jdthomas

I have been able to go direct to the manu of materials on some products, but it is hard to get small orders. you might want to hook up with other riggers and get a larger order of supplies. good luck getting your foot in the door of some companies though. What helped me was that I was working for the largest powered parachute manu when I made my contacts, and now I am not working there but still have "buying power".. JT www.greenboxphotography.com

Currently working as skydiving instructor and rigger. My rigging work is based alot on the powered parachute market, those guys trash those parachutes out all the time! I am also going to school to be an EMT, please don't make me have to use the skills of an EMT at the DZ. www.greenboxphotography.com

The ol racer can be a pain until you unlock it's trick and then it is really easy. But the real trick is to keep telling the owner that it is a pain, that way you can charge extra for racers and reflex's.. man what a scam.. no really get those bodkins and seek visual help from another rigger that has done them. now where did I leave that molar strap? oh well I got to get this rig closed! www.greenboxphotography.com

I live in Kansas and it is to cold. Or maybe it's the fact that I have a few jumps under my belt in the 10+ years of jumping.. But I think the most of it is that I am thin and never feel warm enough anyway. www.greenboxphotography.com

Don't make it a car cover, the weather will eat it up. Make Jackets from it ! www.greenboxphotography.com

Shaun. How long have you lived in Kansas? Don't you know that the middle of now where is somewhere to a bored hypo! Joe www.greenboxphotography.com

Wow you got a little notice, thats better then just getting dumped right before Christmas. And as far as encouraging words go. "if it means anything to you we will give you a good refrence if you need it" At that time you don't need good words you need a job.. so a notice is a great op to look for work because you will need work, not becasue you have to have work. Be thankfull for the notice, use it to your advantage, build your resume on thier time and use there office supplies to help in the process. www.greenboxphotography.com

Kele I am sure you are refering to the part "three white girls". am I correct? Who knows why the could not print "three young females" but thats what more then likely came to the reports head as he wrote. People are funny! thats what keeps us entertained. www.greenboxphotography.com

I use both, I hate to give up an idea so easy but why don't we have a vibrate model like the one in my phone? Man I like those calls when I carry the phone in my pocket.. The thing buzzes at your altitude and you get a good cheap feel and then you dump your load so to speak! www.greenboxphotography.com

hey Sunshine. Talking to another rigger about his work can be a mess to say the least. This summer I saw a rigger working away on a very simple closing loop. I barely could watch as he fought the process. I spoke with a second rigger that I knew and we watched for awhile in fear of what we where seeing. Another thing that was getting to us was that this rigger had the customers canopy laid out half packed in the normal packing area during a very small boogie, people where stepping over and around this persons reserve canopy as this rigger did not care. Finally the other rigger and I came to a conclusion that something had to be said. We spoke to this person, offered help and not insult and I think that was the part that made it cool with him. Turns out this person is over coming great life obstacles and is really an insperation, but he is also holding others lives in his hands. i have since found out that this rigger was at one time legally blind and has had surgery to help his vision and I guess he can see well enough to pack. But I am just glad that I am a rigger and no longer have to have my rig packed by any one else. www.greenboxphotography.com

Look for Greg at one of the Tulsa area drop zones. And I think he has a print ad int he back of Skydiving mag. Oh tell April Ashby that I said hello the next time you see her. Joe from Kansas www.greenboxphotography.com

I have had several kiss passes, and they are great. the best ones are the ones you are not at all ready for. thank you Leslie and teri. Does a kiss pass count when I used to take my girlfriend on tandems? Chicks dig the sunset load, flying the canopy and getting a kiss with a view. Kele, want to go on a free tandem? www.greenboxphotography.com

students are like everyone else. Diffrent.. very diffrent. I have refused students in the past only to see them do good, maybe it was the JM that they went with or maybe and I like to think that it was just them doing what they where supposed to do. I have also taken Tandems and students that I thought nothing of and they where some of the worst. But sometimes you see those people that should be doing some other "sport" and not skydiving. So if the JM's are refusing to jump with you, ask why and ask them to tell you straight out why. www.greenboxphotography.com

wrong way... man o man! I read your letter and I read a few more past Ron's and I think Ron got it about right.. I am a TM and I worked my ass off to get that rating. I fly anything and everything, flat, vrw,crw or what you got.. I like reading some of your post, but you lost me by slamming instructors. If you have a thing for a few guys out there, then approach them and state your feeling, I hope that if I upset others they come straight to me about the problem. All I can ask is how does your foot taste? Think first bro, talk to indivduals and don't throw us all in a group. I am a TM, but I am also an Instructor, SDU COACH and the USPA did not give me that rating, I had to earn it www.greenboxphotography.com

"fix my car" is what I say to my car fixin dude way to much. www.greenboxphotography.com

I have used so many tubes thru the years and I have a few steps to use it that might help. Stuff the inside of what ever you are going to apply the gunk to, this is to make it rigid and easier to apply. I have used toung depressors but have found that ice cubes work well if you have the right size and wear rubber gloves no matter what you use. And your work will always look better then it really is if you inhale deeply a few times during the process. www.greenboxphotography.com

what can you do besides talk to him about the problem? Is the DZO going to stop it? if not then maybe the S&ta should. Maybe just don't jump with him? or sadly enough let Darwin,gravity and a mal deal with him.. man thats bad to say but we all know people who are out to make holes in the earth and you just can't seem to stop them no matter how hard you try. Good luck and if you find the answer let me know so I can use it in the future. www.greenboxphotography.com

I like the idea of an electronic log, but I just don't see myself having it. I don't do enough rigging for it to be practical. and I like having my riggers log with me. My computer can be funny sometimes and my log book can only get lost if I loose my riggers kit. www.greenboxphotography.com

Insurance and more insurance. Get one of of those nice plastic totes from rubber maid "action packer" is the kind that I have. I ship in that if I am going over seas with my rig. In the states I use double layered cardboard box, and no matter what place your rig in a plastic bag to protect from possible water. Sharp things int he shipping process and water are bigger concerns to me then theft. good luck and what the price tag go up on shipping. www.greenboxphotography.com

I leave my rig in my carry bag on the floor. I suppose it does not matter one way or the other though. One thing I do, If I know that I am not jumping for some time I take the main out of the dbag and take tension off the rubber bands. As well as take the pc out of it's pocket to take tension off the elastic of the boc pouch. The parachute system is your life boat, and you should never think you are anal for taking care of that. Joe www.greenboxphotography.com

I am sure that is bob that you saw. I have been skateborading for 18 years and did all the sponsorship gigs, tours and partys. what hoot. Skateboarding skills helped me along the way in my skydiving. Time,space and balance. Any other skaters out there? JT www.greenboxphotography.com

Move to a place you like and start your own DZ. make it how you want it and that will be the place of your dreams. Good luck!!!!! www.greenboxphotography.com

Cross country Packing can freak you out, listen to Bigun and rigger rob for good advice. I say wad it up, throw it in the bag and support your local rigger! or send it to me for a repack I need the cash. JT www.greenboxphotography.com

I have heard of people spraying scotch guard on fabric, and I am sure this helps. But why would you want to try something that is not proven and could possibly have adverse affects to your canopy or cause the parachute to fail? My next thought, is to get rid of the F-111 and purcahse a new ZP canopy, then there is not a poristy problem. Be safe. www.greenboxphotography.com