ReLLiK75

I used to have no problems on landing. Now, for whatever reason (and especially on low/no wind days) I crash and burn on all my landings. Fortuntely, I know how to PLF, so aside from a few aches and scratches, I haven't gotten hurt--yet. It's also a pain in the ass to have to come home after jumping and clean grass stains from my rig. I'm not really sure what I'm doing wrong that's causing my terrible landings. I've tried two stage flaring, but it just doesn't slow me down enough. Same with a single, smooth flare all the way in. Both results are the same--me coming in way too fast and having to PLF. These terrible landings are really killing my motivation to jump, too. I really want to have someone watch my landing, but then I have to wait for a no/low wind day and hope that this is not the landing I'm finally going to get hurt on. Like I said, I used to have no problems with my landings. I don't do any high performance approaches or anything. I've got about 50 jumps on my Pilot 168 and I know my break lines are not too long because I can look up, and with my toggles all the way up, I see a nice gentle bow in the lines. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I may do to prevent my crash landings? Aside from coaching and actually having someone watch me crash, is there any other way to break this slump??? Thanks! __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

Myself and another guy who is experiened at CRW got out at 11k last weekend and pulled. The plan was for him to bump me on the butt with his canopy and then I was supposed to wrap my feet around his A lines. He ended up chasing me around the sky for the entire jump. My canopy was just too fast for him to catch me. And if I sat in breaks or on rear-risers, I just floated around while he kept sinking away. But I've got to say that sub-terminal opening at full altitude is pretty damn interesting!!! __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

I met a guy the other day who is HALO certified and has a military rig. If he takes his certification to a DZ, say Deland, can he jump even though he is not USPA licensed? He really wants to do some jumping so I told him I'd try to find out whether or not his HALO cert is any good in the recreational world of skydiving. __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

If you're traveling with two rigs, put one in the overhead bin and put the other one on!

Wow....all these posts about not being able to jump with a tandem make me feel great about my flying skills and the confidence the TMs have in me. I've got 125 jumps and about 10 of them are tandems. Of the 10, I think about 4 are full blown 3-ways where myself and another jumper dock up on the tandem. But in the cases where it's just me, I'll only jump with the tandem if they're not getting video so I can rear float the exit. __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

You could just by an Aerodyne Icon and not worry about options because it already comes with pretty much everything! __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

Can't believe no one has mentioned Fins, Boat Drinks, Last Mango in Paris, or Gypsies in the Palace. Those are some more great ones!!! If you're able to dig back a bit try to find Ace. It's one of his older songs (a little more country flair and I hate country), but still a great song. __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

I'm going to be in Vegas for a few days this coming weekend and was thinking about bringing my rig. I know one DZ there won't let you jump unless you've been trained there and I've been told another is mainly a tandem factory with very few fun jumpers, but I really can't tell anything about the others. Can anyone recommend one of the DZs that will definitely let me jump? Also, how far is it from the strip? I'm going to be in town for a company meeting so I'm planning on trying to get some of the guys who've never jumped before to make a tandem. Maybe the DZO will appreciate the business and let me jump..... __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

Well, at least that's what USA Today had to say about him as one of his hobbies. Since he's from Chicago, has anyone met him? Is he even on DZ.com??? I wonder if he'll try to BASE off the new building he's going to be managing once it's complete.... __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

I can understand an ealier comment about if you rent it, you own it until you give it back. BUT..... If I go in to rent a rig, and I'm given a rig that's already packed and "ready to go", and then I have an unfixable mal on the very first jump with that rig, I'm sorry, but there's no way in hell I'm paying for the repack or anything that got lost as a result of the chop. Now, if I packed the mal, of course, I'll shell out the money, but that would be the only time. Am I alone in my feelings or just completely wrong????? __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

Yep....I'm going to wear it on the chest strap....but Damn! I'm having the worst luck trying to jump this thing!!! Went to Deland today and the winds were gusting up to 30mph so there was no way I was going to make the inaugural jump. I just hope the winds aren't nearly as strong tomorrow at the Z-hills boogie. Ohh...and I forgot to mention the cool t-shirt you get from Gravity Gear when you order from them! __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

Nope...Got it under the introductional promotion. And what a sweeet deal!!!! If you're looking to get one and want great service give Gravity Gear a call! __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

I'm defnitely going to enjoy jumping this thing. One thing I thought was pretty interesting when I had it open earlier today was that the closing flaps are numbered. I guess they did that to be kind to the drunken skydiver trying to repack his rig after throwing down one too many!. Actually, the quality of the rig seems to be first rate. They even throw in a snazzy all metal and very unique hook knife which is much cooler than the ones you'd buy from the gear shops. __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

I finally got my brand new Icon System today!!!! It's got a Pilot 168 in it with a Smart Reserve 175. My wait was 10 weeks from my order date, so not too far off what they're quoting. Now I just gotta go jump it!!! __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

I've got no problem doing a naked jump. My first naked jump was from a 182 with 3 women along for the ride . Let me just say the worst part of the jump was having to stand out on the step while everyone was getting into position--that propt blast sucks when you're not wearing a jump suit . Anyway, the jump was a blast. I came in for a landing right next to a pickup truck full of people just waiting to see if I actually would jump naked (most of them girls). Once I got back to the packing area I just let it hang until I could get my rig off and untie my boxers from my chest strap. Can't wait to do it again! Only this time, I hope I'm not the only nude jumper on the load __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

There's a handy little diode called the Gunn Diode. It emits microwaves. All the little boxes that hang above automatic door openers at your local grocery store contain one. Ever notice how whenever you drive by a store that has one, your radar detector goes off on either the X or K band??? That's why. A Gunn Diode can be purchased from the manufacturer (check the Anarchist Cookbook for more specific details), and "tuned" to the proper microwave frequency to act as a jammer. So if you really want one, there's a hint on where to start to build one yourself! __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

Bush--unfortunately, you just can't shave it to make it go away But he sure does have a purty mouth... __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

I need something that will work with a Sanyo phone. I know how to get a jpeg into my phone, but I'd really like an animated screensaver or something... __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

Does anyone have any skydiving related screensavers for sprint phones???? I'd really like to get my hands on something to help personalize my phone. __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

Bought mine from Gravity Gear!!! All I have to say is what a great place to do business with! __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

I've ordered a complete system and was told that I should hopefully have it by the end of Feb. That brings it right in line with the 8 week delivery date I was originally quoted. I can't give you comparisons on the Pilot vs the Sabre, but I will say that I've flown the Pilot 188. I demo'd one when Aerodyne came out for a boogie at my DZ, and then GravityGear (where I bought the rig from) sent me a 188 to demo until my rig arrives. All I have to say about the Pilot is--wow!!! what a canopy. Flies great and lands even better! I weigh in around 175 and was pretty happy with the way the 188 flew for me, but for my system, I ordered a 168. One thing Aubrey (from Aerodyne) told me before I flew the 188 is that I may notice some end-cell closure on opening just due to the fact that at 175, I wasn't really loading a 188 the way it was meant to be loaded. Sure enough, on my first jump, there was some slight closure, but it quickly corrected itsself. Now I had been flying a Falcon 215 over the last year. I knew that eventually I wanted to be on a 170 size main. I've been demoing the 188 simply to give myself some experience on the smaller ZP canopy before going to the 168. Depending on your experience level, you may want to consider the 168 vs the 188, but I'd ask around at your DZ to see if the more experienced jumpers who know you think you'll be able to handle the 168. __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

Thanks! Now that's twice in one day

Well, I finally did it. It took me almost ten months, but I made my 100th jump today. And it was the last load of the day. There weren't a lot of people around so we ended up doing a three way tube exit out of a King Air from 14.5K. It was awesome! We picked up some serious speed before one of the guys was thrown off. We were supposed to then form up into a round and do a horny gorilla, but we just couldn't seem to make that last point.....Oh well..... __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

Well Aerodyne was at the Williston Boogie today. They showed up with a bunch of gear for people to demo. I got to demo a Pilot 188 and let me say what a great canopy!!! This thing is awesome. There were a bunch of people jumping all different sizes and all everyone had to say about the canopy they were demoing were great things. Everyone simply loved flying the Pilot, regardless of canopy size. I've ordered one of the complete Icon systems with a Pilot 168 and after flying the 188 today and actually seeing the Icon container, I cannot wait until I get my rig!!! Way to go Aerodyne!!!! __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?

I'm defnitely up for sharing tunnel time! I'll be there on Saturday...was supposed to jump on Friday, but I got sent to Denver last minute so I won't be home until Friday night. Anyway...I think the weather is looking kinda crappy for Sunday, so if that's the case, I'd love to share some tunnel time! __________________________________________ Have you Got Flare?