Ron

1994. Couple of point 6 way out of a King Air in Sullivan Mo. I had one of my best friends Doug wolf (who had done his 1,000 right before), and 2 members of the US CRW team. After break off doug and I did a 2 stack and a downplane right over the DZ. A guy on the ground took pictures of the Downplane, and I still have it hanging up at my house. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

That is also the largest segment of our group that is killing themselves under a good canopy. I would go with the 1.3...but 1.5 is high in my opinion. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Last Sunday I did 8. This weekend the weather looks bad, so I am doing an hour in the tunnel this Sunday. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Heather saying someone looks young.... Ah anyone see the humor here? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

No names....good grief people...its a tool. One is in a gear bag in the closet, two are just in the closet. I need another main now though. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have a metal D ring for a few reasons...... 1. I like knowing I can grab it with out any problems...I have had a cut away pillow tuck under on 8way, and I had a mal and had to rmove my glove to get to the handle. True story....got video of me cutting away VERY low...like 600 feet. Thank god It was a bad spot, and I pulled higher than normal. Think about it...What would happen if you cut away, and your reserve handle is tucked???? Not good. 2. I like the idea of being able to pull the reserve with either hand....I know I can pull the D ring with my left or right hand. What happens if my left arm is hurt/broken on an exit or durring a jump...I don't want to land a sub 100 canopy...I'll go to my reserve...and if it is my left arm broken....I can pull with my right. My thoughts.....Nice metal handle for me. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Ray...Ray Dutch???? This does not sound like my cameraman Ray.... What have you done with him? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Does the little radio controled guy have enough experiance to fly this canopy???? Doesn't look like it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

So Dan is there anything that you canopies can't do? According to your Ad's (er I mean posts) They are better than everything in every way.. I bet they pack themselves too right? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well its an old debate...one that will not die untill S/L jumps are no longer done. S/L will eventually die out. There is not enough money to be made with it, and as "club" DZ's go away more AFF will be done. There is nothing wrong with S/L as a way to learn skydiving. A guy that was an AFF I once told me that because I went S/L I would never be as good as him because he went AFF to learn....What a load of crap that was. There is no differance after maybe 50 jumps. The one thing I can say in favor of AFF is instant feedback in freefall from jump one. (However in S/L you get the same thing on your later jumps). But in favor of S/L, I think that the time spent with the Instructors helps out alot. Most S/L students spend more time at the DZ than AFFers. They also are better at canopy control (Lets face it they do 5 jumps almost ALL canopy control). And it costs less so they can make more jumps and get used to leaving an Airplane. It is also easier to stay current in bad weather places....You are supposed to do a 30 second delay today, but the clouds are at 5 grand....Want to do a clear and pull? The AFFers are sitting on the ground. I saw a guy start S/L....His buddy wanted to learn, and wanted to be better than the first guy, so he went AFF. Yes, the AFF guy got off of "student status" first. But by 20 jumps they flew about the same. And the S/L guy had bought a rig. So after 6 mths. the S/L guy had a lot more jumps than his buddy. Nothing wrong with S/L.....just do the one you can afford, and DO IT. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Meeker is a very solid exit...I have fliped one 360 before. The key to every exit is to have the point go up, and not out. And to have the tail go down, and out equal to the point. The problem with a meeker is it is a round point, and it is hard for the tail to anchor using his knee. But the OC, and IC can reduce the rotation by having the IC blast out with his hips. The OC can really force his head down on exit. The point can just launch up, not out. And the tail can blast down and out. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Steel you have the right to voice your opinions... But so does everyone else. Slamming someone is low and not needed... And remember people say the same things about you.... Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The front should have their arms trying to "push" backwards And the rear should have his left knee due down. Both these movements will help prevent the piece from rotating. The rear pair needs to be down just a little more... But hell thats just nit picking. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Ok well it happened to me in 96. Back when they had two waivers to get a small Stiletto. My buddies all had small Bat wings, and told me to get a 97. I would be tired of a 120 in a few jumps they said. I didn't listen to them, and got a 120...and hooked that fucker into the ground on jump #3. The rumors were great... I was told that: 1. I had died. 2. I was in the hospital 3. I would never walk again. The funny thing was I was organizing at Quincy and a guy came up to a friend of mine and asked how I was doing, and that they had been told I was in the hospital. I was packing right there, and got to listen to my own story told by someone that was not there...It was kinda funny when I stood up and said... "Hi Pete". So it does happen....But to a larger extent it is the guy trying to fit in that buys what he thinks his buddies would approve of to look cool. I was told it by a good friend of mine that if you want to get on the good loads you have to look the part. He was correct in a way... Do this, show up at a DZ with an old big rig and a large Sabre. Get an old Jump suit, and a frap hat. Try to get on the cool loads...Unless you are known.. Good luck at a lot of DZ's. Now shop up, and with all the toys...And come swooping in under a "cool" canopy. Good loads just got easier... I have done this...Its true. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Maybe you should work on your landings Bob? Well the cool thing here is by the time you get 1000 jumps you can do whatever you want. But there would be some protection till then. And the largest segment of our sport getting killed under a good canopy have less than 500 jumps. And if you were good enough, you could go higher than the "Plan". Also what do you weigh? With a 143 you would have to be 200+ pounds to have a 1.5 wingload. So it would not affect you, only the people who are trying to jump something above their skill level. Why would you have a problem with that? I think regulation is a bad answer, but the other plans have not worked. USPA has pull atittudes...Why? Because a bunch of years ago people bounced do to low pulls. The put a rule in to save people from themselves....It is going to happen here with canopies. All I am saying is WE had better have a plan...or we will be made to use the one THEY come up with. The number of lowtime jumpers pounding in is proof that just education alone is not working. BTW nice diamond...My largest is 16. I was a rotation guy though. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well Josh...I DO think that USPA should endorse some sort of regulation... And I think they will....However I think it is better if the jumpers come up with it, not the HQ. If the USPA HQ does it, it will not be good. It will be heavy handed, and will limit personal choice to much. Under this "plan" you can fly whatever you want...as long as you can PROVE you can do it safely....If you can handle a tiny pocket rocket...you can jump it. It will encourage people to learn more. It will provide a guideline to follow. It will eliminate the peer pressure from the selection process. It will educate jumpers about canopy selection. I think it will reduce the number of accidents. Anyone not agree? The downside would be that you have to prove what you think you can do....And there would be more regulation. You could not just get any canopy you wanted anymore. A small reduction in personal freedom...(Remember you can still do what you want, but only after you have shown you can handle it). It uses a program already in place. I think it could be used in conjunction with another more generalized rule.... We could use Brian Germains plan of Wingloading for anyone. 100 Jumps = 1.1 200 1.2 300 1.3 400 1.4 500 1.5 This way you could progress at a pace that would be "normal" And if you wanted to exceed that "rule" you would have to prove your skills by the PRO program. Thoughts? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Skydive City Z-Hill's "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Brian Germain has a recomended wingload to jump chart... I quite like it. 1.X X equals the number of jumps you have. 100 = 1.1 200 = 1.2 300 = 1.3 and so on. However I think that it gets a little to much about 600 jumps. I do agree with a post Steel wrote (which I am not sure I want to happen again) I think that a performance test is the best way to decide if you should downsize....Bill Von I think says the same thing. He asks if you can do a series of manuvers with your canopy....A good idea. But I take it a step further.... I think before you should downsize you should be able to qualify for a PRO rating with the canopy you are now jumping. 10 declared standups in a 10 meter circle in a row. Miss one, and you must start over. I have done it with as small as an 88. My reasoning is simple...If you can't do it...Then you can't fly the canopy you have. You don't know how to fly that canopy, why downsize? It is also very easy to judge...Have an I or S&TA watch the guy land. If he can do it...Then he can downsize and not until. A guy can still go as small as he wants....just not until he can handle the size he has...It also would provide a better "Step Progression" that most people agree is needed. Thoughts? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

No harm...I really do wonder.... It seems in my experience that people realize that they might have made a bad choice AFTER them hammer in. I would just like to know if that is the case here. If so I would like to know if he is going to change his thinking. And If he is going to get a Canopy Nazi number...or not. I had a guy offer to buy me beer for the EMT work I did on him after a bad landing. Since he didn't have a job, or any insurance I said no thanks. He then bent my ear about how he felt he could handle the canopy he had....and how now he does not feel that way....I call it "Sudden Impact Thinking". I would like to know if this guy does the same 180. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Why do you feel ready to go to the extreame of canopies out there? Do you feel you have mastered all there is to do under the one you have now? Do you think you have nothing to learn on a reqular 120 before you go Xbraced? Just think about it....Broken legs suck for you. Death sucks for the ones that care about you. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Still don't see what your talking about Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

What personal shit? He wanted to hide..... He did say what I said he wrote. And he is proof that being a pilot does not make you ground proof.... I never said anything mean to or about him... I do wonder what he thinks now.... I do hope he gets better. I also hope he learns, and that someone else learns from him. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yeah I know about this guy....Spy38W He is a pilot, and he thinks that the USPA should not regulate canopy size like BPA, and a lot of other national groups. I wonder how he will feel when he is off the meds? I wonder if he will think the same way? I wonder why he wants to keep it quiet? I hope he comes on and talks about it...I promise not to call him names. I hope he feels better. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well this is how I see it... Yes it should be posted.... Even though it is the same old story...It might have a new twist...Hell maybe he lost a toggle, or was trying a rear riser landing, or swooping a gate....Most likley he just flat out screwed up, but I could be wrong. Yep, I think it should. If for no other reason than if he said at some point "I can handle it ...I'm special" Then hell yes if for no other reason than to show the other guy that thinks HE is special that he is not. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well until the gang at RWS tells me I can do it, I'm not going to do it. Once they say its OK, thats another story. Its like when a manufacturer just gives you a pocket slider to fix hard openings.......A band aid to a design, or construction problem. But still its just messing with the canopy....not the rig. But hey I'm not a rigger...what the hell do I know? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334