JohnMitchell

Right you are. It is a violation of Part 105. However, I'm sure Luke will get whatever waiver is needed for that. He's a pretty good planner. I'd like to be there when he does this jump.

I just read May's incident reports in Parachutist. A jumper with 200 jumps frosted over his full face visor when breaking off at 4500'. He couldn't read his altimeter so he kept tracking until his audible sounded and his red light flashed at 1500'. He pulled his main and ended up with 2 out after his AAD fired. . . Shouldn't he have kept better track of time in his head or is that asking too much? I feel this jumper is too "gadget" dependent. What would he have done if his audible and warning light had not worked? It takes approximately 5-6 seconds to fall 1000' on your belly. If you're at 4500' and tracking, you better be pulling in 10 seconds. Going 15+ seconds? Not smart in my book. That ground is waiting for you. Any other thoughts out there?

Are you jumping again?

I like to see any task performed with skill, esp. flying a jump plane.

Aw, thanks for the kind words.

Very good point. In a perfect world, square reserves are more reliable and much easier on the body. But we don't skydive in a perfect world, do we? Two out with a round reserve is a low speed occurrence, never generating a dangerous, potentially deadly, downplane. Round reserves are unlikely to spiral you into the ground with a fouled or broken line or two. Watched one friend die because of that.

Pilot technique is also a factor in climb rates. I've seen more efficient pilots have much faster block times than less efficient pilots in the exact same plane.

Yes, after a while your BS detector will let you separate the wheat from the chaff.

Repetitive practice on the ground makes for good skydives in the air. Make sure your ground performances are smooth, deliberate and complete. Practice the routines until they are effortless. Spend your quiet time in the airplane breathing calmly and visualizing the skydive over and over again. Visualize it going perfectly. Don't distract yourself with doubts and what-ifs on the plane ride. When you exit, ARCH, take a deep breath and smile. Then launch into all the tasks of the skydive. With a good exit and arch, everything else tends to fall into place perfectly. As you continue on in the sport, review and practice your emergency procedures. Even just running thru them in your head a few minutes a day can be a big help. Find an instructor (during a slow time at the DZ) to check that you're doing them correctly. Everything that everyone above said about the canopy flying is correct. Become a good canopy pilot. I'm proud to say I've got over 40 years of jumping in and I'm still in one piece with no added metal. I wish you the same great experiences in this sport that I've enjoyed.

Ahhh, the voice of common sense. BTW, there is not much my POV camera tells me about my flying. It's mostly there to help other people with their flying. If you really want to get better, jump with better people who video YOU!

Yep, I figured back in the end of the 90's that a low altitude canopy collision was the most likely way I'd get killed in this sport. Hate to see the stats backing me up on that.

I had a nut-under on my first jump. Amazing that I ever made a second... I recommend wearing an athletic supporter. Not necessary, but handy.

Something to think about. Never put irreplaceables on the bottom. I had two other friends, former coworkers, that had similar experiences last year in Colorado.

As a tandem master I often make 8-9+ jumps a day. Couple of beers, and good meal and a good night's sleep, I'm ready to rock and roll again.

Well, sure. The dumb ones just lay there. Hell. sounds like an inflatable doll. I've seen pics of super realistic, kind of creepy, Japanese girl robots. I'm sure technology is not too far behind the line of this thread.

Chicks Rock a few years back, Space Oddity theme. I got to go as 7 'o 9's date.

Still getting snow in Colorado? Sure crowded up a bit, didn't it?

Next gen 7-of-9? Not exactly a robot there, right? Just a highly modified babe.

Schwing!

I've owned several 4 cylinder cars/sports cars over the years. Not much on acceleration, but great handling is where it's at for me.

I've been spending way too much time on the beach, all of March in Hawaii and now a couple of weeks in Florida. Yesterday we went and played on the beach all day with another skydiving couple.

I've never driven the more advanced carts, but go karts are a blast! Racing those is about as much fun/$ as you can have, I think.

Didn't watch the video, but hey, sometimes after a night of Mexican food, you're really hoping for a little backsplash to put out the fire...

Wouldn't be much a man if it didn't. Jerry Baumchen And we wouldn't have it any other way!

Billy, she posted herself in a bikini not too long ago. Very pretty. Did you miss that? Sucks to be you!