JohnMitchell

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Everything posted by JohnMitchell

  1. JohnMitchell
    Absolutely. I'm amazed at a few people I've met who had terrible landings yet wanted no instruction. They didn't last long. And of course, we all know, no matter how good a canopy pilot you are, things may conspire to slam you in hard some day. At that point, a good PLF makes a huge difference.
  2. JohnMitchell
    The cop isn't a judge, and the criminal standards for a ticket are higher than civil. The lack of a ticket shouldn't prevent you and your insurance company from pursuing further relief from the offending party. But it might be that the legal costs and uncertainty are too high without any proof. Thanks for that advice. She was shorted maybe $1500 between insurance payout and what she owed on the car. So, yeah, it probably wouldn't be worth it, except maybe in the small claims venue.
  3. JohnMitchell
    Merci beaucoup, monsieur.she is also known for laying paint eggs on canvas, which would make her an artist (I will let you Google Image Milo Moire Eggs) I read about that in the news article. Some things may be best left unseen.
  4. JohnMitchell
    Merci beaucoup, monsieur.
  5. JohnMitchell
    That's correct. at least at our DZ. I have to admit I don't keep up with what the USPA requires all the time. Coach Rating is a great place to start. There are some good things to learn in the certification class. The one instruction I was given before starting to jump with students many years ago? Don't ever fly over their back. (Because if they pull at the moment it's gonna hurt ya.)
  6. JohnMitchell
    I don't really remember her much, but what a shame to pass away so young.
  7. JohnMitchell
    You should have seen Valinda flying with the kids when they were little. She was pro, with toys and snacks and books to keep them busy. I'd be up front in the cockpit and she'd have 'em all to herself.
  8. JohnMitchell
    Could be, Bill, although they only wear the shoulder and anti-submarine strap for takeoff and landing. Most of the time it's just lap belts.
  9. JohnMitchell
    She owes you a hug for that one. That's great.
  10. JohnMitchell
    Haha, how many people have said that during skydiving video debriefs?
  11. JohnMitchell
    No argument there. If I looked that good, I'd probably go around naked all the time too.
  12. JohnMitchell
    Passenger psychology. People prefer to sit facing forward. Same reason there are not 5-point harnesses for them, like the flight crew has. Too scary to wear all those straps.
  13. JohnMitchell
    Those guys got some $$$ to spend, don't they? I've got a couple of friends that make a living wearing that logo. Good work if you can get it.
  14. JohnMitchell
    I don't know if her selfies were art but I certainly enjoyed that one. Would I mind seeing her naked at the Eiffel Tower? Naw.
  15. JohnMitchell
    That's a very important point. Having worn a camera on many coach and RW jumps, I've worked to manage the distraction of it. Sure, I may think of framing good shots, but still keep my mind on the job. With not even a camera on my head, the other weekend I was on a Level 1 AFF that was going so well I found myself looking around at the scenery in freefall for a few moments. Mt. Rainier was looking great that day.
  16. JohnMitchell
    Hi Spot. I think there was a complaint or two that "inside" video was not the same quality as outside video. No argument, but inside video still has its value, IMHO. It just needs to be done safely (snagproof).
  17. JohnMitchell
    Another way to stay injury free? PLF! Thanks for the yoga instruction, though. Good idea.
  18. JohnMitchell
  19. JohnMitchell
    That's been known for years; not a secret at all. Here's the reasoning behind it I've read: The cost savings of carrying an infant on your lap will encourage you to fly. The extra expense of paying a full ticket for a small infant would encourage many young parents to change to an auto trip, which is much more likely to be involved in a fatal crash. So, basically, it's safer to fly with an unstrapped infant than to drive with one in a car seat. Ahh, the amazing things bean counters come up with.
  20. JohnMitchell
    While we're looking at videos I'd like to comment on how that the person pulls their cutaway handle. All handles, ripcord or soft, should be pulled the direction the cable housings run. This will result in the lowest pull forces. Any other direction bends the cable against the housing exit and increases pull forces needlessly. Since the cable housings for our cutaway and reserve cables run straight down the front of our bodies, that's the direction we should pull them, not out to the side or forward or upwards. Those other directions just make it more difficult. I also wonder why the jumper waited until after pulling the cutaway handle before locating and grabbing the reserve handle. I hope the instructor watching him gave him some more coaching.
  21. JohnMitchell
    And if that video really is 20 years old, it's probably the chief reason his canopy deployed fast enough to save his life. I'd class that opening as 'brisk'.
  22. JohnMitchell
    I know it's not THE WORST traffic in the country, but it's f-ing amazing sometimes. ..
  23. JohnMitchell
    Thanks, N@. Hope to get some pics up for ya. Still early AM on the West coast.
  24. JohnMitchell
  25. JohnMitchell
    Looks like I-5 every Friday and Sunday summer afternoon in WA state. It's to the point our DZ tells people to not bother coming out from Seattle after 1 pm on Fridays.