Gary73

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Everything posted by Gary73

  1. Gary73
    If you're a regular at one dropzone but you occasionally go to another dropzone in the area, is it cool to try to recruit folks there to jump at your main place? I've always been a one-dropzone kind of guy, but even so, when I go to other places I try to be a good guest and not badmouth the place or talk up my regular one. That's always seemed to be the generally accepted approach, but I'm wondering how other folks feel about it. Thanks! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  2. Gary73
    That's better, but I'm still worried about the "dirt dive to perfection and beyond" idea. Even perfection is unattainable, so I hope the "and beyond" was hyperbole. What I'd say is "Dirt dive until you can honestly say that you have a reasonable expectation that the student will have a safe, productive skydive, including a really good chance of passing,". Not as catchy a statement, but more realistic. Oh, here's another bit of advice: Don't hose yourself or the folks exiting after you by insisting on a perfect door position." I haven't noticed any difference in exit quality between perfect and good-enough door positions. Just note it as something to review during the debrief and get on with the skydive. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  3. Gary73
    Happened to a friend of mine years ago. Then, under canopy, the chunks and globs started falling all over and around them. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  4. Gary73
    Some good advice, but I'd have to disagree with a couple of items: Main side needs to stay until the d-bag lifts off. Definitely not. Main-side needs to get out as soon as the PC is released. Every student PCIT I've seen in 11 years of AFF-ing happened when the main-side stayed too long. (Maybe that's why we teach them to get out in the AFF-I course!) What you get on the ground, you will get in the air. Don't count on it. Do a thorough ground prep, but always remember the box-of-chocolates rule. Always. The worst performances I've ever seen were from students who did fine on the ground. Here's some more advice: Drill into students that pull time is pull time. No exceptions. Ever. For anything. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  5. Gary73
    Don't believe the cost info on the PAC-750. There's no way in hell you can put 18 jumpers in that plane, and even with 14 the climb rate is mediocre at best. Then there's the ridiculously low door and all the exposed metal structure inside the plane that guarantees massive head injuries for everyone if there's a rough landing. If you want a plane in that class, get a Caravan. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  6. Gary73
    How about http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066126/ ? Didn't realize there were so many machine-gun-on-motorcycle movies out there! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  7. Gary73
    Sounds like "Megaforce". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KpfKp-gv6s A pretty lame movie "Even in the eighties!". "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  8. Gary73
    Mike - This is what I'm talking about: Car and Driver says to expect 30 city, 41 highway, 34 combined for this model. I understand the whole "Your mileage may vary." concept, but that's so large a variation as to make the number worthless for estimating my actual mileage. Besides, with diesel costing so much more than gasoline these days, it hardly seems worth it to go that direction. But thanks for the info. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  9. Gary73
    Looking at new-car info, it seems that very few cars have combined mileage ratings much over 30 MPG. Are the current EPA estimates at all accurate for typical drivers? Thanks. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  10. Gary73
    On top of that, if you only spent two hours in a "first-jump course", there's no way you were taught everything you need to know to safely make an AFF Level 1 jump and practiced it adequately. No way. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  11. Gary73
    I want to stay with Verizon for their coverage, but would like to upgrade to a more capable phone. They offer a lot of different models - are there any that I should definitely avoid or consider? I apparently need texting, e-mail, speakerphone, GPS, qwerty keyboard, and Web access. Thanks! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  12. Gary73
    You mention the canopy size, but what's the jumper's wing loading on that canopy? As long as a jumper limits turns to 180 degrees below 1,500 feet, there shouldn't be any problems with an AAD firing in student mode, assuming a WL of under 1.0 PSF, as recommended for any jumper with under 200 jumps, Even so, from what I've been able to find out informally, student mode is more trouble than it's worth, even for students. It's incredibly rare to have a legitimate student-mode AAD activation, but not at all rare to have an accidental activation just because a jumper does a 360 turn at 1,000 feet. So yeah, FWIW I'd vote for normal mode in this case. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  13. Gary73
    Be aware that some riggers will not repack a rig if any of the components are more than 20 years old, regardless of their condition. So yeah, definitely check with your local rigger. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  14. Gary73
    Back in the days when the harness and container were two separate items, the DZ rigger loaned me his Green Star conventional harness for the weekend. We hooked everything up, I jumped, and upon deployment the main lift webbing came out of the adapter on the left side. The canopy went into a violent spin, but I was able to get it under enough control to perform a landing that I was able to walk away from. Turned out that Green Star used the wrong size quick-fit adapter and even with a proper turnback on the webbing, it went right through the adapter. More recently I found a reserve that was packed (by a DPRE) with a complete backflip in the lines. Same guy repacked a couple of rigs with expired CYPRESes. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  15. Gary73
    Use a standard coil spring instead of a torsion spring. You can vary the speed just by moving the attach point. Place a yardstick behind the sample and you should be able to get fairly accurate speeds from the video. (Don't forget the safety cable running through the middle of the spring!) "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  16. Gary73
    Parachute Recovery Systems Design Manual by T.W.Knacke Excellent book, with lots of drawings, charts, photos, and math. Available from Para-Gear. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  17. Gary73
    yes she did, it's not too bad
  18. Gary73
    Main side hangs on until the PC is released, then turns and tracks immediately. There's no specific training for what to do if the student pulls a pull-out handle but doesn't release it, but I've had success with both slapping the hand and grabbing the fabric and yanking it free. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  19. Gary73
    Yeah, they stay so that they can punch or pull the bag out, oblivious to the fact that they themselves are causing the pilot chute to be unable to lift the bag. Or maybe they just get off on "saving" the student. Either way, they're endangering themselves and their students. The S&TA and DZO need to tell them to stop. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  20. Gary73
    For those who missed it, there was another thread in General Skydiving Discussions about a student with a Pilot Chute In Tow malfunction on an early AFF level. This is almost always caused by the main-side instructor hanging on after the pilot chute is released. Remember what we teach in the AFF ICC: If the reserve-side is present, the main-side should always turn and track the instant the PC is released. Otherwise, the combination of the three burbles can prevent the PC from getting enough air to lift the bag. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  21. Gary73
    I teach, "this is he GF/BF that cheated on you...get rid of him/her!" Andy - Not sure that's the right comparison to make - some folks might want to strangle a cheating SO! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  22. Gary73
    Try Doug [bossdoug@iafrica.com] at PISA. Or, if you have a 170, I can send you that myself. Last I heard, they still sell complete line sets for HeatWaves, with pretty good prices and delivery times. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  23. Gary73
    Two very different situations here: Pilot Chute Hesitation and Pilot Chute In Tow. PCH is caused by a weak throw or a weak spring (in ripcord systems). PCIT on AFF 1 and 2 is virtually always caused by the main-side instructor hanging on after the pilot chute is deployed. His burble reduces the drag of the pilot chute enough to keep it from being able to lift the bag. As is taught in the AFF Instructor Certification Course, if the reserve-side instructor is present, the main-side instructor should always turn and track the instant the pilot chute is released. I've seen plenty of PCIT problems when the main-side hangs on, and none when he departs. Could be that's why we've been teaching it that way since the 1980s. Oh, BTW, a line twist is only a malfunction if it's still there below 2,500 feet. Above that it's a nuisance. Welcome back, and good luck with your future jumps! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  24. Gary73
    One time out of 1,600 tandems, 1,400 AFFs, and 300 S/Ls. So yes, Mike, you're weird. But that's okay, we like you anyway... "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan
  25. Gary73
    "Just remember this my girl, when you look up in the sky, you can see the stars and still not see the light." - Jack Tempchin "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan