mx757

Tink, my buddy at the FAA once showed me a list of all the things FAA can wavier and acceptable accodmations for deaf pilots, one eye, wheel chairs pilots, amputee pilots..etc, etc. I couldn't beilive all the stuff they had on the list. I was surprised! try calling Marty Conroy at the FAA Portland OR FSDO [Flight Standards District Office] He used to skydive for many years, and he's quite aware of disabled skydivers, pilots etc he'll help you find the rules. he'll be glad to help you.

you need to take a FAA physical from a approved FAA doctor. You can get a list of Dr's from the FAA or call and ask around at you local FBO . Here in Texas most of the Doctors are charging 85 bucks for a 3rd class medical, but one local doctor only charges 35 bucks. In my case I'm deaf and a left arm amputee. I could not get a medical due to those to reasons. you can then request a wavier from the FAR's [Federal Aviation Regulations] I don't have the book here, but its some where in part 61 or 63 I beilive, your failed medical will be sent to FAA in OKC for review. they then have the local FAA FSDO [Flight StandardsDistrict Office] either issue you a medical or SODA [Statement of Demostrated Ability] or both. once you get these you just present them to FAA dr on your next visit to renew your medical and they'll isue it on the spot. also FAA areomedical in OKC OK can be SLOW sometimes. I rember waiting like 3 or 4 months for them to review my medical case way back in 1980... they might be better today. my Medical was issued with restrictions. not valid for flying where radio use is required (due my being deaf) and must wear artfical limb (because I was a left arm amputee I later took a special flight test with the FAA showed them I could fly safely w/o my prothesis limb and thet them issued me the SODA certficate to fly without prothesis limb. Mike Boland

I'll let you know,.. when my new racer arrives...Racer rig is finished, but the Angelfire Reserve is stillin production..i'll have it in??? soon I hope. Mike

My favorite beer is "the Next one" Mike

Anybody got an old serviceable SST or Wonder Hog collecting dust? I do. a 1976 or 77 SST Racer. free to a good home. better hurry one guy wants it to cut up for rigging practice. it has a round?? reserve can't recall type / size and a strato cloud delta main red / white Mike

1. Whats your name? Mike 2. How old are you? I'm only as old as the woman I'm with. no woman here so I'm 46 3. Why did you decide to start jumping out of airplanes? I landed at airport in cessna on day for fuel.. got talking with DZO. made a jump 2 months later.. 4. Are you single or taken? been sinle most of my life.. 5. Do you have kids? Thank god, none. 6. What do you drive? F-150 and 2 VW Westfalia Campers 7. Have you ever done a kisspass? many 8. Where do you live? Ft. Worth TexASS and hate it here, but I love my job. 9. Do you have any pets? used to have a dog, a beagle, but Maynard died... 10. How many jumps do you have? 860 11. What color eyes do you have? Bloodshot 12. What is your nationality? Hentz 57 13. Have you ever dated someone you met off the internet? Yes 14. Favorite Movie? none really..I don't watch movies much. goes with being deaf.. 15. What do you do when you arent skydiving? Work! I long 12 to 16 hours per days Fixing aircraft for both AA and FedEx 6 days a week off on Sundays 16. Have you ever BASE jumped? No 17. If not... do you want to? Been thinking about it 18. Do you have siblings? 3 brothers and Twin sister 19. Where do you want to travel to the most? Seriously, The South Pole. Winter is my favorite season.. 20. What's your favorite color? Blue 21. Where was the last place you flew to ( not skydiving? I was flying around today in the Cessna 172 I'm deaf private pilot flew from 52F to Denton to oklahoma.. and back.. joy ride.

I once asked old wise man, " who enjoyes sex most? man or woman? " his reply: when you have an itch which feels better the finger or the ear? Mike

Thanks J.E. I just got off internet / phone call [im deaf remember??] with Nancy at Jump shack and decided to go ahead and put a 7 cell Angelfire reserve in my new rig and retire the Cirrus 5 cell SQ. reserve. It's 20n years old any way. Jump Shack does not have any in stock, so it'll be a few weeks till it's made. any one considering a new Rig, talk to Nancy at Jump shack, they are a pleasure to deal with. Mike

Well.. as I said in 20 years, its never been used. nice to have it though..but after giving it considerable though normal right / left cutaway / Reverve one handed operation vs a SOS system I decided to go with a SOS. being a left arm amputee I felt it'd be a safer set up for me. back in 1984 when I bought the Cirrus I was maybe 165 pounds..so I'm going to replace it. With new Reserve.. I haven't decided with what? Raven 3? PD? Jump Shacks Anglefire? Or? I havent been paying much attention to the new gear on Market..I think I'll get me something in the 220 / 240 area. But rig is already made, i'll have to check with jump shack to see what fits it. so what dz.commer think? Mike

Thanks.. that was my thought on the PD-176 small for me.. Mike

I'm a left arm amputee / deaf jumper. I bought a new Racer rig set up with a SOS Single operation reserve / cutaway handle my current rigs are set up normal reserve / cutaway but I got to feeling that being a left arm amputee, as SOS system would be better for me. today I got message from Nancy at jump shack: note: my Cirrus reserve is a 5 cell based on old para-flight's DC-5 it's never been jumped. Nancy's msg: I packed the Cirrus Reserve into your new rig and found the Cirrus to be very BIG - bigger than it's published volume number. It goes, but it is indeed tight. Published volume of the Cirrus is 468. When we measured this one in the volume cylinder, it was 498! Before the next pack job, you should consider another reserve. But that's not the only reason. A modern reserve - even one of less square footage is going to set you down easier than this canopy. This reserve is 20 years old, and square reserve technology has come a long way. You said you were considering a Raven 3 - that would work. Or I could offer you an AngelFire 196 or 226 I also have a used PD 176 sitting on my shelf that just came out of one of our demo rigs so I'm going get a new reserve when i come down on my reserve I just want to land soft so i'm planning get a bigger one.. I weigh 220 lbs w/o gear so any body got any recommendations? Angelfires? PD? Ravens? what does list think of Jump Shacks Angelfire reserves? suggestions ? thanks Mike

Fedex is good about tracking your shipment and if you insure it. they'll pay for damages or loss mike

I'm planning to come... waiting on my new rig. Nancy from Jump shack emailed me today she hope's to ship it tonight. hopefully i'll get it by Friday! Mike

100 hr and annual inspection are the same. who can do / sign it off is diffrent a A&P can do both but only the IA can sign off the Annual as for the jet. they's no 100 hours on those the FAA will have a schedule where everything is checked / maintenanced done on it say every 18 months or so.. A checks , B checks C checks etc. Mike

I'll be there... deaf 1 arm skydiver.. Mike

I remember meeting you there. glad to hear your "back in the air" i'd like to jump with you someday.. hope to see you at next DWR in 2005 Mike

Why do you need your hearings on in the jump plane? aircraft is very noisey, and why do you need them on in freefall?? nothing to hear but noise.. las and ?? L&B that danish company that makes the dytter makes a LED light that goes off when dytter sounds visual instead of audio ask John Woo he has one.. you place it in corner of your helmet where you can see it go off.. lot camera people are jumping with them now too.. as for hearing aids I suggest you have a zippered or Velcroed padded pocket sewn inside and place the hearing aids inside after your dirt dive and then put them back on after you land.. Mike

I take my hearing aids off when I suit up, I have a special pocket sewn into inside if my jumpsuit. it's padded and I put them in there.. I don't need them when I suit up till after I land.. I wouldn't jump with on either.. my new digital hearings cost over $4,500 each. Lucky me. My insurance pays for them EVERY year. 90% of the cost. They used to pay a 100%... Mike

there two jumpers that are both blind. there was a web site of one.. it was a riot to read some of his adventures.. jumping blind...off airport landings, no radio's..one jumps in Ohio, other is in washingtom state I beilive. John Fleming?? I thnk was the name.. I'm sure someone on this site will know... Mike

I'd like hang out with you when Sun goes down...Mike

Elfanie, I "think" John Woo" still has a few.. I bought two from him at DWR @ Perris and I have NO idea what happened to them.. I guess they got picked up by mistake?? i'm going to see if he stil has some? Mike

Hi Greg, yes, I remember that jump and your filming it. it was fun! I was looking for you last couple of WFFC but Karen Lewis (lewmounst) told me you weren't here.. good to see you again, hope to meet you again soon... Mike

J.E, Got this link from Jody my Ex-g/f... http://www.harriscomm.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=39_192>http://www.harriscomm.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=39_192 CD's with sign language on them.. Mike

I went to school for my Airframe powerplant license at metro tech in OKC OK DZ OSC at cushing was ok at first then there was never people around to jump.. too hot or all went to dallas and later mike palmer became a jerk so I left Oklahoma hate that state i'll never jump in OKlahoma again..