jumpinjackflash

Ok, thanks SO MUCH... Actually I have done a little "Flat Turn" training! I just apparently didn't think at all on this, and use it then!!! Wow, feel real stupid now. Live and learn. I'll keep practicin the flats though. Very good point re plf's as well. I've actually had a few rough landings, and didn't do it that well either. Need to get that right as well. THANKS!!! jjf It's a gas, gas, gas...

Groovy Will do Planned to Just listenin to the gang here as well. All input is good. Ok, well, somes downright stupid, but if we run it by the ones we know know, then.... :-) peace It's a gas, gas, gas...

Now that was FRICKIN Enlightening! Oh No MR BILL!!! Those are definitly pics I'll save (if you don't mind) and whip out when people say I'm nuts.... I'll say, well, I just jump out. Look at what these two do!!! Peace, Jack It's a gas, gas, gas...

Ok, made a bit of a screw up... Trying to learn how to enter the zone, on my own. Long story short, second jump of the day. I hit the zone at 1000 feet. COOL. Exactly where I want to be. Running paralell to the runway and the tetrahedron. Downwind. Reach the end of the runway, 500 feet, apply left toggle to crosswind. At this point I'm thinking. "I'm pretty short here, I shoulda let out another few yards to drop off altitude)". I SHOULD'VE HELD CROSS WIND AT THAT POINT Before going to my approach.... Anyhow. Hit approach around 200. Obviously to me, I'm going to over shoot my landing area, which, now that were under construction can be interesting to say the least (lotsa dirt, mounds and stuff to the left). But it's not the construction thats got me, it's the ditch and I'm headed right for the mouth of a huge concrete culvert. Now in retrospect, I could of/should of held half breaks to hold position (Will do that next time) I should've done lots of shit to avoid my current position. but... so, around 30 feet up, I apply some left toggle to veer to the left of the concrete monster (can see the thing eating me now!!!) effectively breaking the no turn rule. Now I'm headed for the dirt. Doesn't bother me a damn bit, rather that than the concrete. But, my left wings dropped a bit, I FLAIR, land on ass, little hard.... I HAD TO TURN THE DAMN THING OR EAT CONCRETE. I Agree I shouldn't of, but had to. Any advice? I already know what put me in the position (bad planning on my part), like I said, there were any number of things I could've done to avoid it, and you can bet I will the next time.... It was a good lesson in many ways, especially cuz I didn't break anything! However, WHAT WOULD YOU DO FACED WITH A NASTY COLISSION? WoULD YOU ATTEMPT A LOW TURN? EVEN LIGHTLY??? Needless to say, I made it. No injuries. But that doesn't mean I don't take my teacher seriously. I believe what they are telling me. I just feel I had no choice in the matter... thanks guys/gals for your input jjf It's a gas, gas, gas...

Good Point. Well said. Being an ex-smoker (both kind), I can't tell who's more stupid. Tommy for still hangin on to the idea the shit will ever be legalized... Or the law for givin a rats ass and wasting my tax dollars to put his ass in a cell. ??? In my book they are both idiots. It's a gas, gas, gas...

I have four sons sir and I cannot imagine the pain your experiencing. However, none of our deaths can be prevented. Your heart should be eased knowing he went living his dreams. These are our dreams too and we don't believe that anyone should be blamed for us dying while living them. We don't want our dreams threatened and your son wouldn't of wanted that either. I wish you much peace sir, Jack It's a gas, gas, gas...

Hell yes it does. I'll tell you this. After hearing what you have to say. When my A gets here, I'll make it a point to get up to Perris and say hi. I'm looking forward to jumping with you all and meeting those incredible JM'S. Very Cool, Indeed. jjf It's a gas, gas, gas...

I'm sure it will grow as I only have a small amount as well. However, last week I did my first solo, and the feeling diving out of the Otter (I LOVE THE OTTER!!!) alone, hitting the relative wind, sliding down the hill... Then I did something I've never done. Hit my arch and looked down. For 6,000 feet. Arch, Alti, Ground... Watchin mother earth grow in size, feeling the wind. THE SINGLE MOST INCREDIBLE THING I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE. I'm sure they'll all continue to get better. I'm glad to have you guys to share with as well. BLue Skies, Jack It's a gas, gas, gas...

AWWWW SHIT!!!! Happened to me for a few weeks, in fact, more than twice I've ended up going out Fri, Sat, and Sun just to complete... Happened today, but cleared by the afternoon. However, since it's a 60 mile run, I decided to wait till first thing tomorrow morning. Hope it clears for you tomorrow too Dutch. Blues Jack It's a gas, gas, gas...

That decides it, I must just be a complete wuss. I feel just like a little girlie man :-) I've got 17 and there is absolutely no way I want to go for that kind of wing loading. I weigh 195 and will keep jumping that 235 for quite some time I guess. Guess swooping is out of the question? Brought to you by DUH! jjf i was found, i was washed up and left for days... It's a gas, gas, gas...

Incredible!!!! Good JOB! Major congrats to your crew too. It sounds to me like you've got a fabulous group of JM's there. Taking the time and trouble to walk you through everything, work on your confidence, review equipment, etc.... Wonderful group of people you should feel blessed! Most of all "YOU ROCK"!!! :-) It won't take long till your on your own! Jack p.s. make my second solo jump tomorrow, can't wait to dive out and blast through the skies!!! Happy Jumping Nightingale! It's a gas, gas, gas...

ok, I have ADD, my youngest has ADD, and I'm here to tell you. This is the funniest shit I ever saw, and if you don't know add, you just wont freaking get it. How many kids with A.D.D. does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Wanna go bike riding? I'd go wake him and tell him right now, but he is only 13, and has school in the morning. If I side track him now, he may never regain focus by school time! He will absolutely luv this too! THANKS! :-) it's good to learn to laugh at your self, but it's even more fun to laugh at others!!! :-) jjf It's a gas, gas, gas...

Very funny, I've made a couple trips out and brought the bad weather with me!!! I get the same thing!!! :-) jjf It's a gas, gas, gas...

Thank You Man! I believe your right on this one! Had two more plane rides this week (to NY) that I didn't get to jump out of!!! Damn! peace, jjf It's a gas, gas, gas...

I agree Lisa, and you are right. We should be responsible, not only for ourselves, but others as well. The thing that tweaks me is, even so, you know some people just don't listen. I think it's great that we need to get on top of this, I just seriously can't imagine being held liable for someone elses poor choices. There probably should be some kind of rule implemented, and we should work diligently to make sure that careless shit just doesn't happen. My only fear, is that it's use as a weapon in blaming others for bad behavior. I'm sure theres been cases where every intention was made to sell the canopy only to a qualified jumper, but in the end, some idiot still managed to jilt the system, and died as a result. Should we string up the people that he fooled??? scary stuff Jack It's a gas, gas, gas...

Ok, read every post in here. After reading everything. I'm convinced. You can't fix stupid. By a Kleenex to jump under when your not qualified, trained, or experienced enough. You'll die. End of story. Still pisses me off. After reading all the threads, looking at the complexities of implementing. Then implementing the rules doesn't result in better safety it results in others being held "liable" for DUMB ASS CHOICES? WHAT THE FUCK? If SkyBytch sells me a fucking 130, and I lied to her and told her I had 500 jumps, IT'S HER FAULT THEN WHEN I EAT FUCKING DIRT CUZ SHE DIDN"T BLOOD TEST ME???? BULLSHIT. SCREW THAT. There is no other way. Really, implementing those rules/regs open up just another way for other people to be blamed for outright fucking stupidity. Damn, thats what we need. More of that crap. If your smart enough to complete AFF, or any other USPA training, test out for your A, and then you go and buy a freaking High perf chute after your 40th jump, well shit, does that make any sense at all? WHAT, EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR YOU??? BUT YOU DON"T HAVE TO? if you touch the stove, you'll get burned. jjf this shit makes me livid... stuff like that (lyin about your experience to get a dangerous fucking canopy) gets done by idiots, then everyone in the sport looks like a fucking idiot. bullshit. It's a gas, gas, gas...

Good point. None of us are. No such thing. Every hop, is a potential disaster... Nice metaphor for life though as far as I see it. Nice tag line jjf I got me a rock-n-roll band it's a free for all... It's a gas, gas, gas...

As a newbie, I'd vote for the above. Why not have to be "Rated" to engage in what is incredibly "High Risk" diving behavior? If the dz's abided, wouldn't that reduce the rate of fatalities? just a thought, Jack It's a gas, gas, gas...

For those who don't have the issue handy -- The letter writer is a dzo at a dz that sits at 4500 feet MSL. They've called in a life flight helicopter three times this year - not much for a big dz like Perris but too often for his "medium sized" dz. Damn, I'm just too young to understand I suppose (ha, skydiving young!). I enjoy watching the big boys swoop, and even thought the other day. "When I grow up, I may want to give that a shot".... Now, understanding basic physics, how a hook turn acelerates a canopy, trajectory and setup.... I can wait a few years, minimum. It's all kind of obvious isn't it? The conversation I had with one of our best jumpers went like this. Me You ever get injured? JM Oh Yeah, if your going to do this, mark my words, you'll get injured one way or another. Me Definitly cool, I'll give it a shot after I get a thousand or so jumps in. I gotta believe it's pretty scary, cuz you must know when you set it up, and hook it, come out of it, on the way in, you must know if it's botched, and have at least a couple seconds to watch yourself as you plow into the ground. JM Yes, definitly ugly. Ok, so, doesn't everyone with basic sense understand that you really have to be good to do this? That you really have to be an advanced canopy pilot with incredible understanding of air currents and flight characteristics of your canopy? Even then, as I'm told on this site frequently. Even when you get it right, there are no guarantees! Angers me. Why would you have to waste breath on anyone explaining it? All you have to do is watch someone swoop, and it's obvious that you have no business doing it, OR FLYING A HIGH PERFORMANCE CANOPY, unless you are highly experienced. This stuff seems pretty simple to me. I love flying, so, to fly more, I have to live. jjf i was found, i was washed up and left for days... It's a gas, gas, gas...

Just to add that a premature deployment at those speeds on your main or reserve is really going to spoil your day - so make sure your pins are indecent... Good point. Will do. It will be a long time before I work on that though. I need at least a couple hundred jumps and tons more training in standard belly fly before doin any head down! I'll definitly go there though, it looks like massive fun to me (oh, aside from the premature opening thing) Jack It's a gas, gas, gas...

Ok, post whore that I am.... WOW. This is something that I've read about big time and really want to do. Now I just need 400-500 more jumps, tons more experience... etc... did my first track yesterday, second today, then soloed.... tracking was totally cool. really interested in working that particular skill. it sounds to me if head down is an extreme variation of tracking. luv speed, luv it. damn Jack It's a gas, gas, gas...

They both make the trip out from St. Louis worthwhile. Kari does a great job making everyone feel welcome at manifest and runs a great show. Jim has really made me feel comfortable in my quest to become a skydiver. He never seems "hurried" and is always willing to stop and share his wisdom. He's spent quite alot of time with me in the last few weekends, training me for my last AFF levels, and always on the radio to talk me in and teach me basic canopy work. I was just thinking the other day. I can jump from here on out, telling people that I had a gold medalist training me. You know it sounds silly, but you just feel SAFE knowing that Jim's on the radio. That he'll guide you in, all you have to do is listen. You would never know it either from his presence. No flash, No show, just calm quiet ability and a skydiving record that speaks for itself. Class Act, Truly a Class Act. Takes the wind right outta me. It's been a short time, but I'm going to miss them both greatly. Blue Skies, THANK YOU KARI AND JIM! Jack It's a gas, gas, gas...

Now that does sound cheesy. Cool, will do. I've become a complete junky. If I'm not jumping, I want to see jumping. Man, I need help. :-) Thanks Amazon, I'll ignore the commentary on it as well. Jack it's alright now, in fact its a gas... It's a gas, gas, gas...

So impressive. It takes real guts to take care of yourself and not just blindly "get in line". As said in this thread, it is an highly "Unnatural Act". One that comes with great benefits, but you have to be on your game. Good Choice! Even more impressive, pushing the beer away and gettin your butt in the air. WOW! I tell my kids all the time, it's easy when it's easy, the time your really measured is when it's tough. So cool, So completely cool. I've gotta tell you. I graduated AFF today. Went out on solo, dived out (which is beyond groovy) and just relaxed and fell. Well, my dz rules, now say that I can pull at 4K instead of 6K (wave off at 6K rather, and pull)... Anyhow, I'm at 7,000 over a fairly sizeable factory, watching the ground for the first time (in aff, your always focused on the objectives and looking at your instructors for signals, etc...) so I'm watchin the ground rush up, and the altimeter, and I get to 6K, first thought? I can go 2000 more feet. Next? :-) 6 seems like a perfect height! Yeah, I'll wave and pull NOW! lol anyhow, I really think you did good. always take care of yourself, always question, and don't go, if your not up to it. Keep this in mind though. I've had the "switching jm's" issue a few times. Don't sweat it, manifest is working hard, instructors are working hard, loads get built and ran... Your DZO has those instructors for a reason, and each and every one of them can take fine care of you. If you don't know one of their names, ask, and get ready to fly. They will watch over you, you can bet it. Believe in them. Congrats! Be Proud, you beat it. jjf It's a gas, gas, gas...

OK Everyone. I ordered the dang thing three weeks ago from BlockBuster... It's taking forever to arrive, must be coming by pony. Is it worth it? I heard there was some great skydivin in it? Opinions? Thanks Jack It's a gas, gas, gas...