rgoper

S.S.S. Square, Steerable, And Stable. H2S (Hydrogen Sulfide) is a dense highly dangerous gas that attacks the central nervous system, first the sense of smell, (they say you only get to smell it once) then the elements that allow you to breath, therefore paralayzing your ability to breath. i was simply drawing a parralell from my profession to the sport. and as for the S.S.S. did you not pay attention in FJC? Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

"goodness, gracious, "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!" Jerry Lee Lewis.......... Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

this is a "one in a million" question. from what i have seen personally, canopys are extremely resiliant, and durable. not to say they can't be destroyed by an action such as this, but to expect the other jumper to replace your main? do you NOT know this can happen BEFORE you get on the plane? we all have to accept what can happen in this sport, and assume the risks for ourselfs, and be as safe as we possibly can be. personally, i would not expect the other jumper to replace my canopy, but they couldn't expect me to pay for they're stitches (and ambulance ride) either. chances are, someone falls through your canopy at 120 mph thery're going to be needing medical attention. this very thing "almost" happned to me not long ago, there i was S.S.S. slider stowed, enjoying my canopy ride at 2K, all of the sudden....whoosh, another jumper in freefall fell to my port side, not 10 feet away, we had a "gentleman's disscussion" on the ground after. see the post of "barrel roll after a track" in safety and training.

AndyMan: i'm on board with everything you just stated. while when freeflying it does present a whole different scenario than rw, then my *suggestion* is to most certainly do a barrel roll after tracking away. having said that, how many of us have a "back up plan" say, there is someone in our quadrant at this time? just some thoughts for safety............ Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

**Scottie pulled at a grand all the time with his main but he is a old salty fearless dawg.. I'd have to have a 1001 foot snivel.. So I would hit the reserve..** this is hardly a good example of safe sky diving. not slamming anyone here, or scotty for pulling at 1000, it's his life. but the fact of the matter is, at 1000 you pull, (your main) your not S.S.S. your dead, or really wishing you were, that simple. (i pulled two weeks ago at 1800 agl because of industrial haze, i wanted to be below it) i wasn't liking it very much either. i think we can safely make the statement that our AFP, AFF, programs are sufficient with the details to where this won't be a constantly recurring problem. it reminds me of when we do H2S training on just about every drilling project i've been on in the last 27 years, if H2S is present, and your best friend is lying near the rig, leave him there, cause you will most certainly lose your life as well, trying to help save his, life's a bitch, then ya die, cold hard facts. (i have been in this very situation, more than once, i can tell you, it's hard watching someone under your command be severely impaired, or even worse die) my very first AFP dive, i knew exactly what i was going to do at 4500, (because of the training i recieved) and i did it, we can only train ourselfs, to train others, up and coming in the sport to do the same for themselfs. i'm signed up for my USPA coach's course, and the AFF program, and i can gaurentee you i will do the same for the students that my divemasters did for me, drill, drill, drill, until you get it right on the ground, you don't get on the plane. being a hero, trying to chase a student down past 2K, when they're AAD equipped is an excersize in futility, again, cold hard (proven) facts. the sport of sky diving is extremely dangerous, and always will be, BUT, it can, and is performed safely on a daily basis, with the proper training, and planning. for those of you thinking of getting your coaching and AFF, AFP ratings, think twice before you go below "deployment altitude" with your student, please............... Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

took this off of another forum. i think this jm feels horibly for the one that lost his life, but is stating procedures in hopes that no one else will be lost. ************************************************************************ I don't know what happened in Connecticut, but there have been a few posts that focus on the bravery of an AFF instructor who stays with a student and places his own life in jeopardy to help the student pull. AFF instructors are trained to never stay with a student below normal breakoff altitude. If the ripcord hasn't been pulled and it is time to go, the instructor must stop his efforts and save his own life. It is not heroic to die trying to save a student who is struggling with a pull or is unstable. Breakoff is breakoff, and pull time is pull time. Always. Every AFF student should be trained to understand the hand signal for pull, and they should also be trained to understand that they must pull immediately if they see their instructor deploy. That gives the instructor two ways to signal the student to pull. On release dives a standard wave off is often added as a third signal to pull. Every student must understand that they are solely responsible for saving their own life on every skydive, and that the instructor will NOT make a wild heroic effort to help them. If a student sees his instructor hanging out, chasing him, or trying to grab onto the ripcord he may think everything is OK and keep working the freefall problem well below normal pull altitudes. By opening his own parachute the instructor clearly shows the student that freefall must be over. Leaving a struggling student isn't easy, but every instructor needs to be ready to breakoff when the freefall part of the skydive is over. It is really easy for an AFF instructor to become so focused on the ripcord pull that he looses track of altitude. Every AFF instructor should have a visible altimeter (required by BSRs), and an audible warning device like a Pro-Track or Ditter. It is also a really, really, really good idea for AFF instructors to have an AAD as a final back-up. And of course, every student should always have an AAD. If you have a chance this weekend, talk with the AFF instructors on your DZ and see what their plans are for a ripcord problem at breakoff altitude. Do they have a hard deck for their own pull, and do they brief their students to pull if the instructor has pulled? This is also a great topic of conversation for static line instructors and coaches who fly with students on higher level jumps. It is also worth discussing the advantages of audibles and AAD for instructors. Does your school have a policy about this? Should it? Does your school help instructors with the cost of AADs or audibles? Should they? Again, I don't know what happened in Connecticut, and this post isn't really about that event anyway. We should all take a quick moment to think about our responsibilities as instructors, and the training we provide our students for pull difficulties. We should also think about how easy it is for both students and instructors to loose track of altitude, and reconsider our minimum equipment needs when flying with beginners who may need our help. Tom Buchanan D-8514 Instructor (AFF, SL, Tandem) ************************************************************************ the attached jpeg is illustrating a ripcord pull by main side jm, and student. the timing of the photograph is such that at pull time, the reserve side jm sees no pc, so he goes up to investigate, and i'm sure the dive turned out ok for everyone involved. (no reports that it didn't) hook has asked a question that every AFF1 should already know the answer to, sad but true, if your student isn't deployed by 3000-2500, you must track away and save yourself. all student rigs should be equipped with AAD devices. if you not willing to let them go after your "hard deck" then don't be a dive master. this divemaster (in my opinion) lost altitude awareness, and his life. "it's all about living" Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

i'm entertaining the idea of writing, and presenting a speech on political science at the next republican convention. SYCH! everyone here knows i am NOT a politician, and don't know dick about politics. Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

i took this off of another forum. i think this jm feels horibly for the one that lost his life, but is stating procedures in hopes that no one else will be lost. ************************************************************************ I don't know what happened in Connecticut, but there have been a few posts that focus on the bravery of an AFF instructor who stays with a student and places his own life in jeopardy to help the student pull. AFF instructors are trained to never stay with a student below normal breakoff altitude. If the ripcord hasn't been pulled and it is time to go, the instructor must stop his efforts and save his own life. It is not heroic to die trying to save a student who is struggling with a pull or is unstable. Breakoff is breakoff, and pull time is pull time. Always. Every AFF student should be trained to understand the hand signal for pull, and they should also be trained to understand that they must pull immediately if they see their instructor deploy. That gives the instructor two ways to signal the student to pull. On release dives a standard wave off is often added as a third signal to pull. Every student must understand that they are solely responsible for saving their own life on every skydive, and that the instructor will NOT make a wild heroic effort to help them. If a student sees his instructor hanging out, chasing him, or trying to grab onto the ripcord he may think everything is OK and keep working the freefall problem well below normal pull altitudes. By opening his own parachute the instructor clearly shows the student that freefall must be over. Leaving a struggling student isn't easy, but every instructor needs to be ready to breakoff when the freefall part of the skydive is over. It is really easy for an AFF instructor to become so focused on the ripcord pull that he looses track of altitude. Every AFF instructor should have a visible altimeter (required by BSRs), and an audible warning device like a Pro-Track or Ditter. It is also a really, really, really good idea for AFF instructors to have an AAD as a final back-up. And of course, every student should always have an AAD. If you have a chance this weekend, talk with the AFF instructors on your DZ and see what their plans are for a ripcord problem at breakoff altitude. Do they have a hard deck for their own pull, and do they brief their students to pull if the instructor has pulled? This is also a great topic of conversation for static line instructors and coaches who fly with students on higher level jumps. It is also worth discussing the advantages of audibles and AAD for instructors. Does your school have a policy about this? Should it? Does your school help instructors with the cost of AADs or audibles? Should they? Again, I don't know what happened in Connecticut, and this post isn't really about that event anyway. We should all take a quick moment to think about our responsibilities as instructors, and the training we provide our students for pull difficulties. We should also think about how easy it is for both students and instructors to loose track of altitude, and reconsider our minimum equipment needs when flying with beginners who may need our help. Tom Buchanan D-8514 Instructor (AFF, SL, Tandem) ************************************************************************ Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

yeah, i'm aware of that, the timing of the picture couldn't be better actually. i didn't respond until i saw some responses of others because i think it's crystal clear what is going on! i'd like to see the video, it looks like the reserve side jm is saving the day though! Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

the student pulled the ripcord, but the jumpmaster took hold of it him self (probably afraid the student would drop it) the container is obviously open, you can see the flap just behind the students back, to the left of his head. the other jumpmaster is back there trying to either: find a pilot chute, or pull the d-bag out himself. the part of the photo i find interesting is that the jumpmaster, student, and cameraman are all oblivious to what's NOT happening, thery're still "hamming the camera" when i first saw this i thought, "this guy's in a bind" and don't even know it, i guess it all turned out allright though.

i'm fixing to purchase a new cobalt, BUT, i will not be downsizing to a 150, i'll stay with the 170 to keep my same "wing" you don't really have to downsize to get increased performance, in my opinion through the research i've done so far. the hornet being semi-elipitical, and the cobalt being fully elipitical should help me achieve my objective.

i ran accross this somewhere, and thought to myself, self, WTF? is it me, are is there a potential problem here? Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

this is very uncharachteristic behaviour on the hornet's opening from my personal experience, and research i did prior to buying mine. no matter whether i pro-pack or psyco-pack, it opens nicely, i've had maybe 1 or 2 "brisk" openings, but that's largely due to some packing error. most of the time i pro-pack, split roll the nose, quarter the slider and it's never been a problem. having said all of that, it is not the 700'-900' sniveler that my 7 cell triathlon was, which i'm glad of, i can't stand a sniveling canopy! but i don't want to be cracked either. if it were my canopy (and it's not) i'd keep it, i believe you'll love it!

i was experiencing the very same symptoms, it even said there was too much traffic on the internet, first for me. better now.

eeewwwwwwww, it's marilyn manson. Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

David: be "straight" and honest with her, and do it ASAP, to prevent further problems in the future, you never know, you might be friends later, leave that door open, never "burn a brige" the best advice i can give, is just be honest, and tell her "from the heart, straight up" good luck, take care, good luck. Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

touche! Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

**My canopy, a PD 170, has little wind penetration and tired flare, and I'm planning to buy a new Hornet this summer. I was going to get a 150, which I'd be loading at just about 1:1** i'd be just as concerned about being "under loaded, as being overloaded" with a higher "wing" you'll certainly obtain better penetration, and the hornet is a good transition canopy. your 1.1 in my opinion, is still conservative, just do your hop-n-pops at altitude to learn your new canopy's chacteristics

**I'm seriously considering the switch to soft.** i'm not slamming the consideration of switching to a soft reserve handle, but if you swith to the soft handle because it's "harder to pull" then in my opinion, it's needs some more consideration. different manufacturer's make different shapes of steel reserve handles...thought? be safe, take care...... Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

if your "mighty mouse" cape came off in freefall, would you still be able to fly? Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

after "mighty mouse" comes "2 much idle time"

if you get out at 10K and do a "clear and pull" you should be able to fly back to the dz, pull every ugly trick you can think of to get your canopy to miss-behave while you have the altitude!

i'm easy, lean cuisines are kewel with me! Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"

**I went to Monroe once but the prop fell off....LOL** Clay: hardly condusive to jumping, isn't it? "as the prop DONt turn"

ewwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Richard "Gravity Is My Friend"