Ron

It is not an efficient way to land a canopy. I can be a good way to kill fwd speed, but that is only because it is distorting the canopy and destroying the lift. I have done it when I was going to over swoop my landing area. Think of it this way: 1. How many pro swoopers do you see land that way? 2. How many aircraft land that way? Normally when you see a guy doing that he is either goofing off, or trying like hell to slow down his canopy. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have a bunch of cool stuff on VHS. I'd like to move this to electronic media. I can use a computer, but I am no wiz. I am planning on maybe buying a Sony cx110. Can I use that to transfer this stuff? Like plug a VCR into it and record in digital? If so, how? If not, what else would you folks suggest? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have video somewhere of a 250 or 300 foot jump from a Cessna.... "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Several. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You just skipped over everything you didn't want to read. Here it is again: Instead, I sat her down and talked to her to find out why she was stressed... She was stressed out over the thought of doing turns AND only having one guy there. So, instead of making her do another L4 dive plan, and maybe SEVERAL more... I took her up to do a modified L3/4 with a single JM. I told her the goal of this jump was to just hold a heading, relax, and enjoy the jump. If she WANTED to turn she should feel free, but she didn't have to even try. I listened to the things that were causing her stress (single JM, having to turn) and removed one of the stressors. I REMOVED a stressor (OK, hid it but easier to do an a L3/4 than a WS) you just kept on going. To compare the two, to follow your plan, I would have had to just wing a tic-tac at her and signed her off for a L5. You got upset that I didn't agree with you and you got all snarky and defensive ..... It is clear you have ZERO interest in any type of discussion. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You have seen my Facebook.... And all the toys I have bought. Of course I know Storrie... I am also personal friends of Bob Pope!!! "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Could you tell me who that is????? I know several WS instructors and honestly have no idea who even jumps what or who is affiliated with whom. I have known Tony "Uragonnagolow" for years but don't jump a Tony Suit. I think Chuck Blue might have tried to ruin my life at one point. Scotty "limp allong" Burns is the guy that tried to kill me by pretty much forcing me to jump a WS.... But I can honestly say I don't know who your are referring to.... Seriously. Edit to add... I also know John Storrie. But again I have no idea what affiliation he is. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

None unless you make a deal out of it..... Oh, you just did. Bring on the pain!!!!!! "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have answered that before, but for the sake of moving forward I will answer again... Maybe in a way that is not found offensive. I would attempt to fix the base problem (relaxation) without the added stress of the more complex situation (flying a WS). For example.... I had an AFF L4. She flat out nailed the L3 (could have been used as a L3 prep video). But she was so tense on her L4 that she tried to roll over several times instead of turning. Some people would have just failed her and had her do another L4. Instead, I sat her down and talked to her to find out why she was stressed... She was stressed out over the thought of doing turns AND only having one guy there. So, instead of making her do another L4 dive plan, and maybe SEVERAL more... I took her up to do a modified L3/4 with a single JM. I told her the goal of this jump was to just hold a heading, relax, and enjoy the jump. If she WANTED to turn she should feel free, but she didn't have to even try. After she looked comfortable in freefall, I had her look into my eyes and side slid/carved to the right so she had done a 90* left turn. I then slid back so she had done a R turn. After that she smiled. She was comfortable with a single JM AND she could turn. I pointed for her to turn the other way... She did several turns on that jump on her own and flew through the remaining jumps. I listened to the things that were causing her stress (single JM, having to turn) and removed one of the stressors. (To be fair... I also snuck it right back in) I did my first WS jump with over 3,000 jumps... And I felt stress (ask Scotty Burns). I can't image the level of stress if I was already stressed over a basic issue. So there you go... I would remove as many stressors I could till I was able to fix the base issue and then add the stressors back in one at a time. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yeah, but once you saw the problem you took him on two more jumps. So you saw it on the 1st and 2nd jump and then took him for a third anyway. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Best response so far......IMO. At 1.00 a jump do you think the new canopy will last 500 jumps? As an aside, the same thing happened to me years ago (same type canopy, same issue...really the same thing). It needed several top cells so the cost was 700ish. I bought a new canopy. But if you think it will last 500 jumps after this fix... Then I'd fix it this time and then use it as a car cover next time. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Easiest way is to find a 4way person and ask... You are near some world class DZ's so it should not be difficult. But a rough primer. http://www.teamfastrax.org/divepool.aspx Point exits the front of the door and has most of the outfacing positions. On these he is red. Outside Center is the guy on the outside of the door. He is piece partnered with point. On these he is green Inside center leaves from inside the plane. He needs to be very disciplined and has most of the keys. On these he is blue. Tail faces in most of the time. He has very few keys, but has to be able to react quickly since his slot might not build where he planned. He is the yellow guy. Arizona Airspeed Mind Maps 2003... Can be bought from the NSL website here: http://www.skyleague.com/pages/shop/index.php?category=21 A damn good resource. If I can help with specific questions.... Ask and Ill try "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Saying that a guy that can't breathe in freefall on a regular jump is not ready for a more complex jump is out of line? Maybe, but you and others seemed to have missed it.... Pops jumper got REALLY close when he explained the three coach students that were given a problem. Me, I tend to think that a person who is exhibiting signs of being stressed should not be given additional complex tasks.... Yeah, I guess that is just crazy talk and WAY out of line. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

But then you continued the current path without assessing the situation any further. You looked for a neat trick, but kept the same level of stress on the student. No, I simply said the student was not ready for a WS (see post 6 "The guy was clearly not ready to fly a wingsuit. ")... YOU jumped on a high horse and started acting condescending (see post 7 "That is AMAZING! You can read something on the internet from X miles away and render a diagnosis that fast! ".) You described a case where a student was clearly over his head so far that his automatic *breathing* response was overridden. That is a simple and clear sign that the person is not ready for what they are doing. 1. Maybe you should check this thread: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=3442230;page=5;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25; And start around post # 115 Then maybe look at post 243: Also read posts 248, 251, and 324, Hell, you RESPONDED to me on post 250. 2. The "instructor" in that thread didn't act all high and mighty when someone pointed out they didn't agree with what he did. So to recap: * I never called you a moron or an arrogant prick. * I also don't think you are a moron. * I DO think you got all pissy when someone made a comment you didn't like. * I do think that a guy that can't BREATHE on a regular jump should not be doing complex jumps. * I think that your solution was pretty interesting even if I think it should have been done on a less stressful jump. * I did respond to the post you claimed I didn't. You may continue this BS if you like... But do it in a PM please. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Your condescending attitude aside.... I'll answer that one. I am never 100% confident they will do as instructed. I do attempt to make sure that they are comfortable with basic skills before I add on more complex skills. For example, I don't teach people to perform burble hops before they can do basic forward/sideways movement. I don't put people in 4ways till they are relaxed in two ways. I don't ask AFF L4's to dock on me and take grips, I don't start piece flying till they can fly themselves. Aside from the physical issues that holding ones breath creates (adding stress)....Just look at the mental issue. This person is so agitated by a normal skydive that they are unable to perform the normally *automatic* breathing response... That is pretty stressed out. Somehow you think that a person in that level of mental overload is going to be able to perform the much more complex skills that flying a WS creates? In this case they did, but what if something goes wrong? If the person is so uncomfortable that they are unable to *breathe*.... You think they are in a good mental state to deal with a problem, much less a problem that is unique to flying a WS????? Now, I am no WS expert... But I do know that a student that is so overloaded that they can't perform a normally *automated* response is not going to be mentally as sharp as a relaxed student. And I know that a WS has dangers above and beyond a normal skydive.... So the idea of putting a student that is mentally maxed out on a normal jump on a complex jump seems like a very bad idea. I shoot a lot.... Take a person who is just barely able to hit a target and safely handle a weapon standing still and ask them to draw and walk while shooting a machine gun while being timed... You are creating a dangerous situation that is stacking the odds against the student. The student must be comfortable with the basics before you add complexity. This is why we don't have AFF L3's doing front flips. If you had taken this student and had him do some regular two ways working on relaxing (even with your little trick) THEN started the WS training... I'd have said that was a great job (and the little strip trick is an interesting angle... I have used a feather on a nervous Tandem student...think Dumbo). But to me..... And all I stated earlier... Is that a student that is so mentally maxed out that they cannot *breathe* on a normal jump is not ready for the added complexity of a WS jump, or a camera jump, or a vertical drill, etc. I base this all on teaching skydiving for ~16 years, having taught martial arts for 5, being a corporate training instructor at a fortune 500 company for several years, and teaching shooting to hundreds of people... etc. I have seen how an mentally overloaded student reacts to an emergency in a complex situation... Most times it does not go well, sometimes it goes very badly. And a massive clue that the student is mentally maxed out is them overriding a basic automated response....like breathing. Done a couple of regular two ways with him trying to get him to relax and breathe in freefall before adding complexity. Think of it this way... He is so stressed on a regular jump that he can't *breathe* and you think the solution is to add the stress of a WS? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Same response I had to your post, actually. That your ego would not let you do what was safest for the student. That you had to prove to YOURSELF that you were smart enough. And then you had to create a post to the world to show how smart you think you are. I would say, "Cool, I hope it works out." That pic just proves your ego took a hit...and yes, I would say that to you in person. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

It is obvious you don't know that. He took a guy with a problem in basic comfort and instead of fixing the underlying problem continued to teach an advanced skill set... Adding complexity to an already overtaxed person. Most instructors know that taking a nervous person and adding more complex tasks is not a good method of instruction. It is clear you don't know me. I guess if the exp jumper was having a panic attack on the platform, you would just push him off? Hey, if you think taking a guy that was so overtaxed as to not be able to BREATHE on a regular jump and adding wingsuit flight into it as a good thing.... You need to take a few of DSE's "Breathing strips" and think about why you teach... Is it for the student, or for your own ego? You might want to see who started to bash who first. All I said was a guy that was not breathing in regular freefall was not ready for the added stress and complexity of a wingsuit jump. DSE got his ego upset and went off. You can think all you want... I don't risk my students safety just to feel like a good instructor. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Some instructors are more interested in making themselves feel like the best instructor in the world than be honestly concerned about the students safety and well being. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I guess you are unable to tell the difference between a basic skill and an advanced skill. Further it seems you are unable to grasp the concept that a nervous student should not be pushed into more complex and dangerous situations till they are comfortable in the basics.... I guess you would just push out a nervous AFF student that was in the middle of a panic attack "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

It does not take a genius to know that a guy that is so wound tight that he can't breathe in freefall is in over his head and should not be given more complex/dangerous tasks till he is comfortable enough with the basic ones. I guess some people are just more interested in the students money than the students safety. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The guy was clearly not ready to fly a wingsuit. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Id bet the answers would be different in real life than on your poll. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Is not anything to get upset about. Many dive plans are made long before a 20 min call. When I am coaching we normally have the dive flow covered long before the 20 min call. While I can't speak to his tone... The words you typed were FAR from arrogant. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Maybe you are, maybe they are just encouraging you. The best way to determine your skill in relation to others is competition... Anything else is subjective. And at 50 jumps there is still so much going on that you are not picking up on.. So best to keep your advice to yourself. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

1. Listen to your instructors 2. Ignore any other advice given "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334