Ron

And all we have been saying is part of the proper tools are canopies/bikes that allow you to fuck up and not kill you for it. Accidents happen...almost ALL are due to not being prepared. So stack the odds in your favor, and not fly/ride somehting that when you make a mistake it does not hurt you. The same mistake on a .08 laoded Specter will do less damage than a 2.0 loaded Velocity. But this is the problem right here: "well, if you're going to be stupid, you'd better be tough." I'd rather people not have to die for having an ego. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Your opinion. I think an armed populace is safer than being a victum. Kennesaw, GA shows that pretty well. He claimed that England was safer based on the cops not wanting guns. Not very scientific either. My links showed that England is not the utopia he claimed. Funny thing is this thread was about LEO's shooting someone...Seemed someone thought they should have guns. I showed VIOLENT crime that happend in your "Police don't have the need to carry guns utopia." Of course don't let rape, murder, or people carring illegally bother you and your knowledge. England is far from utopia. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

1st off..HAHAHAHAH Ok now thats done guess what? I have 3600 jumps and I still work on my center point turns. Thats life. So: Relax. This stuff is not hard, but its not easy either. It takes practice. You have 54 jumps in 2 years...Thats about an hour of practice total, and only 30 min a year...Guess what? How many other activities are you good at with an hours worth of practice? I'd bet not many. HOW are you lifting a shoulder? If you are lifting a shoulder and paddeling the fore arm down maybe its ok. If you are just lifting a shoulder...Maybe not so much. Its not easy to coach via the internet, but I'll throw this out and see if it sticks: The key to a center point turn is to defect the same amount of air with both the upper and lower body...Sounds simple right? WRONG. The first problem is as humans we are not used to moving around on our bellies. So to do a center point turn out head actually arcs in a circle with a diameter of about 3 feet. It takes practice to get used to this, its a weird sight and contrary to what you are used to as a biped. Work on a creeper to get used to the target moving away and back to you as it "looks". While on the subject of "seeing". Yes, look at the target...But not so much that you bend your spine. It is a very advanced technique to bend your spine. Imagine a rod down the center of your spine...It will allow you to arch, but NOT bend left or right. Only look until you are about to bend, then stop and trust the move. If you bend your spine you will not have a base to learn what input does what...With time you can start to bend it to speed it up...but think how hard it would be to fly a plane if you could also bend the plane's fusealage. The best way to start turning is by using your arms. Hold both up so they are BOTH at 45 degrees with your hands almost touching and your elbows down. It should look like this (/\) When you want to turn you move one 180 degrees to look like this (//). Imagine yet another rod in the middle of your forearm so that it rotates on that rod...The hand goes down and the elbow goes up. Don't deflect past 45 degrees...You will spill more air than you deflect and actually REDUCE your power. Now, which way are you drifting? Its pretty normal to drift out if you bend your spine. As you bend you defect air and it pushes you out...Happens a lot more on the send half...Or you could turn and see the target so far away and the second half could be rotating around your head for the second half...I can't tell which or maybe both without video, or me seeing it. Left right drift is caused by inputs not being equal...Or at the same time. So the basics: 1. Relax 2. Get used to the sight picture. 3. Don't bend your spine. 4. Start with arms they are easier. 5. Don't deflect more than 45 degrees. Just so ya don't think I am full of crap (Which I STILL might be) here is a video of our round two last meet. I'm in blue. http://4way.us/NSL/FSL05M4Rd2ZHills.wmv "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Oh yeah, England is safe. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4668245.stm Do I need to keep going? Some "safe" place "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well it only takes a few to be a pain in the ass. The problem is that while only 5% think more attacks are justified...The remaining 95% don't turn them in. THATS the problem. There is always gonna be a wacko that wants to be an ass. The problem is the 95% that protect them. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Sure he could...Show him a place where criminals don't have them. But don't take his away while criminals have them. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You mean like the folks on here that claim "I did it, but don't you try it?" Hooknswoop "I didn't write the article. It's not a perfect parallel, but addresses some of the same issues new canopy pilots face. (My first bike was a 600 too) " outlawphx " went out and bought a brand new '95 YZF-600 after getting my motorcycle license, and I managed to put 10k miles on it with no lay downs. 600cc bikes now days have about 15 more horsepower and weigh 50 pounds less. I think that makes them a little sketchier as first bikes." goose491 "Having said that, I bought my first motorcycle this year. It is a Suzuki Katana 600" of course he goes on to explain WHY it was ok for HIM "This is actually spoken of as a good starter-bike. It is classified as sport-touring. It is heavy, low to the ground and has a longer wheel base which makes the above-example a little harder to find yourself in." When are people going to realize that they are NOT "gods"? There is a reason why people recomend to people who don't know anything to take it slow on a slow bike/canopy....In fact I would rather see someone fly/ride the shit out of a slower bike/canopy than take it slow on a high power ride. One you are pushing it, but the level is low, the other you are trying to take a HP bike/canopy and ride it like its a Yugo....It will bite you. Maybe thats just what you hear when they talk? Do you think I don't want people to learn, or do you think I want people to learn in a safe way? Yes and when the pilot is in way over their head they tend to die more than people who listen and take advice. Since he didn't die...You would be wise to listen to him. He was not a "I know what I am doing" kind of guy. He took MEASURED steps. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Really? Or are you using dramtic license? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

OK who did Laura Bush kill? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

On why they might not have stopped: As for what I think about the whole thing: ***Depends on the situation. If it is as the article wrote...then its wrong. I don't blindly defend our troops. I DO give them the benefit of the doubt. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1749276#1749276 "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You had better bring your BF "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

What if you have a gun and the person NEXT to you is in danger of getting killed. Lets say the guy is building a hospital, and you have to stand guard and protect him from some nutbag that wants him to stop? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Are they an item? That would explain the rant. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

If you didn't care, why bother responding to me? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

And youhave yet to provide ONE little bit of proof to back your claims. Like I said call your Congressman if you have proof. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Ah he said that Contractors were cowards. No *If* in there. And Later he tried to get all PC by saying *If*....But he did not start that way. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

All you have added was "Blame Bush" "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The ROE is mostly based on THREAT. If you are in Sunny Florida you might have a "return fire only to defend and break contact ond run like hell." Other places (Like Falujiah or Detroit ) you might have return fire and attack. Could be: 1. They were jackasses. 2. They had a mission to go from point "A" to "B" wth "X". 3. They were told to not stop since a nice big convoy is a GREAT target. Some default to #1....WAY to often while daming anyone that thinks otherwise. I tend to go with #3 to be honest. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Do me a favor...Don't pretend to think I follow your orders. And how some seem to not care when others do it TO US troops. Ya know I asked you to find ONE statement about me defending the Troops that did this...But you can't so you start this shit. You made a statement, now back it up or apologize for speaking out of your ass. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

It varies depending on where you are. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

What the hell do you mean ignore? He posted at :Jul 25, 2005, 11:30 AM I replied at: Jul 25, 2005, 11:38 AM Oh god forbid I took 8 min.... "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Uh, the same thing could be said of almost any country, religion, race....Darfur bring up any stories? 9/11? Saddam? Suicide bombers killing people in London? Who said I don't think the troops were stupid? FIND ONE POST WHERE I HAVE DEFENDED THEM...Go ahead look. I have been very consistant on punishing people who do bad thinsg no matter who they are. However, Darius and you seem to jump all over the US by default. I tend to give our troops the benefit of the doubt. Go ahead find where I have defended them and said they have done nothing wrong....Go ahead....I'll wait. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You think that US contractors are PLANNING on killing innocent people? Or US soldiers? There is a BIG difference between taking a job where you might have to kill someone, and being a hitman. I guess you think all Police are scum as well then...They might have to kill. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Wow. You don;t know him, but you think he is scum....I have to admit, I am shocked. So much for getting to know the person. Depends on the situation. If it is as the artical wrote...then its wrong. I don't blindly defend our troops. I DO give them the benefit of the doubt. It seems your default is to damn them. However, I was trained by the US Army as an Infantryman...So I know a little more than you about ROE...But that has never stopped you from claiming things you don't know. There are cases where you hit and run, or take fire, return fire and break contact as fast as possible. No, but its important to know who you assume to be a coward, and who you assume to be scum. Funny thing is that you seem to defend the terrorists at every turn while you attack our troops at every chance....Good to know that about you. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I guess I'd have to wouldn't I? BTW we have our very own Contractor on these boards...Clay AKA freeflir29. Is he a coward and scum? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334