MakeItHappen

Typical coolant system leaks are the hoses or radiator. Those are easy to replace. You can get cheap radiators from 'U-Pull-it' places. Holes in radiators can be fixed, but it is usually easier & cheaper to go find a used one and swap it out. I'm not following your explanation. Are you saying there was coolant fluid on the spark plug of #2? Head gasket replacement is something I've done before and is not a $1500 job, more like a couple hundred bucks. I think maybe the rings on #2 are shot and need to be replaced. That could run up the bill. If you are going to trash the car, you can sell it to people that buy non-working cars for more than a recycle/junk yard. Place an ad with 'AS-IS' not running right. If you decide to junk it, can I have the radiator (for free?)? I'm working on a project that needs radiators as prototype heat exchangers. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

ominous music = Crimson Tide..... navy genre of movies where submarines might start a nuclear war.... navy guy doing jump.... whatever... only seemed special because it seems as tho' he got paid for the jump. Mr. Macho talk at the start was a big turnoff. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

The best way to 'fix' this situation is to avoid it. (just like a two-out situation) The USPA SIM has instruction on this under Cat F. reproduced in part here: But this paragraph should be reworked to something like 'determining glide path and projected landing point' and include mention of slow flight. The principle is the same for slow flight that you may need to avoid an obstacle. Learning how to see the projected landing point (PLP) is critical to all landings. PLP is also known as the 'accuracy trick', 'stationary point' and 'destination point'. Those terms have been omitted from USPA doctrine because it is not a 'trick' or stationary. The PLP may move as you descend thru doglegs or change control input. Get-Home-itis was written because a lot of people crashed and burned because they did not know about the PLP. People still do not know about the PLP today. Lack of that knowledge can kill you. Slow flight is another great skill to have. Each canopy/jumper configuration will fly slightly different. Everyone should know what their set up will do. There is a short explanation on pg 57 of the July Parachutist about this. You can also get a steeper flight with front risers, but that is not something that every jumper can do for the required amount of time/distances. I can easily name +10 friends that hurt or killed themselves because they did not know slow flight. They hammered in because all they knew was speed, speed and more speed - nothing about flying slowly. Go out and try slow flight - up high and use smooth toggle inputs. Know where the stall point is and the 'twitchiness' of your canopy. Rectangular planforms can actually fly backwards. This was a standard 'fooling around' thing to do way back when. Elliptical planforms tend to collapse and never stabilize to a backwards flying configuration. I do not recommend s-turns because of the collision hazard it poses. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

We do have an honest mechanic, a friend of my husband's, but he's on vacation. The nerve to go away on a holiday weekend! The car is pretty crappy, (the kind of car all kids should have for their first car!), so if this repair is more than $100, I'm probably not even going to bother with it and will look for something better. He needs a reliable car so he can come home and see his Mommy every weekend when he goes off to college anyway. Besides the starter, it could be a stuck relay. I had this problem once. A quick call to the dealership of my truck said to hit the relay while cranking. Use the handle end of a #2 phillips screwdriver to 'gently tap' the relay while trying to crank. (Strangely enough gently tapping was also a solution to get a hard drive to start up after a prolonged 'intermission'.) Remember you can always pull the starter & coil and have it checked at the local parts store for free. Relays are about 5-10 bucks. Some other things to check are the fuel filter and the O2 sensor. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

no. Jumps are much more than freefall. But there has been one person that did get tunnel time used for that requirement. See the winter 2007 minutes pg 30-31. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

So what do you think about DZs that charge an additional $5 for the use of an altimeter? The DZ also charges an additional $5 for a jumpsuit and an additional $5 for a frap hat. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

In the US you need to have or have held any instructional rating. Since you did not send in your rating, you don't have one. Depending on how long ago your coach course was, HQ might accept the paperwork now. More than a year, I think you are SOL. You can also challenge any course. Details are in the IRM. You'll need one of those. IOW, if your class was taken too long ago, you might be able to successfully challenge the coach course. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

I think that is because you scared her so much with the antics of where to hook up. She has a really nice smile and then looks very concerned about your qualifications. I also think that her chest strap is way too low. The harness should not fall of the shoulder like it did on her. He was documenting the cloud clearances. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Three big words in one sentence! You've now fulfilled your quota here for the entire week. There's no pleasing you, eh John? First you question a Chinese reporter that used the English word 'style' properly. He did not know about the esoteric descriptions of 'exhibition' or 'demonstration' words that are more commonly used to describe these jumps. He did not know about the discipline of 'style' within the skydiving world. Then you mock me for using 'big words'. A social admonition against persons actually using the English language properly reflects upon your rancor towards persons that augment their vocabulary over a lifetime. Your languor does not mean others must be bereft of knowledge. Don't expect the rest of the world to act as besotted Stepford wives. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

It is probably a simple language barrier issue. You know the old joke about "Style is how you walk to the plane and accuracy is getting on the right plane." These demo jumpers were jumping in 'style', eg a distinctive manner of jumping. The esoteric meaning of 'style' within the vernacular of the skydiving world would require a rather sagacious reporter. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

I always thought not doing those things was conduct unbecoming a skydiver I always thought that too. But, hey, times are achangin'. There is a big billboard of new 'rules' in the works that predetermine your fate for certain things. I thought it was a guideline, but it is being pushed by the collective and too many of the assimilated don't see the dangers of hard wiring and non-uniform enforcement. The really sad part is that no one else knows about these things, except a handful of people that think they 'know best'. It's like Congress voting on bills they haven't read. Same problem, but it does not have to be that way, nor should it be that way if proper amendment procedures were followed. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

That's a TBD thing. It depends on the rule changes with Ginsu. ;) . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Gary, you must have missed that part of the last meeting. They have a new ground test to see if you are 'becoming' enough to be a member. If you fail the test, then they write you a nice custom letter saying you are 'unbecoming a skydiver' and deny your membership. I've 'heard' that mooning a pilot doing a buzz job, flashing your tits, writing profanity laced emails and publicly expressing personal opinions are among the reasons to deny or revoke membership. If you pass, you get the form letter, another decal, a shiny new membership card and an ad magazine with a letter or two from members. But wait - that's not all - you get exuberant lobbyists fending off undue government regulation to such an extent as to publish falsehoods in official documents that drag the organization into lawsuits that they settle and infuse money to beat down a manufacturer. At the upcoming meeting there is a movement to add in a Ginsu knife set for an extra $10.00. (It has a sponsor logo on the handle.) . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Also on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N--qHBEOEY8 . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Indeed it is.... the screws are also industrial, complete with serial numbers on each. I didn't know they serialize all this stuff so that if you burn up in a fire (or other "oops") then they'll know who you are. Pain is industrial sized, and the bad news keeps on a' comin....Been experiencing some nasty hurt in the left leg even though it's not load-bearing. Begged for an Xray even though they felt the CAT scan had caught everything. Turns out my left talus is broken, too. At the same time, I'm grateful to be breathing, grateful for the lifeflight crew, and the friends that help keep it going. Very strange to receive cards from people I've never met, and it makes me tear up a bit each time. Sargeant Miller (Millertime) was awesome to have there the night I needed to be transported. The medical staff was baffled about how to move me without putting me on a backboard and then shoveling me over to another bed device. I asked if he had any ideas, and he said he did. One of the nurses was very condescending with him, and referred to him with the rank of Airman. When he told her he was a sargeant and explained what he does, she STFU and became very respectful. Thanks to Millertime, they were able to move me from one bed to another, including all cables, IV, aircompression mattress system, everything... in one very smooth movement. I owe you one, Mike! Due to bedsores and other assorted oddities, I've grown a hematoma that makes it look like I've got a third ass cheek. I've pondered the thought that I might now be twice the asshole I was before. wow.. It sounds like you have a lot of pain. Hope the pain killers work. How are you passing the time? Do you want a coloring book and crayons? One of the major milestones of recovery, some other friends have told me, is the first post-injury BM. When it happened it was a big celebration. It was almost like party time. Here's hoping you are eating well and have to take a crap. They won't release you to a convalescence home until that happens. Good luck with your recovery. I hope it goes fast and is not too painful. blue skies . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

um... correct me if I'm wrong, because I'm not a TI nor have ever done a tandem jump, but to the best of my knowledge a student/PAX can get out of the harness by undoing the chest strap, belly strap and leg straps. There are no requirements to undo the TI to pax connectors in order to get free of the pax harness. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

FJS = First jump student WX = weather Answers may be posted later. In the mean time you could 'cheat' by reading Cat A in the SIM. It's online. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

One of those things you do when you are bored. Puzzle targeted for FJS (c) by SkydiveHistory.com 2009 All Rights Reserved. (but feel free to critique the clues here) Across 3 distribute landing forces to avoid injury (3) 4 obstacle to protect your face with both hands (5) 5 momentarily convert downward speed into lift (5) 9 what the toggles are for (8) 10 highest possible ground speed (8) 11 difficult to determine altitude above (5) 12 canopy fills with air (9) 14 two canopies flying in the same direction (7) 18 handles used to steer the canopy (7) 21 oops - an opening too soon (9) 22 used to measure height above the ground (9) 23 squarish structures to be avoided (9) 25 planned path under canopy to the ground (14) 26 hang out for awhile (11) 28 something to be avoided (8) 29 conditions you wished you were on the ground, instead of in the air (9) Down 1 landing area when the spot is bad (8) 2 parachute system unfolds into the air stream (10) 6 used instead of shouting to each other (11) 7 found along roads and other straight lines on the ground (10) 8 after pulling main handle - nothing comes out (5) 9 two canopies flying next to each other (10) 10 the most dangerous of a two-out situation (9) 13 pull (10) 15 some parachute has deployed, but it is not inflating properly (7) 16 performed 3 times (15) 17 crosswind part of landing pattern (4) 19 speed that can make or break your landing (11) 20 how fast you fly through the air (8) 24 normally into the wind for students (5) 27 nice exit body position (4) see attachment also. all terms from SIM Cat A . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

http://listverse.com/2009/02/05/top-10-fascinating-skydiving-myths/ just in case you wanted to know . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

On this same subject, and to help me understand how wrong this is (or isn't), does anyone know what's involved in the 'bidding' process for a DZ to host nationals. I guess I've never put much thought into it previously, but sort of assumed that the 'bidding' process was more of an 'offering' a DZ made to the USPA in terms of, "We can offer this many Otters, this big of a pond, this many team rooms..." and so on, and then the USPA would choose the best venue. The SCM has a section that lists all of the requirements a host must provide. Each proposal states that the host has this, that & the other thing. For the most part, every bidder has more than adequate facilities (at least on paper) to run Nats. Each bidder gives a formal presentation and then answers questions. Previous issues of earlier events by a bidder are brought up in discussion. These issues can range from where the copy machine is, WX, conflicting jumpruns of different events, number of teams per pass, power outages, video dubbing, judging backlog (that strongly depends upon video dubbing), schedule, dates, judges transportation etc. Usually prior issues are resolved the next time they bid. What is known to some is that the process is some what of a joke (and a big expense for the bidders). The dzs are sort of in an informal 'rotation' to win nats. The cost to competitors is not really considered by most BOD members. The first year I was on the BOD I made a spreadsheet comparison of the schedules to show how costs (jump rates to competitors) were related to the schedule. I was poo-hood for doing that. Then someone told me of the 'natural order of things' where 'nats was rotated among the bidders'. A few years later (2006) I always recused myself from discussion & voting on nats bcz I supported Omniskore!. RN proposed that the DZs get into some sort of formally determined rotation schedule. That fell trough the bureaucratic hole. The comp comm did not act on it at the mtg it was proposed at. RN was not at the next mtg & ML dissed it. In any event, no one has proposed a rotation method that accounts for new DZs bidding, previous bidders dropping out of rotation or how to remove a dz from the rotation for poor performance. For anyone that thinks the bid goes to the lowest bidder - think again. The current system does favor a DZO on the BOD bidding bcz their travel is paid for by USPA, whereas a non-BOD DZO must pay out of pocket. All these costs get passed to competitors. Any cut that USPA takes out of a sponsorship increases cost to competitors and consumers. Just say no. USPA does not 'run the show' the host does. USPA's income is the sanction fee per competitor. At the last BOD mtg, I asked why the sanction fee was not increased along with all the other dues & license fees. I was told by BW that they wanted to keep the competitor costs down. USPA needs to focus on Nationals facilities, infrastructure and DZ management, not on how much sponsor money a host may get. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20090617/NEWS01/906170342/-1/newsfront2/Board-takes-up-jumpers What a tangled web we have here?!?!?!?!?!?! Stay tuned for the 'Cliff notes' version of this saga. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Busty-barmaid-prepares-for-topless.5372581.jp I hope the Black Knights Parachute Centre own up to this and make it a respectable charity fund raiser and not an exploitation. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Check out the Competition committee Agenda at http://www.uspa.org/Portals/0/Downloads/Agenda_Comp2009_07.pdf The "I" in this paragraph is the Committee chair, Bill Wenger. If I am reading this right, USPA wants a chunk of change from DZO's efforts to finance Nationals. Nationals is hard to run and costs a LOT of money. Most DZs loose money by hosting Nationals. Does it make sense to give (or have USPA demand) part of a DZO host's income to USPA? At least there will be some allowance for sponsor space now. But I still cannot see why USPA wants to thwart sponsors by not allowing competitors to wear their jumpsuits at the awards presentations. This pomp and circumstance of 'warm-up' outfits that the competitors have to buy for a 5 min. display – if they win - is BS. I'd rather have the competitors using that $100 bucks or so on training jumps or tunnel time. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

http://www.scientology.org/#/meetscn_anjaliqueg . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker

Yawn..... rerun of Gypsy Moths. . . Make It Happen Parachute History DiveMaker