skydived19006

Hey, did someone say it’s almost Labor Day!? To me that says COUCH FREAKS! I don’t get out much, but Fort Dodge Iowa is my one skydiving vacation. We shut the doors at the DZ for the weekend and make what has become a pilgrimage to Iowa for a really cool boogie! I’ll take this opportunity to thank in advance the Des Moines Skydivers for what I know takes them all year to organize! They do an excellent job! Great planes, two Otters, Skyvan, and King Air form Skydive Az. Live bands two nights, good food two nights included, very cool clothing optional contests, beer truck 24/6 (six day boogie), coed showers, and don’t forget the chicken pooper (you just may have to be there to understand “chicken pooper”) So, let’s hear from all you Freaks! Who can I look forward to seeing this weekend in/over/around Fort Dodge Iowa? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

1-10-0 Well Val, I guess if it’s too cloudy to skydive at a “Good Vibes” boogie, there’s always the “Vibes” option! Practice what ya preach! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I’m curious about a couple of things regarding training and waver videos. Does anyone use a waver video for other than tandem? It has always seemed like such a good idea in the event of an accident/incident to be able to say to a potential jury that the person had watched said video, regardless of whether it was tandem, AFF, IAD, whatever. On a somewhat related subject, I once saw a video used by a Strong TI (Not a video produced by Strong) that did the usual waver, but also went through the whole ground training. I guess in theory after seeing this video, you would just need to show them the exit, and arch em. I’m not suggesting that this is a good training method, and I don’t really want a bunch of guys “advising” me that this is a crappy idea. We always give our tandem students/passengers a through ground briefing, for multiple and obvious reasons. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Dave, I agree that a student that progressed through the 7 levels of AFF, and then did 18 jumps under the supervision of a well trained Coach would probably as you say have an ability comparable to someone who trained static line/IAD at 100 jumps, if the SL jumper then did a bunch of two ways with another new “A” skydiver, as is often the case. I had a guy give me his opinion the other day regarding the move toward head down/free fly. It was his opinion that a fair percentage of skydivers start free flying because the “sky gods” refuse to do belly down RW with someone green. A more competent skydiver at 25 jumps might just change that percentage a bit. One advantage of a small one Cessna DZ is that through the months long, drawn out SL progression a student spends a lot of time at the DZ getting to know the “regulars”. Once they get that most difficult of licenses to obtain (A), their part of our little (sometimes somewhat dysfunctional) family, and we all take them under our communal wing. Each training method has its advantages and disadvantages, but I would bet that once someone has 50-100-200-1300-1600 jumps, they are seldom quizzed on what their training method was. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Forgive my ignorance for I am not an AFF instructor. After the 7 jumps/levels (which are somewhat costly if repeated), is it required, or just suggested that the neophyte skydiver jump with a coach for all or some of the rest of the required jumps? If jumping with a coach, how much does it cost? If jumping with a coach and renting gear how much? My DZ, FJC $150, student jumps $50, 30 (5 IAD, 25 free fall) jumps for “A” $1600.00, every jump under supervision of an Instructor or Coach. How much for an “A” doing AFF or Tandem Progression at your DZ, figuring no repeat jumps? Seems the math can be done in a way to support anyone’s argument that “their way” is cheaper/same/whatever. Don’t get me wrong, AFF is an excellent training method. It just doesn’t make since at my DZ with one 182 and very limited staff. I know you could argue that I could do Tandem Progression with one or two instructors (different thread). Sorry if I’m “beating a dead horse” here, I didn’t research whether this is repeat. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

This whole argument makes you kind’a miss static lines doesn’t it (I know there are a quite a few DZs using static lines, and most likely more SL than IAD)? I know I was personally quite a bit more comfortable when I was putting out static lines. We train IAD at my DZ, and like others I can’t understand why you would be back to the prop? On a related note, when we used static lines we never had the pilot put in flaps. It’s my understanding that 10 degrees of flap is supposed to help any potential premature opening (on the student) go under the horizontal stabilizer. Is this standard, do you do it at your DZ, is the reasoning I give correct? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I'll remember that, maybe I can use it in conjunction with my "what's the difference..." Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I read this in Playboy well over 20 to 30 years ago, when I was too young to have purchased the magazine myself, and most likely to young to have even understood what I was supposed to have been doing while admiring the women. I guess it stuck with me. When all the shithouse poets die, They will find erected in the sky, In honor of their sterling wit, A monument of solid shit. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Dude - that would be 98.6 What’s the difference between an oral thermometer and a rectal thermometer? ... ... ... ... ... Taste! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

If you forgot to cast because you drank a case of beer, fall in and drown then indeed you just may die. Also, if you and your SO aren’t getting along very well, you may want to think twice about going fishing with them. The “boating accident” is too easy to stage, and after there’s only one story. Be careful not to put a shoe shaped burse on his/her ass when you’re kicking them in! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I didn’t read every post here so I hope this isn’t a repeat. I like to equate skydiving to fishing. You sit around for hours for a few minutes of excitement. Also, just about everyone knows someone or of someone who died in a “fishing/boating” accident. Water is some dangerous shit! Put yourself out in the middle of a cold lake on a windy day, fall in and that could just be your ass! Also, combine the alcohol that goes along with fishing/boating and it can often lead to dire consequences. I know it dosen't exactly equate, a hell more of a lot of people play in and around the water than skydive. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I heard on the radio yesterday that a tag “GOTMILF” was revoked after several complaints, and a few committee reviews. I understand that some people would be offended, buy ya got’a wonder what kind of person takes the time to complain about such things. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I think we have a little misunderstanding as to my intent. What I meant is that we’re not a “factory”, it’s all very personal. I have seen operations where 95% of the instruction is done through video, show em an arch, and go. I know the vast majority of DZs and instructors do not operate that way, I simply meant to point out that we do it “right”. I don’t expect to be tipped. I also was attempting to have a little fun with the comment about a intercom system in the airplane with the pilot playing the part of the Jiggle Joint DJ, note the “lol” I have been skydiving since 1990, have accumulated 1600 jumps, have been instructing since 1995, have done over 500 tandems, and instructed numerous static line, and IAD students. If I weren’t instructing, I would have burnt out long ago. I would hope that everyone who instructs does it because they enjoy it, and not for the money. When the day comes that I no longer enjoy working with students, I’ll most likely give up skydiving althgether. Good training is the "extra mile?" I'm sorry, but I can't agree with that! I train my students to the level they need to be trained with "good ground training" and I love pointing out things on the ground while in the plane (and sometimes under canopy). Things that make the students smile, such as Texas A&M University's campus, or Messina Hoff (famous local winery), etc. I view that as things that need to be done to ensure that my student gets the fullest "adventure" he or she can get. Who knows, maybe that's why I get a lot of repeat business and a lot of people bring their friends out to jump and request that I take them. Basically I view a tip as a neat thankyou, but I don't expect by any stretch of the imagination. The coolest tip I can have is to have a tandem student enjoy it so much that they continue in our student program and become a jump buddy. That makes my day.

Remember that you live in the freest nation on earth! Part of what makes America great is the free market. RWS is free to charge whatever they choose, the free market will vote with their dollars. RWS has until the patent runs out to recoup their R&D costs, and hopefully make a little money on top. God knows that not many of us would be doing our day job if it wasn’t for the monetary compensation! For me, I think my “old school” three ring systems will outlast the patents. I got’a wear out what I have before I would consider upgrading anyway. lol Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

It is interesting that we don’t get tipped more, it’s like it just isn’t expected. In 500 tandems, I may have received 1 or 2 tips. We go the “extra mile” with a good ground training, sight seeing tour on the way up, etc. Maybe we’re like the guy that runs the ride over at the amusement park, how many times have you thrown the Farris wheel guy a buck? It seems like we’re given the impression on such things like white water rafting that the guide is a “poor college student” who is underpaid for doing what he/she likes to do over the summer. Where we would prefer that our customers see us as professionals, and as such they assume that we are paid fairly for what we do. They know what they paid, and I would bet that most assume that the instructor gets a bigger cut is the reality. Maybe we could get an intercom system where the pilot could say in his best DJ voice “and remember that these lovely guys work for tips, don’t be shy and put a tip on their hip!” Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Sounds like an economical way to get into a brand new tandem rig. If you don’t like the drogue, student harness ect. buy Vector and use it with your Eclipse. Remember thought that you could purchase a new Sigma for what 12k? I don’t know if that’s even in the ball park, if it is I don’t really understand, when you break it down even if you estimate high, Main: $2500.00, Reserve: $1500.00, Cypress: $1200.00 that’s $5,200.00, and the container/harness ect. $7,000.00? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

This wasn’t form this weekend, but a while back. I saved it because it’s just typical, I feel your pain! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

As it has been said you’re lucky she isn’t a boy (Is penis the base for the word penalize/penalty). Insurance rates are based on statistics, and boys statistically cost the insurance companies more to insure. It’s interesting to me that it’s allowed to set rates on sex, seems like it would be deemed discrimination in any other arena. They don’t officially base rates on race, but in most areas the races are somewhat segregated within residential areas, and they do base rates on your residence. Also, my uncle who is my insurance man told me that your credit rating is a consideration in insurance rates these days. I was 18 in 1983 (Geezer, beat you to it). I didn’t pay over $300 for a vehicle until I was 27 or 28. I drove Baja bugs, and a 1948 Chevy truck, I did spent money on em after I bought them. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

http://www.jumpersportswear.com/ Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

On my first H&P (Static line progression, C182), my JM who was the wife of the chief instructor and didn’t jump master much because she didn’t really like doing it, but on this day was the only JM available. Her last words of advice to me before climbing out were “you better not scare me!” she was serious. I relate this story once in a while in the airplane to my students on their first H&P. Another little irony, 14 years later I now own that Cessna 182, and am the DZO, although at another location. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I’m a little DZO out in “fly over country” Kansas, and I don’t own any Vector equipment. That just happens to be an issue of fate more than anything, with regard to my tandem gear, we went with Eclipse a few years ago, and at this point there functioning just fine. I do understand that it can be argued that Eclipse was a Vector knock off (As Bill informed me at WFFC a few years ago). If I had it to do all over again, I would have most likely went with Vector. I did say in my first post that I can’t understand why people wouldn’t migrate away form Strong if they disagree with Teds policies. I do think that the Sigma is the best system ever constructed for the purpose! The point of this post was that after reading Egons post, I thought he owes me a beer for promoting the Uninsured Relative Workshops equipment; I have no interest in RWS, and am unbiased. Egon, you can drop by with the beer next time your in or passing through Kansas! Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Those my get my vote, although I'm not really hard to please when it comes to tits! Here's my entry, may not be the best, or "artsy" but there skydiving realted! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Sounds to me like it’s all a timing issue, not so much flair timing, but you need to learn to save up the gas and use it when your ass is about a foot above the deck, then employ a little gas landing deceleration thruster action. Yeah baby!! I do the “traditional tandem butt landing” quite often, or at least on those seldom no wind days in Kansas. I have “thumped” in a few, but been lucky to have never have been hurt in over 500 tandems. You know it’s coming when you feel the “sink” right at flair time! We may only be 1300’ above sea level, but on a 100 plus day with 90% humidity, we have a density tude of over 5,000 feet. Not that that’s unique to Kansas, you’re dealing with the same thing down there in Texas. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

This somewhat ties in with an existing thread, but instead of hijacking my own thread I figured I’d start another one. As most of you most likely know the status of Stunts Adventure Equipment (manufactures of Eclipse rigs) is questionable at best. I have two of their tandem rigs and am really happy with them. Rumors had circulated that DZs would eventually be “dumping” their Eclipse tandem rigs, but I never saw it happen. I do know of one or two DZs that changed away form Eclipse, but they weren’t exactly trying to give away the rigs. I do know that Jess Rodriguez (USPA Pacific Regional Director) was one of the people who bought Shobie (Mark Knutson) out. And I heard that they are producing rigs for the use of his DZ (Skydive Monterey Bay) I’m curious how many DZs still use Eclipse tandem rigs. How many moved away form Eclipse, and any other information about the company, and or rigs. I’m interested in picking up another used Eclipse tandem rig in good condition (preferably dirt cheep). Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Me too. I was under the impression that SMB had purchased the Stunts Eclipse and was producing about 25 Eclipse rigs per year for explicit use. It would appear they rotate their stock annually as I get a picture and listing of what is for sale. That's news to me. I just did a little looking at the Skydive Monterey Bay site, the contact email address they give is jrbar@aol.com (Jess Rodriguez). I did know that Jess Rodriguez (Regional Director, Pacific Region) was one of the current owners of Stunts Adventure Equipment. I would be interested in picking up another good condition used Eclipse rig. I'll drop him a line, although he's notoriously hard to reach (I hear) Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ