flyingferret

I saw this and thought it was pretty cool. There does not seem to be an absolute definition on the website, but it sounds like these guys are gonna ride a balloon to 132K and then cut their gondola away. They talk about freefall aerodynamics and stuff like that. http://www.qinetiq1.com

I have using the method of reading their code and writing a page to get ads for a while. You can use this page to get anything, you just have to have the right link. That is where reading their HTML code comes in. But the attached file is an html page with one link, you can right click to get the file. Okay I just realized upon trying to post, I can only include pic formats. So, I am naming it .jpg you are gonna have to rename it to test.html. P.S. I did NOT supply this and I am not violating copyright! Malachi

Man, I just found out about this when Doc got his Parachutist, somehow his always beats mine. Actually the jump is related to a tradition in the Aggie Corps of Cadets. I will let Dave explain the whole thing if he wants to. I have to say that was one of the coolest jumps I have been on. I was about 100 feet above and behind him and Bruce , the camera man. It was awesome. Dave had maybe 30 or 40 jumps at the time. It was so cool. We had talked about it for a while, and he pulled it off big time. CONGRATS Dave. BEER!! Malachi

/me rummaging around for that handy leg-mounted walkman

Well I agree with all points in this discussion. A massive tragedy has happened, and I recognize that. I did not want to jump on Wed, or Thurs. I was too solemn to pay much attention in class on Tuesday. However, I am eager to see general aviation reinstated. I understand the commercial ban. However...nothing will change at small airports...NOTHING. They are not sending FAA marshals there. They will not be monitoring any more than ATC has in the past. So they are not waiting to put anything in effect at the airports. My hunch is that they are trying to find all American (and I use that word in a strictly geographical sense) connections to this tragedy before opening airspace. It makes finding someone easier if they cannot leave the country. And spotting an illegal plane is a lot easier when all planes in the sky are illegal. But they will have to lift the ban soon...aviation is too important to our economy not to. AND...they are. FAA WX Brief (for DFW area) told me earlier this afternoon that general aviation will be reinstated "mid-day tomorrow" Malachi

Dove, I agree with you. Jumping through thick clouds is totally different than punching a thin layer. Yeah, I have punched a couple layers, but nothing more than a second or two of freefall time, and it blew in under us, and would have been almost impossible to miss. I would rather pop a small cloud on a clear day, than jump on a hazy day. Sure it is not clouds, but a lot of times haze is worse. Especially toward sunset you get slant-line visibility when pilots cannot see to other altitudes through haze. But my personal favorite is a hop n pop at 11K to just fly around the clouds, swoop em, hook em, run canyons, etc. I usually never go inside them, but it is so much fun. I seem to be the only one on my DZ who likes this. But then again, I want to try CReW, so maybe I am a bit wierd.

Well, guys I can take two TX jumpers out of the guessing. Myself, and AggieDave. Unless David has had incredibly luck since he called me two days ago, I can say that he is not dating Kelly. As for myself, well Kelly is very cute, but she is not mine. And of course I am biased, but my gf looks better, breasts and otherwise. But I don't think she would ever let me post her pic. You ever notice how many good-looking girl think they aren't? I am gonna guess Sangiro, just for the heck of it. Heck, his name is at the top of the hierarchy. However, I do agree that guessing would be pretty damn hard, out of 4K users, we don't really know who lives in the South, and if you know everyone's canopy colors, you are here way too much. Malachi

Some guy tried to land a power paraglider on the Statue of Liberty.

Paula, That sounds like an awesome jump!! Man, that would be sweet, over Johnson, mmmmmmm. Well, I have no advice, since most of my jumps are out of a 182, 30-ways are a bit off limits. But, have fun! I would love that view. Malachi

Dave, Excellent post. Of course this all offtopic from piercings, but the anti-Aggie flame started it. Don't you love it how people that are 'open-minded' are always hurling the title of close-minded around? It they were open-minded it would mean not harassing other people for being different. People want to get pierced? Fine I don't. Don't call me closed minded and assault Aggies. Granted the original comments, about WTF would pierce their nipples was a little much. But you did not say it. Anyway, your post was excellent. I agree and I think we stand together on some issues. Besides Austin scares me

I still fondly remember the 2-way AggieDave and I pulled at 4k. I would gladly do it again. But, we were both trained on S/L. I think that is one disadvantage to AFF, students are almost scared of deploying where we do all our static line jumps. My lowest hop and pop thus far was at 2.3, and I pulled going through 2. My lowest preferred altitude for hop and pop would be 2.5, but if the clouds started to sink while I was in the plane I would go as low as 2. This is with one qualification -- I packed for sub-terminal. I jump a Sabre and the opening time varies greatly based on the packjob. Terminal jumps usually give me at least 500feet. I have packed subterminal and been open probably 100 or 200 feet under the plane. Honestly, I am not sure where the USPA recommended open container altitude is, it used to be 2K, but I do remember that malfunction decision altitude is at 1800, and cutaway at 1600. I am sure you could cut these in half and do fine, but I would not do it without reason. In an emergency, 50/50 chance, I would probably go out as low as 750, but I would be pulling as I stepped off. After all remember a Cypres fires at 750, but that is counting on terminal velocity. Leaving a flailing plane you will not have that. I am not so much worried about the chute, but the altitude loss while on the step and pulling. Malachi

Well, I work at an ISP and at least in Central Texas, the net has been hell the last few days. Everyone is still trying to figure out why. So far, we have found two reasons. A) a train wreck in Baltimore took out UUNET's eastern backbone. B) there is a new IIS worm out and a nasty one-- http://www.eeye.com/html/Research/Advisories/AL20010717.html Malachi

Well FFF, I have to back Dave on this one. His won't run near that until he gets finished modding it, which is rough while in school. But there are quite a few VDubs out there that will break a 10 sec quarter. It has a lot to do with weight, and they are very light. I have seen VDubs make runs that beat a lot of stock or pro-stock sportcars. I cannot think of any sites at the moment, most of the ones I have were in magazines or at bugins. But believe me it is very possible for a aircooled bug with a 1835cc or maybe 2110cc to break 10 seconds. Malachi

I jump a Sabre 190 and love it. I bought this canopy when I was still a student on jump no. 11. Ironically, during my student career when it was packed by a packer...the openings SUCKED. Believe it or not, since I started packing it at jump 15, I have not had a really hard opening since. I now have 65 jumps on it, and packing is definitely a factor. I pack it just like spectre230 said and it performs well. Sloppy pack jumps do not do as well, but my normal packs give me about 500-1000 snivel with some end cell closure. Personally I love openings like that. I also pack it without rolling and stuffing if I plan to do a sub terminal jump. A few notes: as has been said PD did change the size of the slider in the 90s because of hard openings. Canopy at 190 and/or above (I cannot remember if 190 is included or not) have an extra brake line. I stow these with a small rubber band near the canopy, by looping them and banding them to the next closest brake line. (That is hard to explain in words...ask a rigger before you attempt it) I have been told that stowing this line makes a difference...I am not certain as I have always stowed them. Malachi

Well, I actaully like Cessnas. Don't get me wrong I like big planes too. I have jumped a King Air, Twin Otter, the ill-fated Single Otter, and several C-182s. I like the fast ride to altitude in big planes. But there is something comfortable about a Cessna to me. It is how I was 'raised', the majority of my jumps are out of a 182. It just feels like home for me. The sky seems bigger when your plane is smaller. Besides....look at all the exits, In the V, hanging off the front of the strut, backflip off the step....and hanging inverted with your feet on the wing. I would like to see you do anything of those out of an otter. Of course, there are still a few rounds at my DZ too. But hey guys, there is more to skydiving then new equipment or when to pull. It is friends and nostalagia....at least to me. So, hail the to the skies of 182s and PCs. Malachi

Pyke, I don't have any jumps on a VooDoo. However, I thought I would say a bit about Rigging Innovations. I jump a Talon2 and am extremely pleased. I bought it used and was lucky to get a container that fit almost perfectly. My container is very comfy, but I really like the support of Rigging Innovations. The few times I had questions I received almost instantaneous response from their email support. Now, I am sure SunPath may be the same way. I just thought I would mention that in my opinion RI did an excellent job supporting an excellent product. Malachi

Tee, Where do you jump ?!!!

Don't you guys have any sense of nostalgia? I don't wear a frap hat, but I don't think they look stupid. No more than I think rounds or crossbow containers look stupid. I just think it is a different style and often generation. I am a belly flyer that wears an open face helmet and everyone thinks that is weird. Well I tell you what I think is weird, is bunch of skyivers 'flying' all cut off from the wind. Skreamer have you ever jumped with a frap hat? They feel pretty cool :) Malachi

I did not actually know Geoff, but I had talked with him over the Texas A&M Skydiving listserv, and I had friends that jumped with him. My condolences and prayers to his friends and family. Malachi

Here is the original artwork: F-14 It is by a guy named Dru Blair and contary to my first impressions it is not a photo, but an airbrush picture. I was very impressed when I saw it several months ago. He does a lot of nice aircraft art: http://www.stephenville.eaze.net/ferret/skydiving/p101000.jpg" target="_new"> F-14 It is by a guy named Dru Blair and contary to my first impressions it is not a photo, but an airbrush picture. I was very impressed when I saw it several months ago. He does a lot of nice aircraft art:

Oh Jessica I am amazed I did not tell. If you or anyone else has not seen a movie called Boondock Saints, SEE IT! It is awesome. It is kinda a cult classic. Hard to find, only Blockbuster has them. I have the DVD, and it is great. The story is about Irish, relegion, and violence. A very unique and kick ass movie. Malachi

Harro said: More than a mouthfull is a waste! I have to strongly disagree. I have seen a bunch of different types of boobs that I would love to play with. They are kinda like women themselves, regardless of shape or personality, they are almost all treasured for one aspect or another. Malachi

The bizarre thing...is that almost noone posted boobies. Hats off to Merrick and Pammi...we owe them beer or something. Well at least we talked about them a lot. Malachi

Jessica, Have you seen Wonderboys? It is not brand new, and it is kinda unusual, but I really really liked it. Also, "non-sexual girl-crush on her" What exactly is that? Malachi

Well I have put up a few more pics: Pic 1 Pic 2 Pic 3 Pic 4 Pic 5 Wheeew And now my supply of skydiving boobies is exhausted, at least until my gf makes a tandem. So now other must post boobies or the thread will die. Either way it has been fun. Blue Sk....er....Pink Boobies and Soft Kisses Malachi