Kris

I think it'll make for a kick-ass shirt. As for loud or subtle, I could really care less as long as I can get it in an XXl and in a short-sleeve version to wear around in summer. In which case, I'll take two of each. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

The procedure I follow is similiar. I have three exits I can use with my IAD students: 1. The normal IAD deployment with them hanging from the strut with me right next to them. Yes, I do climb out with my students. 2. Quick exit, used if for some reason we all have to bail on one pass, altitude permitting (generally above 2500'). With this exit, I will have student # 1 go to "feet out & stop", I will grab their PC, and have them leave facing the tail. I will pitch the PC underneath the plane as they leave. I will then rotate around with my back to the console and have the other students do the same exit. This gives them plenty of room and give me easy access to their PC's. If we're off field, they are to try and find my canopy and follow my landing pattern. 3. Emergency exit. I will tell student # 1 to exit on their reserve. The student is to go to "feet out & stop", put both hands on silver with thumbs through, leave, and pull when both their feet have left the step. At that point I will leave the airplane to make room for the students behind me to get out. This is generally only workable above 1500' and with no serious control surface damage. Of course, I take all of my queues from the pilot as he is the one in command of the airplane. However, if I look over at the pilot and his eyes are glazed in fear and has become unresponsive, well, then I will have to make a decision at that point. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Nothing can top this thread from Jessica. Clicky. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

I didn't read it that way. I read it as an addition to what Motherhucker posted. And you know what, Dixie is right. I see people let their toggles up before their feet are on the ground every weekend. It certainly doesn't help their landings. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Is it because you're trying to distract him from finding out just how much you spent at REI that day? Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Nope. I can't agree with that. At some of the larger turbine DZ's I have been to, I have seen more than a couple of low-time jumpers under wings too small for their skill-level break themselves. You can't make a blanket statement based on experience at one DZ and you really can't lump students in because students will find a way to break themselves if you let them. Trust me. Incident #1 you listed proves my point on that. The trick is to not let them have the chance to hurt themselves if you can at all avoid it. Spend some time at other DZ's and see how the downsize-frenzy / acceptance vibe differs from your own. You might be surprised. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Keith, I am so stealing that for use at my DZ. Simple, effective, ...I like it. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

A priest, a rabbi, and a duck walk into a bar. The bartender looks at them and remarks, "What is this, some kind of joke?" Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Quite simply, your friend is severly misinformed. Discussion Link 1 Discussion Link 2 Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

True, low person does have the right of way, but accidents still happen because other people still fail to pay attention. If I'm on a larger dive, and I am not sure where everyone is, I will pull a barrel-roll halfway through my track to take a look. If I do it at my halfway point I can immediately modify my direction. If I did it at the end of my track that would mean that I would possibly have to take my deployment lower if someone was above me. At 2000 feet I have no friends and my PC is coming out. Now, to Andy who mentioned taking 10-20 jumps to practice. Tracking is a survival skill. Period. Always work on perfecting your track on every dive. Keep thinking, "Flatter, slower downward, faster forwards." That should be your mantra. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Procedure at my DZ is to remove seatbelts at 1000. If I'm taking up a load of IAD students I personally remove their belts, turn their radios on, and give them the first of two last gear checks at that time. As for the thread creep regarding reserve usage... I will use my main if over 1500 and go right to silver if I am at 1000-1500. My main is a Stiletto with a long snivel (400-600) but I can force it open fast with a tug on the rear risers. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Jim Cazer makes one hell of a PC. I'm on my 2nd, it's one that I bought for my new rig a few months back. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Unless you have really short arms, the standard length is 20". Generally, people with shorter arms (usually smaller women) get 18" risers, and the longer-limbed folks can get 22" risers. The problem with risers that are too short is that it takes away from your control range as you are essentially moving the control range down. If you use 18" instead of 20", that's 2 inches of flare that you lose unless you have slack that you can take out of your brake lines. Conversely, 22" risers would give you an extra 2" of flare over 20" risers. Longer risers also allow the canopy to spread out more allowing a flatter planform. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Okay, I have to admit...Buffy was one of my biggest guilty pleasures. Allyson Hannigan, ROWR! Best quote I have read yet as to why Buffy has such a large following: "Hot lesbian witches! Think about it! It's fucking genius!" I think that says it all. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Thanx! Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Yeah, I had that reaction when I saw a pic of Bets for the first time. Marianne is definitely a hottie. Sigh. I'd be able to see her in person at Skydive Dallas this weekend if I wasn't stuck with the on-call pager this week. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Here's mine on my right outside calf. As of today it is 4 weeks old.

I know the Bob's, Greg (my rigger), and Cindy (damn what a hottie chef). Glad to hear that you had some fun last weekend! Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

You have got to be kidding. Do not use products containing naptha on your canopy. I suggest you have the area where you used lighter fluid pull-tested by a rigger to make sure you haven't weakened the nylon too greatly. You should only use a damp washcloth and, if needed, a little bit of gentle soap such as Woolite or Zero (Woolite for the Canucks) to clean your canopy. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

I've done exactly the same thing before. I was reading through some old posts a few weeks ago and the thought "Heh, newbie's." rolled through my head as I was reading one. Guess who the author was? Yeah, it was my post.

Red. I use it on my rig, but not my jumpsuit. The best way to clean your jumpsuit is to take it to a carwash (that doesn't use recycled water), hang it up, and spray out the dirt. Don't get too close or you will separate the fibres. I don't care how much dirt or grass stains you have, it will be clean when you're done. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Lew has nailed it right on the head. It took me 25+ HD jumps, after doing over 200 sitfly jumps, before I could even get into a HD position and hold it for any decent amount of time. Now that I can hold it, I have a vicious backwards track and some serious fall-rate issues to work out before I can even think about moving on to carves and transitions. Learning to play in the pipe is my first goal. I figure I'll be competent enough to begin to really play with one other person without major fubars in a measely 150-250 jumps. But I will still have a lot to work on. That's the great thing about skydiving. Nobody's perfect and there's always room for improvement. I know people with over 3000 jumps who still consider themselves students. So, if it means I have to make a lot of jumps to reach my goal for a certain part of a discipline, so be it. It's all skydiving and it's all fun. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

I bought them for everyone twice last time. It's your turn now. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Get shorter risers. Otherwise, you'll just have to put the canopy in a bit of brakes until you can get grab it to stow it. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

You can order the risers from the container manufacturer The Uninsured Relative Workshop. Expect to pay between $75-$120 depending on options (stainless, TruLock, etc...) As for the slider, any good rigger should be able to fix your slider. Much cheaper than buying a new one. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™