daveb

Almost certainly not - but without the brand and model number, that's an educated guess. SACD is not a DVD format; it uses a fundamentally different physical encoding, not just a different decoding algorithm. If you are interested in the technical details, there is little better than the DVD FAQ.

You can likely find a dictionary to support whichever definition most agrees with your proposition. I used m-w.com to garner: But my resource has an etymology that further supports wind tunnel as a correct use. QED. ;-) -- Dave

Don't worry about the jump number difference, and accept what they are telling you that your speed doesn't matter to them that much. Good teammates will work with you to make you a better jumper (I've had that my entire jump career). They didn't choose you because you were the last available RW type; I've met you (Texas State Record this year), you're a humble, hungry and approachable jumper, the characteristics that people want in a teammate. What will help you in the air is more prep time on the ground. Don't overdo it, but spend a bit more time on the creepers to really learn the angles and pictures. Find a method of memorizing the points that works for you, names, numbers/letters, or even raw grips. In the meantime, study the dive pool to learn the names of the formations and which grips you should have. Let go of being last on grips. Feeling rushed/hurried is a sure way to brainlock and fly sloppy. Breathe normally during the dive, and take a few deep ones prior to exit. Mentally review/rehearse the dive on the plane, and smile while you do so (try it, you'll be pleasantly surprised). Enjoy the windtunnel!

NSCR 2327, 7-15-00, jump 178. Brains and I were probably on that same jump? Looking at the numbers: mjosparky 1531 in 1979 jimmytavino 1817 in 1981 brains 2335 in 2000 That's 300 in two years, then 500 in the next 19 years. Good to see you adding to the numbers, Ron! Apparently many people are missing out on a very cool experience. My logbook entry: I still remember how dark the sky was, yet you could see the ground really well in the moonlight (logbook entry for previous jump: "Could see everything!"). The skydivers would appear just a short distance from the formation. I recall this one black streak with a glowing chemlite zooming by under the formation. I also recall the exit being pretty tight and well bunched, which is not exactly what I logged. That night jump remains a fond memory, and I hope I still recall the entire dive in 2024.

Quite right. However, I have observed some camera flyers do not hang with the team, then kvetch when they are not included in team activities. Being part of a team requires teamwork on all sides; but I'll accept that often the camera flyer is ignored, even if unintentionally. The rest of the advice others provided is spot on. Fall rates are much easier to fix than personalities, and it hurts when an otherwise good teammate cannot keep up due to funding. The most important aspect of a team is a common goal -- this will help you work through the inevitable rough spots and build respect for your teammates, whether the goal is to turn medal points or just to link up consistently in freefall. Allow each other to make mistakes without pointing fingers and enjoy the jumps.

You've been to an Airspeed camp, so you know what they're providing. It only gets better with subsequent camps. I've been to seven of them, the first with less than 200 jumps. I've also done a fair number of hours with just my teammates, with and without a private coach. There are benefits to both ways, but as an individual, I'd go for the Airspeed camp every time. Granted, you don't know who you will have as a coach ahead of time (although you can ask), but that is a benefit: each has a slightly different approach, presentation and feedback style, and what didn't quite sink in one time might just become crystal the next. Further, the evening sessions are a critical part of the learning experience, allowing you to interact with the rest of the team and the other campers, as well as working on your goals. I don't know that I can say enough positive about the Airspeed camps. Do them. You will be rewarded beyond cost.

What do you propose? Think about the capable and deserving people from other than North America that have to travel as well; it is the World Team. More than the 'coin', it's the amount of time necessary as well. There were capable and deserving people that could not join us in 2004, and there will be more that cannot in 2006, independent of location.

Dallas Thunder will be there. I'll be doing open-class 4way, 16way and 10way with Thunder; and hopefully a pickup open 8way with someone (long story, no drama). Nationals is the best `boogie' of the year, IMHBCO. Ron, lookin' forward to some head-to-head with Mojo. Two teams with abyssmal training years (hmm, with names like Thunder and (Bad) Mojo -- could there be anything up with that?) and cross-pollenated with former teammates. Should be fun!

Todd & Kathy, awesome job on the boogie! Skydive Aggieland is a remarkably friendly and enjoyable place to jump. I was most impressed with your staff; helpful and friendly only begin to describe them. Kudos to all involved! I'll certainly be back for more. Gig 'em! -- Dave

Do both! If you must choose, choose jumping, but there is almost always a way to do both. You got in the sport to skydive, and if you're on really limited funds, put them towards what you value most. The tunnel is a most excellent tool to improve your skydiving, and I highly recommend its use. But skydiving it ain't, and if I had to choose only one, I'd jump (then beg on the corner to fund some tunnel time).

I was quite pleasantly surprised by the quality of the production -- I'd expected the typical skydiving-with-tunes fare. Very well done and I enjoyed it despite my lack of wingsuit jumps.

In Texas, get on jumps with Jack Berke, Tom Jenkins in Spaceland or Larry Henderson, Rob Laidlaw in Dallas. Even better is to attend the bigway camps (Kate&Tony's gigs, DanBC's events, etc). The biggest factor to an invite is exposure to the organizers so they personally know how well you can handle bigways - vastly different from 8-20 ways. Your persistance in attending the events, consistent performance during them, and a healthy dose of handshaking should help you on your journey. It sounds like a clique, and I suppose it is, but considering the safety factors involved, I don't have a problem with it. The group is open; there are events designed to bring on board new blood: the bigway camps. Good luck!

Don't read too much into the max speed number. It is a true peak speed, which can occur at any point in the skydive due to a rapid pressure change; see the ProTrack booklet for placement concerns for accurate readings, and note that a helmet mount is not recommended if high accuracy is desired. My protrack consistently records a max speed 20 mph faster than first half and 30-35 faster than second half, and this is on reasonably good 4way! Realize that the track vertical descent is averaged into the second half, and the dive/exit into the first half. Depending upon the duration of the track, a max speed this large would increase the second half average; but in my case, the second half is always quite a bit slower than the first half, and we don't typically funnel our exits (blooper reels notwithstanding ;-). What I have not done, and probably should, is invest in the JumpTrack software, so I'd get a better visual of what the ProTrack thinks is happening and when. Before second guessing yourself based upon the numbers, look into obtaining JumpTrack, or using a friend's to view one of your recent dives (last 10 have full data). You can also try this experiment: do a 2way with an experienced jumper, and pull in place. Then repeat the dive, but this time you track and the other pulls in place -- use an experienced jumper so he can ensure adequate separation as well as evaluate your jump. Compare your max speed numbers with and without the track.

The formation breaks apart in multiple stages, a few seconds between stages (waves). The breakoff commences several thousand feet higher than pull altitude, which should provide ample time to find clear air. That's the theory. In practice, there's always an issue or three with airspace congestion because this person tracked that way, this other person tracked this way, he didn't go far enough, etc. It is quite dangerous unless everyone does their job reasonably well, and even then you have to have your head on a swivel and be aware and cautious under canopy. You should make an effort to watch a big way from the ground your next opportunity. They look really cool, and the breakoff resembles a fireworks show, complete with report.

Here is an interesting piece on the Forer Effect.

Way to go Dad! Congrats for your son's success!

1. Whats your name? Dave 2. How old are you? POPS eligible 3. Why did you decide to start jumping out of airplanes? I double-dog dared myself. 4. Are you single or taken? Married? 20 years married 5. Do you have kids? A son 6. What do you drive? 2000 Firebird Formula 7. Have you ever done a kisspass? No, but I've been kicked in the face during freefall more than once. 8. Where do you live? Austin, Texas 9. Do you have any pets? Sheltie, Golden Retriever, 2 cats, and a ball python 10. How many jumps do you have? 2163 11. What color eyes do you have? Brown w/green 12. What is your nationality? Texan-American. 13. Have you ever dated someone you met off the internet? The internet did not exist when I was dating. 14. Favorite Movie? The Sound of Music, Star Wars, Big Trouble in Little China 15. What do you do when you aren't skydiving? Write software. 16. Have you ever BASE jumped? Nope. 17. If not... do you want to? Perhaps, but I can die happy not having done so. 18. Do you have siblings? A younger, bigger brother. 19. Where do you want to travel to the most? A real African safari, shooting wildlife with a camera. 20. What's your favorite color? Blue...no, yellow 21. Where was the last place you flew to ( not skydiving )? San Jose, two years ago. Twenty or more flights since then, all skydiving related.

You may want to talk to Larry Henderson about that comment. Stairstepping (Stadium) is the way it should be done. The people behind you should be setting up higher and behind you and following you in to your slot. This is the way it should be done. I don't make this stuff up guys. I have some of the best big way organizers sitting not more then 7 feet away from all day long almost everyday. I ask questions, listen and observe them all the time. One of the things they look for is how well you can set up in the stadium picture and how you can set up and follow the people in front of you in to your slot. Perhaps I am using the term 'stairstepping' different from you? Agreed on the stadium type setup, but stairstepping as I understand the term is breaking the long dive into multiple, smaller dives (not yellow/red zone approaches, but full on dives). I do not see this as a sound practice -- it leaves precious little recognition and reaction time, as well as causing a big ripple to propagate upwards towards the last divers. I was on Larry's wacker (wacker 10 rocks!) in Thailand, on the last row of divers out of the lead C-130, and our wacker discussed this at some length. We agreed that stairstepping was a safety issue and we would not do it. Now, I'm not nearly as qualified as the big-way gurus (Larry, Tony, Kate, BJ, Dan, ...) and I'll certainly defer to their experience and teaching. If I'm wrong on this, I'll gladly retract my advice. I'll be on the Texas 150-way in three weeks, and I'll be certain to ask Larry, BJ and crew for clarification. In the meantime, my basic advice is sound: learn to dive using two-ways, and learn big-way techniques by building from there and attend big way camps as you can. Lucky sob. ;-)

When diving towards a formation, you must absolutely, at all times, keep your eye on where you are going, see what is in front and beside you, and know what is behind you. Unless and until you are in control of direction and speed, you should not be diving steeply - it is an accident waiting to happen. Stairstepping is also a dangerous practice; those coming after you do not know when you are going to slow down, which makes collisions that much more likely. Your best bet is to hire a coach to work with you on a few jumps, to help you understand how to dive (not track steeply!) safely. Diving cannot be learned from a book or online, it must be practiced. That said, something to try using one-on-one practice jumps is to keep your face pointing towards your direction of travel (look, look, look!), legs straight out behind you, no more than shoulder width apart, toes pointed, arms either at your sides or tucked around your chest, with little to no arch (not a de-arch). It's really not all that hard to do, but do not learn it on a big way. There's alot more to diving on a big way than body position, and no one can afford to be concentrating on body position when closing distances (horizontal or vertical). Once you've learned the basics of diving straight, catch one of the big way camps for excellent advice from the best in the world.

There are no restrictions based upon previous local/regional competitions. You'll be a guest team no matter the class, and the class you choose should be based upon the team capabilities. There are many teams that compete in the AAA class at the regional meets, but choose AA (or lower) at Nationals. Choose the class your team thinks it will be most competitive within, and have fun!

You may or may not be able to field a team on the spot. Best if you can coordinate with friends, even online sight-unseen friends, beforehand. There has not been any formal last minute sign-up for throw together teams. My first Nationals (Eloy, 2001) was of the last minute, on the spot deal. I didn't know anybody, looked around all day, and finally - within minutes of the deadline - I met up with three others looking for a fourth. We were "Just In Time" (team 307). I thoroughly enjoyed the meet, still fondly recall it, and still call my "teammates" friends. But without arranging things in advance, I was just minutes from a far less exciting Nationals.

I have: Last out of a 101 jumpers on the lead C-130 on the 357 way. It was alot of fun. But I enjoy 4-way more. Back on topic: mantis is overrated and over-emphasized. Learn to fly your body. You can do some cool moves (think translations, center point turns, superposition, fall rate changes) while in boxman, with one arm on your helmet, with both arms behind your back, holding your hands together under your neck, stretched out in front like superman, or out to both sides spread-eagle, and other non-mantis positions. Arms are not a flying surface, but a grip aparatus. Learn to use your body and legs; if you are doing RW without booties, you are missing out on some enormous input potential. The tunnel, while not quite as useful for learning how to dive last on a 100-way, is the single best substitute for hundreds/thousands of jumps.

Did the packer pack the parachute? Pay him. Once you've asked someone to do something for you, you've accepted full responsibility for the outcome. Don't trust the packer? Pack yourself or use someone else. Don't like the opening? Pack yourself or use someone else. Don't believe in gear checks on the ground or aircraft? Live or die with the consequences. BTW, I check my gear before I don it (even on a back-to-back, and I'm running for the aircraft), sometimes in full view of my packer. He sees me do it, and told me he really likes it when I do that.

The fear comes with increased understanding and comprehension with the situation you are putting yourself into. This is normal, and if controlled, healthy. The best way to work through it is to decide if this is something you really want to do, if you know how to save your life, and recognize that fear is okay. Will it ever go away? For some, yes. I still get nervous doing something out-of-profile, like a hop-n-pop, or upon downsizing. This past weekend, I was nervous/fearful enough to seriously consider riding the plane down. I recognized that I was scared, considered why (hop-n-pop with my smaller reserve as my main), and drew confidence from the facts that: a) sooner or later I'd need to use this canopy - it *is* my reserve - b) I knew that I knew all the correct procedures, c) I knew I could handle this canopy, d) a little bit of self-perceived peer pressure (admit it, from time-to-time most of you have been influenced by this), and e) I really do get my jollies from skydiving. I jumped. Working through this has built within me more confidence for the next time I'm faced with this situation. Recognize and acknowledge your fear. Let it advise you, not control you.

QuoteWhat is the primary drive that gets you out to the dropzone and on some loads? Is it anticipation of the sheer joy of skydiving? Looking forward to being with the people you hang out and jump with? Or is it something inside you that drives you to achieve a self-set skydiving related goal? My primary drive is the shear joy of jumping. If I didn't enjoy it, there is no way I'd put my life on the line time after time. That said, I'm highly goal oriented wrt skydiving. I've short and long term goals, and an overall lifetime goal: accept no limits and push to produce the best I am capable of. These goals are important, and will sometimes get me to the dropzone, but ultimately it's the jumps themselves that rock my world, and all the better if I can share that in the air with others. Thus far, I've been having the time of my life. I love the team work, camaraderie and friendships that continue to expand and grow; the thrill of being able to move about in the air relative to others with some measure of control; the feeling of learning something new; producing a new best-of; sharing the excitement and joy of a jump with teammates, friends, dz buddies, and people I've just met. Roll all this into a ball and there's my drive to get to the dropzone. Nuts, I'm drooling again....