slotperfect

Most newer dotcommers who are leery about diving into the busier forums post in Introductions and Greets. Arrive Safely John

HERE is a calculator you can use to figure the value of the used CYPRES 1. BTW - if it were me, I'd buy the CYPRES 2. Arrive Safely John

Start by understanding the relative wind. Close your eyes and imagine the wind coming from directly in front of you. Now relax and arch into it, standing on your feet. Notice that you have "presented" your flying surfaces, with your pelvis as the only low point, to that relative wind. The relative wind always comes from that direction on exit. Exits are more feel than mechanical (arms here, legs there, etc). It's a matter of understanding that your flying surfaces will initially be oriented forward rather than down. Then relax and just feel that wind and fly your body through it. From my experience, most people that are really having problems with exits are just plain trying too hard. Smile, relax, and use the relative wind to your advantage and you'll be "cooking with gas!" Arrive Safely John

Try bringing your knees closer together. If you knees are too far apart, it's hard to get your pelvis out so there's one low point in your body position. To make your body position second nature, find someone to coach you as you are lying on a carpeted floor. Practice going from lying flat and relaxed to "springing" off the floor into your corrected body position. It will help you build muscle memory. The wind tunnel time will be invaluable for you. There's a drill I was taught flying with my legs completely together, which really allowed me to get my pelvis out. (Thanks Solly). BTW - you don't suck. Lots of us are still refining our body positions after thousands of jumps, including me!

Of course, you could always come to Carolina Sky Sports (CSS) in Louisburg (just North of Raleigh) for the 4th of July Boogie. It officially runs 30 June through 04 July, but most of us will be there Friday through Monday. There is quite a contingent going from Raeford. As for me, I will arrive mid-morning on Friday, and stay through Saturday night. CSS Website Arrive Safely John

Here ya go . . . I told you he was a character! Arrive Safely John

I remember when I got my "hot" new 9-cell Raider. 220 sq ft 9-cell F-111, and awesome! It opened in a stall a third of the time, but flew like crazy with my big ass under it. I used to watch the GK RW Team swoop the heck out of them. Arrive Safely John

I have a possible business trip that will have me working in Santa Ana. I would like to stay as close to Skydive Elsinore as possible. Any recommendations? Edited to add: also, which airport should I fly into? Ontario? Arrive Safely John

I met Harvey when his gang was skydiving at Coronado Airport in Albuquerque back in 2000. What a character! He taught a HUGE group of static line students one weekend with the utmost professionalism and efficiency, with lots of humor thrown in. It's sad that he's gone, but what a blessing that he passed doing what he loved. Fly free, amigo. Arrive Safely John

Bonne chance, friend . . . follow your heart. I know several people that have given up a life of financial abundance to do what made them happy, or to live where they felt at home. There are two in particular that come to mind - some of the most spiritually and emotionally grounded people I know. Being financially secure and miserable is not the way it's supposed to be. See you in AZ on my next visit to my home-away-from-home. Arrive Safely John

You called, m'lady? Arrive Safely John

Wasn't it "BruiseAir?" The deuce-and-a-half in the background spices it up a bit, don't you think? BTW - is that a jumpsuit or a cape? Arrive Safely John

So let's see . . . a daughter who is a skydiver, owing lots of beer, and can drive Dad home from the DZ. I'll take "Win-Win Situations for $500, Alex!" Arrive Safely John

My best friend from my early days in the Army emailed me yesterday, and included the attached picture. I got a HUGE kick out of it. The School: Green Beret Sport Parachute Club The Date: 16 March 1985 The Place: Holland Drop Zone, Fort Bragg, North Carolina The Gear: MC1-1B, T-10 Reserve (not yet attached) The Garb: Bell motorcycle helmet, ugly yellow double-zipper cotton jumpsuit The Jumps: 2 static line DRCPs from 3500 FT The Aircraft: UH-1H Helicopter The Instructors: Bob Herron (D9393) and James Judkins (D6062) I was 20 years old, new to the Army & to Fort Bragg. I was making my 4th & 5th sport jump in static line progression, adding to my already accumulated 11 military static line jumps. The car in the foreground belongs to my pal who sent me the picture. It's a 1978 Mercury Cougar with an 8-track player. He and I started our sport training together. The white lanyard hanging off the right riser was an early version of the RSL, called a Stevens Lanyard. It simply attached to the reserve ripcord handle with a french link, and the excess was stowed safely away (how I don't remember). If you cut away (shot and a half Capewells), the right main riser pulled the reserve ripcord on its way out. The reserve canopy was a military 24 Ft flat circular, modified with a 4-line release to make it "steerable." 20 years later, the jumpsuit is a few sizes larger, and the look not quite so youthful, but believe it or not, the hair remains exactly the same! Arrive Safely John

The entry on the USPA A License Proficiency Card says "Pack a main parachute without assistance." Using the word "law" not in the literal sense . . . Letter of the law = pack it, don't have to jump it = sign off Spirit of the law = pack it = sign off, then go jump it Jumping your own pack job is a huge confidence builder, akin to your first solo skydive, when it's all up to you. In the Army, jumping your own pack job is a requirement both in Parachute Rigger School and at the Military Free Fall School. Arrive Safely John

I saw her today, gave her a big hug and told her both happy birthday and congratulations. She had a big joyful grin on her face. Her rig is extremely cool! Of course, it's about the size of my butt pack . . . but then again, I have a big butt. Arrive Safely John

I stand corrected . . . it was early . . . sorry 'bout that! Arrive Safely John

There was a good thread on this a while back . . . check it out. Arrive Safely John

Navy SEALs, as already mentioned, and EOD as well make up the majority of the Navy jumpers. Edited to add: BTW - EOD is Emergency Ordinance Disposal (Bomb Squad) Arrive Safely John

A great way to honor her memory and to continue to make those like you that were close to her cherish your relationship with her, even though she has left us. A very unique and creative idea. Wow. Arrive Safely John

I will second the motion that our students do not jump if the winds are over 14 mph. Otherwise, I explain that on windier days, the landing pattern is tighter, "don't turn over anything you don't want to land on," and how to recover from drag. Arrive Safely John

Lots of discussion on this subject in the forums before . . . a quick search for the words "cutaway cables" produced these results. Arrive Safely John

EXCELLENT! I know she is going to be really wound up when I see her this weekend! Congrats, Autumn . . . and kudos to Dad for being so supportive. Arrive Safely John

Another way is: -highlight only the text you want to quote in your reply -right click on it and copy it onto the clipboard -left click on "reply" -below the reply window, left click on the button that says "quote" -the text "***" will now appear in the reply window -the cursor should now immediately follow that text -right click and paste the previously copied text -now left click on the quote button at the bottom again, which should now appear as "" -it will place that same text after your copied text -then jump down a couple of spaces and reply away! Arrive Safely John

That search option used to be available . . . I miss it too! I think there were some incidents of internet stalking, which affected the amount of options one can use to track down another soul here in our virtual DZ. Arrive Safely John