ERICCONNELLY

Maybe more if your spouse isn't understanding of your new addiction. E

I hate to rub it in but my DZ is awesome. Check out some of the pics on this page! http://groups.msn.com/ThePOOPSHEET/shoebox.msnw Do you have this much fun? If so, let's see it!

Maybe so... However I do not want to put my life in some asshole's hands if he refuses to play be the rules that keep us alive. Yes, that jerk will probably move to a different DZ and do the same stupid stuff there. BUT - at most DZ's whenever someone new shows up, they are subjected to a little closer scrutiny untill their skill set has been determined regardless of how great they say they are. (would you let Joe Blow on your 6 way headdown if you didn't know him from Adam) This is a self regulated sport and that is what makes it so great. Eventually this hypothetical fool will run out of DZ's to endanger people at. I'm off my soapbox now, thanks for listening

Don't want to make this another RSL debate, just trying to add info... Maybe, seems very plausible that it wouldn't take much drag to maintain a verticle position. Although I am not personally a RSL user, I have to say they do deploy so rapidly that even IF someone was starting to go over (in a flip) the freebag will probably already be out. At terminal (or even close) the departing mess goes away very quickly. Far faster than I can INTENTIONALLY do a back loop. (A personal observation from watching other jumpers cutaway and or lose gear at near terminal)

I have one cut-away from a bag lock where I was upright from the drag of the pilot chute. Since I was looking straight up at the spinning bag as I chopped, I did a back flip (Not intentional) as soon as the risers released. I do not use RSL. I was in a hard arch when I chopped, looking up and went BTE very fast and pulled silver. Was way scary and very cool in retrospect but I wouldn't want a repeat, thank you. E

I have also had a bag lock using Superbandz. On my jump, I opened at about 3000, after getting out at 10,000. I tried to yank it out once with no sucess. Chopped, got flat and popped the reserve at about 1000. We, (me, rigger and STA) looked at the main - in the bag, and could not determine any other reason for the Bag lock.Don't know for sure that that's the reason but I quit using them that day. Rubber bands break for a reason - and they are cheap - my advice is to go with what works. My life is worth a couple of seconds replacing a broken band, how about yours?

You forgot to add - no more money! - One more thing to give up, and you keep on giving too!!

If I've got a big ball of shit for a reserve @ 10 K I will be cussing and cutting down to 1,500 ft and if I haven't fixed it by then I'll throw out the main and hope it clears. - E

Probably not, but irrelevant to this incident. The reserve worked (all too well) Who knows. also irrelavent to the incident Probably did, otherwise it would likely not have been mentioned, however details related to any potential disciplinary action against the rigger for documentation errors not related to the incident in question would not normally be found in this type of report. The report's goal (like this forum) is to help us learn and hopefully not repeat the fatal mistakes of others. The point here is BE CAREFUL GETTING OUT! BTW I have a gash in my container on the reserve flap (right where the reserve pin is) from scraping the door jam during a diving exit. The photos certainly have value in cautioning us to not become complacent when jumping out.

I recently found this link on the exits forum. It is an investigation from the APF of a premature opening last year. Very nicely done. http://www.atsb.gov.au/aviation/pdf/vh-mmv.pdf

Great incident report. I wish we had this much info on all incidents, we could all benefit. Thanks for the link.

From my research into this question (I also have a TON of 'real' film that I wanted to digitize) you have a couple of options. 1> there are film/slide scanners that can automate the task and that do a great job. (Lots of $$$) 2>There are film/slide scanners that you load each slide and scan that do a great job (lots of time and from about $500) 3>Have someone else do it. Take all your film to a competent professional that has the right equipment and pay them to go at it. I recommend looking into option #3 cuz for me it was cheaper and a lot quicker than doing it myself (could you spend a sunny saturday sitting at a computer looking at the screen when you could be looking at the DZ from 13K?) E

Water skiing gloves also work well. Several brands are neoprene with leather on the palm and inside of the fingers. Nice and warm and you still have pretty good sensitivity where it counts (on your fingers) A bonus is they come in all kinds of different colors if you want to get a pair to match your rig/jumpsuit.

We are all tired of those old bland emoticons so here's some that are up to our fine skydiving standards. Why don't you show us yours? Perfect Breast (o)(o) Fake silicone breasts ( + )( + ) Perky breasts (*)(*) Big nipple breasts (@)(@) A cups o o D cups { O }{ O } Wonder bra breasts (oYo) Cold breasts ( ^ )( ^ ) Lopsided breasts (o)(O) Pierced Nipple Breasts (Q)(O) Hanging Tassels Breasts (p)(p) Grandma's Breasts \ o /\ o / Against The Shower Door Breasts ( )( )

Ain't it the truth. Up here if you are afraid to get out at 2k you won't jump at all most weekends from November till May! (For those of you in sunnier climates - we even jump in the rain and snow if we have to - better than not jumping at all..)

MB was my JM for my first (yes I bought beer) jump and is definately a great video flier and master machinist. In addition to the awesome headgear he jumps he also makes some pretty cool hook knives. Don't talk him up tooo much (wouldn't want him to think we actually like him or anything ;-0)

"Is there any reason why I shouldnt buy a black one ? " Try to find a black canopy after a chop. They hide very well.

Absolutely - Cross Country, CReW, and anyone that wants to have a long canopy ride. You should just plan on being the last group out.

So some of you may have heard about my jump last Saturday. For those that haven’t I just wanted to share so that you can learn from my mistake. The dive was a simple three way. I was wearing my “new” camera setup. I did do a thorough gear check before getting on the. One the ride to ‘tude, I was busy making sure everything was good. At 8,000 I turned around to kneel and (this is where my handle must have gotten mashed in) got started getting my camera shit ready. We jumped at 10K, the dive went well and we broke at about 3,500. I tracked and waved and went to pull at 2,500. Reach back and nothing… a quick search and I find the handle and realize it’s pushed into my BOC. A second or two goes by as I try to work it out and my Dytter flatlines. I think OK, better get the reserve and reach for the silver handle. Yank and realize I got the cable. FUCK FUCK FUCK. Look, Reach Pull – BANG. Instant canopy and I’m looking for a place to land now. Landed off, no problems, I’m fine. Lessons learned: 1. Check your handles before you leave. I have always done this. Just forgot this time because, 2. Adding extra stress to your jump can cause you to forget the really important stuff. After turning around on jump run, I was thinking about getting my camera ready, thinking about the jump. I forgot to check my handles and paid the price. Fortunately I got off cheap with a repack and a bottle of JD for Brett (Thanks!) Watching the video shows 7.9 seconds between waveoff and canopy. My Protrack says I was open at 1000’. Shit happens fast on the bottom end. I wasted time trying to fish out the handle and missed the reserve handle on the first try, burning up more altitude. I was able to return to proper emergency procedures (Look Reach Pull) thanks to my practice touches on nearly every jump. Hope this helps someone else, let’s be safe up there.

No news here. I just wanted to rant though... Right now I'm working right next to a meduim sized airport and have to sit here watching planes and copters take off all damn day and can't think of much else ather than grabbing my rig and hitchin' a one way ride to altitude! Where do you work?

No. It is not 35mm. The format is smaller, don't know the exact size.

Say hello to the gang from Toledo for me. Wish I was there... Eric the Red

Here’s a question for the techies out there. The Pro-track uses a IR diode to download all it’s logged data My PDA (a handspring) can send/receive IR data. Has anyone looked in to writing some Palm OS code to allow you to download a Protrack to a PDA? If not, sounds like a good project for a rainy day… E

You don't say how heavily you are loading this canopy. Since it's your 1st I'd guess not very much, witch is a good thing. Triathlons are well known for being slow opening canopys. As long as it's opening consistantly, I wouldn't be worried about it. Beats the heck out of being spanked and going home with a stiff neck. I had the same problem (not being able to reach the slider) on my first canopy. What I would do to collapse it was once I was sure I was clear of all traffic I would grab the right rear riser and pull myself up, while reaching for the slider with my left hand. This got to be pretty fun but you need to make sure you are clear cuz you will be spiraling pretty good when all your weight is hanging from one riser! E