ltdiver

Interesting pros. Actually, I did my first skydive the day my divorce was final! Really felt like true freedom really is when I left that plane! Was actually only going to make one dive that day. 6 years and 1300+ skydives later, I'm a changed person as well. God, I'm glad to have found this sport and family!

Too soon. Weather cleared in the early afternoon and there were still enough of us to keep back to back Otters running the rest of the day!

Yeah...sorry, SkydiveMonkey. The UK gets left out this time, huh? ltdiver ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

ok...so just follow the link to Bangkok for June 11. Isn't that where you'll be? Sheesh. ltdiver ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

For those of you who like the unusual in a sunset, check this out! Happening near you on Monday, June 10.

Try here: http://www.sel.sony.com/service/plsql/rma.inquiry ltdiver ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

And you know that bugs don't fly that high... ltdiver ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

In reality, I have to consciously bite my tounge when someone says 'first-whatever' at work. I've actually slipped and exclaimed "Beer!" a few times and got the strangest looks.

Yes, the Sabre2 seemed to fly slower than my Spectre of the same size. However, I attributed it to the fact that the brake lines were set a bit shorter on it than I had on my own canopy. The flare was AWESOME, though. Landings were GREAT. That is why I was so interested in changing canopies. The landings on my Spectre-135, in hot, no wind conditions, just aren't the best. Kind of loses the ability to plane out. The Sabre2 gave me a very nice surf that seemed to go on forever...then just gently let me touch down and walk away. Now, if we could only figure out what the openings are up to... btw, I had a rigger check the Sabre2-135 I was demoing (the first one) and everything came back within specs. Even though the brake lines were 4" too short (in mine and other AFFI's opinion). I hesitate to try the 120 due to the fact that if the 135 behaved so badly, and on so many jumps, wouldn't a smaller canopy (with a higher wing loading) do just to the same....only MORE SO? ltdiver ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

Ditto!! ltdiver ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

Very interesting! Unstowing the brakes was the only thing that fixed the openings when the diving and spinning would start. Yes, please let me know what PD finds and fixes with your canopy. I really loved the landings on the Sabre2-135 I was demoing, but the openings were just scaring the bejesus outta me. Had to grab the rear risers to stop the hard turn from gaining on me, then unstow the brakes (while holding the oppropriate rear riser to keep the canopy on heading while I did that). ltdiver ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

I believe that this is Kurt's ultimate goal. To replace USPA's format with his own, including league competitions to qualify for our U.S. Nationals and the progession to International competitions. Go to the NSL web site and click on the World League tab to review Kurt's vision. ltdiver ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

FeFe, I also had a similar problem with a Sabre2 I demoed. The openings were so squirley that I decided against buying one. Sometimes diving to one side so aggresively that it induced line twists! Like you, I also paid special attention to body position and packing. Nothing seemed to help. That canopy, come to find out, was one of the first production Sabre2's. I waited until a brand new Sabre2 came on-line later to demo, and that one was much better. Still had irratic openings at times, but not near the 'fear factor' that the first one gave me. I also wrote to John LeBlanc. Here is his answer back to me: Hope this helps. Oh, btw, I also jump a Spectre-135 loaded at 1.3. ltdiver ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

Just got this message today! My teammate, Barney, is finally home! After months in the hospital following a respiratory infection, gastric tube, ventilator, and induced coma, he's come back to us and has made the escape back into life! Thanks for all the messages and good vibes! Here is the letter from his physical therapist (and skydiver): YAHOO!!!! ____________________________________________________ Hi Everyone, Sorry for the late notice. As some of you may already know, Barney was discharged from the hospital. He's at home and is doing well. The trach and feeding tube were removed and Wanda is working on "Fattening him up." Barney still has alot of strengthening and endurance training to do but the outlook is great and he has a wonderful attitude. I hope you can all drop him a line. love and Blue Skies, Gina ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

Buy all my camera gear from Cameraworld in Oregon. They'll match any price you find from another Sony authorized dealer, if they don't beat the price already. Service has been great and no pressure from the sales force. Camera World ltdiver ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

An idiot private pilot had his head somewhere else over Perris yesterday as well! He first came over North to South, then turned and came over again West to East! By the time we were able to dial him in on frequency, he had canopies opening just a few hundred feet -over- him! Then the asshole said he wanted to do touch and goes on our runway! He was told a direct NO and was told to get the hell outta there. He did. One of the skydivers (who opened just 150 feet over the plane) was a videoflyer who got it all on tape! Scared the shit out of him, needless to say. He is a private pilot himself and turned, under canopy, to try and get the N number off the plane. Unfortunately the angle didn't afford him this pleasure. Now to find if there was a flight plan filed? How would you find an idiot like that, after the fact? ltdiver ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

Nice pics! Thanks for the inspiration, HH. ltdiver ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

Luigi Cani and his 46 sq. ft. Icarus Extreme VX. He's jumped it at Elsinore and Perris. Looks like a little-bitty hanky when he packs it!

Ah...Kenny Hill. He performed this every Saturday Night, Live, for our Summer Camp program for the kids. Always wondered how he could remember all the words!

ok....what'd he (you) do now? ltdiver ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

Guess I shoulda clarified. I thought this problem had already been fixed last year with USPA's dialogue with the FAA. Publications on the subject were listed and printed. So....my comment about 'this sucks' wasn't against USPA (yeah, they are on the ball with this one...and thanks!). It was a comment against the DOT and their long arm that seems to be reaching into our rigs again. Hope this explains, ltdiver ;^) ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

This sucks! Just listed on USPA's web site today: ----------------------------------------------------------- USPA Asks to Update Regulations (05/29) The U.S. Department of Transportation could ban some items commonly carried on aircraft for jumping as "hazardous material." To prevent problems, USPA is working with DOT to expand the current list of items jumpers may take up. Currently 49 CFR 175.10 (a)(9) allows only "smoke grenades, flares, or similar devices carried only for use during a sport parachute jumping activity." Though the provision had rarely, if ever, been enforced, it has the potential to eliminate skydiving with any powered device that could be deemed to be a hazardous material. Specifically, USPA is asking DOT to revise the regulation to include portable light systems, oxygen systems, flotation devices, and automatic activation devices. ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

Check USPA's web site: HERE There is one dz in Spain listed there under Drop Zones List. Have a great vacation! ltdiver ____________________________________________ LightDiverCam

Sorry, didn't know all the links I posted had the same URL. For a pic of the 282-way world record (again, by Simon Ward) see this attachment! You can click on the Media button on that link, then on Daily News to get to the link I -tried- to post.

Another impressive world record. See: World Team '99 Thailand Specifically: 572 Open Canopy Record! Scroll down to December 2. Pictures by Simon Ward Here. Scroll down to December 2nd for the links! Impressive. (see attachment here for one of his pics.) The whole thing was impressive, from the start on December 2, through the new world record of the 282-way (RW) completed on December 16. When is the next attempt? Here it's Airspeed's camp in Brazil!