skydived19006

From: http://www.parachutesaustralia.com/s2/prod_icarus_tan.php We transferred the Icarus Tandem construction into the Precision TR375 tandem reserve and put it through the FAA TSO process. During the heavy drop testing we gradually increased the weight and speed and eventually dropped the canopy at 250MPH with 900lbs under it (400 KPH with 400 KG) the equivalent of 4 people doing double terminal. Measuring equipment on the dummy showed the total load on the canopy during the opening had been almost 10,000 lbs (4.5 tonne's). The canopy opened perfectly with no damage. (Exit height for these tests was 300ft) Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I didn't see it because it was taken down. There was a couple of videos of a TI, or a couple of TIs doing head down tandems posted on youtube. Bad enough? How about the fact that they had little kids in front, like in the 8 to 10 year old range, then obviously finish up with a nice high performance landing! What ever happened to "don't write anything down, and don't record it on video or otherwise"! Or does that only apply to cheating you your wife/husband? "Stupid is, as stupid does." Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I agree. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I left last or near last (because I wouldn't put my back to a few in the group!) out of a Caravan on a RW "Zoo Dive" in 2001. At about 12,000' I watched a guy get over the building formation and drop on it from 15 or so feet above. He fell away on his back, and I decided to chase him. As he kept falling on his back turning, fall rate varying, and moving around in a circle (all axis). It was obvious that he was in trouble, but it was also obvious that I'd have to impact him to catch him, and I wasn't wearing a helmet, nor carrying an AAD. I also didn't know the injured guy well enough to know if he had an AAD. I gave up the chase after 8,000', deployed, and waited to see what I'd see. Thankfully it was a white canopy. Turns out that before he hit the formation, he'd brought both arms in, and on impact dislocated both shoulders, loosing both of his "pullers." He had minor injuries from the no flair landing (praises for lightly loaded reserves!!!), spend a day or so in the hospital, and basically gave up the sport. It's a damn bad feeling to have to make a decision like that! I don't tend to be openly emotional, but cried durring a TV news interview that evening. I always cringe when seeing a 10 to 20 RW group dirt diving, when I know that the skill isn't there. I've also often lent a bit of sage advice to said groups, but to no avail. Some folks seem to forget that this sport is inherently dangerous, and doesn't need any additional "stupid" added. Be safe, don't do anything stupid, and always be smart enough to know when to say no! One little word that could save your life. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Looked to me like there just wasn't much if any lift in the flair, wonder what canopy. My worst tandem landings tend to be when a gust goes from 20 to 10 right at the time I start my flair. You feel the bottom drop out, pull flair, and grit your teeth. Obviously why gusting winds are dangerous. Anyway, so far in 1500 plus tandems I've had one guy wearing cheep "jump boots" not lift his feet, snag a heal, and snap an ankle. And maybe a couple complain of lower back pain on a hard butt landing. It's been said, regardless of who you are, do a couple of thousand tandems, and you'll have some ugly landings. In my opinion and from years of experience, tandem has a much lower injury rate compared to solo methods. Who hasn't seen a student flair at 25' plus, not flair at all, flair to shoulders and slam, etc. When I was instructing at a Static Line only DZ in the 90s, which put out 200 to 300 SL first jump students a year, I think we called an ambulance about once a month through the summer. More like once a year on average at my DZ. Somewhat off topic but interesting, for DZs somewhat close to cities with TV stations. If we don't "manage" what's said in a 911 call, the TV trucks will almost beat the EMS guys out. When 911 dispatches the word "Skydive" or any derivative, it's like a feeding frenzy. Someone twists an ankle on a slow news day, and we see a news story saying something "skydiver escapes near death after falling 10,000'..." We as I'm sure most DZs try to manage these situations. Control who talks to the reporter, try to help them get the facts correct, which isn't generally their objective, and turn a negative situation into something positive. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Oh, come on! There's the Cosmosphere in and Underground Salt mine tour in Hutchinson. We have the worlds largest ball of twin in Cocker Ks. There's a cool airplane museum in Liberal. Cheney St Lake is one of the top wind surf lakes in the nation (sounds dangerous to me). All that plus three cool little DZs, and a liqueur store on every other corner. http://www.cosmo.org/ http://www.undergroundmuseum.org/index.ph http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Cawker/twine.html http://www.cityofliberal.com/airmuseum/index.html Ok,you're right, boring. Not exactly Texas is it? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I have about 1500 tandems on Icarus mains. The only times I've ever had line twists enough that it was an issue at all was when for whatever reason we dropped a shoulder on opening and snapped into the twists, I'd guess that I have leas than 5 of these. I do not like the feeling of being under an open flying canopy and still twisting up. I open at 5,500' so I have the time, and generally just hang out and wait for gravity to untwist us. Anyway, 1,500 tandems to date, and zero malfunctions. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I own two Precision built Icarus tandem mains (one 330, one 365), one Icarus 365 (Spain), and one Precision 330. Ironically the one I prefer with a heavy student is the oldest Precision Icarus 365 also with the most jumps on it. It has the most powerful flair. The "Icarus Icarus" 365 is my least favorite of all of them, it has a mushy flair, and I'll only jump it at lower wing loadings. The two 330s both built by Precision (one before the split) fly about the same. I asked the Icarus guy what the differences were. He's obviously a bit bias, and said that the Precision canopy was "the old design" and that Icarus had to many changes to list. If anyone is interested, I know where a prototype 360 is. It has no taper, I put one jump on it with a light experience jumper in front of me, and sent it back! I'm spoiled and other than the Icarus/Precision canopys I only have a couple of jumps on a Strong SET. I don't think that I honestly could have flaired that 360 with no taper without the help of my "student"! Anyway, my suggestion between the two would be to "go American" and work with George! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

My first H@P was my 6th jump, after 5 static line jumps. The only JM available at the time was a lady who didn't have much interest in working with students any more. I still relate her "words of advice" to me just before opening the door "You'd better not scare me!" Actually, I really liked being off the static line. I remember sitting in the back of the airplane, and obsessing slightly about "falling out" without my SL stowed on the back of the rig. Once off SL, I could justify that if for any reason I did fall out of the airplane, at that point it was "just another skydive" since I now controlled my own fiat, and carried my own rip cord. Anyway, exiting the airplane at 4,000' for a SL, or IAD student is just more of the same ol. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I believe that currently the plane crash near St. Lewis is in process, and I've noticed another thread regarding Bill Dause. Law suites are not all that uncommon. Depending on what I'm commenting on, I'm very conscious of what I "enter into the permanent record" here. Edit to add: I'd guess that the whole situation with Skyride has made a few more folks conscious of the legal implications of posting in a public forum. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I've never been exposed to direct bag SL, and thought that pilot chute with static line assist was the norm. Am I wrong? I started on static line (with PC), became a SL JM, and I in the 90s, then converted to IAD in the late 90s. IAD is scarier to me, as an open container on the strut (C182) seems to be a bit more likely. We seriously stress to our IAD Instructors to never let go of the PC until the student has let go/left the airplane! Also put in 10 degrees flaps for all IADs. My list of actual problems with IAD are limited to having a bridle get snagged and bag dropping out as my student was climbing out. I "asked" him to go, he went, I threw, and he got a functioning parachute. With SL, I had a student fall off, but rotate 90 degrees prior to letting go, leaving in a cart wheel. He had the PC bridle running under his arm pit, with bag behind, and PC in front. He pulled his SOS, and got a nice reserve. I prefer IAD because the student learns with a throw out PC, never has to unlearn/relearn from a rip cord. We don't deal with spring loaded PCs, or switching back and forth from spring loaded to non, etc. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

What's your experience? Skydiving and business? I wouldn't suggest that you open an electrical contracting business without one hell of a lot of experience in the field, same goes for skydiving (that is if you have any interest in positive cash flow). Martin ACDZ Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

You think that they'll run video? They're liable to lose their USPA Instructional ratings if "found out." If I'd ever done something like that, I'd prefer no paper trail, no video, etc. Keep no records, write nothing down, never happened. "I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it, you can't prove anything!" Edit to add: Just occurred to me, maybe these guys are "cowboys", and have no ratings to lose? I'm envisioning gear out of date, no AAD, no medical, no training, etc. Might want to ask around about your DZ. Anyone willing to ignore the age rule, especially with someone they have never met, is suspect in my book. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

There is no Federal law regarding the minimum age to skydive. I do not know about individual state laws. That said, there is a lot of pressure outside of the law! As said, most instructors have signed a contract with the gear manufactures (maybe not if using Eclipse, or foreign gear). Just about every DZ requires a signed waiver, and you have to be the "legal age of contract" for it to be binding. Some DZs may allow 16 year olds with parents signed consent, but those "contracts" are generally worth less than the paper their written on. If you can't drive 5 hours to a wind tunnel, then I guess Europe is out of the question as well. He will more than likely have to wait until he's 18. Well, you could learn to skydive, make 500 jumps over 2 years, get your Tandem Instructor rating, buy a tandem rig, buy, or "find" an airplane, and take him yourself. You could do it in 2 years, and somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000 (if you don't buy your own airplane. Then figure a little more $.) Oh!! Don't forget to check with him mom!!! Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FairTax Wikipedia has a nice page on the Fair Tax. It's not quite as long as the book, and points to opinions on both sides of the arguments. It would for sure put a bunch of accountants, and just about every IRS employee out of work. Kind of like the automobile made the biggie whip industry obsolete. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

There was an article in Parachutist regarding King Airs. Not all that many hauling skydivers anymore, and less every year. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

All I can say is, don't get married and have kids! My wife tends to obsess at times as to life without husband and daddy for our two kids (5 and 4). I'd hate to think of those two boys growing up without their daddy, but then I don't think I'm going to kill myself doing this. Angie also worries a lot about me getting current and flying again. I never gave much of a worry about what my parents thought. They taught me to be independent, and I was 25 when I started. Live your life, and let those who don't agree pound sand. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

They do nice work for a decent price in Mena Arkansas. I think paint is money well spent! I also wouldn't even consider going with bare aluminum, it's enough work just washing, and keeping the belly clean on a painted airplane. Seems that your "omni-vision rear window" needs to be replaced as well, it's more opaque yellow than "window." Spend the money! Raise prices if you have to! Spruce up that bird! I'm painting my airplane one piece at a time, reminds me of Johny Cash's one piece at a time Cadillac. Last winter the wings came off, and went to Indiana for rebuild. Also last year we painted the right elevator, it got hit by a skydiver, repaired and painted. This winter we painted the horizontal stabilizer, and left elevator. Replaced a dented skin on the stab, and painted the whole thing while it was off the airplane. Maybe next winter, I'll pay to do the rest of the rest of the airframe. Well probability not, next winter is a Texas Skyways 520 and prop ($45,000 or so). Paint's ok for a while. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Every DZ should be filling out a log book with their students. If not, look elsewhere. My experience is that it's easiest if the student stays at the same DZ up to the point that their jumping from full altitude. This way, you can move to any DZ regardless of method with little issue. Good luck, and FYI smaller DZs tend to train SL/IAD as primary "still." Static Line is no better or worse than IAD, although you'll find many with opinions one way or the other. IAD/SL seem to be somewhat regional, some areas tend to be SL, others IAD. In my opinion most who use IAD do it for the ease of gear. We don't have to use spring loaded pilot chutes, then ripcords, or switch the rigs to throw out pilot chutes. If going with ripcords, the student will have to retrain to throw out at some point. You could always drive out to Kansas, I'll train you! Funny story, I had a Japanese girl call me from California wanting to schedule a tandem skydive with us. I simply figured that she would be in Kansas for some reason other than to jump with us. She showed up as scheduled in the winter. We had a 1000' ceiling, and wind that day. I asked her why she was in Kansas, she said she thought "In Japan, I live in middle of country. I thought I go middle of country to skydive. Two days, and one half on bus to here from California." I tried to help her find a place on the trip back to California to jump, and since she would be passing through Phoenix AZ, I figured SD Arizona would work for her, if she arranged a lay over. Never did hear how it worked out for her. BTW, nice English!!!! Martin Air Capital Drop Zone Wichita Kansas USA Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I am not a rigger, but as I understand there is also a requirement for Master Rigger to have packed 25 of a second "type". Type being back, seat, chest, and lap, which makes it a bit difficult since there are not many chest, lap (what's that anyway), or seat rigs around anymore. I think that many simply get an old belly container, and practice packing, signing off on it. This is another archaic FAA rule, it would be much more logical in this day to have the types being ram air, and round. "FAR Section 65.115 provides that applicants for a senior parachute rigger certificate must have packed at least 20 parachutes of each type for which a rating is sought. The parachute must have been packed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and under the supervision of a certificated parachute rigger who holds a rating for that type or by a person holding an appropriate military rating. Applicants for a master parachute rigger certificate must have had at least 3 years of experience as a parachute rigger and have satisfactorily packed at least 100 parachutes of each of two types in common use, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions." Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I can see both sides of this issue. I do think that if they choose to only accept the ballots taken from the magazine, that a decent compromise would be to send a couple of hundred ballots to small DZs, and two hundred to large DZs. Oh, you say "that's a lot of paper, and mail!", those things do not seem to be a problem with sending out a stack of blank TMI forms, which I throw in the trash. Ok, so I could go onto the GM site, take information, and forge ballots. There's always going to be room to cheat, shit it happens in our national presidential elections. So, what are we going to do? Require everyone to make a pilgrimage to Virginia, show multiple forms of ID, then dip our thumbs in green ink so we can't vote twice? I'll send an email to the BOD, expressing my opinions. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Not to be a pessimist or anything but maybe there's a reason why only 1 DZ took advantage of the voluntary inspection program. Scary? And as I understand that one DZ "failed miserably", is a quote I'd noticed earlier in this or another thread. As Loyd indicated, simply having the "standards transparent" would be helpful, I have no idea what said inspection is going to entail. How about if we ask all parents to volunteer for a "home parenting inspection"? You don't get any information regarding said inspection, or what's going to be inspected, and if you fail, your children are placed in foster care until said violations are corrected. "Sign me up!!" I let (private airport, he has to ask permission) an FAA Inspector "visit" my DZ anytime he likes. I know what he's going to be looking at, and I also know what happens if he "finds something." Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I enjoy telling people that fishing is dangerous. Every year about 3000 people die in the USA in fishing accidents (drowning). But yes, I do intentinoally leave out the number of perticipants part of the equasion. I do think that honestly one of the most dangerous things people do is to drive while tired, and especially at night. Not only is it dangerous, but you expose everyone in the car, often the entire family including young children to this very real danger. That said, people drive every day (often while eating, talking on the phone, and putting on make-up, some all at the same time), so it's considered an every day activity, as opposed to something "dangerous". Then you get the "yeah, but we have to drive". Maybe, but surely not as much as you do. If we never took any "unnecessary risks" we'd all die at home of some heinous death like from slipping while showering, and hitting your head on the toilet! How embarrassing is that?!? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Between Mark and I over 3000 tandems under Icarus 330s and 365s, zero tension knot mals, zero spinning mals, and 1 line over. We did our tandem I training on an Icarus 330, and started with one rig and a 330 in it. Second rig had a 365 which is a better chaise for all around in my opinion. I don't see a problem with a novice TM being under a 330, just don't load it up much over 400 lbs. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ