ZigZagMarquis

Now that would work better then the impression I got up thread. Wonder if the jumper ever gets confused at pull-time... which side did I (or did the packer) pack my pilot chute on...

Nothing is impossible.

or running through the runway I've been to several DZs in the U.S. that have a "NO DOGS -- NO UNSUPERVISED KIDS" policy. The Ranch used to have something posted about them "not being responsible for the safety, nor the corruption" of peoples kids brought to the DZ.

yeah, you don't want to skydive in your sinuses are plugged up. the altitude change can cause you to rupture a nasal passage or ear drum, either, not good.

Its official! This thread has "Jumped the Shark" I say we grant it an "honorary" D-License!

How about... ... and land on an un-lit DZ, at night... did that on my second night jump. ... and maybe throw in, land down-wind, at night... did that on one of my night jumps too.

*** Can either be substituted for "Jumping The Shark"! Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm stirin' the pot... But seriously. If they're going to remove the night jump requirement from the D-License... or... lets say they come up wiht an E-License... then why not add something "new" that has emerged in recent years in the sport? Like Wingsuits or piloting a highly loaded high performance canopy?? OBTW... I still think the night jump requirement to get a D-License should stay.

Since you asked "b) Height. Except as provided in paragraph (h) of this part, the nationality and registration marks must be of equal height and on-- (1) Fixed-wing aircraft, must be at least 12 inches high, except that: (i) An aircraft displaying marks at least 2 inches high before November 1, 1981 and an aircraft manufactured after November 2, 1981, but before January 1, 1983, may display those marks until the aircraft is repainted or the marks are repainted, restored, or changed;" Translation: for a while it was o.k.to have "little" numbers (2" high) but the feds decided they weren't visible enough so went back to 12" HW Yeah, and we learned from the T.V. show Rip Tide that no one will EVER be able to locate a big pink helicopter with big lips and tounge painted on its nose if one simply alters the N-number with a bit of duct tape...

I'd argue that, but who am I... GOOD! Hope it stays that way. Yes, I'd agree with that. I've meet some tunnel rats that had some wicked freefall... real freefall, that comes from jumping from an aircraft... with very few jump numbers... but they also lacked something important when it comes to real freefall... REMEMBERING TO OPEN A PARACHUTE BEFORE IMPACT. Most all of them had their AFF jumpmasters pull for them on their first several AFF jumps.

You gotta be shitin' me!!??! Not to take away anything from the tunnel rats, but they aren't possibly thinking tunnel time = freefall time!!??

Good on ya! Welcome aboard!!

There's this really cool "retro" thing to do in freefall that's becoming all the rage. One falls belly to earth with one other or many other individuals with them and sequencially building one or many different "formations". Each formation is made up of each person having a specific place and grip in the formation; its being refered to as "Relative Work" or RW, for short. If more then one formaiton is attempted on a given skydive, the each formation is called a "point". Like labrys said, the goal of each skydiver is to develope their skill so they can; a) dock smoothly, b) enter a formation gently and c) fly in proximity before picking up grips. As all involved further refine their skills; a) more complex formations can be attempted, b) formations with more people can be attempted and c) more points (more formations per jump)... and combinations there of... can be attempted.

Do N-numbers get re-assigned if the plane that used to have them is no more? The N-number on the Beech in the forground looks to be: N16149, but from www.faa.gov, I get: N16149 is Assigned Aircraft Description Serial Number: 145753 Type Registration: Corporation Manufacturer Name: EMBRAER Certificate Issue Date: 10/10/2003 Model: EMB-145XR Status: Valid Type Aircraft: Fixed Wing Multi-Engine Type Engine: Turbo-Fan Pending Number Change: None Dealer: No Date Change Authorized: None Mode S Code: 50174153 MFR Year: 2003 Fractional Owner: NO ----------------------- Registered Owner Name: WELLS FARGO BANK NORTHWEST NA TRUSTEE Street: 299 S MAIN ST FL 12 City: SALT LAKE CITY State: UTAH Zip Code: 84111-2263 County: SALT LAKE Country: UNITED STATES ------------- Airworthiness Engine Manufacturer: ROLLS-ROYC Classification: Standard Engine Model: AE3007 SER Category: Transport A/W Date: 10/11/2003

That too is freakin' scary! If its packed for a right handed pull, but gets shoved all the way thorough right to left (or vica versa) its pretty much a guaranteed pilot chute in tow leaving him with not much else of an option, but to fire his reserve into it and hope the reserve launches clear. ... but I'm sure he's thought of that...

I here by make the motion that we change the requirments to "5" night-jumps, "2" of which have to be made under a Para-Comander or similar round. That should bring out the studs. All in favor?? Okay, but... to get your "D"... lets also ADD: 1) Must perform at least 5 wingsuit jumps. 2) Must perform at least 5 jumps on a canopy loaded at 1.9:1 or more. Note: 1 & 2 & the Night Jump requirement can be combined, but not recommended. What about hemroids?

How fast (average) did the winning team from this past year's Rumbleseat put together a 10-man... err... 10-person speed star??

Yeah, I've seen people do that too. Usually left handed folks that liked to rebel against the right handed world we live in. I've seen complete "lefty" rigs... main pilot chute (BOC or leg strap) was a left handed pull... cut-away pillow was on the left... and reserve ripcord was on the right. Kinda like owning a motorcycle with a suicide shifter on the tank and clutch where the shifter should be under your left foot... it keeps folks from wanting to borrow your gear. I've also known TWO jumpers with shoulder problems that would just have someone dump them at break-off if their shoulder was bugging them particularly bad that day... I'm not kidding.

A problem I see would be if you don't have a "standard" harness, but rather have one with hip rings... routing the Velcro over articulation rings was always a problem, at best, most mfgrs just plain didn't do it... I think Naro was the only one that tried?? If you have a standard harness, shouldn't be a big deal to stitch the hook Velcro on to the harness... but that would be an alteration and you know how Sunpath is as far as alterations go on their gear... ... and you'd probably have to get a rigger to stitch some pile Velco onto your pilot chute bridle too... its been years since I've seen pilot chutes come with the strips of pile on them needed for right side leg strap pouches because of everyone going BOC.

I thought Jim Wallace was way up there in jump #s / experience too? I seem to recall a pissing contest going a few years back as to whether "most experienced = most jumps" or "most experience = most freefall time"... as didn't one of this crowd have more jumps, because of hop-n-pops after putting out 1000s of SL students while one of the other had less jump numbers, but more freefall time since most of their jumps were from the top???

0:0:0 ... it was a crappy weekend at the DZ... Windy and no one there. Guess it being Easter Sunday yesterday, everyone was home filling the nest...

I jump in the desert in SoCal and although the fronts of my suits are usually blue or purple, the rest of the suit is still mostly black... hides the dirt better... ... white or silver usually winds up "dirt tan" in shrot order unless you're really really really... really... anal about keeping it clean.

Yeah, you definitely DO NOT want to roll the nose on a Sabre-2. Openings of 800-900ft sounds about right to maybe a bit long for a Sabre-2. I know what you mean about the Sabre-2. I've got a ton of jumps on mine and even more on original Sabres before that. While I think the "rep" that the original Sabre carries for hard openings is somewhat over-hyped, at the same time, when it bites, and it will, it bites hard! So, while I think an original Sabre is still a perfectly fine canopy to jump if you've already got one that's in good shape (my backup rig has one in it), I don't think there's much reason to go looking for one now. Anyway, I jump a Sabre-2 170, and load it at about 1.2:1 and collapsed end cells on opening are fairly common for me... pitch, eyes on the horizon, be level, arch, wait for it to sit me up, spread the risers to keep it on heading, when its mostly open, haul down on the rear risers to get the end cells open and slider the rest of the way down, collapse the slider, and unstow the brakes... is pretty much my routine with a Sabre-2. I like my Sabre-2. I like the way it flies & lands better then the original Sabre. I like that every once in awhile it doesn't open like you just hit the ground, but I wish it didn't have the tendency to "hunt" on opening and the collapsed end cell thing. Seems PD fixed the "slammer" problem of the original Sabre with the Sabre-2, but highlighted a couple of other problems, oh well, nothings for free. I haven't made up my mind yet, but the next new main I'd buy???... I'm leaning towards a Stiletto or Katana.

I'm sorry, but... EEEEEEEEUUUUUUUUUUWWWWEEEEEEEEE!!!! Awww come on, where's your sense of adventure? Oh, and they aren't for me....honest! Sorry, a man has to know his limits. Anyway, can we go back to talking about boobies and the flashing there of...

So rather then help them out... teach them... the message you seem to be sending is "old gear is bad".... whatever.

I'm sorry, but... EEEEEEEEUUUUUUUUUUWWWWEEEEEEEEE!!!!