mjosparky

http://skydivetaft.com/ Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Have you stayed at the Toltec? As a matter of fact I have. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

All motel rooms are great. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Well..let's say, all of 'em work most of the time & some of 'em work all the time. But to say they all work well may be a stretch. Manufacturers collect data on all their reserve activations? I did not know that! From a more critical viewpoint, one could speculate that 'some' design changes & configurations might be being incorporated to temper the problems incurred from the form over function demands of the skydivers today. RSL yanks the pin but the tapered & tight lay out of the reserve added to the full length F.F. side flaps tends to make the pilot chute struggle a bit at times - lets connect the departing main to the free bag, Hell THAT'LL pull 'er out...sure it's a bit complicated but they'll pay for it to have a good looking rig! Suppose we COULD figure out a way to put the reserve pilot chute outside of those flaps...like the high dollar, no 2nd chance, low level bail-out rigs those airshow pilots trust their lives to - but then it would prolly look like, oh god no, a RACER! Hey I got an idea...let's make the EP handles small, slick and hard to grab, they'll LOOK cool and cost a fraction of what metal handles do to make - but we'll charge the same or heck, put cute sayings on them and charge MORE! Tell 'em they're 'safer' because some CReW dog hooked a hard ripcord in a wrap couple decades ago... Most of those guys have AAD's anyway, handles are damn near a secondary afterthought... Bet we can increase profits by...using cheaper thread through hardware on the leg straps! We'll market it as a weight saver, then sell 'em a weight belt...name it something cool & different like step-in harness... 'cause everybody knows cool is always better. Tell 'em the snap hardware that the military has been using for 100 years is no good because it breaks ALL THE TIME, even if they don't really. - I know these people, who wants to pay attention to what they're doin' when they put on a parachute? Who cares if ya can't get it off in a plane crash or when you hit a lake because nobody can spot... I can go on...but ya REALLY don't want me to. Makes the kool-aid taste funny when I do. No more calls......we have a winner!

If this was in fact a “tandem” then it is wrong on many levels. The jump was not for the entertainment of the TM or the other clown. The TM’s job is to provide a safe, as safe as possible, to a paying customer. The passenger doesn’t understand the dangers of a normal jump much less what is portrayed in the video. If the TM has become bored and jaded with slinging meat maybe he should take a break. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

We always stay at the hotel there on the airport when we go to L.A. ~ some of rooms overlook the runway. The hotel isn't really close to anything we want to do or see in the greater Los Angles area...except one six right! My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Jim, I can remember coming in on one six right in Spikes D-18 after a weekend at Taft or returning from a round robin. He would come in low over the pass and all you could see for miles were the lights of the City. Life was good.

You seem to be cherry picking which part of the report you use you draw you conclusion to leave the aircraft. You fail to mention that at least 2 jumpers were not using the restraints which turned them into meat missiles. Your chances of surviving would be zero if you attempted to exit. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

The R-1 Piglet reserve had an inflated diameter of around 16 to 17 feet and in its day was very popular. Spark y My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

I used the patch to get off of cigarettes…….used cigars to get off the patch……used a pipe to get off the cigars. I then used crack to get off the pipe. I am pretty much tobacco free. Hang in there, it will get easier. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Do you think he was wearing enough cameras? Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

You don't wear those in public do you? Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Where have I heard that before? Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Great post Jim. Once you have all your shit in line don’t forget to revisit it about once a year. Things change over time. Like you I went through a rather messy death of a friend and he had done nothing to prepare. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

We have a winner. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Thanks guys...I am not sure exactly what I did but is works now. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

I have FIOS and use AOL to go on line. When I try to log on to my home page I get a screen from the porn police that says I am busted and they have locked my machine until I pay a $300 fine. Does anyone know how I can get rid of this or go around it? Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Knowledge is power. A smart man takes every opportunity to gain more. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Good stab......

Anybody have a guess? Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Jimmy is wearing a harness but not connected to the parachute. He wasn't the first but his jump was one of the best, and it was done before Gasson was born. Sparky http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEAat1NDSgw My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

The fatality reports are full of young jumpers that were sure the sills were “better than average”. Getting ahead in skydiving is not a race……it’s about survival. The best jumpers in the world got to the top starting with baby steps which led to skills and the experience to use those skills safely. Something I posted some years ago….. "Some of the best in the world, Dave Wilds, Tom Piras, Roger Nelson…. They were true Skygods, World Champions – Icons of the sport. They had natural talent, had developed incredible skills and were hugely current. ... And yet the ground offered them no concession for their level of skill or experience. Knowing that your experience and skill will probably never approach their level, try not to be so arrogant as to think for a moment you will be afforded any more consideration." Most of us are not nearly as good as we would like to believe. Sparky http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb03/overestimate.aspx http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overconfidence_effect My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

USPA c. Tandem training jumps [E] (1) Any USPA member conducting a tandem jump must hold a current USPA Tandem Instructor rating and a manufacturer’s type rating. B. Compliance with Federal regulations [NW] 1. No skydive may be made in violation of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. 105.45 Use of tandem parachute systems. (a) No person may conduct a parachute operation using a tandem parachute system, and no pilot in command of an aircraft may allow any person to conduct a parachute operation from that aircraft using a tandem parachute system, unless— (1) One of the parachutists using the tandem parachute system is the parachutist in command, and meets the following requirements: (i) Has a minimum of 3 years of experience in parachuting, and must provide documentation that the parachutist— (ii) Has completed a minimum of 500 freefall parachute jumps using a ram-air parachute, and (iii) Holds a master parachute license issued by an organization recognized by the FAA, and (iv) Has successfully completed a tandem instructor course given by the manufacturer of the tandem parachute system used in the parachute operation or a course acceptable to the Administrator. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

What do we expect when we allow the USPA to grant these "nice guys" ratings and appointments? Note my standard disclaimer the USPA "Staff" is hard working and gives a shit, the BOD well it's a crap shoot. Every time something relating to holding or raising standards in instructional or pro ratings comes up the BOD manages to swat it down usually because there are enough of the BOD who "know some guy" that won't like it. S&TA's are no longer vetted in ANY meaningful way, RD's have been setting policy without reading the rules, enforcements are NOT happening. It will only get worse unless people start to give a crap. Seriously, most jumpers pay their $50 a year and don't want to know any different. Unless we wake the membership out of it's apathy..... It’s unfortunate, you are right on several fronts. USPA has turned into a Trade Origination for DZO’s and is no longer responsive to the membership. This has been going on for several years and is getting more and more blatant. It seems this group of “demo” jumpers” were not only ignoring several USPA requirements for demos they were also in violation of at least one FAA requirement. When a demo is approved by the FAA is comes with a list of special provisions on of which is crowd control. 1. Procedures shall be established and used by the holder of this Certificate of Authorization to control spectators and keep them out of the landing area. You can bet that the FAA will be looking into this. It will be interesting to see if USPA will take any action against to members involved or just let it slide. Sparky My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Hey Rich----- What he needs to consider is that he will be competing with men half his age, several with at least a 2 year degree in Fire Science and put themselves through a Paramedic course. With the present economic climate in most government agencies there are precious few entry positions available. In fact most are reducing the size of their depts. by on filling vacancies due to retirement. Sparky Retired at 52 after 30 years……. It can beat you up pretty bad but loved it. http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp55/mjosparky/Shield.jpg My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals