Ron

Like what? Some crappy ad in a magazine that only members get? As for the medical.... The FAA does not require it. There is no reason the USPA should require it. I have a medical (I have a plane). But the medical is a joke and the AOPA and EAA all know it. They are fighting to remove it.... There is no reason for the USPA to require it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The USPA tandem rating is a joke. And pretty much ALL of the advancements in the student program the USPA is so proud of.... Started by NON USPA procedures being used. AFF - Not started by the USPA Tandem - Not started by the USPA Throw outs - Not started by the USPA Tandem progression - Not started by the USPA. I could go on an on. The USPA is not as big of a deal as they like to think they are. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

There are non group member DZ's. If I have a Cessna, I do not need a DZ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I'll throw the bullshit flag right about here. I was told the same line when I did SL instead of AFF. Total BS. I did a 20 point 4way with one of my AFF students for his 20th jump. Your students will only be as good as the effort you put into them and the effort they put forward. Give me three equal students and I will use a different method on each of them. By 'A' License you will not be able to tell who did what program. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

USPA c. Tandem training jumps [E] (1) Any USPA member conducting a tandem jump must hold a current USPA Tandem Instructor rating and a manufacturer’s type rating. B. Compliance with Federal regulations [NW] 1. No skydive may be made in violation of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. 105.45 Use of tandem parachute systems. (a) No person may conduct a parachute operation using a tandem parachute system, and no pilot in command of an aircraft may allow any person to conduct a parachute operation from that aircraft using a tandem parachute system, unless— (1) One of the parachutists using the tandem parachute system is the parachutist in command, and meets the following requirements: (i) Has a minimum of 3 years of experience in parachuting, and must provide documentation that the parachutist— (ii) Has completed a minimum of 500 freefall parachute jumps using a ram-air parachute, and (iii) Holds a master parachute license issued by an organization recognized by the FAA, and (iv) Has successfully completed a tandem instructor course given by the manufacturer of the tandem parachute system used in the parachute operation or a course acceptable to the Administrator. Sparky And having read the FAR, there is nothing preventing a person who had passed the rating to stop being a USPA member and still do tandems. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have taught both, prefer AFF. The tandems are ok, but after one there is little real benefit IMO for most students. And going from a tandem to single jump master is not a great idea IMO either. If the exit goes to shit the one AFF is going to try and hold on.... But as the pair spins the AFFI is not going to want to let go. I have had a student go fetal out the door several times and with two JM's we normally just hold them in the style tuck till they arch or we deploy him. And the multiple 'levels' after the AFF are pretty much just the coach jumps. It seems excessive to me. But I can see the benefit for the DZ's. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I'd do in order: Bow (H) Sidebody (P) Meker (E) Diamond (B) Honestly the bow transitions just as well as the P. The E is easy, but I would not try it if you have never done it before. The B is easy, just let it roll out. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

This has been answered.... But here is the reasons I was given. 1. Cost a bunch to make. Between the sewing and paying a royalty to Brian they cost more than other canopies to make. 2. They didn't sell very well. 3. In the age of Xbraced canopies, most of the design benefits could be gotten by either design. Add them all up and it just was not worth it to continue to make them. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Congrats.... Sept 18th it was 20 years for me. I celebrated by placing 2nd at the nats in 16 way.... "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I was there all week. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I thought he mentioned something about being close to I drive? I don't remember it being that close. Space Center < 1hr Deland < 1hr Zhills ~ 1hr LW ~ 1hr Sebastian 1:30 Now that's provided I4 is not locked up around Fantasy of Flight (but then again I took the back roads). "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

From Orlando you have plenty of options. All my *opinion*. Space Center.... Uh, last I heard it was mainly a tandem mill and they do not really take care of fun jumpers. that may have changed, but I have lived in FL most of my life and been jumping for 20 years and I keep forgetting that place exists.... That, IMO, should tell you something about it. DeLand. Great place, but it can be lonely if you do not know anyone. They fly a BUNCH and have some massively skilled jumpers there... BUT they are mostly on teams or jumping with each other. If you are a local, you can get in on some great skydives.... But I have seen visitors have to do solos or jump with other visitors. I have done many team jumps there. GREAT for teams. Zhills. Used to have the best vibe for 'Fun' in FL (IMO). I moved there in 1996 because of the vibe. Still a fun place, still have organizers on most loads. This will be the easiest place to get on group jumps. Lake Wales. Eh, I'd go somewhere else. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Depending on where exactly you will be living would factor in on the hour's distance. Below is my *personal* opinion. Skydive SW Florida. Nice small DZ. Cessna 182 jump plane. I flew in there once just to look around and they were very friendly and looked like a good group. Clewiston. Has a REALLY fast plane, a 900HP Caravan. Friendly staff but can be a bit slow on weekends after the tandem students have all jumped. They have some load organizers mostly on Saturdays for RW and they put together some good stuff. They have a 'Sunday Funday' every once in a while where they do crazier jumps like Mr Potato Head jumps.... Etc. Lake Wales. This DZ seems to change hands a bunch. The locals are nice. Can't speak to the quality of the skydives since I have not been there in years and just can't see a reason to travel that far. Facilities are nice. Skydive Tampa Bay. Small DZ that normally has a Cessna. Really nice folks. I have not jumped there in years since I am not going to travel for a Cessna. Zhills. Big DZ. Used to be a mecca for RW, then was a mecca for Freeflying, then a mecca for wingsuits. Still a busy place with a lot of organizers. The boogies there are worth doing just because they are good and it is pretty local. For full disclosure, I have worked at Zhills and still do on occasion and I work at Clewiston a bit (defined as when they REALLY need help and I feel like it... My wife also works there doing AFF). I used to live on the DZ in ZHills and I keep my plane in a hangar at Clewiston... So I am there all the time, just not jumping. Knowing what TYPE of jumping you do and your experience will help a bunch. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Don't let people bully you into doing what THEY want. You did fine. Yes, an RSL might save you, it also might kill you but they never mention that point. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I do. Then this rule if for you. It may save your life. I have no issue with a hop n pop from 2k.... Further, I have no issue with a terminal deployment from 2k. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I refuse to send an extra dime to the USPA. The BOD has shown not to listen to the members, and in this very thread we have been told the USPA does not get involved in airport access issues unless it is a big issue. The USPA is more interested in forming a demo team and getting PR than anything else. I'll send my money to the AOPA and EAA. By accident they do more for skydiving than the USPA "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

They are exactly toys. And I have several of those toys. and you didnt get killed yet!? i thought it was like one fatality in every 10 toy-choppers.. It has come after me a few times.... But I fought it off. Worse, I have an entire safe full of firearms and when I open the safe they all look at me with evil eyes. I have also been known to run with scissors. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

So many things could go wrong. I'd recommend they do something they BOTH enjoy. Maybe go back to the place they first met, had their first date...etc. He is not going to enjoy his jump if he has a bunch of crap to do... The sign is going to bash him around... All in all, I'd say bad idea. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

When I started jumping 20 years ago, there were very few DZ's that had large turbine aircraft. Sure, the were the big DZ's like Perris, Zhills, DeLand...etc. Heck Zhills still had a DC3 as a fairly normal plane for boogies and it was just a regular jump ticket, not a 'specialty' plane. But now you can find a turbine in almost every state. Back then, boogies were big draws. It was the only way you were going to jump large aircraft. Now, your local DZ has a turbine and is going to 13k. Back then, the WFFC was a huge boogie... 4k jumpers. Now take that most people are closer to a big plane than they were, sprinkle in the cost and PITA of traveling to a big boogie and add a dash of local boogies and you get much less interest in large boogies. I think the days of 4k jumpers at a biggie are long gone and the only thing that will bring that back is a massively bad event that prevents most DZ's from having turbines. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

A 'billion' huh? 114,000 days of work........ And it still took 4.5 years. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

They are exactly toys. And I have several of those toys. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

1 gallon of apple juice 1 gallon of apple cider 1 1/2 cups of white sugar 2 1/2 cups brown sugar 8 cinnamon sticks 1 liter of 190 Proof Alcohol, Moonshine, Everclear or equivalent. This batch will make about 9 quarts. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The only person putting words into your mouth is you. 'I do say though that many of the mistakes that happened to the people were calling least common denominator would not happen to me. No matter how long its been since a jump, I won't suddenly forget how to do a stable arch, I won't be so confused by figuring out how to use a simple 2 button video camera that I forget gear checks, I won't get distracted filming something and loose track of where I am, I won't suddenly loose the ability to be altitude aware, or be unable to detect something is wrong if my altimeter reads 10,500 the entire jump' So again I ask.... What makes you so special that mistakes that have killed others that thought they too would not screw up somehow can't happen to you. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

This is the third time I have asked this.... You keep ignoring it. What makes you think you are so special that the things that have killed people better and more skilled than you can't kill you ? Seriously, you think a single person who died in an an accident thought the thing they did would kill them? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

It would depend on how it was written. The fact remains that s equipment that works as intended is killing more skydivers because of the jumpers performance.... Yet we see no rule from the BOD. Ironically, this is a situation where a BSR would be able to modify behavior and save lives. Then we have a situation that most likey involves a gear issue. So the BOD makes a change not to the gear, but tries to modify a behavior... Never mind that the behavior is no the issue. So. Why did the BOD not implement a rule change when a behavior modification would actually work. But then implement a behavior modification rule when it was not the issue? Issuing a behavior modification rule to the jumpers to fix a flaw in equipment. The higher main pull altitudes will not save a jumper who cuts away low or has an emergency exit... While fixing the gear issue might. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334