Pubwoof

You are correct sir, Kolla rocks! Just minutes after posting my last reply, I saw that she already sent me a message here. Talk about proactive. PD should consider giving her a raise. She suggested I email her, which I did so, giving her the specifics as to the whens and hows that would work best for me. It would seem as though I owe you a jump ticket for helping me solve this issue, so, I guess our jump is on me. I'd offer up a case of beer, but I hear that all the beer is going to be in Rantoul anyway . The glass isn't always half-full OR half-empty. Sometimes, the glass is just too damn big.

Thank you tons for the link, I must admit, however, that I'm plenty embarrased since Gary Peek also calls Archway home . Him and I have talked about me going, but not with as much detail as is posted in that link. I'm going to ask him the same question(s) I posted here this coming weekend. Thanks again Phreezone. I never thought about doing that. I guess I was too preoccupied with thoughts of either having my own before the big show, or using the convetion as some sort of toy store. I'm usually working during PD's business hours, so would you happen to know an email address I could use to reach her that way? I'll be there opening day and will definitely seek you out for a jump. We've probably met before ILweenie, I changed my home DZ to Archway on 10/5/02. I did my first jump there with, of all people, the now famous (or infamous) Gary Peek. I've jumped there now about a dozen times at least. It would've been more were it not for the fact that I'm not too keen on the subzero hop-n-pops from the Cessna (too damn cold for me ). I was out for the Halloween boogie, the chili cook-off in December, was away through most of the winter, and started jumping regularly again this past April after they got the turbine back. Anyway, I wear the funny looking black-rimmed eyeglasses and the green-billed Perris Valley cap (from AFF 1), in case that helps you place me. If not, no worries, I'm still working on my infamous image . The glass isn't always half-full OR half-empty. Sometimes, the glass is just too damn big.

First, ILweenie, I read your profile and I too jump at Archway. I'm used to the regular Caravan 12 to 18 or so per load, with the occasional Cessna load on top of that. The traffic there is quite manageable, imo. In fact, I even got to do an 8-way with Lew last weekend (he's as great a guy as everyone says he is). Thanks also to CDRINF for the advice. This was why I was asking, for a broader base of opinions. Virtually everyone at my home DZ thinks I'll be fine and haven't expressed any concerns about me going when I ask them similar questions. I'm only a few hours away from Rantoul by car and have already taken off the vacation time, and, at this point, it's hard for me to think that I'm not going to end up going, if only to drink without sleeping ). Really, I'm just trying to figure out what I should expect from the trip. There's already a big group from the DZ going, and they have a good sense of my skill levels (some of the load organizers also from Archway). I think it's pretty much a conclusion at this point that anything I jump with, other than the Skymaster 230s that I doubt I'd be allowed to take up there with me, will be new. I'm still going to try to arrange a rental or buy something used ahead of time which will allow me ample opportunity to jump it before going. But if that doesn't happen, and, if it seems as though people think I might be jeopardizing anyone else's safety, I may not choose to jump at all. I have no problem opening at 3,000ft as I've done this several times before after RW dives, but I'd hate to pass up on the chance to demo some gear when I'm out there, and I guess I just figured that most jumpers prefer pulling high the first time they jump a canopy, regardless of their skill level. There's not too much I can do about the AAD right now, but I don't worry about hurting myself nearly as much as I do hurting anyone else. I'll have an audible by then, and I'm way too low-time to be freeflying. Also, I've never had any issues whatsoever about altitude awareness, including AFF 1. As long as I can avoid being knocked unconscious during freefall, I think that risk is one I'm willing to take, at least during the short term. I guess I really need to do what I can to get something arranged ahead of time, less I ruin my neck by having to watch y'all in the sky all week instead of being up there myself. I'm still open for more feedback, but I think I have a better sense of what I need to do now. BTW, thanks to Phreezone as well, didn't mean to leave you out of my props

I got into the sport last July, and have been dreaming of the WFFC ever since then. I just finished my 50th jump last weekend, and expect to have my B-License and probably close to 70 jumps in time for the convention (weather permitting). I had a few questions... 1) I was hoping to have my own new canopy by then, either a Sabre 2 or Safire 2 170 (I already have a Javelin and reserve). But, from what I understand about the delays on new canopies this time of year (was told not to expect deliver in less than 8 weeks), I wouldn't likely receive it in time for the convention even if I ordered now. I ought to be able to work something out with my local DZ as far as buying/renting something that's used just to take with me just so I'd get to go. I was wondering how readily available demos were at the convention, and what likelyhood there is that I'd be able to make several jumps on a demo. I know that many manufacturers will be there, but could anyone tell me just how ready they are with demos? Is this something that needs to be arranged ahead of time? Does anyone charge a fee to demo? 2) Assuming I don't blow all my dough on the convention itself, do any of the manufacturers typically have canopies ready for sale at the convention? Are they maybe willing to sell a demo at the right price? 3) Regardless of whether I'm demo'ing or purchasing, I wanted to be able to pull at a reasonable altitude, if not do a full-altitude hop-n-pop to give myself plenty of time to learn the canopy before I have to flare for real at landing. I've read several posts about the pull altitude there being no higher than 3,000 feet, with some leeway. This matters to me a great deal because anything I demo/purchase will mean that I'd be downsizing at the same time. I don't have any canopy control issues, and haven't slid on my ass since about jump 20. Still, I want to approach downsizing very carefully just in case. What chance would I have of being able to open at a higher altitude without endangering anyone else who might be in the air (I'd be willing to land WAY off if that would make any difference)? 4) Related to question 3), I was wondering why the low pull altitude with so many jumpers in the air. The way I see it, a higher-than-normal pull altitude would be advisable since it would only provide more time to adjust landing patterns for the extra traffic I read about (albeit at the expense of less freefall time). Since it isn't done this way, I assume that my thinking on this point must be flawed. Can anyone tell me why? 5) I haven't bought an AAD yet, I'm sure the info is out there somewhere, but does anyone know if they are required at the convention? I'm not too thrilled about jumping without one anyway, but I wouldn't have any cash left to jump with if I bought one ahead of time. 6) In light of the above questions I have (I apologize for the long post), does anyone think I should just stop dreaming and hope that I'll be ready for next year? The glass isn't always half-full OR half-empty. Sometimes, the glass is just too damn big.