slotperfect

Naah. But it'll get all the off-topic noise moved to SC! Arrive Safely John

Hi Dave! First of all I want to say that your exit really wasn't that bad, and that it's not worth picking apart frame by frame. Of course, your attitude about wanting to improve is excellent, especially if you harness it and keep the elements from each skydive you want to improve on in perspective. If I had been your Tandem Instructor, I would have had these recommendations for your next tandem: -Relax. You look a bit stiff. Smile, breathe, and relax. -Look up, not at the ground. Looking up encourages a natural arch. -Learn your "positive legs" position. Your legs were out a little too far on exit. Work with your Instructor on the creeper to find what your ideal leg position feels like, and re-create that once you leave the aircraft. You are correct in your analysis of the movements being on three axes like an aircraft. The ability to understand and apply those concepts will come in handy later on in your skydive. For now, you should concentrate on your hips being the only low point in your arch, and body symmetry. Spend some time talking it over with the Instructor that will take you on your next skydive. They are your best skydiving information resource at this stage in your skydiving career. Be safe and have fun! Arrive Safely John

If the DZ is a USPA Group Member, it is ethically wrong. It is a broken agreement. If the S&TA is not reducing the risk for the student by assigning a properly rated Instructor who is the best qualified to do the job, then it is morally wrong. The S&TA is not taking seriously the responsibility he has for the student's safety. The legal repercussions in the event of a lawsuit after an injury or fatality could potentially be devastating to everyone connected with the skydive in question: the pseudo-Instructor, the camera flyer, the S&TA, the DZO, the pilot, etc. etc. It's a long list. It would be pretty hard to defend oneself against gross negligence in that case. Arrive Safely John

Here is an old thread on the same subject. My answers remain the same. I will add that tandems have allowed me to grow a lot as a skydiver and as a person. I have had people share with me afterward that their tandem was literally a life-changing event for them. My youngest sister made a tandem with me in 2002, and told me exactly that. She and I now share a bond that we didn't have before, which made us closer. I would not trade that particular skydive for the biggest of winning lottery tickets. Great question! Arrive Safely John

Added Travis Flint from Sun Path. Arrive Safely John

My definitions: -"Decision" altitude = altitude by which I initiate cutaway procedures if I have an unresolved malfunction. If I identify the malfunction as unrecoverable at a higher altitude, I cutaway at that point (no need to wait until my decision altitude). -"Do not cutaway below" altitude = the altitude at which I will no longer pull a cutaway handle for any reason (e.g. two canopies out). Arrive Safely John

Stick to the subject please. Arrive Safely John

This thread and this forum are about skydiving. Please don't hijack this thread, and please take any conversations of this sort to Speakers Corner. That forum is designed for these topics. Thanks. Arrive Safely John

This one has deteriorated into off-subject one-liners, and I believe both sides have effectively made their point. The thread is done. Arrive Safely John

No. I would keep my hard deck the same. There is still a lot to do in a hurry after the reserve opens: Getting on the wind line, finding an alternate landing area (in some places), determining the stall point of the canopy, etc. All of that is vital no matter the method of reserve deployment - I want to complete it all if I can. And of course, because Murphy chooses the worst possible time for stuff to happen, my Factory Diver would fog up. I jump an AAD. Under some circumstances I would jump without one. There is not jump I won't make if I don't have one, other than military jumps for which the regulations require them. I don't own a Vector III, but I do jump Sigma Tandem rigs with Skyhooks installed. I jump them with confidence, and look forward to the opportunity to put a jump on their Skyhook cutaway rig. That is an excellent analogy. Thanks for that! Arrive Safely John

This definitely needs a NSFW Arrive Safely John

Tandem Instructors: what age was your oldest Tandem Student? Tell us about the person and how the skydive went? Mine was 81 - last year. Retired SFC Frank Pelaez. The reason I'm asking? My 75 year old Mom is coming over in June to make a tandem with me. I think about it a lot - both excitement and nervousness. These conversations help me keep that future jump in perspective. Arrive Safely John

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1110823;search_string=kurupee%20suits;#1110823 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=582162;search_string=kurupee%20suits;#582162 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=343962;search_string=kurupee%20suits;#343962 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1126480;search_string=kurupee%20suits;#1126480 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=247365;search_string=kurupee%20suits;#247365 Arrive Safely John

Relaxing at home . . . Arrive Safely John

For everyone's information: -I detached & removed some hate posts -Unfortunately, some beneficial content went with it because the "legitimate" posts were as a reply to the incorrect poster. There is no way for me to reinsert those posts into this thread. I apologize to those who spent time and effort posting the beneficial content that was removed. Edited to add: when you reply to a post, make sure you are replying to the person you are talking to, not just to the last post in the thread. That's what happened here. Arrive Safely John

To everyone: control yourself when you post. Opposing opinions are welcome here as long as they don't turn into a bashfest. I am sick of seeing that happen here in this thread and I have no problem giving a break to those who ignore these simple requests. Arrive Safely John

I was asked via PM by a staff member to post this contact URL: http://www.icaruscanopies.aero/contact.htm Arrive Safely John

L&B has a huge rep everywhere (including many previous forum posts) for their customer service. They will rectify your problem quickly and (in my personal history with them) - free. l-and-b@l-and-b.dk?subject=Techical Support Inquiry Arrive Safely John

Nope. Nothing offered to buy or sell. Sharing new designs and technology is highly encouraged in the forums. Arrive Safely John

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1557240;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed; Arrive Safely John

Added Kim and Justin as suggested! Arrive Safely John

My first one was posted in the wrong forum (TalkBack vs. Gear & Rigging), then at someone's suggestion I crossposted it to the G&R Forum. Breaking the forum rules the first day. Arrive Safely John

Come on, guys . . . If you have input to support the original post, then chime in. PLEASE make it in addition to what has already been said, not repeating the same stuff. This thread already has 1100 posts. If you disagree, then fire away! Stay within the guidelines established in the forum rules. Your opposing opinion is welcome as well. Now, if you simply want to tisk tisk others for having one opinion or the other, then simply pass on reading the thread and go find something else that interest you. To chide others for having an opinion has nothing to do with any of the multiple sides of the issue and does nothing but spin the thread around in larger circles than it already does. Arrive Safely John

Welcome to the sport and to the forums! The USPA A License is your yellow A License Proficiency Card, with all items and signatures completed, and the official USPA A License stamp. You don't need to send $20 to USPA for an A License number unless you want one. Other licenses you have to pay the fee to get the license, and you get a number as well. I haven't made it to VSA yet . . . I grew up in Cabot, but have been in North Carolina for over 20 years. I get home to see my brothers and sisters now and then, but usually don't have a day to spare. My only jumps in Vermont was at the air show in Burlington in 1994. Have fun and be safe! Arrive Safely John

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1438291;search_string=L%20B;#1438291 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1438094;search_string=Altitrack;#1438094 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1445428;search_string=Altitrack;#1445428 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1445221;search_string=Altitrack;#1445221 Arrive Safely John