jfields

April 1992, Ft. Benning, Ga. - Military S/L May 6, 2000 Skydive Delmarva (Laurel, DE) - AFF L1. Never done a tandem.

Altimeter? Hell, I just wait for my Cypres to fire. KIDDING! Usually 5-6 times per jump in freefall, then a bunch more under canopy.

I'll sponsor you for a jump with 3 stipulations: 1. You jump naked. 2. You get video and mail it to me. 3. Clay is not the videographer. Deal?

Info for investing newbies: Head to www.fool.com and read what the Motley Fool has to say. It is a good site, and you should start in "The Fool School". When in doubt, go with an index. Most mutual funds can't beat the S&P 500, so unless you are confident in your stock/fund picking ability, just go with an index and you will be in the market, without much of the work. If you want more info/advice (on starting out, not stock tips), e-mail me.

For those of us not going to the WFFC, here is the place to say why, what you'll be doing instead, and generally wallow in lots of self pity. If you are going, STFU, and get out of my thread! I'm not going because I spent most all of my leave days at the hospital when my daughter was born. I'll be stuck at work as usual. Perhaps I'll make a run for Clay's post whoring record while the bastard is off jumping jets and stuff. Or maybe I'll take a vacation from DZ.com so I won't be reminded of what I'm missing. I haven't decided yet.

Idiot. They get trash-packed.

They said the last run (not shown in the video itself), the falcon was clocked at like 242.

Viking, I am disappointed. I thought "The Next Step" was using your substantial photographic talents to take pictures of scantily-clad women and post them. Work on that!

Slappie, I saw part of this NG too, as I was trying to rock my daughter to sleep. When they got to the absorbing air through the skin, I just about barfed. Like you, I lost some respect for them for not checking the facts on such a prominently placed question in the show. Still cool to watch the falcon dive though.

True, but the question is what people/companies/dropzones are forced into oblivion and obscurity with it. The answer may be "none" or it may be "a whole lot". I don't have an opinion one way or the other, because I'm not knowledgeable about the operations/people in question. The entire thing is sad.

I'd think it was the opposite, but I don't jump a highly loaded canopy. It would make sense to me that the highly wingloaded canopy would be able to maneuver faster than it could pull the mass of the jumper under some circumstances. Any of you experienced canopy gurus care to shed some light on this for us relative newbies? Chuck, CobaltDan, etc?

I've never had my canopy spin into line twists like that due to my control input. It surprised me to hear someone report that on such a large canopy. I regularly bury a toggle on my Sabre 190 without that happening, sometimes doing it fairly quickly. On my next clear & pull, I'll pay special attention to the risers and see what happens. I often spiral for 4+ continuous 360s. Maybe I'll try switching quickly to a hard spiral in the reverse direction to see if that will start up the twists. Note that I'm only considering this because I'm playing up high, with plenty of recovery/chop altitude. I wouldn't intentionally do something that might give me hideous twists without 8,000-13,000 feet beneath me.

Nice segue!

I think the minimum age should be 18 (or local age of majority) for all types of jumps, including AFF, tandem and SL. While some 16 year olds may be mature enough to jump, they are probably the ones that would most understand why they shouldn't, or why they can't. Skydiving isn't like going on an amusement park ride. It is a lot more serious, and needs to be seen as such. And if that means it is an "18 and over" sport, so be it. It might be a drag for the 15-17 year olds that are positive they want to jump, but they will get over it. There is plenty to do before jumping. They could learn to pack, or even become a packer and save up the cash for their AFF and a rig. It seems to me that the best way we can keep the sport available for the young kids that want to participate is to make them wait until they are old enough to face the legal ramifications of their actions themselves. I agree that if we throw the age range open to "kids", that the industry-altering lawsuit is a matter of when, not if. Then we all get the raw end of the deal.

0:2:1 Two good jumps, and finally got in water training. Just trying to keep current...

Trent, Part of what you might perceive is due to the fact that lots of the low number jumpers here don't post a lot about certain things. In some ways, the vocal minority can be seen as the norm. For example, although I blabber incessantly in the Talkback forum, when it comes to the Gear & Rigging and Safety & Training forums, I always accurately state my (lack of) experience, and am open to information and constructive criticism from more experienced folks. In those forums, I read and lurk a lot more, because I don't have a lot to add, and damned little authority to what I do say. So I mostly just shut up and read. I've actually found much better information here than on Wreck Dot, because even the hint of moderation does play a big part in the feeling of the forums. Blantantly incorrect information will be authoritatively countered. The friendlier atmostphere is also more conducive to communications that actually teach something. There is a distinction between the banter (Talkback forum) and the serious (everything else). People are pretty good about putting their comments in the proper place. With a newsgroup, it can be very hard for a newbie to know who is experienced and who is just blowing smoke. It is easier here, which is important when the information you are looking for is safety-related. You do have valid points though. I don't totally disagree. I'm just clarifying.

Home to work: 25 minutes (Leave home 6:40 am) Work to home: 35 minutes (Leave work 4:50 pm) Both ways are very reasonable for the Washington DC area. The actual distance is under 10 miles.

The selflessness exhibited by my fellow skydivers is amazing. Look at what John is willing to do to help. Amazing. I think I will follow his noble lead and volunteer my services as a clothing consultant as well. Pro boner.. I mean, pro bono, even.

And if he agrees, keep raising the rent until you have all the gear you want and/or he decides he can't afford it.

What I want to know is who from Skreamer's home DZ is going to print this entire thread out and staple it up near manifest for everyone to read.

If I didn't read up, how the hell could I ever carry on a conversation with you, Skreamer or Remster? The effort I have to go through to maintain these friendships....

I bought a wire feed MIG welder a few years ago so I could build custom racks...... Aaahh... More expensive up front, but with the quantity you need, I'm sure it paid for itself rather quickly.

Clay, The truth is that all your money goes to these guys, for your real hobby... http://shaulsmfg.com/

See, Remster, I was right after all!

Change the locks the next time he goes to the DZ without you.