Ron

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

Sorry to hear that. It is also a lie... And for the average person they are not going to care you are trying to tell the truth someplace else. If you are willing to lie on one aspect, why should you be trusted to not lie on another? As for checking it.... I could not honestly care. To ME you have lied once, why bother even trying to trust you. No, it is lying. You may think it is cute, but saying something you know is not true is a lie.... Then there is no reason to believe the 15k number, or your 20 year number either. And you have already shown you are willing to lie over something small. And as I said before... Whuffos don't know it. And THEY are the ones that are going to be looking to see how many jumps a TANDEM master has. YOU just said it was a lie, BTW. There is evidence to back that it is not true. He was willing to lie about his jump numbers already. He has established the precedent of being willing to lie about jump numbers. Except the fact you are willing to lie right to me. And that is a big reason not to trust you. Or just know that you are willing to lie over trivial maters and therefore not trust you to tell the truth. You put it because you are unwilling to tell the truth. That's fine. But don't expect people to trust you when you try to tell the truth later. And don't get upset when people don't trust you are not lying. Its cool... You are just trying to defend his lying since you do it too. Is it a big deal? No. But it does lead others to question your other claims (15k tandems, 20 years). "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I am sure that it was.... But why take the other number seriously then? Sure, but now you have to try and decide when he is lying and when he is telling the truth... I honestly don't care enough to research it. True story... A guy landed from a jump an announced that he had just done 60 hours of freefall. Now for most of us we know that means he ACCUMULATED 60 hours over his jumping career. But a tandem student looked at him in wonder and asked "How high did you jump from!!!!" The point being that most people will know he is full of it with the million jumps.... But why should we buy 15k tandems then? And if a guy lies once... He will lie again. So why should we trust him THIS time? Your profile claims 999,999 jumps.... well most of us are smart enough to know that you don't have that many. But you also say you have 20 years. Why should we believe that when you already posting something we already know is false? Point being... he (or you) can be as cheecky as he wants. But that does not mean we should buy his next line of crap..... the old fable of Chicken Little comes to mind. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I don't personally know anyone that does that. My students are geared up long before they get anywhere near the airplane. We walk through that area only because it is the only way to get on the plane. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Best bet is to try some and see if you even like it. I started jumping a full face when I had 100 jumps. So it is normal for me. I personally don't like flip ups. They just cause more issues than I have had with regular visors, and when I had a flip up, I never flipped it up anyway. With anything new, it will take a few jumps to get used to it. One option might be to wear the helmet without the visor at first, and then add the visor later. Which brand is the best.... Well that is so subjective that I will not give my opinion. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Anyone that claims to have 1 million jumps... well I tend to not believe if they later claim to have another number of anything else. Not saying it can't happen, but he lost credibility so I would not believe any number put out there. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

What do you suggest we do? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have both the flip up and the no flip up helmets.... I wear the NON-flip up and the flip up sits in the closet. I don't want the visor popping up in freefall. I have had no issues with any lens fogging. Make sure you have a small gap at the top and at the nose piece and it should be fine. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Except there is actually a pretty significant difference between a Vector Tandem and a Strong Tandem... the same cannot be said of most sport rigs. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I know a guy that claimed he became allergic to benzene due to exposure. I don't know if it is true, or even possible... but I do know a good jumper that pretty much quit and this was the reason he gave. He still BASE jumped for quite a while, so it was not fear or anything like that. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

According to some posters on here.... About 100 jumps makes you an expert at anything. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I agree the 7cell F111 will be close to what a person is used to... But not the same and yes, I think that is why so many people biff in under a reserve. So... I'd rather have a square if I was able to control it, but I'd rather have a round if I was knocked out. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

While I understand not wanting to walk out and look like you don't have a clue..... It is worse to walk out and think you know what is going on. And instructors are used to taking people with ZERO knowledge and making them into skydivers.... So not knowing anything when you show up does not really matter. The WORSE type of student is the one that already 'knows' what they are doing because they read it on the internet from some guy with a cool user ID. Like I said in my first post to you.... Your best option is to talk to your local DZ folk and ignore what you are told here. As you can see.... We don't all agree on the subject and none of that really matters to your situation. I want you to enjoy your experience and not get confused in all the BS and get all wrapped up in the things that don't matter to 99% of the skydiving world and pretty much 100% of the students. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

How many jumps do you have on an F111 7 cell 150? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Only 4 were good enough for the 4 way record number of points. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Not that I agree, but the logic is that the student on FF is *supposed* to be able to save themselves and the coach is just there to watch and give advice. Nothing lifesaving is going on, while the rope is at a lifesaving portion of the program. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I am not either, and I don't know. But in a SL progression program it didn't seem that unusual. From an AFF background it seems like a bad idea and I doubt any place does it that way. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

According to the ISP, you have "category's", not levels. "Regardless of discipline, the USPA Integrated Student Program advances students through eight categories of proficiency (A-H) to qualify them for their USPA A license." There are 8 Cat's but Cat E-H can be done by a USPA rated coach. "An appropriately rated USPA Instructor must directly supervise each student jump until the student is cleared to self supervise during Category E. A USPA Coach may conduct freefall training and supervise jumps for those students in Categories E through H. A USPA Coach may also supervise static line and IAD students following a successful clear-and-pull in Category C. Until the USPA A license, all student training remains the responsibility of the USPA Instructor." And even then, the ISP is a *recommendation* from the USPA: "USPA recommends that skydivers complete training in the Integrated Student Program (ISP), an effective means of preparing a student for the USPA A license." Now you might include the Hop n Pop as an AFF L8.... But that is really a Cat F and they suggest *2* of them: "5. Clear and pull (AFF students only - IAD and static-line students have already met the clear-and-pull requirement in Category C.) a. A clear and pull is used for emergency exits and pre-planned low-altitude jumps. b. Use a familiar, stable exit technique. c. Present your hips to the relative wind and execute normal pull procedures (without wave-off) to deploy within five seconds of exit. d. Expect the parachute to open in relation to the relative wind, not overhead as usual. e. The sequence consists of a clear and pull from two altitudes: (1) first from 5,500 feet (2) once successful, from 3,500 feet You might be thinking that the checkout dive is the 8th jump.... But it is required for all types of instruction. "Once meeting all the requirements listed on the USPA A-License Application, the student may then make a check jump with a USPA Instructor to be issued the USPA A license. The check jump consists of an overall review of the training and includes an oral quiz taken from the quizzes at the end of each category." So a school could easily still use a 7 level AFF program and be 100% in line with the USPA as long as all the objectives have been met. The hop n pops are solos and can be done after L7. No, but it is in the SIM And at the 5 DZ's I have worked for they all required a drop back to the last level... One required going back to the Cat D. Unless this was a SL program and then they required a clear and pull. Did that always happen? Nope, but then again that's why I told her to talk to the DZ in question and said, "Honestly your best course of action is to go to the DZ you plan on using and ask them their program specifics." For example Sky's the Limit requires a Tandem before starting AFF... AND it has to be within the last 3 mths, AND at STL... that's not in the BSR's or ISP: "If you've never made a skydive, you are required to do a Tandem Skydive for your first jump. A tandem skydive jump allows you the experience, concentrating on some basic procedures. You can simply relax and enjoy your skydive, while an experienced professional instructor handles the equipment procedures. If you've already made a jump at Sky’s The Limit in the last 3 months, and are interested in becoming a skydiver, you will need to go through an approved training program." STL also does a Tandem progression program (called AFP there) that starts with three tandems and then goes to Cat C-2 (single JM hover control), or D-1 (L4), I am not sure which. Most DZ's I have worked at, still call them levels. Heck, I have been told Perris pushes the student out on level 6.... Frankly, I think that is awesome, but it is not in the SIM/ISP anywhere. At Bragg/Perris/AZ I have done a tunnel to L4 program. At Bragg we had a SL to L5 program back in 99. The point being that only the DZ she chooses can give her *the* answers and that different DZ's are going to have different procedures. All we are doing is confusing the situation. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

When you do a tandem they should give you a small logbook. Keep it. Or you can buy a larger logbook that you will use once you start a program. Logbooks are very important till you get higher licenses. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

AFF has 7 levels If you wait more than 30 days between jumps, you have to drop down to the last level. For example: You pass Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and then go 31 days. You would have to do a level 5 again. Longer than that it would depend on what level you were on, how well you were doing... Ect. Some instructors would make you go to a double JM dive (level 1,2,3), some might make you go to a single JM dive (4, 5, 6, or 7). You have to jump once every 30 days to stay current until you get a license (25 jumps and some other stuff). You have to have 25 jumps to get an A license. Tandems count, all you need is a logbook. At one DZ I used to work at your second Tandem could be used as an AFF level 1. 25 to get a license. Honestly your best course of action is to go to the DZ you plan on using and ask them their program specifics. Also, be very leery of ANY advice you get from here, or from anyone that is not your instructor (including anything from me)... You don't know who I am and you have no clue if I just told you the truth. PLUS each DZ is a little different and what DZ "A" does is not always what DZ "B" does. You cannot learn to skydive from the internet. And the only opinion that really counts is the instructors you are working with. Again, your best option is to roll up to Sky's the Limit and ask them. The owner Jeff Root is a nice guy (doesn't like me... But hey no ones perfect) and he will not screw you over. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yes, but with all that real world experience.. What would you know?????;^p "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You have seen my jumpsuit.... I have one patch on it. I DID find an SCR SCS patch in my gear bag... Which is really funny since I never applied for one. (Not the weirdest thing I have ever found in my gear bag, BTW). "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You would be the first skydiver I know to make that much. 1000 jumps (a lot in a year) X 42 bucks a jump (the most I ever got paid) = 42,000.00 Now WORLD class coaches get 450-500 a day. But they have World Meet medals. I have gotten 300/day. But still, 100k would be working 200 days at 500/day. Like I said.... Making 100k a year... You would be the first skydiver I have ever heard making that much. To the OP.... Make it a few year program. Take each vacation and jump like crazy at a DZ in the States. 1st year, jump like crazy and get a riggers ticket. 2nd year, jump like crazy and get a coach rating. Third year get the Tandem and AFF rating. If at any point you could start making a living, then do it. But 6mths to pro is not really likely due to time in sport requirements. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The time to design and make a patch is not regimented??? What kinda fly by night organization is this? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

If you would have had numbers.... I would have jumped on it. But without numbers, I can't use it to sign a logbook. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334