slotperfect

1969 Buick LeSabre Arrive Safely John

slotperfect: the term for a free fall formation in which everyone has an assigned slot. When I organize, I almost always put the dive together that way. Thus the name! Arrive Safely John

I had two this year . . . #1 C-130, Vector II, 4000 AGL, engine out. Stood up, hooked up/tightened down in about 45 sec. Did a poised exit, set drogue, released drogue. #2 Twin Otter, Sigma, 4000 AGL, engine out. Quickly put the student in my lap and hooked up/tightened down just as quickly as the first one. Poised exit, set drogue, released drogue. In both situations, the aircraft was straight and level and we had plenty of altitude. We were also in the vicinity of the DZ. I will hook up my student for takeoff if the A/C takes off and climbs with no door. I am always prepared for an emergency exit whether with tandems or not. You will rarely see me close my eyes for a cat nap. The big thing about aircraft emergencies is to stay in your seat, prepare yourself (and your student if you have one) for exit. Don't make a move to the door until the pilot gives the OK - he's in charge. Premature movement toward the door could cause a CG shift to make things much worse than they already are. Arrive Safely John

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Thank you, Segador! What an AWESOME request! I will be flying to Miami on business that day. I am excited about that. I will honor all parts of your request. Thanks for the inspiration. Arrive Safely John

CORRECTION: Jamie and I served together in the early 1990's, NOT 1980's. THanks Chuck, good catch. Arrive Safely John

I would like to bid farewell to a friend, skydiving brother, golf partner, and former team mate here in this forum. Jamie and I were assigned together as Demonstrators on the Golden Knights in the early '80's. He was found in his apartment on 12 August, dead from natural causes as yet undetermined. He was to retire from the Army in 35 days; I was looking forward to him moving back to his home here in North Carolina so I could see more of him. I was honored by being asked to be one of two soldiers to eulogize him, which I will never forget. To you, Jamie, I wish you fair winds and following seas until we meet again. May the skies in paradise be bluer than my wildest imagination. SlotPerfect Olden Knight

Jump #8, sprained ankle from 1) letting it fly too close to the ground, and 2) landing on the side hill of a big ditch. Put me down for about 3 weeks. Not the best injury STORY of my illustrious career, but the worst (I guess I'm doing pretty well!). Arrive Safely John

I have 2613 jumps and 2 malfunctions that required a cutaway & reserve deployment. That's 1/1306.5 jumps. Other facts: -I went 1882 jumps before I had a cutaway. -The second one came only 70 jumps later. -Both were on the same canopy. -I packed both of them. -I blew three nose lines on the second one, and retired the canopy for good. -I have had three other reserve rides; canopy transfers from an AAD firing high (military version of the old Sentinel). I don't count those as mals, since my main inflated properly both times. Arrive Safely John

2 (trips to Charlotte and back):0:0 2 funerals and 2 birthdays this week. Tried to jump Friday, but weather was in and out and attendance was low. Is it Saturday yet? Arrive Safely John

I did the show at North Avenue beach in 1992. The weather was dreary, and we did a hop and pop from 2500 FT. I also remember seeing the people watching from the windows of the Hancock building across the road as I spiralled down to find my place in the stack. BTW - the Golden Knights use red smoke because many moons ago it was determined that red is the color that provides the best visibility for the crowd. White is actually better, but white smoke canisters burn way too hot to use on a bracket strapped to one's ankle. The intentional cutaway is always a crowd pleaser. We narrators would set it up this way: "If you've ever wondered what would happen if a parachute did not work, then watch closely - you're about to find out." When I was there, it was done from a specific deployment altitude for each individual depending on their fall rate. The cutaway canopy (then a round canopy) was opened for a count of 10 thousand. One side was then released for a count of ten thousand, with the jumper falling mostly on his back to avoid eating smoke. The demonstrator then cuts the canopy away completely for a five second freefall, then opens the "real" main canopy. From there it's same-as-it-ever-was. Arrive Safely John

I have a good friend that is their webmaster. He doesn't drive a Viper or anything, but he is doing well for himself. Arrive Safely John

I got phatt drinking four varieties of this wonderful micro-brew whilst on vacation last weekend. http://www.magichat.net/ Arrive Safely John

I have received tips. I accept them graciously. They are not encouraged or promoted at the DZ, but they are welcomed. I have also received other acknowledgement (unexpected articles in the paper, referrals, raves about the time they had that get back to me many times over). The greatest reward, though, is experiencing the student's thrills and excitement up close and personal, and being the cause of a great deal of it. Doing tandems, because of the student's position, I FEEL their thrill almost through osmosis. My greatest personal thrill is taking someone from being scared to death, or pissed because they got dragged there, and totally unaware of what skydiving is all about, to that huge grin and skyward gaze after the landing.

I am on Staff (part time, like most everybody else) at Raeford Parachute Center here in North Carolina. In order of frequency, I do Tandems, AFF, help the packers when they are swamped, and Coach. I get compensated in dollars. My personal deal at home is that half goes toward retiring one particular debt we have, and the other half goes toward my "business" expenses. It's a very good arrangement; it was my idea. Arrive Safely John

Success To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded Ralph Waldo Emerson Arrive Safely John

Trip postponed 11-13 Sep. Thanks for the tips. Skydive America PB is too far out of the way for the amount of time we have. I'll post again when we're getting close to travel time. Arrive Safely John

Cheers, Harry . . . Blue Skies, mate. Arrive Safely John

5 (days spent on vacation in Vermont:0:0 Saturday's comin', though! Arrive Safely John

AFF . . . the ONLY way to go! Congrats on your FIRST (insert beer can opening sound here). Arrive Safely John

I can picture Chuckie telling this urban legend around the campfire, flashlight under his chin, scaring all the other monkeys! As for me, I N-E-V-E-R land by Miss Billie and GPT's house! [SP bows to the dragon] Arrive Safely John

ROFL! What a COMEBACK! Arrive Safely John

Welp, I'm gonna be in Key Largo Wed - Fri for a bit of trainin'. Who skydives @ Skydive Miami in Homestead? My pard and I are thinking about stopping by Wednesday night for a skydive or two. Anyone? Arrive Safely John

I was home in Vermont this weekend, and my in-laws' neighbor kids told me they found a dead bird and their Mom called the health department. Frowning, I asked my Father-In-Law about it. He clued me in on the virus. Nasty stuff. Hope your Dad is OK!?!?!? Arrive Safely John

Not that you asked for it, but my best piece of advice is for you to focus on what went well for you in each jump, rather than what you did wrong. You will be amazed at how much of a difference this shift will make. After all, your Instructors will keep you safe, thinking, progressing, and IN THE AIR! You focus on having f-u-n. Glad to see you are doing so well! (You are already perfect, BTW . . . you were made that way)! Arrive Safely John