JohnMitchell

Well thanks, but we're nothing compared to people in the service like you.

Hi Bruce, Yep, I agree. We've been to far too many funerals to care about a chop here and there. But man, I hate looking for stuff off in the woods, don't you?

It's getting longer.

Aww, thanks, Twardo. Very high praise coming from you. Yeah, back in the F-111 days we got pretty proficient at slamming together a two stack after a regular jump, then Vskydiver would pilot it in. She even put us in the peas some of the time. Kind of miss doing that but not gonna try with my Stiletto and her Fusion.

I just want to 2nd everything Stratostar said. There's many factors involved in all this and we don't have all the info or both sides of the story. Did you really chop because of line twists? I've had canopies spin up from line twists and had to chop, but never had one flying straight and level that I couldn't kick out. Please explain the malfunction a bit more. At our DZ we try really hard not to shame people that cut away, even the FJC student that cut away because the slider was noisy. I always say "It's your A$$ in the harness. You have to take care of it." But some people can be resistant to learning and developing good judgement. Like Stratostar, I've seen a little bit of everything.

Although I feel Vskydiver and I are pretty normal, I joke that my wife, who jumps out of planes and shoots bull's eyes at the gun range, is pretty much cooler than any of the guys I work with.

With, I don't know, maybe a red bull on it or something? Best of luck to those guys. We Tivo'd it but got up early to watch anyway. We're all jumpers. We know about weather holds.

You're teasing us, aren't you?

Exactly. I would pay $$$ to do some of those stunts they make the people do. But slime and bugs and stuff. That's just disgusting.

Oh MY YUCK!

Damn, there's always some A$$-hats wanting to screw up a good time. It's a party, not a descent into anarchy.

May I be so bold as to second the motion?

You're the reason I'm there. Why would I want to walk away?

And that's cool. I have to disagree with Nataly just a little. Jumping out of planes a lot is something most of the world is just not wired for. Now whether or not that's good or bad is a whole 'nother debate. Coworkers find it interesting but only in small doses. I only talk about it if they ask about it. It IS nice to have controllers talk to me about how jump operations work and what the jump pilots really need. There's some resistance in Aviation circles to accepting skydiving as a legitimate activity. I'm glad to help our sport anyway I can. Not too long ago our facility chief, my boss's boss's boss, was giving a tour to the David Grizzle, 2nd in command of the FAA. She actually brought him over to my scope and said "This is John Mitchell. He skydives." David was super cool and asked me a few questions about it. Now he knows we've infiltrated the FAA! Jumping, for me, has many life lessons that help me in my career. I have to say it's been a positive influence in my life. YMMV. I feel I'm normal, but that I maybe just have a lower tolerance for boredom than some.

Yeah, but then you end up "friends" with every girl and never get laid.

You might have the same problem as Valinda. You look super good, so they assume you're in great shape, etc. Valinda hates it when doctors say "Well, you LOOK fine."

After selling my wonderhog with the elastic closing loop and belly band (remember those?

I've seen our DZ do almost that too. They know you want to get in the air.

Hey Nataly, Quade nailed it. This is what you need to do. I'd never out hike my gal.

That is probably the best "under the radar" story ever.

Keep doing those exercises. They really will get you back to where you want to be. You'll make it.

A good jumpsuit manufacturer can build a suit with the right type and amount of material to slow you down. My wife even build suits with inflatable forearms to slow down the big boys.

You're still pretty new in the sport. A lot of people have been doing a lot of stuff for a long time.

Dressed like she says she's gonna dress, she'll have fun ANYWHERE she goes.