Ron

Not really. Once you have the normal skydiving stuff mastered, the go pro is a snap. And that highlights the issue with low timers doing added stuff.... They are so task overloaded with basic tasks that a new task that is easy for someone with lots of experience in the basic skills becomes difficult for a person with less experience. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Not a PC, it is a ripcord. 1. Student took to many tries.... Twice and then reserve. 2. Student didn't look like he grabbed a reserve handle. 1. The *AFFI* dumped him out. 2. He used the MAIN side ripcord. It is not his job, but it is hard to fault success in this case. I pulled for people long before I had a rating.... But that does not mean it is a good practice or should be. If the jumper DID have his hand on the reserve and pulled it while the coach pulled the main and they both entangled and the student died.... Would that have been an ok outcome? There is no "much needed changes to the rating". You want to be allowed to pull for a student? We have a rating for that, it is called AFF. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I plan on ditching the whole rig if I land in the water.... So, I don't see the weights as part fo the rig being that big of a deal. In fact, it is one less piece of kit to ditch in the event of an emergency. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Pull at whatever altitude makes you comfortable. 61 jumps over 3 years is not, IMO, "current". Stay within your comfort zone no matter what outside pressure you get. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Bravo!!! Chris was a cool dude before his accident and is now an inspiration as well. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well, we will just have to disagree..... You might remember the thread from the Tunnel forum where a guy stated "Well I guess that's why folks with a couple hundred jumps, no ratings, and 1000's of tunnel hours were on the last HD World Record. Because they lacked the skydiving skills." Fact is that I do know people who incorrectly think that tunnel skills = skydiving skills. You may not, so we will just have to disagree. But the fact that this posts exists says there is at least one other person who does not agree with you. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I see his point and kinda agree. See you are smart enough to know that when you say it is a "supplement to skydiving skills" that you know we are only talking about freefall skills. BUT, there is a lot of people out there that think that it is a supplement to ALL aspects of skydiving skills. So that kinda makes his point more important. 100 hours of tunnel is not going to help you one bit with a malfunction, landing pattern, or altitude awareness. And I have seen fliers MUCH better than me screw up and get broken and in at least one case die. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Tunnel is no replacement for skydiving for skydiving related activities. Yes, flying in the tunnel will greatly help your skills in the Air. But I have more than enough stories of fantastic tunnel fliers getting hurt while skydiving. So, I don't think tunnel should EVER replace skydiving requirements. Now, that being said, tunnel can sure as hell supplement skydiving skills. I spent ~20 mins with Paul Rafferty in the Bragg tunnel working on stopping spins and rollovers years ago. Now that did not replace my doing them in the air, but you wanna bet that it sure as hell made the air work easier? I hope the USPA never allows tunnel to replace skydiving skills..... But I would encourage either the tunnels to create a tunnel version of the USPA, or even the USPA to create some sort of tunnel program. I see this a lot like taking AFF students to the tunnel... When we started doing that people thought we were crazy. Yet, I have taught AFF to students that were flying in the 'mantis' due to their tunnel time. Frankly, it works. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Then if the other canopy appears normal and there is no way for the TI to be able to identify a problem there is ZERO way for the other canopies to know there is a craft under distress. The "See and avoid" comes into play. The simple fact is that the less maneuverable craft should have the right of way..... Yes, parachutes are not covered in the FAR's but there is ZERO reason to not follow an already established procedure and make something else up. We can play word games all day but a tandem is less maneuverable than a solo and we might as well teach students the same lessons we want them to follow once off student status. So it makes zero sense to give a student right of way over a tandem and then flip that rule at some point in the future. And only an idiot (TI or otherwise) would just assume that a student (or anyone else) will give way and just ignore the potential collision. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

A craft in distress is normally less maneuverable. The TI's observational abilities aside, the less maneuverable craft (the one with the mal) would still have the right of way. Hence my "see and avoid" comment. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Try running the engine off of the bottle... You might have a pick up issue in the tank. Also do you have a pressure feed line going from the muffler to the tank? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

It is called learning to fly a "stack" (not the CRW). If you see yourself on the same level as someone else, you need to take action to provide separation from the other person. This can mean: * landing somewhere else * losing altitude * slowing your descent to let them land first. What to do when depends on too many factors that change each jump. But if you find yourself on the same level as a tandem and your spot is good, spiral down a bit to get separation. If THEY are spiraling down, then hold a little brakes and let them get away. But there is no one answer, you might have to hold brakes for the guy below you to get down a bit, but not so much as to get into the way of the guy above you. Landing is a dynamic activity and there is no cookie cutter approach. As for Tandems having the right of way.... The LESS maneuverable craft ALWAYS has the right of way no matter the skill of the pilot. If Mike Mullins 25k+ hours helicopter/commercial pilot/ DZ owner is flying a balloon and I am flying a Cessna 150.... I yield to him... Period. That does not mean that a smart pilot does not also try to see and avoid, but the rules are the rules simply because they make the most sense. As a TI, I try to avoid the students since I can. But a student should know that they are supposed to avoid the tandems as well. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

No need to pop the plug, just roll the airplane and engine so the muffler is down and slowly rotate the prop till the piston is down and the extra fuel will run right out the exhaust port and out the muffler. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Thanks, but that was years ago. I have not really flown a heli since 2009. Oh and Tuna... It seems you might be in Zhill's? If so, I can easily help you. I was just there this weekend. And if I can't help (since I dont live there anymore) I still have friends that will gladly help you. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The GS40 is ringed. So, just do like Kallend said and run it a bit richer than normal and over about a gallon of fuel bring it closer to peak. By the end of the second gallon you should be done. If you want to make sure it is ringed, just look into the exhaust port and you will be able to see the piston and piston ring. BTW, John knows what he is talking about in RC.... Associate VP of the AMA and he wrote the first flight sim software. I have only destroyed one engine, a .50 heli motor that blew a hole through the top of the engine..... I just replaced the piston, ring and sleeve and it ran several more years. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I used to fly a bunch, still fly a little bit. Here is the only video I have of me flying http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcAZ8JMUVS4&feature=youtube_gdata_player As for your engine, what size? If it has never been run and is an ABC engine (al, brass, chrome) then you will need to let it heat up and cool down to get it broken in correctly. So, get it started and run it up to full power. Start to lean it out till the rpm peaks and starts dropping off. Then turn it back past peak back toward the rich side a good full turn. I let mine run at full power about a min, and then drop it back down to idle for about 2 mins. I keep going from full to idle to half to full for about one tank. Let it spend some time at full to let it warm up and then let it idle about twice as long. Slowly taper from that to 50/50 and then keep doing that till you are running at full for say 5 mins and idle for only 30 seconds. Then if it is for a plane, I pretty much just start flying, but run it about 3/4 turn richer than I normally would for about a gallon and then start slowly leaning it to my normal peak which is about 1/4 rich off peak. Helis, I run it about 1/2 turn richer than normal and do a bunch of auto rotations checking the engine temp after each landing. I do this for about a gallon of fuel and then peak tune it and start flying. Heli engines do not normally fly in the middle rpm band, so mid range is not that important. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You could just go to Clewiston where H and I jump and I hangar my plane "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

No issue, I'd love to actually have this discussion. OK, then maybe we should leave the camera issue as a separate topic? IMO, sort of..... Let me explain. I used to think that the idea of a person with 100 jumps having a coach rating was silly. Of course, I got my SL JM rating at 100 jumps and thought that was fine and I'd bet that someone else thought it was silly. What changed was that I had a very experienced Instructor that I still use as a sounding board explain to me that the coach rating is a START, not an end. And that these new coaches are supposed to be supervised and given only students the supervising instructor thinks they can handle. You don't have your ratings listed, but I'll just assume you have an AFFI and TI. So you, me and a guy that JUST got his AFF rating are standing on the DZ and this super tiny L4 student walks in. You weigh 220#'s (A guess), I weigh 160#'s and the new guy weighs 120# with a packet of ticktacs in his pocket. Well, the new guy JUST got his rating, has never done a real L4 and this student has a KNOWN spinning problem. Who should take the student? Only a fool would give the spinney L4 to the new guy. The same thing should happen with the coach rating. If you just landed with a perfect L7 student and you and I are both needed on a L3... Why can't a heads up coach take the coach student up? Yes, I know that this does not always happen... I know and have seen coach jumps that went to crap that I knew were going to go to crap even before the pair got on the plane. BUT, this is a case of the leaders at the DZ letting a program run like crap... Not the program being crap. That is an issue with the coach program.... But would it be any better to have a guy with a camera that can't cock their own PC? Yes, but again that is an issue with the DZ, not the program. A great idea. And then you will have people trying to video that have never passed ANY qualification program and might not know how to cock a PC..... Bad idea. But what we have now is: 1. A coach program where the person has met a minimum set of defined skills, has made 100 jumps, and is under supervision in a defined training program which decides what jumps they are allowed to perform. vs. 2. A guy with 200 jumps that has taken no instruction, has no proven skill sets, that can video pretty much whatever he wants without supervision. I'll take #1 any and every day. Now understand, if you wanted to create a "video course" where you teach young jumpers how to rig a helmet and then test them on the technical aspects of flying a camera... AND you were going to monitor them and decide which jumps they could and could not film... I'd have no problem with a guy with 100 jumps that has taken the class and is under supervision flying a camera. At 200+ jumps, they can do exactly that. The fact is that given the two situations given above, one has a program with proven skill sets that is under the supervision of an Instructor within a training program... the other is a guy strapping on a camera with no instruction, no one watching him, and no limits to what he can film. Personally, I think the coach requirements are too low. But I also think that jumping a camera should require a class. I don't think a single person would agree that a guy with 105 jumps and a still ink wet coach rating can teach as well as a guy with thousands of jumps and a worn out rating card. But the coach rating is a START. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Uh, you ignored how a coach is under supervision of an Instructor, how he is in a structured training program and how he has limits on what he can and cannot do. The same cannot be said of a guy with a gopro It is OK that you disagree, but you could at least discuss the topic YOU started or have the decency to not reply if you are going to ignore the majority of the response given. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You just ignored 90% of my post "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I see no issue with 100 jumps to be a coach or requiring 200 to jump a camera. This accident had nothing to do with either. A coach will (should) be working under an instructor. You can't say the same for some guy that buys a gopro. A coach will be working inside a structured program... You can't say the same for the guy with a gopro. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

OH, I am sure the Dr explained it correctly and he just is throwing a pity party and exaggerating... "I'm the only single person under the age of 50 in a complex of 250 units." "I'm presented with a no win situation." "I can't and [SIC] the thought of being a drug addict....." "living with a shit eating drug induced grin on my face" "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I wish it was required. I'd be willing to bet that it would save a few lives. They could do a hop-n-pop at say 4, cutaway and deploy the main by say 2-3. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Once again, you ignored everything I said. Take the pills or quit whining about your life. All you do is cry about it and come on here and ask advice then ignore the advice given to you. 1. Take the pills or 2. Take control of your life in the smallest possible way. To everyone else..... He clearly does not care about any advice given even after he asks. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Taking a drug that is needed is not an "addict". Dumest reason ever..... I am a diabetic and I went through EXACTLY the same feelings.... Ya know what? Suck it up and take the damn pills. They might work and be the bump you need to unfuck your life. They might not work and then the worst thing is they didn't work. 2nd thing..... Your life does not suck as bad as you think it sucks. I have had three friends die this year to heart disease (two under 40, one 56). THEIR families are sucking right now. I have another friend who was working with me to get her out of debt, she just totaled her car. Even with that setback she considers herself lucky. Your attitude in life is YOUR responsibility. The story of the two twins at the beach comes to mind: Two twins are at the beach playing in the water. A big waves comes in and tosses both of them around. One twin starts crying and runs out of the surf, the other laughs and runs back in. Two nearly identical people, identical situation. One is happy and having fun, the other is crying. Which twin are you now, and which twin would you rather be? 3rd.... Depression is a real issue. It is not weak to get help. It is a medical condition and should be treated medically. BUT, you can also build up your mental strength to help fight it. Years ago I felt depressed. I asked myself one simple question. "What thing that I can control will make me happy?" Notice, 'that I can control'... you can't control others actions or feelings so "I want a girlfriend" does not work. Also, objects do not really work.... Focus on experiences. So ask yourself what experience would make you happy and as soon as you give yourself that answer make a positive step in that direction that SECOND. Want to learn how to cook? Sign up for an extension class. Want to learn how to fly? Go take a discovery flight. Want to learn to SCUBA dive? What the hell is stopping you? Want to get out of debt? DO it. Once you go through a few of these you will find that you are a hell of a lot more competent than you feel. And your confidence will increase. Stop being a rider in your life and take it for a drive instead.... You may not go exactly where you wanted, but I bet you will enjoy the ride. So, what EXPERIENCE do you want? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334