mountainman

thanks!!

sheesh there FREAKSISTER....just be glad that you have a car. Here is a picture of my car... Exactly. Our humble corner on the web... HERE

Yeah!! I don't think she'll do it!!!

Looks like we are going to head down to the DZ tonight and camp so we can make some jumps in the morning. Laura needs to work at 3pm Saturday (which is one hour ahead also), so we're going to need to be there early. Hopefully we'll be able to get two jumps in by noon. Please, wish us luck and blue skies! MORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!! http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/

Hey there! Laura and I are thinking about going there for a couple days. We would have to be "non-jumpers", but would still love to meet y'all. Maybe we can plan on being at the same time as you two Pammi and Merrick. Hopefully next year sometime we'll drive out to Colorado and make a pitstop (jump stop) in OK. See ya in Aug! MORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!! http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/

I am wondering if you can get a fish-eye lens for a PC-5. Also, I hear that they are pretty expensive lenses. How much does one go for?? Thanks! MORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!! http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/

Hey all! Just read HH's post and am wondering who is all going to the Quincy bash? I only live two states over, so if there is going to be a good dz.com turnout, I would go just to meet all of you. I highly doubt I'll get my license in the next month, but I could still go and hang out. Let me know if you are going!! Blue skyz! MORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!! http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/

Laura and I just bought the full AFF program plus all coach jumps to equal 20 jumps and the requirements for A license. We paid $1661 each. That includes gear, instructors, and jump tickets for all 20 jumps. We've only done one jump each so far, but it should SCHWEET!!! MORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!! http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/

Congratulations!! I just started AFF and hope to be done with the license within a couple months. I bet it is a great feeling!! BTW, is the Toledo DZ in Washington?? I live in Ohio and I think there is one in Toledo, OH. Just wondering.

man....I couldn't believe how much the wind carries you around up there. I was circling around (burning altitude) and finally started crabbing, but the wind just kept pushing me. Luckily I had Wes (the JM) talking me down and I landed great, but it is really weird on your first time to experience running, holding, and crabbing. IT WAS GREAT THOUGH!!!! WOOHOO!!! MORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!! http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/

thanks man...it was more than that though! That was what I said when I saw the rig. I hope that I wrote it with enough detail! bluz MORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!! http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/

AFF Level I, Saturday, 30 Jun 2001 07:30 - Laura and I start off on our one and a half hour drive down to the DZ. On the way down, there are some heavy cloud cover due west (direction of the DZ), and we are anticipating only making it through the ground school. All the way down, I was answering questions about AFF from her. I think that it took the actual trip down there to get her psyched about jumping, but I am happy she finally saw the light. 09:00 - We arrive at the DZ. Laura and I both go up to the main desk and plop down $3600 for the full 20 jump AFF course for both of us. Nice. The hearts are racing and the blood is flowing since we now realize that there is no going back. We pace around the DZ awaiting the call for ground school to start. Also, there are some regulars pacing around the hanger wondering when the twin Otter will be in. Time for class!! 09:30 - We start class with 3 other AFF students and about 6 S/L student. After all of the videos and all of the basic gear talk, the classes split up. The S/L students took to the ParaSIM and us AFF students went back to the videos. 15:00 - We finally start some hands on stuff. We practice the exits, the body positions, and then try and put it all together. Once we got done doing that, the JM got us all through the ParaSIM. My landings were about 200 ft and 32 ft from the target on my first and second attempt, respectively. (Side note: that ParaSIM is very different from the real thing. But that is another story.) 17:00 - We all finish with the ParaSIM and the instructor gets us manifested. We are going to be on Load 14...the twin Otter. WooHoo!!! 16:00 - Laura and I are gearing up. I am using a 288 and she has a 220 (which I thought I was getting. Yikes! Loading 1:1...thank God that didn't happen.). Anyway, we get geared up finally (after much complications about me not being able to get any gear for awhile) and head for the plane. 17:00 - Laura and I head out to the Otter and get ready to go. We both get in the plane and she is sitting in the very front on the right side (door side) and I am sitting about 3 people in front of her on the left side. We get buckled in and the Otter is off in a hurry. As we climb to altitude, I went over the procedures for pull at the correct altitudes. Finally, I put on the helmet/goggles and got on my knees to head out the door. When it my turn, I planted my left and right foot on the door edge and grabbed the side. I checked the JMs and then yelled PROP, UP, DOWN, ARCH...and out I went!!! It was the greatest feeling in the world! Jumping from 13,500', I just saw the Earth fly around under me as I enjoyed the wind in my face. Then, I remembered my first COA. I yelled out the alti (12,300') to the JMs and then did 3 PRCPs. I then did my second COA (9,000's) and then enjoyed the view. I had Roy (cameramonkey to you all) flying in front of me with the camera. I geeked him a couple times until I felt my altimeter being slapped. I looked down and saw 6 grand coming and going. I locked onto my alti and waited until 5. At five grand, I waved off and pulled the cord. The PC got caught in the burble for a second and then caught the wind and jerked me up HARD. OUCH, MY CROTCH!! Anyway, I immediatly looked down and saw my two JMs falling away and then remembered to check the canopy. Whoops!

Hey all...just thought I would let you know that Laura and I both passed level one yesterday and will be going back down here in a bit to do a couple more. Hopefully they go well!! Wish us luck and blue skies!!!

Hey man....we'll be in ground school in nine hours! I will try and remember that when we go up and I'm ready to go out the door. Thanks for the tip and I'll let you know how it went!!! Blue skyz!! MORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!! http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/

hey Viking...pretty sweet pics! I can't wait until tomorrow. I am going to be starting AFF with Laura. WooHoo!! MORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!! http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/

Thanks HH and Zennie! Laura is checkin her schedule out to possibly switch it to Tues/Wed. That would be awesome!!!

Hey all! I am back from Mexico and ready to start AFF this Saturday. My wife and I are signed up for training Saturday morning and we're psyched. I have been watching Good Stuff like it's my job lately to get more in the mood. Everyone wish me luck and blue skies for it!!!

Hey all!! I have one more week left here in Mexico of studying Spanish. I am so ready to get home and start skydiving. It is hard to believe that I will start training in two weeks!! I am stoked!! Damn....3282 unread posts in general forum. Maybe I wont try to catch up. I just want to get my ass back to the good ol US of A and hop on some planes. Just thought I would jump on and let everyone who cares know Ill be back next Thursday. Im coming in to Dayton, OH at 10;40PM. It will be nice. Hope everyone is well and Ill talk to you all soon!!! Brandito MORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!! http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/

Thanks for the info! It's a little funnier.

thanks for the encouragement... I leave tomorrow morn for Mexico, but when I get back, it's time to get my knees in the breeze!!

Here too man! I need AT LEAST 499 more jumps, but I'll start working on that this summer.

what the hell is it??? I've never heard of it before!! MORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!! http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/

man.....i'm gonna be gone after tomorrow for 5 weeks. Make sure you save a shirt or 5 or me!

Thanks DES!! We are so happy to be able to do it this summer. We've made some big sacrafices to it now instead of next year. I sold my '99 Jeep, will work about 60 hrs this summer in construction, and I had to beg her over and over

Thanks cloud!!