FrogNog

Looks like one of Tom's farts must have finally met an ignition source. I hope nobody was hurt. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Um. Which part blew up? (/me checks for signs of wear on my busy, owned Hornet 190... Oh, I have another 900 jumps or so. ) -=-=-=-=- Pull.

I'd like the option to not have to pay extra on my dues for a magazine I don't read. Same here. I only want an issue of the magazine if I just got a new license. I mean, if I just got a new license three months ago. The reason I belong to groups like this is for special-interest negotiation / lobbying. I think groups like the USPA are beneficial in "conspicuously reminding" policymakers that meatbombs are airport/airway users, too. Just because I'm an ugly glider doesn't mean I shouldn't get to fly! -=-=-=-=- Pull.

So... they were waiting for you to notice them? -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Does she drink a bunch of beer and eat a bunch of pizza and/or nachos? That, combined (or not combined) with cats, can lead to farting. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

The closer it is, the more I would use it, I reckon. That's because the further away it is the more it costs just to get there in time and/or money. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

That depends on the area. In these parts, near the DZ means it's probably farmland. Go too far, and that changes to "probably forest." (With "probably marsh", "probably lake", and "probably high tension wires" distant second, third, and fourth.) Near the DZ we've seen oodles of times and evaluated here and there as outs. Far from the DZ we haven't, and in the heat of the moment we may not notice that fence. But, hey, I'm a certified chicken. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

There isn't a place for one; the jumper would have to add it. I've seen some velcro-and-webbing extra-helmet audible holders. I can't seem to buy one, though, so I have to look into making one. Basically, it isn't going to be easy. Maybe I should, or maybe I will convert to a different kind of helmet. But for now I'm sold on my pro-tec because in the same week early on in my studenthood two things happened: 1. I lost my helmet. I couldn't find it anywhere. Finally I checked my head and, sure enough, I was wearing it. 2. I whacked the top of my head on the airplane on the ground good. On feeling the impact, my first thought was "oh, here comes the PAIN!" But actually I was fine. Maybe when I get more money and don't know where to spend it, I'll buy some carbon fibre. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Better to miss ten jumps than a hundred. And better to miss a hundred jumps than a thousand. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Hey, I'm just practicing my EPs, one step at a time. Seriously, though, I got stuck at 1,100 feet for like a minute. The grass looked like it was a billion green snakes in pain. The turbulence was discombobulating. I wanted on the ground safe and still - a 25 mph headfirst supine dirt surf was not in my post-landing plan for that jump. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

I would like to take this opportunity to point out that the Caravan (or Grand Caravan) is a Cessna. Cessna 208. So far, this is my favorite plane. And if Kapowsin is watching, thank you SOOOO much for letting us borrow yours! -=-=-=-=- Pull.

I'm glad thats not the only cool thing about them I dont want to kiss Dave Price and I expect that if I tried to he would punch me Nah, he'd probably just throw you out of the plane. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Someone I used to work with, back when I was a hopeless whuffo. Back when I thought a cutaway sounded like cheating death by a hair's breadth. Which reminds me - that cutting away (on the ground) in high winds thing? Works like a charm. Storm winds can whip up fast! -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Grammar police: the second trailer is the better. (Unless you were comparing it not just to the first trailer, but also to one or more other trailers not present; if that is the case, I retract my correction and offer my apologies.) -=-=-=-=- Pull.

I have been told, in part by some riggers, that double-stowing rubber bands isn't likely to cause a baglock unless it's done on a grommet, AND the grommet size and rubber band size work together to make a sort of knot. Unfortunately, I don't know whether it's a large rubber band and a small grommet or a small rubber band and a large grommet or what. But my own 2-part rule of thumb has been: * like everyone here has said, line tension is important. Goldilocks' rule here. * for locking stows, only single-stowing is acceptable; change bands or packing technique to alter line tension. For non-locking stows, do whatever you want to get the right line tension. But, I've only been doing this for like 140 jumps. And luck could be covering up my rubber band idiocy. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

It's possible the price elasticity of demand for tandem units is different from that of student and expert units, such that the largest price/quantity rectangle (revenue) is found under a point with a higher price. The difference in price elasticity of demand could be caused by DZs knowing tandems are more dangerous than single-student jumps, or any of a bunch of other factors, including alternative choices. How many other manufacturers make tandem-configured AADs? I recall one mfgr opted not to make 2-pin expert models, so perhaps there is less competition in the tandem space. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

I'm sure they do, but they assume that a current Cypres-1 AAD is "guaranteed" (well, not guaranteed, but expressly intended and as well as possible tested) not to cause those things to happen by the fault of the device. And they assume that a Cypres-1 AAD that has outlived its 12-year lifespan is no longer within the mfgr's ability to "guarantee" the device will perform as intended and tested. I apologize, any Cypres guys, for my use of the word "guarantee" when, in skydiving, the only guarantee is that if you live, you may be able to get your purchase price back. But I couldn't think of a better word. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Quotei find it very strange that safety isn't #1 priorityQuote If safety really were the #1 priority - no compromise - we wouldn't jump at all. Lots of helmets today may offer less impact protection than a protec, and cost more, but they're not trying to be perfect at protecting your noggin, they're trying to be a combination of protective, light, good-looking, easy to don/doff, and convenient for carrying stuff on your head. Protecs are kinda like the "Hyundai Accent L" of helmets. Inexpensive, do a good job as a "gourd guard", but don't look the best, and would cost a lot if you put all the options on yourself (like a quick helmet release, camera mount, anti-snagging for camera mount, audible pocket, chin-cup to hold helmet more stable, pimp-daddy velvet lining, etc.). BTW, I wear a protec and drive a Hyundai Accent. Inexpensive and basic is working OK for me so far. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

* You either have to be a good swimmer to pass the test or you have to want it. I backpaddled the entire way and when I was done, my face was sweating. * I believe it's like a week of nights in class / pool plus a couple weekends for real dives. * I didn't find anything difficult except remembering and practicing staying calm. I'm sure diff things will be tough for diff people. * I think a decent price is something like 15 jumps to 13k. Then once you get hooked, it's like skydiving only every hour underwater costs like a jump and the gear is not as expensive. * The heresay I have on PADI vs. NAUI is that PADI is more training and practice, or something like that. Still, I feel the amount of training and practice for PADI is the equivalent of like 4 jumps. BTW, take this all as knowledge from a complete noob. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Can you hang from your feet from the wing of a twotter? My biggest complaints about the 182s are speed to altitude, noise (ours have a lot of engine and wind noise), and limited room if anyone is built or wearing a wingsuit. (I've ridden with 3 wingsuits before. ) (Minor complaints include things like logistics of launching a rodeo.) Other than that, they're great. Can't beat them with a stick for hop-and-pops. "Yo, pilot, turn that way. Now this way. OK, thanks for the ride, see ya later, don't forget to wave at me while I deploy!" And I am the mad phat master at making sure my gear is not caught on the seatbelts or static line students. P.S. We don't lean forward on takeoff. We just load the plane properly and relax. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Spiders don't have thoraxes. They have cephalothoraxes. Sorry, I just had to put that in. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

It is my understanding that, like comparing hot sauces, comparing animal venoms is not easy because they have different classifications and methods of operation. It is also my understanding that spider venoms tend to be some of the most complex we know about - in many cases so complex we don't really know what all the molecules are or how they work. (Certainly we know how some of them work.) And finally, it is my understanding that the injuriousness of being envenomed by a spider has to do with more than just the type of spider and how much venom they pump in - the site of the wound and other factors currently unknown (which must therefore be lumped under "luck") play a role. That's why we hear of people who recover over the course of weeks from a brown recluse envenomation with just some major sloughing (i.e. a big cone of flesh rots out around the wound site) when bitten on an arm or leg, but others die from the same kind of spider after two days when bitten on the temple. Around here (Seattle area) our biggest problem is tegenaria agrestis. Give me tegenaris gigantea instead anytime - better big hairy black bastards that can't hurt you than medium hairy brown bastards that can. Of course, the only way to tell them apart for sure is size. If it's huge, it's safe. If it's not huge, can't be sure. BTW, when I visit my sister in California, I like to catch black widows in jars for fun. Those guys are fast! -=-=-=-=- Pull.

It's beginning to sound like you're buying from an asshat. Do you want that exact canopy, the one he has, badly enough that you want to support someone like the seller? I'd work on getting out of the deal and go to someone who doesn't suck. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Ram-air canopies open more reliably and consistently if their brakes are held in a certain position (which varies by canopy). -=-=-=-=- Pull.

If I'm seriously scared I won't make it back (or to somewhere 99% as safe as the landing area would be), I won't get out. That would give me one more thing to talk to the DZO about - pilot made me land with the plane. -=-=-=-=- Pull.