yardhippie

I'll not take up any extra slots, i'll just stalk you vicariously through someone else. Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

Product. its all about the product. Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

Thats some pimpin hair! Looks like some of the stuff a friend of mine, Raymond, works up. Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

My favorite kind! Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

I have something to say! Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

But what else are we going to do, we've beaten every other dead horse we can find! Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

Shouldn't (noticie I said 'should') there have been a NOTAM if there were any jumping in operations, or is it b/c its a military installation they dont have to file? But I suppose, that even the NOTAM wont tell you from what altitude they are operating huh? Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

No No No No-Plead for a fifth, you'll be happier a fifth wouldnt last long enough. I'd need a handle. Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

I'll drop a thanks in here too. While, Ive been performing a few of the things that folks are talking about here, I dont know that I really looked at the "why". Spent a bit of time with that smelly, hop-a-long, south african, on saturday reviewing one of my swoopages. It really does help to have some one-on-one evaluation of your performance.

I may even make an appearance for this one! Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

Sadly, I cant really say why. Other than, I expect more out of our community that we are apparently able to give. Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

Can I plead the fifth? Yes, thats what I'll do. I plead the fifth! Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

>the best solution isn't for the FAA or USPA to mandate anything >regarding landing policies, it's up to each DZ to have a policy that works >best for their LZ, aircraft, and jumpers. If you don't like what the DZ is >doing talk to the DZO or S&TA. If you still don't like it, either land >somewhere else or jump at a different DZ. This is exactly what we have now. So if you are OK with the current fatality rate, it would make sense to keep the current system. Personally I do not think the current fatality rate (and especially the number of jumpers killed by other jumpers) is OK - so I think we need to make some changes. Darn it. I though we might have a 3 for 3. I know Ive never seen, at the DZ I call home, the number of people willing to "talk" to other jumpers b/c of their canopy flight. Never have I seen our S&TA so vigilant to ground those that make grievous mistakes. Never have I seen our DZO spend the entire day listening, talking, evaluating ALL those that who came to speak with him. I contend that we do have the ability, and everything I've seen this past weekend suggests that we're taking the correct steps in the right direction. Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

Some airlines allow pets as carryon. Ahhhh . . . Ive never been lost yet. Delta lets me carryon! Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

Yeah, until Hottie puts you back in your place! Which happens regularly! "Im sorry Hippie, youre seated in 23B." Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

Always the gentleman! its how I get all the women! Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

Well if I had a reclining seat and you didnt I'd share mine with ya! Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

I went back to a pair of standard mini-risers. It fixed your issue and makes the transition to rears soooo much easier. (for me) But i spose that really doesnt help you much. Mine got easier after about 25 or so jumps, but it still took a bit of finesse. Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

Keep in mind that last minute "equpment" changes, could just as easily screw you. Oh, and when ya book on Delta, you can pick your seats for that given aircraft. Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

It only affects all or none of those things if you let it. Its all about balance. Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

Just wanted to say "thank you" to everyone that came over for dinner last night. I was wonderful having you in our home, and I look forward to seeing you all again very soon. Peace to you all.

Thank you. Oh, the only kicker is that sometimes there is a fine line between an "accident" and "stupidity". Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

Funny, I asked not to include the discussions from other threads. I was curious. thank you for your valuable contribution. Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

I've seen, heard, and read so many references to the term "swooper". Yet it seems to me that there are varying opinions on what that means. Please do not contiune the debates that are raging in the other threads. I'd like to find out what everyone thinks the term "swooper" means. Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865

Danny was most definately NOT a swooper. He was a canopy pilot that had the ability to make a small canopy go fast over the ground. Ive seen hundreds of Dannys turns and resuting landings. They were good enough to save his life, and make his speed over the ground fast. It did not have consistancy, accuracy, or safe characteristics. The true swoopers of today are the smallest component of skydiving today. I focus heavily on swooping, but I dont know that I would consider myself a "swooper". Im seeking advice from accomplished canopy pilots. Im enrolled in a canopy piloting course next month. Ive spoken with the DZO, the S&TA, and everyone else I could find at our DZ. Ive made a commitment to my fellow skydivers to educate each other on ALL aspects of canopy flight. Not just HP turns, but evaluating your position in the pattern, evaluating other peoples position in the pattern, and understanding how that is going to play out when your trying to land. Even with all that has happened, I still saw large canopies spriraling down to levels that other canopies were on. I watched pilots cut each other off, I saw pilots not follow the indicated landing direction. None of these resulted in even a close call, but ya know what, its only a matter of time. And NONE of those things has anything to do with swooping. Its the general inability for MOST canopy pilots to separate themselves both vertiacally and horizontally from other pilots. That is a skill set that must be taught. You cannot give knowledge via policy. Its law that kids go to school, yet we still have a very large literacy problem in this country. Policy never fixes a problem, action and education breeds progress. This isnt directed at anyone in particular. Stop pointing fingers at a particular segment (swsoopers)and look at the real issues (safe canopy flight). Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865