Jimbo

Yikes! Maybe old Sabre's. A canopy opening in 120 feet could literally break your back. That would be bad. Most 'modern' canopies open in 600 to 800 feet. Some are a bit quicker, some a bit slower. My Safire usually takes somewhere between 800 and 1100 feet. Nice and soft, just the way I like it.

Remi: Well said. - Jim

Damn right! Just ask Stacy, who thought she had made it through the mystical statute of limitiations. It took a while, but she finally got pied, and when she did.... (Well, when she did we almost killed her, but that's another story) Someone will get you, you won't know who, and you won't know when, but you can bet your ass it's gonna happen. Congrats! - Jim

Just like a regular airplane, each helicopter has different procedures for jumping it. The pilot should go over the exit with you before you leave. If he doesn't, ask him. Have fun, helicopter jumps are pretty cool. - Jim

Uh, turn around, then you're looking in front!

Are you suggesting that you can't land your PD190 on a straight in approach? I'm certainly no expert, but that doesn't sound good.

The realistic view is that it's totally up to your friend. Sounds like he knows what he wants and no amount of input from you is going to change it. Just my $0.02

A little research at headdown.net (where the movie came from) tell us this:

Layers. A few thin layers covered by a few thicker layers. My experience has been that freefall isn't really that bad, but that canopy flight is just plain miserable. Figure out how to protect the fingers, that's the key.

Ahh. Boobies.

With regards to the recent thread started by ClintonRadloff I have a few things to say. They may not be well received, but they're going to be said. Rgoper: With responses like and this: you're doing a bigger disservice to this community with postings like this than ClintonRandloff is with his, often nonsensical postings. This stuff goes on on rec.skydiving, do us all a favor and take it there. It's been said before and I'll say it again, you don't have to even read his postings. Maybe you shouldn't. Mountainman: You said: Who died and made you moderator? This is a public fourm and he's got a right to post. He's got a right post on old threads, new threads, and even create more threads. But then you say this: So what gives? He can only post on old threads and not create new threads (according to you), but at the same time he should be welcomed into this community? How is he going to get into the community if he can't create new threads? Think about it. A little patience goes a long way here people. I'm sure that way back in the day rec.skydiving was a nice place where people could get information and discuss almost anything, skydiving related or not, without fear of flaming or verbal harassment. It's not like that anymore, now, while comical at times, it's generally not worth my time. It's become a private club where a select few speak in code, newcomers are ridiculed, and unpopular views are quashed. What's to prevent dropzone.com from going that route? Answer: All of us. - Jim

What's that about? What's stopping you from jumping when it's below 60? Hell, cold weather jumping exciting enough that we have a freakin' boogie in the middle of Febuary!

1 warning should be more than enough. On any and every skydive you must rely on you eyes and your perception of altitude to determine breakoff and pull altitudes. Mechanical or electronic devices will fail, whether or not they'll fail while in your service is another story but they will fail. These devices are here as an 'assist' device only. If you rely on a wrist mount or an audible to tell you when to pull you're as good as dead. Pay attention! It WILL save your life.

So tell us, where do you do your shopping?

There's no reason you can't flat pack a Triathalon. There's no reason you can't Pro pack a Triathalon and there's no reason you can' Psycho pack a Triathalon. Pack it however you want. Figure out what's easiest and gives you consistantly good openings and stick with that. - Jim

Nope - everybody knows that rounds don't surf well. Use the slider instead. - Jim

Who in the HELL sold you a Vengeance at 60 jumps?

Ha. I wasn't aiming for the sod farm on that one. I landed against the tree when I landed 5 or miles out. And don't say I should have looked first, first time at the DZ, what the hell was I supposed to look for, ground? Anyhow, it was trees on the left and power lines on the right. Pretty simple making that decision. It was funny though. At least I didn't hook turn a demo canopy into a cow. Stacy.

Dude, you missed the point. I'm pretty sure he was referring to people who enforce the idea that those who owe beer actually pay up. Many dropzones have a board in a rather conspicious place which lists beer offenses, who made them, and whether or not they've paid up.

Interesting terrain at CCS. The main landing area is a hill, with a nice incline, a small flat area with peas, and a nice decline after that. If you don't land on the DZ there are plenty of nice outs. The sod farm, if you're lucky enough to land there, is an _excellent_ landing area. - Jim

Damn right you'll land off. I was there for last years Easter Boogie (had a great time btw.) and landed off over 50% of the time, one time over 5 miles from the DZ. On the plus side, the pick up van will usually be waiting for you by the time you land. Go to the Boogie, it's a great time. - Jim

Soft links are also stronger than their old stlye metal counterparts. - Jim

I've heard absolutely terrible things about Parasport Italia's customer service. On the other hand, I've heard nothing but praise about the customer service of Larsen & Brusgaard (The friendly folks who sell the Protrack and Prodytter). Personally, I wouldn't invest in product from a company with a reputation like Parasport Italia. That said, I do own a Protrack and I'm very happy with it. - Jim

It shouldn't be a problem. With an ample supply of packers at the DZ I've been pretty lazy lately, letting them do it. But on the rare occasion that I do pack I double the locking stows and triple everything else. Never had a problem. - Jim

Then it's a sport!