Ron

I have no idea.... I am just smart enough to know I have no idea what I am talking about here. But thanks... I'll see if I can figure it out...... I have no idea how I will do that either. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

To my knowledge it has not worked in 40+ years. Long story short, I thought it was lost till it was found in a box of stuff when my Dad died last year. Passed down. My brother and I are the end of the line. He has no children, my wife and I do not plan on having any. I am in contact with other lines and will most likely pass it to one of those lines when I die. Id prefer to not replace too much. It needs a crystal and I'd like it cleaned. If it comes down to needing all new parts, I just want it cleaned up with a new crystal. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Suit.... Jumpsuit is not appropriate. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I received this watch as an heirloom. From what I can tell it is from the Illinois Watch Company (says it on the face) and was made about 1884. It is in pretty bad shape and I'd like to get it fixed. On the back it has "Columbia", A serial number (403k), and "Springfield, ILL" The tri fold case case has what looks like "AM.WALTON CO. WALTMAN MASS." I know it is most likely not worth much.... Don't care, it was my great-great grandfathers (1834-1918) and I want it fixed. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Every dead person that cut away at ~300 feet all thought they had the time to get a reserve. You cannot trust 'time', you can kinda trust your eyes, and you can mostly trust an Alti. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

As a guy that didn't listen... Maybe YOU should tell us what might have worked with you. Eh, I used to get wrapped around the axle at all the Jr sky gods killing themselves..... I frankly lost my voice from trying to educate, was told to piss off by the USPA, and made so many enemies on here that I just gave up. I'd *prefer* the Jr jet fighter to listen to experience, the USPA to grow some balls, DZO's to care more about the person than the jump ticket.... But I have learned that is not going to happen. Now I just want the hot shots to hook in alone and not collide with and kill an innocent. And yes, I take my own advice... I wanted to buy a Pitts Special aerobatic plane. I had one group telling me to buy it and I would 'learn to fly it'. I had another group telling me to buy something else and put 100-150 hours on it and then buy the Pitts. I now have 25 hours in my Citabria. I don't want to hear the bull shit 'canopies are expensive' excuse.... I am most likely going to spend 10k+ dollars extra going this method. All the excuses are just that, crap. I really wish we could get the hot shots to understand that they may *think* they are better than average.... But that does not mean it is true. And I am at a loss how to make the hot shots understand that not everyone can be above average, make the USPA give a shit, and make the DZO's care more about the jumper, than the money.... But I don't know how and have been trying for so long that I am burnt out. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I'd ground them and sit them down and talk to them. I would let them downsize if they could prove that they can handle their current canopy. I'd use the PRO standards (landing 10 out of 10 times, standing, in a target area). They would only be allowed to do hop n pops. After proving they can handle their current canopy, they would be allowed to go down one size. If they didn't want to follow those rules, then they could abide by Brian Germains canopy loading recomendation. If they could not agree to those rules, they would not be allowed on the plane. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Listen to your instructors and don't go getting information off of the internet. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Enough to pay to put them back together if/when they screw up. I jumped for years without short term disability.... I had long term -Have both for years now. But I have never jumped without having basic health insurance. It is irresponsible to spend thousands of dollars playing every year and not have basic health insurance. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Lees are very good. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

This... Pretty much all I do when I am not team jumping these days. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFBZh9RETa8 "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I see it all the time - Jumpers that do not have insurance, but always manage to have new gear and go to lots of boogies. Then they get hurt and claim they could not have afforded insurance. Well... that is just crap. They made a choice to have new gear and go to boogies instead of having insurance. Skydiving is an expensive sport, it is also a risky sport. You should consider health care as part of the cost of being involved in the sport. My wife has/can sell insurance. When she needed insurance, she was able to find it. When people claim they can't afford insurance she has found them insurance for 200-300/mth. They don't actually get it, they prefer to make 8-10 more jumps a month or drink beer. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Totally false. You make choices and then love with them. If you want to drive a new car and take out a loan for it.... Well that 500/mth is going to your car and not jumping. You want to live in the 'cool' part of town and have a big house? Well that is money that is going to housing and not jumping. I had a good job and lived in the DZ trailer park. My rent was 125/mth. My friends lived in apartments and paid 600-900/mth. I drove a paid off car, my friends had a new car and a payment ~400/mth. So their cost of living was 900-1200/mth more (not including the higher cost of insurance...Etc). Jumps back then were 23/jump. So that's almost 40 jumps/mth. I could and did make. Yes it helps to make good money. But I just bought an aerobatic plane and I am not 'rich' by any means. I budget well, spend smart and pay cash for toys. If I can't afford it, I save up till Icahn afford it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

All of them. Now the LEVEL of pay is commensurate with the length of the training and the cost of the training to work in that field. And the final answer is all jobs pay what the perceived value is to the customer. We have a difficult situation when we have customers that want discounts (Groupon), but some want the people working to get paid as a professional. In the end, the market decides. If DZ #1 wants to pay their instructors 10 dollars a jump and they can't get good instructors and DZ #2 wants to pay 100 per jump and can't get enough customers... The answer is somewhere between the two.... And the market will self adjust. Me? I have a real life job that pays my bills so my AFF/Tandem/Coaching/tunnel coaching is just for fun. The money is nice, but I'd most likely do it for free (and have). "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Some people at the DZ were telling me that they have changed their policy a bit and now if it is over a year old that they are not like they used to be..... I heard the same thing about three weeks ago at a tunnel. All rumor, but it was the talk at the DZ/tunnel. I was shocked since they have always had exceptional service and that is most likely the only reason I remembered it. Can't really blame them with the global economy being as it is. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I think it is the Lake Wales 'Chalet' DZ that is operating out of backwater creek flight park right down 39. I was there the other day looking at a plane and saw the DZ flags. Someone asked about my ratings and offered me a job. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The person who rented you the rig would be at fault for not maintaining the gear. You would be at fault for not cutting away. Dause is at fault for not doing the maintenance. The pilot is at fault for making a mistake. The pilot made a mistake in heat of the moment (this is not an excuse, he still made a mistake). Dause made a CHOICE to not do the proper maintenance. And that choice set up a situation where the pilot screwed up. You can blame the pilot.... I do as well. But to ignore the lack of maintenance is nothing but being an apologist. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Ah, so the pilot was just going to crash on that flight anyway? Please, you can play semantics all you want. Dause didn't do the MX and that caused the engine to die. Yes, the pilot screwed up.... But the chain of events that started that crash was Dause's lack of maintenance. You can make excuses all you want.... It is clear that Dause has repeatedly failed to maintain his planes. As for your claim that the MX was not at fault .... Maybe you should read the transport Canada finding: 1. The general condition of the aircraft, the engine time before overhaul (TBO) over-run and the missed inspection items demonstrated inadequate maintenance that was not detected by regulatory oversight. 2. The TBO over-run and missed inspections resulted in excessive spline wear in the left engine-driven fuel pump going undetected. The left engine lost power due to mechanical failure of the engine fuel pump drive splines. 3. The horizontal engine instrument arrangement and the lack of recent emergency training made quick engine malfunction identification difficult. This resulted in the pilot shutting down the wrong engine, causing a dual-engine power loss and a forced landing. 4. Not using the restraint devices contributed to the seriousness of injuries to some passengers. So transport Canada does not agree with you I agree the failure to overhaul the engines and a mechanic's failure to properly inspect the left fuel pump caused the left engine to fail. Can you explain what maintenance issue caused the right engine to fail? Wait, let's see what the Transport Safety Board of Canada (not Transport Canada) says about it: I think the Board agrees with me. It was the pilot who caused the crash by creating a two-engine out situation. The failure of the second engine had nothing to do with maintenance. You can blame Dause for not overhauling the engines, but you can't blame him for a mechanic not properly inspecting the fuel pump. Dause did have the maintenance performed, it was done incorrectly. Like I said, you can make excuses all you want. Dause didn't do the MX on the plane. You keep making excuses... People without an agenda can clearly see the facts. You have a good day. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Ah, so the pilot was just going to crash on that flight anyway? Please, you can play semantics all you want. Dause didn't do the MX and that caused the engine to die. Yes, the pilot screwed up.... But the chain of events that started that crash was Dause's lack of maintenance. You can make excuses all you want.... It is clear that Dause has repeatedly failed to maintain his planes. As for your claim that the MX was not at fault .... Maybe you should read the transport Canada finding: 1. The general condition of the aircraft, the engine time before overhaul (TBO) over-run and the missed inspection items demonstrated inadequate maintenance that was not detected by regulatory oversight. 2. The TBO over-run and missed inspections resulted in excessive spline wear in the left engine-driven fuel pump going undetected. The left engine lost power due to mechanical failure of the engine fuel pump drive splines. 3. The horizontal engine instrument arrangement and the lack of recent emergency training made quick engine malfunction identification difficult. This resulted in the pilot shutting down the wrong engine, causing a dual-engine power loss and a forced landing. 4. Not using the restraint devices contributed to the seriousness of injuries to some passengers. So transport Canada does not agree with you "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The King Air crashed due to pilot error, the pilot shut down the good engine instead of the failed one. Can't friggin' blame that on maintenance. You can blame the engine dying on lack of MX ...but not the crash, King Airs fly pretty well on one engine, as long as the pilot doesn't shut it down. Without the lack of MX, the engine would not have died. If the engine had not if died, the plane would not have crashed. So to claim no plane has crashed due to the bad MX from Dause is false. You can try to play semantics all day. But Dause's lack of MX has caused a crash. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

One if his king airs went down and the direct cause was a maintenance issue. So while not technically THERE.... His planes HAVE gone down for MX issues before. The King Air crashed due to pilot error, the pilot shut down the good engine instead of the failed one. Can't friggin' blame that on maintenance. You can blame the engine dying on lack of MX "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The King air went down because of a Fuel Pump. That is a crash due to bad MX. http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2008/a08p0242/a08p0242.asp "the high-pressure, engine-driven fuel pump drive splines were worn and corroded beyond the point of failure " The FAA also said he flew a Twin Otter on more than 2,600 flights when critical parts were well past their life limits and without inspecting portions of the wings for corrosion. 2600 flights over the service life of the control cables? Running your fuel pump WAY past its service life? You may think that is fine, but it really is stupid as hell. Yes, because most people do the required MX on their planes and make people wear seatbelts! "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

One if his king airs went down and the direct cause was a maintenance issue. So while not technically THERE.... His planes HAVE gone down for MX issues before. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

"You have already gotten a well worded reply. The short version is:" "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You have already gotten a well worded reply. The short version is: Instructor: Teaches life saving stuff and has been taught and tested on his ability to physically manhandle the student to get him stable or open and save his life. Coach: Teaches non life saving skills to improve performance. Has to work under the supervision of an instructor. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334