slotperfect

First of all, thanks for being yourself. Many people choose to be other than who they really are in these forums - you obviously choose to be true to yourself. Thanks for your contribution to this thread. This reply of yours is exactly why I posted it. That is exactly why this thread and it's parent came up in the first place. We Moderators spend an awful lot of time dealing with the noise in the Forums themselves, via PMs with the people concerned, and discussing the situations amongst ourselves. I completely agree. I don't moderate that forum, but those who do are very diligent about keeping that forum clear of noise and off-topic stuff. The Mods are even chosen from different parts of the world to increase the likelihood of an Incidents Mod being available around the clock. Even so, people still ignore the specific rules that pop up for every post. Arrive Safely John

I'm an XM subscriber. I have a Roady2 in my car and I love it! XM just expanded its channel lineup for the new year as well. I also stream XM radio channels over my internet connection wherever I happen to be. I listen to it a lot that way. Arrive Safely John

The Terms of Use are to me more like the "User Agreements" you both speak of. The Forum Rules give more insight into the purpose of this online community and how it can be achieved. Arrive Safely John

So . . . why not? Arrive Safely John

I really don't want the kind of exposure it will get in Bonfire, and it would drift instantly into one-liners and nothing but noise. Arrive Safely John

This question came up in another thread. I thought I would throw it out there as a poll. I chose this forum because it would get bombarded with one-liners and noise in Bonfire. Please use this thread to develop feedback about the Forum Rules, not to debate their content. Serious replies only, please. Thanks for your input! Arrive Safely John

That's a great question . . . I will toss out a poll in a separate post. Arrive Safely John

My priority list: #1 A complete and neverending respect for dangers involved in jumping out of an airplane and flying/landing a canopy. Acknowledging and accepting one's personal limits (place on the learning curve) is a part of this. #2 Making an informed decision to select the proper gear based on weight, experience level, DZ altitude, discipline, etc. #3 Attending a Canopy Piloting Course. #4 "Continuing education" type canopy coaching. Arrive Safely John

This is not "Bonfire II." It is in fact a topical forum. It is intended for skydiving related discussions that do not otherwise fit well in other forums. One-liners that add no value to the content or spirit of the thread are not welcome here. You may have a "general" question, but make sure there is no other more appropriate fit in another topical forum before you post it here. "General" questions about a particular drop zone goes in "Events & Places To Jump." "General" questions about gear go in the "Gear and Rigging" Forum. "General" questions about training go in "Safety and Training." Get it? Please save the Moderators some work by choosing more carefully. The time we don't have to spend moving a ton of posts can be spent answering your questions! Thanks, Arrive Safely John

If all I had was a Neptune, I would use it as a visual altimeter. Visuals are always my first priority, with the audible(s) as a backup. My $0.02 Arrive Safely John

Gear and Rigging search results for 'skyhook' Arrive Safely John

So what aspects constitute someone being "trollish?" There are always subjective elements to moderation of anything - internet forums, conference calls, meetings, etc. The key is for those responsible for the moderation to be focused on the "end state" for the gathering in question. In our case, these forums are about skydiving. Yes, there are provisions made for general purpose, political, and associated sport conversations (BASE), but primarily this site exists to forward the sport of skydiving. From the Forum Rules: There are a select few (countable on one hand) posters that intentionally conduct themselves outside the parameters listed above for no other purpose than to stir the pot and disrupt otherwise worthwhile content simply for their own entertainment. A couple of those few conduct themselves exactly the same way in other internet forums as well. So, personable or not "in other respects," if they are not personable here, they may be asked not to post any more. Arrive Safely John

The Javelin sizing chart is here, but it does not list a smallest canopy size. I have two J4s, and I have a Stiletto 170 in one of them. Personally I would not put anything smaller than a 170 in a J4. More opinions? Arrive Safely John

Hi there! Please place a classified ad to find your used canopy. Thanks! Arrive Safely John

Let's keep this thread going. Arrive Safely John

I have several jumps out of a US Army National Guard Caribou, with the old radials, and a RCAF Buffalo. The Caribou with the old radials was incredibly loud - one of the loudest I have ever jumped. I agree with Phree's assessment of ownership as a jumpship - big is great but you have to have the flow of jumpers at the DZ to fill it. On the other hand, if your DZ is near any military installations and the aviation operation and aircraft can pass FAR Part 135 certification, you can make money doing military contracts. Your Caribou would have to have an anchorline cable, jumplights, and a static line retrieval system. If you get serious, I can put you in contact with a couple of larger military contract operations. Good luck. Arrive Safely John

I second that. Arrive Safely John

That's a great idea . . . I'll give that one a try! Thanks! Arrive Safely John

In an attempt to get the thread back on topic . . . it has been said already, but I will concur by saying that I both practice and teach this method: stay off to the side of the formation, preferably on the side your slot was on. When your pre-planned breakoff altitude comes, breakoff and track for separation in your assigned direction. Two advantages - most people in the formation will know where you are (even though you are low), and when they see you leave (you will reach breakoff a wee bit before they do) they will know where you went. Everybody then gets their own piece of sky to deploy in. Good question! Arrive Safely John

I never get in an airplane with a student who I haven't at least given a gear check. I fine tune any adjustments that need to be made at that time. Also, both my student and I are ready to hookup and exit in case of an emergency before we board the aircraft. I don't leave anything loose to tighten later - on my harness or theirs. Arrive Safely John

To everyone - let's get the thread back on topic please. Thanks, Arrive Safely John

All of my comments are based on use of a Sigma Tandem and Sigma Student Harness. First - chest strap placement on women. It either goes above or below, depending on the way the woman is built. Her breasts are either large, medium or small, and they ride high, midway, or low. Most of the time I go below the breasts, toward the bottom third of the rib cage. On women who have very large breasts that ride a little lower on their body, I put the chest strap right on the top side of her breasts. It works very well for me. Next - handling the loosening under canopy. I tell the women on the ground that upon opening the chest strap will tighten up (toward their chest) and move up (toward their neck). I also tell them that I am going to reach around and loosen it up a little bit for comfort. When that time comes, I am careful to look over her shoulder to see where my hands are going and tell her what I am doing. Loosen it a little for comfort, but not so far that the harness pops way off her shoulders toward the elbows - that's too much (just crank it back down a little. If the woman is well endowed, and I can't see the chest strap - and where my hands are going - I don't grope. I tell them I can't see and ask them to put my hands on the chest strap. 100% of the time they understand completely why I am doing that. I go out of my way to be a gentleman to female students, and to show them respect. So far I have received 100% positive feedback. Arrive Safely John

We did that once when I was a GK - the C-31 had a maintenance gig that grounded it. We "recruited" the Chinook crew to fly the show for us. Arrive Safely John

Yeah, me too . . . -53's are the ones with that rep. Arrive Safely John

I forgot to add - we used to get them at the Green Beret club now and again, back in the day. I have a picture of my wife and I, along with the current Golden Knight SGM and another friend who is a Major now, dragging a 4-way out of the back sometime in 1991. Quite a few of my wife's 54 jumps are out of a Chinook. Arrive Safely John