scottjaco

Ya, my closing pin is so tight, it would be impossible to stick the pin in that far. A packer must have done this, I don't see this happening on the plane, assuming you have a secure main pin flap? Even then, your closing loop would have to be very lose. I'd kill the packer who did it!! scott

wow, goes to show, it's hard to tell if a canapy is close to blowing up! The canapy looks like it was in pretty good conditions before it blew out, judging by the pictures. When I was on student status, I used to love flying this PD-260 made of F1-11. The colors were bright so I figured it was newer. Some student had a "hard opening" and 2 middle cells were completly blown out! worse than your picture! scott

Did you talk to him after a while? How did he act then? Anyway, the closest thing I've experienced was at Perris. After a good spot, a two way exited before me, I let them fall to a 45 degree angle, then exited. The problem is, they decided to pull at 4K I do freestyle and pull at 3K (if the spot is good). When I got to the ground, the girl said, wow, you fell right past me. She thought I didn't give them enough room before jumping. The guy and girl were both AFF instructors from Las Vegas. SKYGODS! I snapped back and said "Dude, you see that sign over by the manifest office?, it says if you are pulling higher than 3K, you have to inform the pilot and manifest, if you pull high at Perris, you have to jump LAST! to avoid people flying into each other." I pointed out that they were the experts, why are they pulling so high? Basically I put half the blame on them, I flew past this chick at 4K and she looked like a bird, I don't think I was that close! You can have a pretty distorted view in freefall anyway. After talking to them, they actually were pretty cool people.....I was a little defensive at the time because I was new up there and I wasn't going to tolerate any SKYGOD bullshit! If the problem gets too out of hand, get the DZO involved. scott

The website is cool but it seems that you have to belong to this "self important" SKYGOD clique. Why do I have to contribute anything? Why are loads only going up to 9,000ft AGL? Why do I have to do all this other shit beforehand? Why don't they just call it a Boogie.... I haven't contacted them yet but it seems like you have to pay a shitload of money but you might not be able to jump....the loads are few and far between. Only people that are important get first priority to jump first. Isn't that a contradiction to the Burning Man philosophy? This wouldn't happen if they made it into a real boogie! Lets get some otters out there from Perris and set up camp. Nobody will have to pay the $300 entry charge because they'll just drop in from the sky, and leave by plane! I'm not dissing the group of skydivers...I would just like to see them expand their horizons! I want to jump at Burning Man without having to Demo anything and not have smoke canisters shooting smoke out of my ass in freefall. No offense, I think what they are doing is cool, they just need to expand a little! scott

It would be such a trip to wear a reserve on your stomach! How stone age is that! It would be cool to try that shit out, just like driving a T-1 Ford! When I first saw it, I thought it was from the Jurassic period! Imagine the look on peoples faces if I got on a load at Perris......people would be like "you're jumping with that!" ....I love anything vintage in this sport! scott

I think that was a really old photo....look how much younger she looks? scott

Wow, that website is awsome! I would love to jump at burning man......I'll probably have to get in with that camp early so I can make it out next year. scott

At my old dropzone, they had this really old parachute system where you actually wore the reserve on your stomach. The main was on your back and had 3 closing pins. I always wanted to fly it. I think it's about 30 years old but the DZO/Master Rigger says its safe to fly! I wish I tried it, just for fun! scott

Ha! I remember reading an article about Charllote York from Sex and the City (the hot black haired/phsyco one) doing a tandem. I thought LAME! but the article made out like she was this pro skydiver! because she did 1 tandem! Why don't celeberties ever do AFF training and wear their own rigs!! why do they always do tandems? Are they too fucking lazy to get up early and do the six hour training? I also saw Wild On! on the E! network...this stupid chick was acting all sure of herself (doing a tandem OF COURSE!) over Hawaii. She goes to exit the King Air and she spreads here arms and legs as if she were a cat being flushed down a toilet. They did 2 passes and said screw it....she never jumped....LAME! scott

why would a student sit in the TM's lap? In a King Air, everyone sit's in each others laps. 2 rows of people with their backs towards the front of the plane. Even in an Otter or Skyvan, they still need to attach the harness to the TM before exit. It's good that they have that in the waiver! scott

I think women need to have thicker skin in this sport. Sitting on a guys lap or having him do your cheast strap is about the least of your worries......you are about to jump out of an airplane.... Obviously there is a line that can be crossed but I think most guys aren't stupid enough to risk their jobs to "cop a feel"! If your one of these "sensitive/phsyco" chicks....I strongly urge you to request a female tandem master of just take AFF level 1! scott

Well I jump a 94 talon..... I do freeflying so I had the rig updated....newer tighter BOC pouch....more secure reserve pin flap installed. Fixed riser tuck tab...replaced velcro on stearing lines....Main pin flap already had tuck tabs which are in good shape... It all depends..you can take an old rig and update it. I think my rig is just as safe as the next guys..because I maintain the fuck out of my rig. Plus...rigs can spend a lot of time in hybernation. My rig looks like it was used a few years, then spent the rest of the time in a closet. It definatly doesn't have 10 years worth of wear and tear. The main is a Sabre 150 that is in great shape Manufactured in '96 ....the reserve is a Swift Plus 7-cell...manufactured in '93... It looks like it's never even been used! brand new clean white lines. Just cause somthing is old doesn't mean it's not safe as long as it's maintained well. scott

This burning sky demo? It's at Burning man right? Why not rent an Otter or two and do a boggie out there, it would be soo cool, I might actaully pay the $300 buck to go to Burning man if there was somthing worth doing! scott

Are there any other dropzones in your area? Lose the handle and the website. If you use Wrongway people will think it's OK. Personally I wouldn't be so sensitive. This is a hardcore sport with edgy personalities. All new skydivers are hazed to some degree, myself included. I think the reason for this is that there are so many POSER skydivers. They do 1 tandem and they never come back, but damn if I don't see them with a closing pin around their neck! It's funny. When I got my own rig, it showed people that I was serious. They saw that I was making a true commitment, as we all know rigs aren't cheap!!! scott

Please read my post in the Incidents section... "my broken fibula at Perris". If you still want to downsize, its totally up to you. If you want to downsize, the smaller canapies are a lot of fun but are unforgiving. scott

I think you should take it slow! Read my post in the incidents section titled "My broken fibula at Perris" After reading it, you can decide what you want to do. Don't get influenced by the swoopers at you DZ, they have a zillion jumps under their belt...... The smaller the canopy, the less forgiving it is, BUT SMALLER CANOPIES ARE A HELL OF A LOT MORE FUN!! It depends on how aggressive you want to be! scott

I think you should hire a plane to drop you off at Burning Man.....it would be a hell of an entrance! and you wouldn't even have to pay. There is lots of open space to land your canopy. My question is why do people go to Burning Man...it sounds like a nightmare.....dust storms...hippies..at least thats what I saw on the Burning Man homepage! As skydivers...we need to REPRESENT! They should set up a boggie out there....then I would go! scott

they don't switch off after deployment? does that mean that I have to listen to that annoying beep all the way to the ground or does it just beep for a few seconds? scott

I'm interested in finding an old Dytter. The idea is that I want a cheap audible for under 100 bucks. I only need 1 tone anyway...not 3! set it to 3.5K and pull at 3K (good spot pending) Is the original dytter as acurate with altitude as the Pro Dytter and ProTrack? Is there any reason I should shell out the 200 buck for the proDytter? thanks, Scott

I'm actually interested in hearing why you don't like cypres....don't worry..I won't freak out. I've already explained the cost vs. risk ratio to you guys but I'm interested in why you don't like the company....... thanks, scott

Do you ever read the fatality reports in Parchutist? 3 out of 4 deaths are people who have AAD's. I found that interesting....most people fuck up on landings (myself included). Why is it that when ever the report says "the Cypres was sent to Airtec for inspection", we never get a follow up? are they hiding somthing? I've read that they sent the unit in for inspection on quite a few people who have bounced, and never heard any explanation why the unit didn't fire...... Go to skydivingfatalities.com if you think I'm full of shit...... Like I said before...(you guys take everything I say out of context) if you want one, buy one...... I'm just saying, because of what I've read and heard.... I personally don't like the company because they don't seem to disclose why their units don't fire properly. Sorry to insult you're fragile ego....I'm just being a vigilant consumer.... scott p.s. quit taking everything I say so damn seriously!...this discussion is for fun and education.. What? are you a shareholder for Airtec or somthing?

It's harder to get out of a pasanger jet in flight? Why is that? scott

The problem I have with Cypres is that the company never seems to admit when they are wrong! That makes me nervous...they always blame the jumper.....and it shuts off when it misfires so when you bounce...all your friends and family think you're an idiot for not turning it on! If you want one, great.......The cost vs risk ratio is the reason I don't bother to buy one....I'm gonna pull on time...If I bounce......shit happens.... scott

Wow, what a pain in the ass! I can really see both sides of the issue.... You don't want to check in a delicate piece of equipment. Have you considered buying a large container or suitcase that would protect the parachute if it was tossed around? That way you could check it in...... Also Whuffos just don't get skydivers...period. I hate to say this, but if I wasn't a skydiver, I would think it was pretty fishy to have someone bring a parachute on board. I understand your argument.... there is no law to prevent you from bringing a parachute on board. The fact is...when you are in an Airport, you sign away your civil rights...... they can stop you for ANY reason...the color of your hair, skin, anything for any reason. We can thank terrorists for this! These agents make $5.50 an hour and really don't know or care about skydivers...they ARE acting on instinct, after all, that is all they have to go on in many situations. I would just buy a container to put the parachutes in, check it in to baggage and make sure to get the insurance if anything happens to it. A parachute is a means of escape...they probably don't want a potential terrorist to have that option! So...I think your right and wrong at the same time! scott

Hmm...."you asked people if they knew who I was, and no one did" Wow my feelings are starting to get hurt here! I've been jumping there EVERY WEEK since March... after Air Adventures West closed down. Usually on weekdays. As far as tickets go....I didn't know that $16 dollars was a temporary special. I thought that was the normal price. If I was wrong about that, I'm sorry... As far as your comment about people not knowing who I am.....YOU JUST PROVED MY POINT! At my old dropzone(AAwest) people took me in like family...We would all go out to dinner afterwards and hang out, then we would go back to the dropzone and have a huge bonfire...and drink alot! I would always have a place to spend then night...either in a trailer or at a jumpmasters house. It was the same 20 jumpers every weekend, we were one big disfunctional family I loved it, some of the best times I had up there were just sitting on the couches, talking about skydiving! I really miss that place...we are having a reunion at the end of August at Monterey Bay..... I know when I started going to Perris, I would get a lot of attitude....(everyone warned me about the skygods). I've always tried to be very outgoing by saying hi to people I recognized. I've also met some people to do 2 ways with which is great. I'm cool with the Skygod mentality, I figure...the main reason I'm there is to SKYDIVE...if people want to be my friend, it's a bonus...but if I'm all alone.. it doesn't phase me...I get so much just from skydiving! Thats just where I'm coming from...I don't want to sound like I have an attitude...I'm just a little jaded right now...I'll be up there soon..I get the cast off on tuesday! scott