skydived19006

I was talking with another DZO about trying an Icarus tandem main. She informed me that since she uses Strong rigs, she couldn’t use anything but Teds canopies. She said that as she understands it we are still “required” to do what the manufacturer requires I order to comply with the FARs. I looked and could find no such “requirement”; I think she’s getting this information form Ted Strong. Also in the latest S&TA news form USPA, there’s an item regarding the USPA tandem rating being “stand alone”, I take this to mean that we are no longer required to maintain manufacturers ratings at all. We do have to do the initial training according to the manufacturer, but I could find nothing requiring us to maintain a rating with the manufacturer. BTW I jump Eclipse. Since there is no manufacturer anymore it’s not an issue for me. I can’t see why people will not eventually migrate away form Strong if they don’t like/agree with Teds policies. Bill Booth does make a damn nice tandem system! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I don't know why but thats just so funny to me bro. I bet it's because you're perverted! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I would think that all depends on your definition of “pervert”. Because I’m a man, and I’m interested in pussy, I’m a pervert? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Here's an actual picture over my DZ as well. Ever been there? I'm the TM Looks like they should send that satellite back over Kansas, We don't get color or the resolution you have there. I guess this is just "fly over" country. http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=10&x=3306&y=20796&z=14&w=1 Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I have a sister who's a bit of a nut, so I figure my kids will be hooked up with the stereotypical 'crazy aunt' to lock up in the basement. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

You say that like it's a bad thing. How you doin'!? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

It looks fast to me! Must be the paint job. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Oh! big city girl, we only had 4, and if you lived farther out you were lucky to get those. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Reminds me of a comedy skit I hear on Bob and Tom regarding the world championship Russian Rulette competition. Some funny shit, but the running of the bulls is real! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Now with his/her new found body proceeded to kill kittens for two weeks, and died of dehydration. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I have a 1961 Cessna 182D, with a jump door and step! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Dave Berry seems to understand. Sounds right on to me. I personally have never called anyone let alone one of my male friends to discuss "my relationship". I am glad that women will call their girlfriend to talk about my relationship, keeps me form having to talk about it! How many of you guys have asked your GF "what are you thinking?", and how many of you female types have ever posed that question to their SO? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Actually, my guess is that was the point of Ray's original post in the Women's Forum. Luckily, some men do actually have brains with which they think with. Also, saying that men are horny and that's what drives their decision making process demeans my libido. I don’t think I would demean any dz.comer chick’s libido! Seems like everyone’s killin’ kittens around here, not only that but will openly admit it! Sounds to me like a healthy libido, and attitude about it! Here’s an example of how men and women think differently. My wife’s little brother didn’t show up to his apartment when he was suppose to one Saturday night, and his girlfriend was there waiting on him (she goes to school out of town), and he wasn’t answering his cell phone. Angie (my wife) called me at the DZ in a bit of a panic, after little brothers GF called her. I asked her what he was doing; she said that he was working. He’s an electrical apprentice, I told her that if he was working on a Saturday that it was a “hot project” and must have ran long, and not to worry (man thinking). She proceeded to get out the phone book, and call all the hospitals in town (woman thinking). As it worked out I was right! Even though I was right she didn’t like that I so easily dismissed it, and that I didn’t show more concern (man/woman thinking again). From this what I learned and I paraphrase “just because you’re right, don’t mean your right!” Another example would be the differences in little boys and girls (as young as 1 year). Any one with children here see any differences between little boys and little girls? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

No, only one guy here has any hope! Well, that was a political answer/reply Vallerina. I was looking for your definition of “make out session” Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

QuoteYou'd be surprised to discover the number of women who go for the "sports-f***". They find a good-looking hunky type and wear him out, then tell their girlfriends about it. (Mostly younger girls) I had a girlfriend like that once, or was it she who had me? Good times!!!! She was older than I, and school was defiantly in session! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

." I have had plenty of "no string attached" make out sessions." Define make out session. You may have just given "hope" to a whole bunch of guys here! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

For the sake of this argument, nobody’s in a relationship. Picture a woman walking down the sidewalk, an attractive guy in a Lamborghini pulls up, asks her up to his penthouse apartment, for a little no strings sex. What percentage of women would hop in? Now picture a guy walking down the sidewalk, an average looking woman pulls up in a beat up old Honda Civic, asks him back to her trailer house for a little no strings sex. What percentage of the male population thinks he just won the lottery and hops in? This example goes back to our animal instincts/motivation. It’s the male instinct to spread his DNA as far and wide as he can. The female instinct is to find the best DNA, and also find a man that will stick around to help raise her babies; these may be two different guys. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

This one has been done and overdone, but I do love it (although never tryed it) Nice shoes, want'a fuck? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

This was posted on my web site discussion forum. Willie is a former DZO. I don't know if this is the appropriate forum here, maybe should be in the Speakers Corner. I as a DZO thought many might find it interesting. BTW, he's talking about a small one C182 DZ. Martin Air Capital Drop Zone Wichita Ks Will you buy? From: Willie Date: 29 Jun 2004 Time: 09:49:47 -0400 Remote Name: 65.193.82.149 Comments I know there's a lot of talk about our cheapo DZO, or I've heard some anyway. Here's a thought. You can have your own little slice of the pie (a DZ) by simply finding and buying an aircraft. Of course you'll have to spend around 40k to buy it and say another 5k to put it in jump configuration. Then locate a facility on an existing airport that will allow jumpers. Maybe you'll have to spend a few weeks in meetings, away from your regular job, arguing your case with some municipality or with the airport authority before you can be allowed to open up. Then rent the facility and spend another 5k putting the place in order, you know, credit card machine and all the paperwork for that, the bank account and all the phones and electric. Oh no! You forgot the AC insurance payment! Well that's another 6k, if it's a nasty older AC. Better pay that too. Let's see now, buy some Tandem gear and some student gear. That's another 40k or so. Almost there. Now for some advertising and it might take a year or so to put it in place. The AC ANNUAL and 100 HR inspections are due, about 1k, not to mention that bad transponder and the radio that works intermittently. The prop needs a 4k overhaul and the fuel bladder has a leak. The FAA sends you an airworthiness directive that grounds the AC until it's complied with and the ELT is out of date. Add another 4k. If you're up and running, you hope and pray for a HUGE fuel bill, meaning you flew lots of loads, and when the bill comes you're staying up all night wondering how you're gonna pay it. The cops show up because somebody just walked or rode their bike on the runway and it's a Federal runway. You get a registered letter from the municipality and the FAA, citing that and a low flight by your otherwise responsible pilot. The credit card machine broke down, the water fountain froze and flooded the hangar. One of the regulars got hurt, that brought the cops again and some negative publicity from the media. The weather has kept everyone away for weeks. The grass needs to be mowed, all the rigs are overdue, the hangar needs to be cleaned and all the help and all the students went to another DZ this weekend. USPA dues are due and the banker is on line 2. The pilot had to take today off and the other pilot is on vacation. All the folks at the DZ will wonder why you're so tense all the time. Why can't you just relax and have fun? After all, you're the one with all the money. You spend it like there's no tomorrow. Can you buy us some food and beer? Lower our jump prices, just so we can have some fun? Some of us have already "put our time in." Maybe those who are concerned about our cheapo DZO should "step up to the plate." Martin performs a difficult task and he does it well. He needs your support, not your criticism. Just my thoughts. Willie Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I tried! I do all my Dz.com playing while at work “Bess” shut me down on hotornot. If you post the picture here, I’ll tell ya what I think. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Now that's some funny shit! When I was four years old, with nothing interesting to do I with the help of the four year old next door buried a cat alive, which is no easy task! Then damn things can dig faster than a couple four year olds can poor road gravel. We tried the same thing on a toad; did you know that toads can live underground? We didn’t. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

If you think that DZ politics is a new phenomenon I think you’re misinformed. Ask a few people who have been jumping for 20 or 30 years. As Yogi Bara would have said “It’s like da-ja-vu (spelling?) all over again”. Although, this is a very extreme example Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

There will always be politics between competing DZs. They will inevitably do things to get as large a share of the market as they each can, and the “other guy” at some point will not like what their competition did. That said the DZOs should also keep it between DZOs and leave the fun jumpers out of it! I am a DZO, and compete with another DZ in the metro area, we both have one 182. When I’m going to be busy with tandems, I actually send out an email to my regulars letting them know. The idea is that if they don’t want to wait around because I’m tying the airplane up with tandems, they might choose to take their business over to Acme. I had a New Years Eve party at the DZ a couple of years ago, and a non skydiving friend asked me “so, these people are your customers?” I thought about it a second, and told him that these people were my friends, and that the tandem/students were my customers. I hadn’t been DZO very long at that time, and I’m sure a few of the up-jumpers at this point would disagree as to whether they’re my “customers”. Some think I shouldn’t lighten up, and not worry about making money. Everyone has their own reasons for doing what they do; I actually became a DZO so I could have the tandem concession. I set the price for up-jumpers at what I calculate to be my break even point. I figure that if at some point in the future one of my discontented skydiving friends/customers would like to buy me out so they can work a 40 hour week at their day job then spend another 40 or so running a DZ to break even then as I guess “Everybody goes home in a limo!” Sorry for what turned into a rant! Didn’t intend out to hijack your thread. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I feel your pain! Seems like the weather has been against us all spring (see attachment, typical). When it rains here (Kansas), it's generally an all day thing. Then you have the occasional tornado issue, again not very conducive to our gravity test pastime. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

This is the results form a question circulated through email by Skydive Las Vegas regarding DZ wind limits for tandems. I think that this is actually a good cross section, and responces are form DZOs and DZMs. I found it interesting! We limit our winds to 16-18 knots, utilizing catchers on the ground for safety. We have jumped in winds up to 22 knots but figured it not worth the risk to passengers. Our wind limit is 24 knots in clean smooth air. 20 mph Around 22MPH. Check out the attached listing. I hope this helps. We go to 18mph. Depending on the Tandem Master's personal preference, it is between 24 and 28 mph. For most of my Tandem Masters 28 mph is the upper limit. We have a lot of windy days here, like I'm sure you do, so we are used to it. Our wind limit is around 20 mph if it is not gusty. Our Tandem wind limit is twenty miles per hour. I would like to get the results back from your survey if I could. 15 Knots The question requires a few qualifications to answer correctly. 1. What are your landing area considerations? a. Are there trees or other obstacles that create turbulence? b. Is the area smooth grass or rocky desert? c. Is your landing area elevation above 5000' MSL? d. etc. etc. etc. 2. Are you jumping a new 'state of the art' canopy or a 20 year old Strong/Vector 500+ sq ft unit? 3. What are the qualifications of your tandem instructor. 535 jumps, 15 of which are tandems or Joe Cool who has 10,000+ jumps and makes 1000+ tandem jumps per year? 4. Is your passenger an 86 year old grandmother or a 22 year old gymnast? In short, I don't think you can set an absolute limit. Every responsible operator sets the limits he/she feels is necessary to insure the maximum safety of the customer based on a number of factors, some of which I have detailed above. 24 MPH depending on the direction. If the winds are smooth and not out of the north we will go up to 24 MPH. If the winds are gusty or out of the north we hold at 15 or so. Our Tandem Wind limit is no more than 25 miles per hour. 20-22 mph as long as the winds are steady 25 Whatever the tandem masters want – generally stop at about 20MPH, but many at 15 or so, depends on too many factors Anything over 18 mph we require catchers for the pair, we will go to 26 mph if the wind is fairly constant (not gusty) In gust conditions we cut it off at 22. Hope this helps. 25mph tops of the gusts. I as DZO do over half the tandems at my DZ with my partner doing the rest. We do around 250 tandems a year. Jump icarus tandem canopies, they're rock solid in wind. Our tandem wind limit is 7 m/s. depends on the gust spread 25 mph Michael I will go to 20 mph if it is a constant steady wind. When is gusty with large variations between steady and gust like 10 mph difference I will not go , those are far worse than steady higher winds. I am kind of a one man show so I play it a lot safer than some DZs. 15 mph is where I cut it off at. I'm a tandem instructor and only weigh 160 and even with a heavy student I still don't like the idea of landing off and not having someone to "shag" the canopy. I know some areas have uspa wind speed waivers for student activities, but those guys jump in those winds regularly and know their area well enough to operate safely in them. I also do not jump in gust of 8 or more from the low to high range. Example: 7 gusting to 15. We stop at canopy forward penetration it varies a little with instructor and student size. But it averages about 25 knots straight line wind. A little less if it is very gusty. Absolute - 22 Knots - 25.3 mph. AWOS on airport. It depends on direction, direction changes, gustyness and desire to not rescedule but around 20 plus a few if it's smooth None. It is up to the instructors. At our location we leave the wind limit up to the Tandem Master. We normally do not have to deal with winds such as is normal in Las Vagas. We have used 25mph for the last seven years, by then most tandems have zero ground-speed on final. 25 knots Maximum including gusts, 15kts. Discussed between Tandem Masters - Drop Zone Owner/Operator - Pilot - S&TA... When all is said and done... We pretty much look at things the same way... "Safety ":FIRST" the "Dollar" second... 23 knots We don't really have a wind limit - the winds need to be steady and not gusting - that is what we look at more than wind limit. We don't have one - it's up to the discretion of the jumpmasters. Also, because of our DZ's configuration, it would be silly to have a wind *limit* since we can jump in higher winds from the North or South than we can winds from the East or West. One more factor is that turbulence changes things. We can jump in winds that are strong but not turbulent, more than winds that are a little less strong but more turbulent. The idea of an absolute limit would not work well in all situations. With a good shagger 25mph without bad gusts 25 MPH. The strongest I let any of my staff jump in is 20-22. I will go higher up to 30 if necessary. 25-27 if the winds are steady. If gusty then not usually above 20. I'll let them take off with less than 20 mph. I give advisories up to 25. I call the load down at 25. I don't like to send a load and not have them jump, which is why they don't take off with more than 20. We do not have a wind limit.It is up to the Tandem master. being at 5000ft. 30mph wind only helps us come down nicely.(it blows 30 mph almost every afternoon Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ