
skybytch
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Everything posted by skybytch
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Permanently ban the trolls (and annoying people)
skybytch replied to pilotdave's topic in Suggestions and Feedback
Actually, no, he doesn't. He can do whatever he'd like, whenever he'd like. For he is HH, and this is his swoop pond. -
I've never seen or heard of anyone sewing two data cards together.
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Kate Cooper. She's the kind of skydiver I want to be when I grow up. Any skydiver who deals with physical challenges but jumps anyway. Any skydiver who has invested huge amounts - of money, of time, of blood, of sweat, of tears - into the sport without caring about getting a "return" on that investment.
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When they first came out, the party line was that the zp topskin was not specifically for frequent fliers but more because the top skin sees the most wear from repacking.
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Damn that's a nice picture. Way better than the ones I took. Must be the difference between a five year old digital camera and a new Canon D20. I refuse to believe it's because he's a better photographer than I am. btw, rumor has it that jumping will be happenin' on Wednesday. Not sure where they're gonna land... but they'll be jumpin'.
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Someone's glad they weren't currently living there... Hopefully he's got good insurance on the RV.
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It's true! The dzo said no, but Mother Nature said ohhhh yeah. Davis now has a huge swoop pond! NorCal swoopers can't wait to see who'll be first to go coast to coast.
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Do you really think smokers don't hate being a slave to cigarettes? Do you think smokers like being social outcasts? Do you think they enjoy spending way too much money on them when they could be spending that money on other, more fun ways of killing themselves? Sure, smokers all chose to start smoking so, yes, it is our own damn fault, but once that monkey gets it's claws deep enough into our backs it's not a choice anymore - it's a PHYSICAL ADDICTION. I've heard it's harder to kick cigarettes than it is to kick heroin. I've never done heroin so I wouldn't know for sure, but from the perspective of 30 hours after making the decision that this time quitting is going to work, I do know that this is absolutely the hardest thing I've ever done.
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Have you jumped a 176 anything yet? Have you jumped a seven cell F111 anything yet? Do you think you are capable of walking away from landing that canopy in less than perfect conditions (ie at sunset, into someone's backyard, downwind, crosswind, etc) after chopping your main on your next skydive? People who sell new jumpers reserves they'll load at 1.2 do NOT have the new jumpers best interests in mind.
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Cell questions ~ I did a search but didn't find the answers
skybytch replied to srsand1960's topic in Gear and Rigging
That depends. Shaping will have an effect on opening speeds - an original Sabre or equivalent (ie rectangular zp nine cell) will generally open faster than a Sabre2 or equivalent (ie "tapered" or slightly elliptical zp nine cell); a Triathlon or equivalent (ie rectangular zp seven cell) will generally open faster than a Spectre or equivalent (ie "tapered" or slightly elliptical zp seven cell). The "tapered" seven and nine cells that I've jumped seem to open at about the same speed. Packing has an effect on opening speeds as well. On rectangular shaped canopies you'll likely want to roll the nose after flaking it (increases the time it takes for the nose to catch air, thus slowing the opening); on most "tapered" canopies you'll likely want to flake it then leave it hanging. -
If you really only have 3 jumps, don't buy a main yet. Even if you have done a lot of research and think it's what you will want. Patience, grasshopper. There's no hurry to buy equipment.
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Thanks you guys! I know it's gonna be tough but I'm tougher, dammit. As part of my plan to stay stopped I'm gonna be posting all about the joys of being a new non-smoker on my myspace blog. Encouragement and comments would be much appreciated.
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As of eight hours ago, not anymore.
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I leave food in the bowl all the time for my dog. She eats when she's hungry, sometimes a few bites, sometimes everything that is there. She also eats some when she thinks some other dog might be able to get near her dish. I much prefer it this way over the dinnertime craziness that some other dog owners deal with every day.
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Oh please. No. I'm all for Amy making a bundle, but one Bill is quite enough for this world. Besides, it was mostly his genome that was used to create the evil clone who protects the gates of the dz.com dungeon.
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There are never more than 15 jumpers on the PAC at Davis. Assuming the max weight refers to full fuel, 17 jumpers and a pilot, I'm assuming that this will not affect normal operations here. But I've been wrong before. Don't know how many jumpers the other PAC's in the US typically fly with.
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Good point. I put my thumbs into the hip rings, works great.
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Sounds like you did the right thing considering your experience level - that is, you picked a safe landing area up high and commited to it. Pulling higher is an option but depending on where you are in the exit order and how many other people are in the air with you sometimes it's not the best option. Leaving the toggles stowed (which effectively has you flying in half brakes) is also an option, but again may not be the best option. If you choose to do this release them above your decision altitude, just in case. Once you're jumping your own canopy, definitely spend some time up high in different wind conditions determining what you need to do to get the best glide out of your canopy at your wingloading. This is something that is taught and practiced in most canopy control courses (yet another reason they are worth doing).
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Yup, LOUD is what I remember from the couple weekends we got to jump one in Paso. Earplugs were a hot commodity!
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I'm assuming that actually bumpin' uglies instead of watching others bump uglies wouldn't be such a good idea? Oh well. I don't have enough energy to do that anyway.
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That's right. I don't need a flu shot. Well, now I don't anyway. Why get a flu shot when you've already got the flu? I blame the chickens. I've got the ibuprofen, the big box of Kleenex and an out of date bottle of DayQuil. What else will make me feel better? I hate being sick.
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Having spent a few months living in the back of a gear store at one dz and another few months living in a tent at another, I can say that being a "dz bum" can be a lot of fun or it can be total misery. Some things to think about - What things and what level of those things do you consider to be the basics (ie can't live without)? Shelter (tent, trailer, apartment, 2500 sq ft home in the suburbs?), food (Top Ramen, filet mignon?), and transportation (feet, bike, motorcycle, beater car, Mercedes?) likely top the list for most of us. Different people can be happy at different levels - be sure that the level you choose is one that you can be happy with. Because you plan to live on a dz does not mean you have to work there. Having worked in skydiving the past 9 years, I know now that for me being happy long term living on a dz would require that I not make my living there. YMMV. If you choose to do this, don't expect that it will be permanent. Keep your contacts in the real world; six months, a year, two years from now you may decide to rejoin it. You also may not, but it's a good idea to keep your options open. Do expect that people who have a different idea of what "stuff" they need to be happy and what responsibilities they feel are important will give you shit about your choices. Not sure if this is because they wish they could do what you've done or if they are sincerely worried about your future. Either way, ignore them. It's your life; live it the way you want to.
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Assuming nothing needs repair I'd figure the container to be worth $300-400, main $500-ish and about the same for the reserve. Not a bad deal at all. Only question I'd have would be is it Cypres ready (containers built in '92 didn't come Cypres ready from the factory, but it's a pretty simple retrofit for a master rigger to do).
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1) Don't die. 2) Consistently dock and fly linked in a sit. 3) Finally get that AFF rating I've wanted since 1990.
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hip & chest articulation on a container, why ????????????
skybytch replied to kleggo's topic in Gear and Rigging
I've jumped both standard and articulated (hip rings only) harnesses. I'll never buy another container without hip rings. It may be a gender thing, but I find a harness with hip rings to be more comfortable than one without - on the ground, on the plane, in freefall (belly or sit flying) and under canopy.