skydived19006

I read it as one payment of 21,397.05 split between the injured parties. Also $5,000 per violation, which I counted something like 15, but some of those would be thrown out. Maybe another couple million in attorney fees? That one could hang em! Anyone read The Rainmaker? WHEREFORE, plaintiff prays that the Court enter the following relief: (a) an injunction permanently restraining Defendants from violating the FBPA; (b) an award of civil penalties up to a maximum of $5,000 per violation of the FBPA; (c) restitution OF $ 21,397.05 to persons adversely affected by Defendants' actions; (d) an award of court costs and attorney's fees; and (e) any other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I just got this email regarding Lori Love A-004998, B-010229, C-011463, D-007663: Gentlemen - We regret to inform you that Lori Love has come up missing on a ferry flight from Accra Ghana to Namibia. If any of you have any information about how we could service Lori and her father, Loren E. Fred, we would appreciate any input you could give us. With much sadness, Steve Hall Lori had been employed lately ferrying aircraft around the world. Her aircraft disappeared without a trace, no transmitions, elt, etc. and for these flights are highly equipped. Lori started skydiving in the 1970s in Kansas at Sky Sports. Lori had AE, AI, I, IADE, IADI, IE, TE She let them all expire in 1998 due to back/spine problems. She had worked at drop zones all over the country, had ran airports, and DZs. There are people all across the country that knew her, and who's lives were touched by her. Please spread the information to anyone who knew her. Martin Myrtle Air Capital Drop Zone Wichita Kansas Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I like to stick out in a crowd/formation! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I'm the "student" on this one, only the second time as a tandem student, the other was required for my rating. Jen (DZO Skydive Kansas) is 5'3 130 or so, just guessing I haven't measured and/or weighed her. I'm 6'8" 210 lbs. The largest student I've hauled was 260, together we were 520 to 525 lbs. Got a real nice landing on a cold day with an Icarus 365. Martin AC DZ Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Well, they're certainly doing everything they can to make it easy! Email sent. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I have an opinion about tandem exits from a C182. First, a diving exit from a C182 is not the same thing as prop facing exit from an Otter. I had 100 plus tandems before I jumped a large side door airplane, and was literally amazed how easy it was to leave stable! In “the old days” a poised exit from 182s was somewhat standard, but much less so these days (maybe good topic for a poll?). It’s been my experience that a diving exit from a C182 where the TI simply leaves and arches will tend to roll over to one side, then roll back if/when they get the student to cooperate (arch), many come off clean if the student does somewhat arch right off the airplane. I don’t personally like the whole barrel roll, side to the wind thing, as it seems to me to be much more susceptible to a side spin, I could be wrong? How I prefer to leave is de-arched, and tapping my student on the knees, about the time we’re half way over the student is typically cooperating, and we both arch, settle out and throw the drogue. It’s typically 2 to 3 seconds off the airplane before the drogue comes out, and on “bad ones” it’s 500’, my worst ever may have been 1000’ (in 12,000 to 13,000 tandems). Again, I’ve done 1,300+/- tandems and could almost count on my fingers how many times I’ve even felt wind on my side. I’ve never been in a side spin, or for that matter even close. Disclaimer: I am 6’ 8” tall which may be a factor. We don’t officially teach with our tandems either. We do teach our students on their tandems, but if they want to learn to skydive they have to take the IAD FJC. One thing I’ve noticed it that former tandem students have to learn to not leave the plane with their feet on their butt. That first 30 second freefall can be fairly strong primacy training. Do all you “official training tandem instructors” teach their first jump student to put their feet out in the wind on their first jump? Isn’t having them put their feet on their butt counter productive, and something that has to be unlearned later? Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

All C182s are standard with an O-470 (470 cubic inch horizontally opposed 6, air/oil cooled), T182s had a turbo, and very few fixed gear 182s were ever turbo off the line (I think that there was a year or two in the 80s where the turbo was offered on the fixed gear 182). All carbureted Contental 470s were/are rated at 230 hp. There are a few engine upgrade Supplemental Type Certificates (STC, has to have FAA paperwork to maintain the commercial, otherwise the airplane will have to be noted as experimental, and the FAA is very restrictive with allowing an airplane to go experimental). The P-Ponk conversion is a 520 cubic inch engine carbureted (either a 470 with 520 crank and jugs, or injected 520 detuned with a carburetor), it’s rated at 265-270 hp http://www.pponk.com/HTML%20PAGES/O520_conversion.html. There are also a couple of 550 cubic inch STCs out there, the one that comes to my mind is the Texas Skyways 550 http://txskyways.com/550f.htm which is rated at 285 hp, also carbureted. There may be a turbo charged conversion out there that I’m not aware of, and maybe a STC for an injected engine, and or turbo/injected. One issue with these conversions is that the aircraft owner will spend $12,000 + on a new prop, and an additional $15,000+ (above what an 0-470 would cost) on the engine and paperwork. So to replace an engine with a standard 0-470 you’re looking at $20,000 to $25,000, and upgrading $45,000 to $60,000, this for an airplane that’s worth $30,000 +/- with a run out engine. I know of one dropzone that spent $80,000 upgrading their A or B model 182 with the Texas Skyways 550, three blade prop, wing extensions, speed breaks, etc. And ended up with a maintenance money pit! More common with skydiving 182s is the P-Ponk 520, which seems to be holding up well, and is compatible with some 2 blade props. Airplane engines are not racing engines! They plod along at 2,200 to 2,600 rpm producing .5 hp per cubic inch. These conversations among skydivers often remind me of being in grade school, and kids who knew basically nothing about engines and cars bragging about whose daddy had the faster/better car. “My daddy’s station wagon has a four barrel!” Martin DZO, airplane owner, uncurrent pilot Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Ok Spence, I called the number. The guy who answered the phone said “Skyride…”, and I could hear the sounds of a tele-marking room in the background. I said that I was interested in skydiving, the guy asked me for my zip code, I said “I’m in Wichita Kansas.” He had to figure out where Wichita Kansas was, then surprisingly enough he actually said that they do not have any DZs in Kansas or the area (paraphrasing). Wow! I said “So there’s no place around here to skydive?” He stammered just a bit, then said “Not that we’re affiliated with.” I said I’d check around, thanked him and that was it. What do you think Spence? I don’t think that guy has much of a future with Skyride. He obviously has honesty issues. I wasn’t trying to beat up on you for asking the question Spence, just trying to use a tough of satire/sarcasm (take your pick). I like wasting my time here, although not quite enough to spend it posting/reading the Bonfire (don’t search, I’m sure I’ve posted there in the past). Now, back to the show! Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I don't know, feel free to give them a call, and report back! I waste my time writing these posts, not calling the Skyride boiler room, although that call could prove to be more entertaining. It was fun when I was a kid to make a prank phone call here and there, but with caller ID it's taken most of the fun out of it. Maybe I'll teach my kids (5 and 3) who to dial when making there prank calls? Just need to make sure that the little angles don't have access to my credit card number!!! Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I asked the question regarding whether they'd actually sold any certificates through ebay. Just for my own curiosity I sent an email question through ebay, asking if they had any DZs in the Wichita Kansas area. I expected to have them tell me that there was a DZ 10 miles SE of town (that would be my DZ). This is the responce: "We have a location in Springfield Missouri that have some really nice aircraft and some great instructors if you have any more questions please feel free to call 800-759-7433 Thanks Ryan Berger" The fact that my ebay user name is "skydive-d19006", may have been a bit of a give away? I emailed a DZO in that area of MO asking him if he knew if anyone around him accepted the certificates. To my knowledge there are two DZs in the Springfield area and they don't accept the certificates. That said, nobody who does deal with Skyride is out advertising that fact are they? Edited by slotperfect Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

We cover the requirements noted in the SIM, and even a little gear information. I said "My DZ", but obviously that can be taken as meaning that I'm an instructor as opposed to the DZO, I am the DZO. We do not train Tandem Progression, or AFF. When a student (we always refer to them as students) who has done a tandem wants to progress toward their license with us, they have to take the IAD ground training, and progress through the IAD progression. The tandem jump that they have counts as one of the required 25 jumps, but little more. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

As a matter of fact, you and Jay did NOT abstain or recuse yourself from this particular motion vote. I smell the distinct odor of a couple of feet being held over the fire! Jan, or anyone who knows, Is there going to be a hard definition of what a constitutes a training tandem skydive? My DZ does not train Tandem Progression, but we do give basic gear instruction, steering training, etc. on every tandem. Still doesn't make it much more than a carnival ride. I don't see this BSR changing the carnival ride situation in the least, just another rating requirement. If the USPA required that a grocery list of training points be given to every tandem customer, then maybe it would change somewhat. The fact that well in excess of 90% of tandem customers do not want to be skydiving students is the reality we live with. In the end it's simple supply/demand, we supply what the customer wants. This is not what Bill, Ted, and a couple others had in mind when they developed the system, but it is how it's evolved. The BOD can live in fantasy land (or institute BSRs to pacify Bill, Ted, and John), but I have to deal with reality. Feel free to correct any misconceptions. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Well, here's an interesting twist. I own and jump Eclipse rigs, and to my knowledge there is no Eclipse manufacturer rating anymore (anyone confirm this?). I sent my money off to Eclipse sometime after Mark "Shoobie" Knutson sold the company, and never received anything back, so stopped sending money. That being the case, how can I be required to maintain a manufacturer rating, when there isn't one? Since the FAR change, the fact that the rig has appropriate TSOs it is legal gear. There are quite a few Eclipse rigs out there! I didn't think that anyone was granfathered into a USPA TI. I was an Eclipse TM before the FAR change, and when USPA created their TI rating, I attended a course. Martin Edit to add: I was/am an SL, and IAD Instructor before I got my Eclipse TM. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

When you consider the connotation of “Golden Night”, it’s actually kind of funny. Anyone know, is a golden shower is required before one can be a Golden Night? Anyway, as I understand how things have worked for the last few years, the relationship between ED, and the President of the Board of Directors has been a bit too tight. Both are former Golden Knight’s (for whatever that’s worth), and I’ve heard the opinion of a regional director that the President has been given a free hand to run things however he sees fit (hearsay). Oh, you say “So what, Seems he’s been doing a fine job.” The problem if this is the case is that you’re voice as a member through your representation (Regional and National Directors) is not worth a warm bucket of spit! When the BOD has virtually zero control over how “your organization” is being run, then the BOD is also worth just a touch more than the same bucket of spit. I’ve heard opinion that the President of the BOD is not a highly desired position, and that Glen has been handed it by the BOD because nobody else wants to put the time into the position that it requires. There ya have it, a long line of hearsay. Feel free to pick at any grammatical, spelling errors, and type-Os. Poor spellers of the world UNTIE! Martin Edit to add spelling and grammatical errors. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

You hit the nail on the head! If no DZ accepted Skyride certificates, the boiler room operation would eventually die on the vine. Good for the racing school operators to be professional enough to see beyond the end of their collective noses! By this measure, your business and associates are as a group more professional than the skydiving industry, or at least a fair number of our operators. My guess is that a DZ is a comparatively low capital business to start up, or at least relative to a racing school, therefore less susceptible to "fly by night operators." That said, I do know of one small DZ DZO who's been in this business for well over 20 year, enjoys a good reputation for safety. And I understand that a very buys turbine DZ in Indiana is in bed with these guys as well. We obviously have few answers here, just look at the length of this forum. Good for the racing school business!!!! Sounds like a bunch of people with their heads screwed on straight! Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I wonder if they've actually sold any of these certificates listed on ebay. The seller thrillplanetstore has a 0 feedback rating. Any savoy ebay buyer should run from a store with a 0 feedback! Ebay tends to not have a whole lot of patience for deceptive sales, I wonder if a complaint would close this "store." Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I’m not sure what the pay is, but my guess is that it’s an open record. I do understand that having been an Army Golden Night is a requirement, if not written, then unwritten. I’m sure Glen, and Chris already have the next Night lined up. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I'm not so sure that skydive4free.com is connected to Skyride. Can someone who has the ability do a little investigation on the web site owners etc. I just got a call from the guy running this business, and he sounds lagit. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Well, obviously if they say %50 on the web site, then %50 it is! We all know that honesty is a way of life within bowls of the Skyride boiler room. I'd enjoy reading the official Skyride Mission Statement! If I had a little more time right now, I'd take a stab at writing one for amusement. Seems like it may read similar to a whore house mission statement, but without the happy customer. No offense to any whores who may stumble across this post! Not a fair comparison, as a whore is way up the food chain from these guys!! Whores actually provide a service! Maybe Skyride will soon start brokering gift certificates for street walkers? Shhhhh! Didn't mean to give them any new ideas. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Another angle to steel money! The Skyride boys are now posing as "helping" charities. My friends on the dzos.net email list tracked this info down. This site is not live yet, but look at what those sleaze bags at Skyride are doing now: http://72.34.43.224/%7Eskydiv4/ This is their test site. The live site WILL be www.skydive4free.com We know it's Skyride because of the whois contact info and some affiliates down the line through several other websites. They now want to lend a hand in raising money for charity. Bless their hearts. Do you suppose that they've had a change of heart, and went lagit? They could actually plan to pass 1% of the money right through to the deserving charities! What a couple of sweetheart guys! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I jump/own Eclipse tandem rigs, so my situation with the manufactures is a bit different than others. I don't know what the current procedure is, but previously every instructor (maybe gear owner) signed a contract with the manufacturer. I know Bill Booth prohibited jumping with anyone under 18, tandem demos, and other things. When tandem was operating under an FAA exemption things were quite a bit different than now. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I 1000+ tandems on Icarus 330 and 365 mains. My guess is that I've had line twists less than 1 in 100 jumps, and it's always been because we dropped a shoulder on deployment, and were snapped and turning after the canopy was flying. I deploy at 5,500', and I'll generally just let the canopy do it's thing and untwist its self. That said, it is very frustrating to be under an open and flying canopy, and still turning under it, the wrong way! I'll also load up to 500 plus lbs (I weigh 210/220 and will haul a 240 lb student). I've had 0 tandem reserve rides, but fear one when heavy! Carrying TR375 reserves (as opposed to "jumping" them) Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I'm creeping off topic: Do the Icarus and A2 canopies hold up ok on a Strong rig? Has Ted threatened to sue you for using something other than his canopies in "his" rigs? A friend of mine is a DZO with Strong rigs, she won't use anything but Strong canopies because "Ted doesn't allow it" Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

We're often both running hand cam, if the other tandem is on my left, I just flip the camera upside down. Another issue 182 DZs have constantly is two tandem students who want to be on the same load. Can't do it with outside video. I don't officially offer a "gold package" with both hand can and outside video, but we've done it a few times. The main reason I don't really advertise it, is that it doesn't "fit" into our edit. We'll generally just throw the hand cam video on at the end of the "normal edit." Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I'd be interested in jumping the 285, but only with a little girl in front of me. I'm 6'8", and 260 lbs with a tandem rig on my back. I do load up a 365 to 1.4 when I'm hauling a 240 lb student (over 500 suspended). Off topic, but the thing that worries me about those heavy tandems is what a reserve ride/landing will be like (carrying a Precision TR 375, I say carrying because I still don't have a tandem reserve ride in 1100 +/- tandems) Martin I'm sorry you didn't hear my sarcastic tone thru the computer. I've jumped SET 400's, Icarus 365's, 330's, 300's and 285's and a HOP 330. The SET is a large piece of shit in every aspect. All the Icarus canopies are good and the HOP is OK too. Most my tandems (~1500 total) are on the Icarus 300. But my favorite was the 285...can't wait to get back to that. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ