skybytch

That'd be Bomber Manufacturing. They own the TSO, so technically they aren't just "some company", they are the manufacturer. And they didn't just recently make them available; they've been making Reflex replacement parts for at least the past five years (longer, I'm sure, but I've only been sleeping with the guy who builds them for the past five years).

Other than some people who live there, not a damn thing. Except when it's raining. Which is pretty much six months out of the year.

I agree 100%. The I/E rating meant you really knew something about skydiving back then. The new version is very watered down in comparison. I agree with this also. I think the tandem requirements should be the same though.

Nice, thanks for the response Tom.

I can't believe I'm typing this but.... I want a job.

Heard a rumor that one of the requirements to obtain a USPA tandem I/E rating has changed. No longer are I/E candidates expected to do 50 actual eval jumps with TI candidates. Now they only have to do 10. I was told that the "logic" behind this comes from back when tandem ratings were controlled solely by the container manufacturer. Since the manufacturers didn't require lots of actual eval jumps of their examiners, USPA shouldn't require them either. It is now entirely possible for someone to go from first jump as a tandem passenger to tandem instructor/examiner in less than four years. Three years in sport is required for the tandem rating; hit 500 jumps on the third anniversary of your first jump, picking up a coach rating along the way. Start a tandem rating course at 501 jumps and bang out 500 tandems as quick as possible (very easy to do in six months at many dz's). Attend an I/E course at some point before you hit 500 tandems. Do 10 eval jumps with candidates (easy enough to do at one course) as soon as you hit 500 tandems. Bingo - three and a half years in the sport, less than 1100 jumps total (at least 510 of which were done with a drogue) and you're a god. We already see many tandem "instructors" who don't seem to have a good handle on the gravity of what they are doing; whether this is due to complacency on their part or on the part of the person who rated them is a good question. Requiring less of those charged with doing the rating isn't going to improve the overall safety of the whuffos trusting their lives to their "instructors." Relaxing the standards will increase the number of people available to rate others. While this is a good thing for people in BFE who want a rating but can't afford to travel, that alone is not a good reason to make it easier to become a tandem I/E, and I don't see any other good reasons for the change. The requirements for I/E ratings should be the same for all instructional methods. You are either an instructor examiner or you're not. Joe Q Justoffstudentstatus doesn't know the difference between a tandem I/E and an AFF I/E. A god is a god...

I log every jump. On paper. Usually before the sun sets on the day I did them. Logbooks are like photo albums. You don't look at them often but when you do, maybe years after the pictures were taken, you smile. To me, that alone is worth the two minutes it takes to log a skydive.

Black. Red grippers. Yellow trim around the grippers. Done.

As expected. One or two places would have been far too commonplace. Hang in there Lynn. Love ya both.

Might also consider getting a pair of glasses with smaller frames for skydiving use. Some frames will fit under "regular" goggles.

Last year at LP there was a guy with a big screen and a satellite dish and a generator. In a tent.

What dz do you plan to do the majority of your jumping at once you get a license? Even if it costs a couple hundred dollars more, it might be worth considering doing your student jumps at the dz closest to you for a few reasons. First, spending your money at the local dz might help that dz remain in existence. Which is good for you if you want the local dz to be there two years from now. Second, doing your student jumps at the dz you hope to jump at will allow you to get to know the people you hope to jump with later. Third, how much will it cost you for travel and lodging if you jump at another dz further from home?

Heh... there is a support group. It's called "REI" okay, now I have to do it too. Big ass boogie size tent small 3 person 4 season tent one person backpacking tent ez up 2 queen air mattresses 1 king air mattress two thermarests one z rest one big agnes air core backpacking mattress three backpacking sleeping bags two coleman sleeping bags jet boil five backpacking backpacks two water filters four coolers ranging from small to large 2 headlamps 3 daypacks, all hydration compatible 2 water containers "survival" kits (enough for two; 1st aid, firestarter, signaling, etc) hammock solio solar charger And we need to go buy 2 new coleman sleeping bags and a new, lighter weight 3 person backpacking tent this summer. Can't wait til we have a garage to store it in instead of the back room!

J3K is the container size; it's telling you that the container will hold specific sized canopies (to determine which canopies will fit, refer to Sunpath's container sizing chart which is probably on their website; from memory I think it holds a 170-ish main and a 160-ish reserve). Each manufacturer has their own shorthand for container size. I'd suggest figuring out what size canopies you need then check each manufacturers sizing chart to determine what they call the size you want. D19 is the harness size; it's telling you that the yoke is a D (big) and the MLW is 19" Like container size, shorthand for harness size differs from manufacturer to manufacturer; Sunpath is the only one that includes yoke sizes. To determine if a harness might fit you or not, you'll need to know your height and your inseam measurements and the MLW length of the harness. Inseam is crotch to floor, but you can use the length of your jeans. Take your height in inches, subtract your inseam then subtract 20; the result should be close to the MLW length that will fit you (this works best on Sunpath rigs but also gives a rough idea for other brands). Example - I'm 5'8" with a 33" inseam. 68-33-20= 15, so a 15" MLW should be close to fitting me - and it does. There are other considerations, like the length of the laterals and the legstraps. Compare your body weight with that of the original owner; if the MLW will fit you and the weights are close, the laterals and legstraps will probably work for you as well.

Further proof that Jack does nothing half ass. No piddly 25 - 50% blockages to be cleared with stents for him, oh no. He's goin' big! As always, my love goes out to both of them. But this time most especially to TLML, who will have to put up with him as he recovers.

Really? Who did you talk to, a dealer or did you call Flite Suit?

Flite Suit's Flite Wing.

If at any point during the day you feel nerves taking over, stop and take a deep slow breath, and then smile. If you've just taken a "cleansing breath" and you're smiling, you're probably relatively relaxed. Being relaxed means you'll probably perform better and have more fun.

You have a wife!

No. Instead, I'll be going to a memorial service for someone who actually knew my name.

Here ya go. From the 4th of July celebration in Davis, CA.

Contact the manufacturer of the container you are interested in and ask them what size you need. Why do you think you need the smallest container possible?

I do seem to have a talent for capturing dorky looks on people's faces.

Here's some more. The last one is me, taken by my man as I was taking shots of him swooping.

Here's some.