Ron

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Everything posted by Ron

  1. You are more than welcome to have whatever opinion you have. But when you think you are better quailfied to make choices than people who have MUCH more EXP than you...well thats a lot of ego there.... If I were going to fly Camera...I'd listen to Quade...If I am gonna freefly, I'll go talk to Colon, or Pip..In fact my 2,800 jump ass just spent some time talkin to Pip on how not to kill myself, or anyone else doing freefly. This included him looking at my gear to see if it was freefly friendly...Now at 2,800 jumps I can do a gear check, and how some basic skills down...But I STILL listen to people with more jumps/skills/knowledge than me. Some don't. At 250 jumps...yep, I don't think you know enough about the sport to decide everything for yourself....When do we stop.. Some guy shows up at the DZ: Hey man I did a static line in the Army 7 years ago...I don't need instruction or regulations...I was AIRBORNE..Just give me a rig and let me freefall. Hell I can PLF already! He thinks he knows enough as well (BTW this has happend to me)... So where is the line drawn? Druggies think that they have it under control..Drunk Drivers think they are fine to drive. Like it or not it is the good of the GROUP...not the individual that is important. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  2. why do you think that there are pull altitudes? Answer...Too many people bounced. Do you think you should be allowed to pull at any altitude that you want? Hell if you bounce, you only affect you, oh and the ...DZO...The pilot...Your family...your friends...you make it hard if not impossible for skydivers to get life insurance.... Except for the fact that we already do this in several other areas...500 jumps to get a Tandem rating...6 hrs of freefall for AFF, 100 for a coach ticket...20 Ram air jumps for first CRW. I know plenty of people who could have passed AFF with less than 6 hrs...But they still needed it for the course. All this will do is to make them SAFER...And by doing so lessen the danger to themselves, and every other jumper in the air with them. Oh I agree that you should never "pencil whip" anything...But now you want the USPA to come up with another new program, that has to be run....And new materials....And new teachers...and people have to want that rating...With new certification standards. Can I at a 1.7 certify you at a 1.9 wingload? How about the guy with a PRO rating that has never even jumped a 9 cell? The curretn coach system really does not cover canopy control....And if it did, are you saying that a guy with 100 jumps under a 1.2 can tell me (A non coach rated person) if I can jump at a 1.8? And this is where you don't get it...When a guy bounces...more than him is affected. The FAA...local goverment ect start looking at the sport...Several people have tried to ban skydiving at certain Airports...hell even whole states. So this is where you miss it...It IS the duty of an organization that is supposed to represent skydivers to "BTFI" Othrewise we would still have no min pull altitudes. If you feel that way, please don't ever jump with me...Or anyone I care about..Or anywhere near me. You have (according to your profile) under 500 jumps...Of course you don't like this...But this is a prime example of why it is needed...for the good of the sport, not just for YOUR good. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  3. Your Mama is so ugly...That her Mama tied a steak to her to try to get the dog to eat her. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  4. Agreed, but are you just going to sit on the ground and watch them from the air? Or do you need to be under canopy next to them? Are you just going to trust them that they did the requirements? Is the USPA going to make a canopy control course? How are you going to get the Instructors rating? Is it like AFF where you have to go take a week off of work and have a ground, and air skills test? Is it a written test? Can a guy (S&TA, or I) with just a 1.5 "rating" certify someone to go to a 1.8? Too many questions....USPA will not touch this... Or, Jump # to wingload system: 100 jumps, 1.1 200 jumps, 1.2 300 jumps, 1.3 400 jumps, 1.4 500 jumps, 1.5 >500 Jumps, Unlimited. Hell the 500 jumps would even go with the new "D" license. Simple, easy, it will reduce the fatalities, and its easy to type. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  5. The problem there is what do we use as an easy guide to decide a STANDARDIZED "test"? (Make the person qualify for a PRO before they downsize?) And who can give that test? how do we keep from someone "pencil whipping" it to let their buddy jump a pocket rocket... Jump #'s while not being the best choice on how to regulate....It's easy. We have pull Altitudes based on jump #'s....We don't have a "Skill set" you have to do, or "test" that lets you go from one pull altitude to another. The goal is to let people get experience before they make choices on how small to go..To limit them (For their own good) until they have enough knowledge to make an informed choice. It also eliminates the peer preasure to go smaller. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  6. The only problem with it being waiverable is...well EVERY 200 jump wonder I know thinks he is above average in skills. I did. I also bet that out of EVERY skydiver that dies...They ALL thought that they would not. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  7. Your Mama is so ugly...that if Bricks were made of ugly...She'd have her own projects. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  8. I would as well. However it just does not seem to happen. I would really prefer that equipment makers, Instructors, S&TA's, DZO's, up jumpers's...ect don't let kids with 300 jumps get a 1.8 loaded anything...However, it just has not happend yet. Regulation seems to be the only choice for a problem that WE let become a problem. When I tell some 200 jump wonder that he should not have a 90 Velocity...He tells me that I am old (I'm 30) and I am just upset because I could not handle it (I have several jumps on a 69, about 50ish on an 88, 150ish on a 96, and almost 2,000 on a 107.) But someone else tells him he will be OK if they pay them to attend his "canopy Control class". Well if I were a 200 jump kid...I would tell the "old guy" to shove it, and do what I want. So maybe regulation is the only choice left. It will not limit personal freedoms...just delay them...Get the # of jumps you need to jump that Velocity 90, and you can jump it all day. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  9. Pick an out early...Don't get what pilots call "Get homeitis" That is to say if you are not sure you can make it back to the DZ, but there is a big ass field right below you....Don't risk it...Take the big ass field. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  10. The only problem I see with the Dutch system is that it needs to be looked at every time a new canopy comes out. To be honest I don't see THAT big of a differance between a Stiletto 107 and a Sabre 107. Yes I know that there are plenty of differences, but it is the wingload that seems to be the biggest problem...not so much TYPE of canopy. I just jumped a Specter 107 this weekend.....To be honest I was surprized at how much altitude it lost in a toggle turn, and I did a prety good pond swoop with it. I think size, not type is the big issue. And if it takes alot of work to maintain the system...USPA will not even look at it. Also, if the need to add TYPE of canopies does exist, it can always be added later....Taking it out would be much harder than adding. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  11. And here is how it starts....WE as responsable skydivers need to develop a plan that can be presented to the USPA. If we wait for the USPA or God forbid the FAA. to take a look at this...It will be ugly. So how about a BSR for wingloading that follows Brian Germains plan up to 500 jumps? (I think it should personally go higher. I think that this will move the fatalities from 200-500 jumps and move them to the 500-1000 range, but I am ok with that). So thoughts? I am thinking that the people who have what they have now could be grandfathered in. For those people who still want to jump over the stated wingload, there are non-USPA DZ's around still. They can go there. I have my flame proof Superman underware on, so flame away.....I would like you to state jump # and canopy type/wingload with your replys I am willing to bet that the lions share of people who are gonna flame me will fit into the under 500 jump class. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  12. Well we will let him visit, but he can't go to Denny's with the rest of us. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  13. Damn dude move to FL....I did 31 jumps last weekend "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  14. One does not have to preclude the other. I can swoop a Stiletto 150, a Velocity 90, or a Spector 120. Just as I can die under any of these canopies. The problem is that as wingload increases so does the risk factor. I am all for a guy jumping a tiny little canopy...If he has shown the skills to handle it. I would like to see a base line established....I like Brian Germains Jump # to wingload chart: 100 jumps 1.1 max wingload 200 jumps 1.2 max 300 jumps 1.3 max... This would allow people to continue to get smaller canopies, but would limit situations just like this one that started this thread. You want a 1.8 loaded canopy?...no problem, just wait till you have 800 jumps. No matter what some people might think, lower wingloads are safer. This would prevent 100 jump wonders from killing themselves before they realize the dangers are real..and can affect them. I understand that with training a faster progression COULD happen....but I don't care. Experience is a much larger part of the learning process than just knowledge. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  15. Some do learn....Others must be forced to comply. Regulations are comming. People will be pissed off. But the ones the most pissed off are most likley the ones that will benefit the most from the regulations. Ron PS. I didn't see the splashes.... "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  16. Imagine the damage if it had been a high wingloaded canopy? Students/New jumpers should not be allowed to jump what ever they want. We don't let people deloy at any altitude they want. We have rules to try and keep people from opening at any altitude they want. Why? Becasue it was decided that low pulls were killing too many people. Now its high wingloads and "hot" canopies. Other organizations have regulations about canopy size....Its about time WE start looking at it. When the USPA or FAA does finally step in it will be with a heavy hand. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  17. Maybe you should write it up and post it here... And if we could get everyone to write up the "oh shit, did I F'up stories" And we could get these hotshots to read them....Maybe they will see that they are no different than the rest of us that have screwed up. Thats the problem...I have seen "hotshots" watch someone hit hard, and say "what an idiot!" I ask them if they think that will ever happen to them...They say "No, that guy was stupid, and didn't know what he was doing. I'm not gonna screw up like that!"....I have seen WAY to many of them hit just like that...The real hard headed ones start blaming traffic, turbulance, wind shear, canopy...ect. Basicly it was never THEM who screwed up.... Oh well. They will learn, or they will die. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  18. The plan on a military combat jump is 500 feet. On practice mass tacs the altitude was planned to be 800 feet. This was for the lead plane....each additional plane was I think 50 feet higher. Some were given a reserve if they wanted one, but they were not saftey pinned on to you like on a practice mass tac. Funny story (well sort of funny). A guy sitting in a C130 right before the jump into Panama gets shot (not bad) through the plane on jump run. He starts to say "I'm Hit!, I'm Hit!" The Jump master heard "I quit!, I quit!" And was about to throw his ass out the plane for being a coward....Then somone saw the blood. Oh well... And as for why they are not square....Well you only have to make a jump every 3 mths to be current in the Army. I was in for 3 years in the 82d, and only made 34 military jumps. And I jumped a lot more than I was needed to. 34 jumps /3 years... 11 jumps a year. Not nearly enough to be safe with a steerable canopy with 500 other steerable canopies in a small space. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  19. Ron

    Cobalt Canopies

    Well learn this...Almost never pay in full up front. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  20. I don't agrre with this....SOME may, but there are A LOT of small DZ's that don't have swoop knowledge....Although I will grant you that the big ego + little exp + small canopy thing probley happens more at a larger more progressive DZ. I like the 100 jumps 1.1, 200 1.2 thing VERY much...In fact I wish USPA would adopt it. You can always get a small cool canopy later if you live jumping the one you have now! Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  21. >I would like to see the DZO's enforcing there own >regulations before it comes to FAA regulations. Me too, but it seems like people scream bloody murder when DZO's actually do that (aka Kansas.) I guess you can put me in the "bloddy murder' catagory on that one. I am all for DZO's enforcing regulations, IF they are reasonable. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  22. This kind of thing is going to continue to happen until: A. We as skydivers stop letting newbies get in over their heads. Bytch is right about not letting this guy have one, but there are many out there that will sell him one in a second. B. USPA says enough, and puts down a BSR that limits wingloads based on experence. C. FAA steps in and REALLY screws things up. These things are comming. Too many people died under perfect canopies for the last few years...The answer is #1....The others will get forced on us. While I think education not requlation is the answer....Regulation SHOULD happen until the newbies know enough to know they don't know enough. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  23. And where is this not a copy? He designed one, then designed another with almost the exact same design. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  24. The Mirage is a great copy of the Vector. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  25. People who lack in personality need an organization to supplement it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334