Falko

hilarious What I've taken away from this thread is to REPLACE a locking stow (tube), as soon as it shows any sign of damage. I can remember using that last black locking stow for many jumps while it was almost torn (just 2mm or so left). The "plan" was to replace it after it would brake. Now I know better, thanks everyone! Bag dump sounds like a really serious malfunction. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

If one feels like giving something to the community, but doesn't want to give blood on a regular basis (for the reasons mentioned above), maybe they want to join a Bone Marrow Donor Database at least? Only requires giving a one-time blood sample. And maybe you'll get to save a life one day? See this thread also: vibes for divingduck (leukemia) Links: National Marrow Donor Program National Children's Leukemia Foundation Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei (German bone marrow donor database) I did it and it really makes you feel good. It's such a tragedy that people die of blood cancer, when they maybe would have had a chance had YOU been registered. Don't mean to sound like a tv ad here, but I believe it's worth giving a thought. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Well said, I second that. 220 jumps in 12mo, so much for my addiction. If I had more time and money... oh well... Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

My first 18-way, 4 weeks ago in Castellon, Spain. I'm really not into big formations (scary stuff), but once you're there it rocks! Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Nor is loosing a regular customer. That also amounts to money, much more money IMHO than the price for a single ticket. He keeps a healthy balance. IMHO the only real asset a DZ has are happy skydivers. How can you put things like "good reputation" in numbers? You don't see or feel the lost money of the customer that never came to your DZ because someone told him that the DZO is greedy and doesn't really care about skydivers. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

He might be right "on paper", since he is the owner and why would he have to pay? Fair enough... But he should know that it makes you guys "feel as if" all of you paid for his ticket. If I was him I would have given you the money for the 6th slot back before boarding. These 15$ or whatever really don't make the difference for him do they? I remember 2 weeks ago our 4-way team were the only 5 people in the sunset load of a Grand Caravan, just because DZO is a really cool guy. That's how you keep a DZ running because people will be positive and spread the word, rather than posting on DZ.com that they're a little pissed off. (The Caravan actually needs like 12 people or so to break even with the costs... we were like "Yeeehaaaah a plane of our own". 9 Minutes to altitude or so...) Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

I thought we were talking high speed mal anyway? If it was a low speed mal, e.g. something above me that somehow flies, I would not mess with my reserve of course, but throw my PC and hope for a good main behind me. The picture I had in mind was a spinning/streaming high speed mal (like, reserve torn in pieces by the stabilizer). If at 13k, and given the adrenaline didn't turn my brain into a vegetable, I might take a second to consider what to do before just tossing my PC into the unpredictable crap above me. The deciding factor here is vertical speed, as I would be afraid the PC will get entangled with the reserve-crap before line stretch. The Pod would get entangled too etc etc, and then I'm definitely fucked. (Well, I say that now, sitting comfortably, but in the very situation I might just panic and toss my PC anyway.) Agreed, in most cases. This thread was pretty much hypothetical from the start, so let's not take it too serious(ly?). Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Uhh... does that mean what I think it means? Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Well if he'd had a mal, he would've been f**ked... How would he have reached his handles? (But I bet he packed that Spectre (?) extra carefully... doh! ) Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

That's Joe Jennings "Good Stuff" DVD, and the dude is Greg Gasson. ... and rumours say that he had his hand attached to the leg strap with some sort of safety cord. (Just to make sure the snatch force doesn't pull the rig out of his hands) Don't know if there is any truth to it. Later on in the video it's obvious that he is not attached to the rig as he climbs around, but I assume it wouldn't have been a problem to dispose of the cord once the canopy is open. A cool stunt, but as a "skydiving achievement" it doesn't impress me at all. The Arizona Airspeed chapter, THAT'S impressive! edit: billvon had posted while I was writing ... Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Checking alti while tracking: 1300m... "Whow still high!" 1200m... "I could do this forever!" 1100m... "I want to keep oooooooooon" 1000m... [ * ] (That little feeling popping up inside that tells me that I should do something NOW) so I reach, grab, throw: 900m... "Ah there it is! Cool! Now opeeeeeeenaaAH--GOOD." open canopy, looking around: 800m... "IT'S ALL MINE! I AM KING! YEEEEHAAAAA!!!" edit: 100m ~ 330ft Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

How is she doing with the chemo? Any news? Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Well, please let me elaborate on this as follows: I SKYDIVE BECAUSE IT'S THE F*##IN GREATEST THING ON EARTH AND IT BLOWS MY MIND EVERY TIME AND GIVES ME THE BEST KICK EVER AND I SIMPLY LOVE IT AND TO MAKE ME STOP YOU'D HAVE TO FRIGGIN KILL ME!!! ... and so on and so forth. Does that answer your question? Oh and how did I start: With a tandem from the Pink Skyvan. I was hooked for life exactly 3.8 seconds after exit. Started AFF 2 months later. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

In this little "mind job" thread it's a malfunctioning reserve. For example, if torn in pieces by the tail stabilizer and all you have is a streamer. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Same here, given enough altitude. This thread is good for creating nightmares. Right now I have nothing better to do, so here's what I would (hopefully) do in case of an unsurvivable reserve malfunction: (1) Check if left cutaway cable is still in riser housing (2) Check if right cutaway cable is still in riser housing (3) Check if cutaway handle is still in place (4) Touch my hand deploy (5) Check alti (6) Cutaway the reserve risers (If I only have a plastic knife I might choose to cut the lines rather than the risers. This would take a little longer but I wouldn't want the knife to break half way through.) (7) Back in freefall switching the knife from right hand to left hand (Lineover on main?) (8) Deploy main and hope I didn't forget to cock my PC. If I discover a problem on steps 1 to 4 ... well... uhm, any suggestions? Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Just curious: Why do you ask? BTW, there are some nice things you can do with that data if interpolated (using MS excel or another program). I played around with a subtitle filter and the result was this Divx-Movie (16MB) of my 20th jump. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

My 2 favorite sig lines: "Schöner packen, länger leben" Translates: "Pack more accurately, live longer" Picked it up in a packing hall of some DZ I was visiting... can't remember where. "Everyday life's just a detour on my way to the dropzone" My ex and I came up with this on a Sunday evening, heading home from the DZ and wishing it was friday already... Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Did she have her blood compared with the DKMS (German bone marrow donor file)? It's the biggest bone marrow donor database worldwide. Maybe this is a stupid question and it has already been done, but I don't know much about the US health system other than that it's freaking expensive (no offense ). English version of the website: http://www.dkms.de/asp/english/ Best wishes to her! I hope she'll be alright!

AAAAAAAAAAH!!!! Am envious. I hope for you he doesn't get how much money he could make with it. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Well said, I agree. As for me, I wouldn't jump without a Cypres. (Needless to say I belong to Matthews "subclass B".) I'd even go as far as to say I wouldn't jump with someone who doesn't have their AAD turned on. But for rather selfish reasons: 1) Shit happens. If I accidentally knock them out (not necessarily my fault or bad move), and they go in, I'm bound for a padded cell. 2) Even if I had nothing to do with them becoming incapable to pull, and I'd fail to reach them and deploy for them, I'd feel guilty for the rest of my life. I know people will disagree with me. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Same here. I didn't like the flapping around of the (standard size) chest strap in freefall. This way, it stays where it should be, especially on deployment.

Am envious. Got a video? Still looking fwd to my first balloon jump. Only 1 heli jump until now... yeeeehaaa! Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Bwahahah! Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

I've heard a very similar story, where the TI even bit the students ear off, but still couldn't get his hands free. They went in, and after that incident a big discussion about mandatory cypres for tandems came up. Maybe just another urban legend??? Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

My sister did a Tandem when I had about 20 jumps. My foster-dad did one when I had around 180. Never seen him so excited! Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)