skybytch

That's a Tear Drop container, built by Thomas Sports Equipment. Basically a copy of a Racer. Note the totally exposed reserve p/c top. Wings have a partially covered reserve pop top (like Javelins).

Done. That's one hell of a fine; wtf did you say??

Sorry, I can't help you either. I have to read two more chapters of anthropology, write a 4 page history paper, do at least one section of algebra homework and read at least one chapter of sociology today. Oh, and I have to do several loads of laundry and try to make the sunset load.

I probably shouldn't have used the term "spiral" then. I don't mean repeated 360 degree turns. One 360 will create sufficient separation, especially if the other jumper is aware of what you are doing and why and goes into some brakes to float up a bit. And of course, checking for traffic below you prior to doing a 360 is important, as is checking for traffic above you prior to floating up using brakes.

I learned much the same thing from a book - "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz. One of the agreements is "Take nothing personally." It ain't easy to do, but by simply agreeing with yourself that you will not take what others do or say personally you can completely change your life for the better. The more you practice not taking things personally, the easier it gets and the less negative emotions you will experience.

Through numerous discussions with a couple of very good canopy pilots, I've recently learned a few things that just may keep me alive. Thought I'd share them, since staying alive is the best way to make skydiving a repeatable activity. Before you get on the airplane, take a look at the other jumpers on the load. Determine what kind of canopy they fly, at what wingloading (a rough idea) and what type of approach they are likely to do. You can determine these things by a) asking them, b) knowing them and/or c) comparing the size of their container to the size of their body. Spending some time when you aren't jumping watching loads land is also advisable. Besides gaining valuable insight into flare techniques that work and don't work, you can get to know which jumpers always swoop, which jumpers always fly a traditional pattern and which jumpers fly no pattern at all (hopefully the S&TA will be talking to those jumpers soon...). You can also learn what type of canopy people jump and what colors are on their canopies. How will this help you avoid a canopy collision? By knowing in advance which jumpers are swoopers and which fly traditional patterns, which jumpers are flying faster canopies and/or heavier wingloadings and which are flying slower canopies and/or lighter wingloadings, and by being able to quickly identify a canopy type and/or a particular skydiver in the air, you are in a better position to "control the pattern" when it's time for you to fly your landing pattern. By "control the pattern," I mean doing what is needed to assure that you have clean air in which to fly your landing pattern - no matter if it's a 270 riser turn or a traditional pattern flown completely with toggles. You can start controlling the pattern as soon as you are under a good canopy and have taken care of whatever "housekeeping" you normally do after opening (collapsing/bringing down slider, taking off booties, etc). Start by locating all of the other jumpers who were on the load with you. Look up, look down, look to your left, look to your right, look in front of you, look behind you. As you locate them, make a mental note of the canopy type/wingloading (or if you are at your home dz, as you see each jumper note "There's Bob, he flies a Velocity and always swoops. That's Joe, he flies a big boat and always flies a traditional pattern." etc). Once you know where everybody is in relation to you, it's time to start creating the vertical and horizontal separation between you and them that you will want as you enter your pattern. Demo jumpers call this "stacking" - at most demos the ideal way for a group to land is one at a time, so they purposely set themselves up so that no more than one canopy will be on a final approach at the same time. If you fly a canopy that descends relatively quickly, you'll probably want to set yourself up to land in the first wave. If you fly a canopy that descends relatively slowly, you'll probably want to set yourself up to land last or close to last. How do you create separation? If you want to be below someone who is flying a canopy of similar type and wingloading to you, spiral down. If you want to be above the same person, apply some brakes and float up (same thing if you want to be above someone flying a canopy that descends faster than yours does). It's not a good idea to try to beat a faster descending canopy than yours to the ground - if one is on level with you, apply some brakes to create a bit of additional vertical separation. Likewise, it's better to spiral to create vertical separation if the person on level with you flies a slower canopy or lighter loading than you do. Once you've entered the pattern you can still use brakes to create vertical separation between you and a canopy in front of you, but be aware of who may be behind you as well. Spiraling is not a good idea once you are in the pattern. By constantly keeping your head on a swivel, anticipating what other jumpers are likely to do and creating separation as needed from opening through landing, you can create a situation where there are no other canopies on final (or at your setup point, or in the airspace you'll be using during your turn) at the same time you are. You've controlled your pattern and you are likely to land without the inconvenience of having somebody elses' canopy or body impacting yours. Another important part of avoiding collisions is being consistent and predictable in how you fly your pattern/approach. Don't suddenly decide to do a 270 riser turn if you always fly a traditional pattern with toggles. Don't do S turns on final, especially if there is someone else on final at the same time you are (or even if there are any other canopies in the air, period). If your dz has a specific "swoop lane" and you fly a traditional pattern, don't overfly the swoopers set up area and don't land in the swoop lane (the same applies in reverse - if you're a swooper, set up and land in the swoop area, not in the main landing area).

Here ya go. I found that by typing "skyride" into Google.

AIDS - Altitude Induced Divorce Syndrome.

Only downside is that it won't have a place for an audible built into it, but with some ingenuity you could figure out a way to mount one.

Go Sharks!!

Sweet! Now don't spend all that money in one place.

Hang in there.

I've got one in storage.

You shoulda come to the Star Farms Boogie. I'll make sure you're on the invite list for next time.

You're not. I enjoy reading the articles (it's rare that I don't learn something) and checking out the pictures (it's rare that I don't see someone I know in a pic or that took a pic and/or something I wish I was good enough to do) and seeing which people that I know got licenses, awards and ratings.

Well, like I said, that was only my opinion and it's worth what ya paid for it. Once Bill starts allowing it to be fitted to rigs other than Vectors I'll probably have one installed. I just don't see enough value in it (considering my low aspect ratio, low wingloaded main) to replace my current rig with a Vector.

If the team goals are for everybody to learn and have fun - which is what they should be for people just starting out - it doesn't really matter what the individual skill levels are. Jump consistently with the same people and you will all improve. If you are learning from each "fuck up" it's all good. After all, how are you supposed to learn if you aren't allowed to make mistakes? As long as you stay focused on the reasons you "can't" do something, you'll never do it.

Me too. I've got a 3-4 page history paper due on Monday and I've only begun to read the source material. I've also got 11 sections of math homework due tomorrow and I've only done 8 of them. And I have an Anthropology test on Monday and a Sociology test on Wednesday and I only got the textbooks yesterday; haven't even started reading the chapters yet. So WTF am I doing here?!?!?!?!

Getting a team together is one of the best ways to get good at RW. Find a few other people at or close to your level and go for it.

I dunno what it is, but I agree with you. Amy and Lindsey are both hot, and I don't even swing that way.

No. But that's just my opinion; I think that the only time a Skyhook would possibly make a difference is if I cut away really, really fucking low and I hope that I will never have to do that. Likewise, my rig has a Cypres and an RSL installed; I hope that neither one ever has to save my ass. Honestly though, in this case your opinion is the only one that matters - it's your money. My opinion is that every rig on the market is "safe" and is the "right rig" for somebody. Personally, I love my Infinity. I doubt that I'll ever own a container from another manufacturer, but that doesn't mean it's the right rig for you. I would suggest that you put some jumps on both a Vector and an Infinity and maybe even some other containers as well before you make your decision.

Degrees. Cultural Anthropology and History. I'm obviously not going to school so I can get a really high paying job. But that's okay, cuz I discovered today how to make millions of dollars.

I like the way you think. It's going to take a few days before sitting down is comfortable again after the ass-fucking I just got at the college bookstore. Just to make it worse, the main campus doesn't have enough parking for all the students in all the classes they offer so I got to park 2 miles away and walk to and from my anal raping. I'm so happy my classes are all at the satellite campus. Even better, I still have to make another trip there to buy another $100 book... that is, if my fucking financial aid ever comes through. Can someone please remind me that this will all be worth it in a few years?

I figured it out. I now know how to make millions of dollars. I'm going to publish college textbooks. At $107 for one thin paperback book, I'll be disgustingly fucking rich in no time at all.

Now does anybody remember the username she posted under? That's a trip down memory lane I'd like to take but I can't find the thread...