skydiving is NOT necessary to everyone's life. I don't see how they are responsible. I feel they should charge her the cost of the Tandem plus the interpretor if she demands it. She can read. She's made 3 jumps already. Must have been good enough so far. Chris

Hiya Mick! Love my Reflex (1997). Glad you could weigh in here. Chris

Aren't you supposed to be doing some work right now? You know they can track you. LOL Chris

Great advice if I ever start jumping camera but it still doesn't help me see the video. I tried it again and it crashed my computer once more. I guess I'm the only one. Chris

[rant] This is such horse shit. If she needed an interpretor to skydive then she WOULD NOT HAVE GONE SKYDIVING THREE TIMES WITH THEM!!!! She can obviously handle it without. She has no case in the laws of logic and common sense. But common sense is not common. I just hope Hastings has enough money for the lawyer to fight this. There's only justice if you can afford it. [/rant] Chris

Huh....that link has crashed my computer twice in a row. I'll just have to take your word for it. Chris

JumpNFly, everyone says things that make others get their feelings hurt. It has nothing to with guys/girls. It has to do with the fact we are all human and we don't read minds. It goes both ways. Chris

We can't get a word in edgewise cuz you won't shut up. We know what's wrong.....YOU screwed up! Meant in total sarcasm and fun.! LOL....oh I'm gonna get kicked for this! Chris

Maybe I should call the Whaaaaambulance!

A couple of notes (not saying this is the cause of THIS problem but it could): If the rigger creates the "through loop" with the finger trap incorrectly spaced then it can lay on either side of the grommet and this will cause it to slip. Seen this many times with friends who have Reflexes. Also, NO SILICONE. That's already been posted above. Next, you do no have to use a temp pin to correctly tighten a Reflex reserve loop. The original suggestion was to place the thick barrel of the closing pin under the loop. This extra thickness will help protect the pin from bending when an inexperienced rigger hauls down with even pulls rather than the correct quick, jurking motion prescribed in the manual. After tightening is done you slide the pin to its' correct position. You are supposed to put pressure on the cap to take the pressure OFF the loop and then with a quick jurk pull the closing loop leader. I usually use one of our base guys with a bare foot to place a heel in the middle of the cap and apply their weight but not fully. Then I pull the leader with two quick snaps. My cap stays tight for the entire 120 days. Packing bulk and all these other points can all cause the problem you are having so don't take it as a diagnosis. Just as things to think about when having your reserve "redone". Disclaimer: I'm not a rigger but I do have 4 "saves". My first save was me on my new Reflex in 1997. I know my packjob works. Another one of my saves was another Reflex. And I have Zero bent pins closing them. And yes, I pack under the DIRECT supervision of a licensed Senior and Master Rigger....correction....."Nylon American". Chris

Well, I don't know how many total registered for Summerfest. My guess is that the number was down from last year. Hard to say since I was not there the whole time due to illness and the fact that I was in the airplane much of the time that I was there. Not a single injury. Roger was talking with me on one flight on Sunday and I asked what he thought of SummerFest. First thing he said was that no one had been injured. Couldn't even think of one sprained ankle. We were both very happy about that. Then he said that we had done about a months worth of jumping in a week's time. That's also cool. Max Meijer did some very nice RW organizing. I got to be on 3 multi-point 22 ways. That is just so cool. The FreeFly area was really busling but honestly I can't tell you what happened in all the activity. I saw a lot of smiles, short lift lines and four Super Otters. Chef Tim did a dinner out at the double deck EVERY night that was oh so awesome. Any restaraunt you go to the dinners would have been $25 a plate. I think the most expensive dinner was 10 bucks. Helped with the fallrate definitely. I saw a lot more canopy discipline this year over last. The stress level was way down. I was very happy as a jumper and pilot. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

LOL....LMAO....I've seen this before but I always love reading it. True or not it's hysterical. And nothing like this has EVER happened to me...... yah, right. Chris

I think they reorganized. Take a look at my website at the "Accidents" section and you will see DZs that have both folded and remained in operation after a plane crash. It's not unheard of. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Who are you and what have you done with Clay? LOL....j/k man. Chris

Skyvixen, I'll have you know that I'm an airline pilot now. But for a time I was homeless. Living in a tent. Living pack job to pack job. I had come from a bad flying job and packing for a living was a quick and easy way for me to keep paying my bills. I was owed a lot of money from my previous job and had to do something. Skydiving offered me a chance to get back on my feet. Earn some money. Work hard and built a reputation as a hard worker. Then I got trained to fly the Twin Otters and build the rest of my time up so I could get on with an airline. But I will never forget the time I spent living in a TENT trying to make it and the people who looked through me like I was transparent because of it. I know who my REAL friends are. And they aren't the ones who care that I make an airline pilot's salary. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

I had the pleasure of knowing Johnny Luv while flying at SMB. The DZ was a better place when he showed up. The spirit lifted. I enjoyed flying him and the other Air Force Para-Rescue guys during the week. Anytime I can crank up the otter it's a good day. They would come hauling all their large jump gear out. Good thing the Otter has a big door. Man those guys were loaded. Johnny just loved what he did. He went to Turkey for a bit in support of the operations over Iraq. Really missed those guys when they were gone. Johnny brought gifts back for everyone. He could tell such funny stories. He was a good observer of people. This sport has lost one of the most fun people I know. He was a patriot. And he was my friend. I am sad that we will not have the chance to run into each other like we did at Nationals in Eloy last year. See ya later dude. Chris

I laugh because of the whole "enough about me. Let's watch videos of me" comment that I always make. It's a pilot ego thing and seeing myself on the website only......um......"enhanced" the ego. Laughing at myself really. Chris

Ok. Two posts in a row about SummerFest. Sorry. But I'm having a blast here. They just did the fireworks display and it was about 50% longer than the July 4th display. Man, that was really cool. They just kept coming, and coming. Gene and Ira really outdid themselves,.....again. You guys are forgiven for setting off your "test" shots on random weekends late at night. LMAO! Also got to be on three multi-point 22 ways! Man those were great skydives. Max Meijer did a great job organizing and everyone flew great. Even got to go "over the top" and dock on the opposite side from exit. I love that stuff! Hope we get to do some multi-plane stuff tomorrow and Sunday. Well, back to cranking loads tomorrow. I've had so much fun jumping this week. Looking forward to providing some fast loads for everyone to finish it out. Chris

Yep, first one down. Ok, it was only important to me. Just funny to see myself on the net in video form. Made really laugh. Chris

Uh....why would they want me? Did I miss something? Chris

Just saw on the SDC website for SummerFest they put video of landings and other stuff on there. Woowhoo!!!!! Go to http://skydivechicago.com/summerfest/index.html and click on "Landings 1". It aint no J.C. Colclosure but it's me swooping in after a jump. "But enough about me. Let's watch videos of me." Bahhahahahhahahah.........LMAO!!!! Chris

You are assuming that the collision happened right after liftoff. I'm sure we will hear more detail before the final report comes out. But keep an eye on the link or my site. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125