slotperfect

Please don't hijack it, either. Send him a PM instead. Arrive Safely John

When gear is stolen, fellow skydivers want to help. Dropzone.com is a great place to implement that help . . . stolen gear has been recovered because it was posted here. When internal DZ politics saturate an issue, this forum is not the place for it. It results in each side of the issue lobbing dirt clods on each other and people with no bearing on the issue chiming in with sometimes heavy bells. Lastly, threats - no matter how cleverly veiled in subtlety - are not welcome here. Threats completely pollute the community many of us hold dear and work hard to support. peterk - your comment about "stay on the ground if I were you" can easily be taken as a threat, whether you meant it that way or not. It is ambiguous enough for me to warn you that threats are not acceptable here. WFFC - Inside information often belongs exactly there >> inside, in between the parties concerned. In this situation, skirting around what you know in this thread did not contribute. Edited to add: ALL (including me) - let's read carefully before we jump the gun and call comments a threat. If a comment is ambiguous but has possible negative connotations - ask questions of the poster here or via PM to be clear about it. I did that myself, albeit after the fact (the thread was starting to deteriorate) and I am clear that peterk did not intend the comment as a threat. Thanks. This thread is done . . . take any further rumblings to PMs. Thanks. Arrive Safely John

The other thread was locked for a reason. Please don't let this one turn into a clone of the other. Enough information about the incident is posted in the original thread for everyone to be informed. Thanks. Arrive Safely John

The USPA reference(s) you will find handy now and in the future are posted online HERE. To answer your question, the USPA SIM says the following about currency: USPA A-license holders who have not made a freefall skydive within — 1. 60 days: should make at least one jump under the supervision of a currently rated USPA instructional rating holder until demonstrating altitude awareness, freefall control on all axes, tracking, and canopy skills sufficient for safely jumping in groups 2. 90 days: should make at least one jump beginning in Category D with a USPA AFF Instructor or in Category B with a USPA IAD Static-Line, or Tandem Instructor before proceeding to unsupervised freefall Cheers! Arrive Safely John

Pat Moorehead is in the group picture. Arrive Safely John

I take her very seriously. Arrive Safely John

Actually I do think about it. I make sure at three points during the skydive process that they want to go. If they are reluctant at first I make sure they understand that I won't take them out of an airplane unless THEY want to go. I ask them before we gear up if they are ready to go. Finally once the door comes open I ask them "are you ready to skydive?" I do my best to get the last one on video, and we keep all raw footage on file in the school. I go to great measures to be as safe, professional, and proficient as possible. I also ask questions of our School Owners to understand the measures they have taken to protect themselves and their staff. Otherwise I trust people, skydive, and have fun. I don't think it's asinine at all to think about it. I think it's responsible thinking unless it turns into litigation paranoia, which you are a long way from. Arrive Safely John

There is already a colossal thread with a considerable amount of information and a plethora of opinions on the Skyride issue here. We don't need to start another one. I suggest you scan that thread and see if your idea has been posted there already. If so, feel free to add your spin to it. If not, feel free to add it. For those who don't want to read what you have to say, they don't have to read it. Calling someone a whiner because you have heard it before or don't agree with it takes a lot more effort than skipping the thread altogether.

First of all, I wish you peace and quick grieving after the loss of your friend. I hope you will find some time to honor his memory with his close circle of friends, and some time to get in the air by yourself to sort things out where each of you shared a love of the surrounding environment. The public perception of skydiving is sometimes difficult to break through to enroll others in experiencing the freedom, joy, and exhilaration of human flight. The two biggest things I hear from people is that (in so many words) that it is way too far outside the box for them, or they are afraid of heights. One at a time: -"Out of the box" can be fear issues or lack of self-confidence or self-worth. I never tell people that skydiving is safe. I honestly tell them it's a high risk activity, and that the risk can be reduced through respecting the danger, proper training, proper equipment selection & maintenance, etc. If they really want me to compare the level of risk to something, I relate it to flying (avoiding driving analogies). I tell them that most people who pursue making a skydive, regardless of the length of the decision making process, all see that there is some sort of benefit on the other side of this calculated risk. They may not know how that benefit looks, tastes, feels, etc. - but I tell them it will likely be intensely personal for them. Example: my sister Connie made a tandem with me three years ago. I came away having shared the thrill of skydiving with her, and I would find out later she came away with a life-changing experience. The bottom line was that she never knew she had it in her to do anything like that. It had a permanent positive effect on her. -"Afraid of heights" - I actually hear this from about 80% of my tandem students. Some people have a no kidding phobia . . . I have not encountered one yet, but that would require a meeting with our DZO and likely a signed statement of permission from her doctor. The others are afraid of heights just like I am: I know that if I fall from a high place I will get hurt. People experience this in varying degrees, but most are able to conquer it. I get them to trust me in saying that skydiving is completely different than walking across a bridge or standing at the edge of a cliff. BTW - my sister Connie has always been very afraid of heights because of some traumatic childhood experiences. Victory #2!

Sorry if I sounded like I was sharp shooting you . . . I was intending to add to the conversation. I actually did take it as a compliment (thanks)! Cheers! Arrive Safely John

I don't always have to drag them around. I am a big guy, so if the person is slightly above average size or smaller, and in some sort of physical shape, manhandling is not usually required. People like that have an overall musculature that supports their body weight over their entire frame. Next time your in a restaurant look at all the people sitting at tables and see how they are sitting. Are they sitting somewhat erect & supporting their own weight? Or are they slumped down hard, straining the structure of the chair to hold them upright? When the latter applies to tandem students, they can be a lot of work because they are slumping against you and the harness. I jumped a 6'2" 220 lb woman from Africa once, who was an avid cricket player. While she was about 15lbs overweight, she was in excellent shape, so the entire tandem was a blast. The only issue I had with her was safely securing her hair. It was long enough to reach below her shoulder blades, and corn-rowed with tons of beads. It looked really cool but I didn't want it beating me in the face in free fall! Three scunci's later, and safely tucked into the back of her jumpsuit, we were off to the races. Arrive Safely John

Like Dave said, it doesn't end there. I am of the opinion that tandems are three times the responsibility for a tandem instructor compared to a sport rig skydive: -You are responsible for another life as well as your own -The parachute system is more complex, and carries heavier loads. The responsibility factor is one of the reasons I enjoy tandems. Not at the top of the list, but a reason nonetheless. A good friend and retired tandem instructor would always tell his students that asked about it being hard on the TI: "It will be your easiest skydive, and one of my hardest." There is some truth to that. Once I have landed with my student, and had a brief conversation with them to know they are OK, then I can feel good about the results. Otherwise from gear up to that point it's "game on!" We could spend a lot of time talking about all of the things that could go wrong after the drogue is thrown, but I would rather stress how important it is for tandem instructors to FLY the exit before throwing the drogue. I see so many tandem videos in which there is a lightning quick drogue throw. That can cause more problems rather than be a solution. If the TI exits with the flying surfaces into the relative wind, flies the exit, then throws the drogue in a stable body position, he will minimize the risks. Great question! Arrive Safely John

I had dropped out of college and was working two jobs. I had no car, and was living in a one room apartment. The Army recruiter called me saying that he was about to "purge my file" after two years (I took the ASVAB in high school), and asked if I would like to talk to him. I saw him the next day. He showed me a bunch of recruiting films, including jump school at Ft. Benning. From that point forward I was hooked on jumping out of airplanes. I had never seen anyone jump out of an airplane before, except in James Bond movies, and one episode of CHiPs. I was not interested in the Marine Corps . . . they had bugged me to death close to high school graduation even though I had told them more than once I was going to college. The Navy life at sea was familiar to me - one of my best friends enlisted and did 20 years as a Submariner, and his Dad had been a 20+ year Submariner as well. Life at sea didn't appeal to me. The Air Force didn't call, and the Army Recruiter was a great guy - a straight shooter that told me 100% truth. So I chose the Army. After my physical was complete I enlisted as a 43E, Parachute Rigger (now 92R). I was on delayed entry for three weeks, then shipped out on 01 May 1984. I was 19. I enlisted for 4 years to get the healthy college money and enlistment bonus available at the time. Once I was in, I loved the life and decided after about 2 years to make it a career. I'm about a month away from my 21 year anniversary in the Army. I plan to do 3 more and retire. I already have my smock and my flashlight for my new career as Night Greeter at Wal Mart. Arrive Safely John

25!??!?!?! It's a good thing you don't age as you post, or you would be about 85! Happy birthday, Dave. Arrive Safely John

Correct! It's like a rehearsal before the jump. You did them as a student walking through the dive flow with your instructor(s). Arrive Safely John

I agree it would be helpful there . . . You can find it by doing a username search - it appears in your results. Arrive Safely John

Happiest of happies, you! Arrive Safely John

Hi Brian! My home DZ is Raeford Parachute Center, adjacent to Ft. Bragg, NC. I don't know where you are stationed in Virginia, but it shouldn't be too long a drive. The DZ website is http://www.jumpraeford.com , and lots of people from there are frequent posters here in the forums. Let me know if you decide to come down! Arrive Safely John

There is a Stearns Inflata-Belt up for auction on eBay: here. The cheapest I can find them elsewhere is about $70. Arrive Safely John

Right you are . . . keep educating yourself and training - there are always deals floating around unless you are of a very uniques size, shape, or weight. Arrive Safely John

There used to be one here that conveniently sent you an email when your repack was coming due. HH says he has it on his list of things that will return . . . So, HH . . . is it Christmas yet? Arrive Safely John

So just break it down and ask specific questions about specific parts. You will find plenty of help here defining what things are and what they do . . . what we try and steer you to your instructors for is whether or not it's the right gear for your experience level, skill set, DZ elevation, etc. So fire away!

There are some great articles on buying your first rig here. If you just completed AFF I recommend you continue to jump what you are used to, and ask some of your instructors that you were comfortable with to watch your landings and give you some coaching. When you have their blessing to drop down to a smaller canopy, likely rental gear, seek some specific canopy coaching from experienced canopy pilots on your DZ. If you post a little more about yourself in your profile, like your home DZ, I may be able to point you in the right direction. I can not say enough about how valuable canopy coaching is. Lastly, don't be in a big hurry to buy gear - you're doing the right thing by beginning to gather information, but only buy when you have the knowledge and training to make an informed decision. Best of luck! Arrive Safely John

The MC-4 currently in use is a 370 sq ft 7-cell. Arrive Safely John

Paulie, First of all you are doing well by starting early in gathering information about your first rig. There are some great articles here on buying your first rig that you will find helpful. I will say don't be in a hurry . . . the good deal you found will turn into another good deal when you are ready to start jumping your own gear. The classifieds here on dropzone.com are excellent. Second, I strongly recommend that for the time being you ask one or two of the instructors you are comfortable with to watch your landings and give you some coaching. After you have taken in their knowledge, I suggest you pay for some professional canopy coaching. If your profile is correct, there is excellent coaching available on your home DZ. From the Crosskeys website: Also, looking at the Skydive Crosskeys Bulletin Board, Scott Miller will be there July 30 & 31 teaching his Canopy Piloting Course. I highly recommend him, having gone through his course myself. It was so excellent that I plan to do it again when he's in North Carolina this year, with my new canopy. As far as taking advice given here on these boards, all of us need to reserve good judgement in applying it. Bill von Novak wrote a great post here talking specifically about that. If you ever get to North Carolina, look me up - I am happy to watch your landings and coach you for free. Edited to add: there are some excellent articles on canopy flight and performance on the PD Website. I recommend you digest them one at a time, re-reading as much as necessary. They contain a wealth of good information. Also, if you choose to attend Scott Miller's course in July, these documents will prepare you well. He used to be a PD Test Jumper and uses a lot of the same concepts in his training. Arrive Safely John