mountainman

Great ones, Phat!!!

I got this out of the August 2001 Readers' Digest. Thought some of you pilots might like it: Some rules of the air for flyboys: - Every take off is optional. Every landing is mandatory. - When in doubt, hold on to your altitude. No one has ever collided with the sky. - The propeller is just a big fan in front of the plane used to keep the pilot cool. When it stops, you can actually watch the pilot start sweating. - The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire. - Stay out of clouds. The silver lining everyone keeps talking about might just be another airplane traveling in the opposite direction. - You start out with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before emptying the bag of luck. - There are three simple rules for making a smooth landing. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. Anyone have any more??? -------------- Boogie pics coming!!!

I just got an e-mail back from Icarus today in regards to their new Safire that is coming out. Here is what they wrote me: Yes we will be releasing a generation 2 Safire canopy however, it is unlikely that this would be within the next 6 months. It would be more likely to take place mid next year. As a result, you're probably best to not wait. Our current lead times on custom orders are 6-8 weeks. I have replyed to him and asked him what he says we can do with our originals to make them updated/upgraded. I'll let you know when I find out. Later!! -------------- Boogie pics coming!!!

That is really sweet, Mike!! I witnessed two guys from my DZ doing some 2-way CReW. I ran over to them and took a picture before they broke and landed. It was pretty sweet that they rode it all the way until about 15 ft above ground. AWESOME!!! -------------- Boogie pics coming!!!

Hey Keane.....I just ordered a Safire 169 that is loaded at 1.36:1. I liked it a lot when I flew it this past weekend. I have heard complaints of it not landing right or having problems landing, but I didn't experience ANY of that. I would recommend the Safire to anyone. However, I have heard nothing but good things about the Sabre2. You are just gonna have to try them out. Good luck on your decision!! -------------- Boogie pics coming!!!

Hey Lew! Thanks for the description of the jump! That sounds like it was an awesome time. I went back and read what I wrote, but I didn't mean for it to sound like I was judging him. He just never smiled or said HI to me when I casually said HI to him. Oh well.....he's busy. Eitherway, the boogie was SUPER AWESOME. I cannot wait to get my gear. I jumped that 169 4 times on Saturday and loved it. It is a really cool canopy and is really fun. That's all I'm gonna say about that because all I ever catch is flack. Oh well. I'll for sure be buying his boogie vid and hopefully you can cap some stills of your jump with him!! -------------- Boogie pics coming!!!

it was all planned...

Congratulations Michele!! Laura just got her A done and mailed this past Wednesday and I had mine the Saturday before that. I totally know how you feel. Hope that you get to jump with some dz.comers now! I didn't see ANY other dz.comers at the Boogie. I thought Dutchboy and Freeflir29 was supposed to be there. *sigh* Oh well...... CONGRATS!! -------------- Boogie pics coming!!!

Here is my own experience and it was just over this past weekend. It has been debated on here a LOT, but I went with my own judgement on ordering it. I have been flying a Raider 220 since my 3rd jump and I load that at 1.05:1. It is F-111 which is obviously the slower/less responsive material. On my jump # 27, I went to an Icarus Safire 189 which I load at 1.22:1. I jumped this for two days (7 jumps) and then went down to the Safire Icarus 169 and used that for a day (4 jumps). I load that 169 at 1.36:1. Now, I know that a lot of people on here have a problem with me loading a ZP canopy at 1.36 with less than 40 jumps, but I had absolutely NO problems with it over this weekend. I landed it in weeds, crosswind, no wind, and high winds. I felt very comfortable on it and didn't even think twice about it. Ever since I started skydiving, I have felt comfortable landing canopies. I have stood up all but two of my landings. All of my Safire landings were stand-ups/run-outs. All I have to say is that you have to use it when YOU feel comfortable. If you have been doing really good on your landings, maybe you are ready. However, if you keep biffing it in, maybe you need some more practice. Remember, ZP canopies are a lot different than tired F-111 student canopies. I would agree with Spectre and open high. That will allow you to find the "sweet spot" on the canopy to make it flare where you want to. That is what I did and had no problems. Have fun and be safe!!! -------------- Boogie pics coming!!!

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Hehhehe...good analogy!! Just make sure you don't dance a jig in the locker room. -------------- New skydiving pics added!!

Let me know if you have heard anything about LIVE WATER TRAINING!! Thanks man! -------------- New skydiving pics added!!

Is he really?? I didn't get a chance to talk to him or anything, but he seemed a bit on the I'm-to-good-for-you side from what I saw. Just my observation/$.02 though. -------------- New skydiving pics added!!

I wish that it was our money. It is more like the BANK'S money. -------------- New skydiving pics added!!

I saw Orly King and two other guys go out at the same time and fly with Mullins as he was in his dive. I jumped right before them and just hung out and watched. It was pretty awesome. He has a big bar outside that you wont have any problems getting out. Hope you have fun with it!! I dont care who likes it and who doesn't. For me, loading it at 1.3, it flies awesome and I can surf it without risers or anything and it is a sweet, smooth landing. So, if you dont like it, I dont give a shit.

We dont have the pictures done yet. They will probably be developed by Tues/Wed. I'll be sure to get them up ASAP. -------------- New skydiving pics added!!

Hey all!! Laura and I are back from the Richmond Boogie. And I must say that those who didn't get to go missed out on a LOT. It was sweet! I made 16 jumps over the 4 days I was there (Wed-4, Thurs-5, Fri-3, Sat-4). I did a lot of solos, 2-ways, 3-ways. Laura and I got on 2 sunset loads, and on one, we exited in grips and kissed on the way down. It was excellent!! I was in Mulllins' on more than half of those. That plane is AMAZING!!!

Hey Chuck......how much was it to get your brain bucket custom painted, etc?? Just curious for when I get a camera, I'll just mount a D-box on my existing one and then get a cooler one. -------------- New skydiving pics added!!

Well......we are off to THE Richmond boogie. We will be there until Sunday, so I won't be here for awhile. Ah well.....I'll be jumping. Anyway, can't wait to see those of you who are heading out there!! Make sure you check out my website so you know what I look like. See you there!! -------------- New skydiving pics added!!

Zennie is into Zen. I thought that he got Zennie from work or something. Either way, that is all I know. -------------- New skydiving pics added!!

That is what I'm telling myself. I am only 21 and started skiing in 7th grade. Too bad I live in Ohio where the HILLS suck!!! Oh well. We have DZs....life is good. -------------- New skydiving pics added!!

Thanks for the info all!! I saw your post on the other one, Lisa. Thanks!! That is when I asked him about it. I guess before I order one (if I do), I'll ask Icarus about it right there when they're at their booth. I guess I'll have to demand something for the new one if we order this one. Any suggestions if I want to order one now?? Do you think they'll allow a free tweak or something?? Lisa?? You are in the know. -------------- New skydiving pics added!!

Good luck with your snowboarding! How much have you snowboarded before?? I have been skiing for 9 years and I snowboarded for 3 or 4. I sold my board andwent back to skiing. It is more fun to ski, IMHO. Eitherway, good luck!! -------------- New design.....AGAIN!!!

Hey all.....just wondering if any of you know of a redesign of the Safire next spring. Some people were telling me that they are going to have a new one come out (sort of like Sabre2). My gear guy hasn't heard about this and he is the biggest demo center in the world. If anyone knows more about this, please let me know!! Thanks.... -------------- New design.....AGAIN!!!

From what I've heard, Triathlon mains do NOT have packing tabs on them. That would make flat packing much harder. Make sure you check it out for sure. -------------- New design.....AGAIN!!!