Dutchboy

I have 120 jumps on my Hornet 190 loaded at 1.2 and still love it. I don't think you need to load the Hornet to 1.3 to have some fun with it. After jumping student canopies it will seem like a dream to you. I'm pretty conservative in general which is why I have a 190. Still pretty safe and fun at the same time. You might talk to Roy at Rigs & Things Para-Service or visit his website http://www.para-service.com The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

I hope Merrick recovers soon. That really sucks. I actually only got in 3 jumps at Quincy (helicopter, high altitude, and casa) even though I was there from Tuesday through Friday. The heat was horrible so we just didn't feel like jumping much. My total on the high altitude jump slowed me down a bit, but it was mostly the heat. Friday was finally cooler, but very windy. I ran into a guy from Georgia who broke his foot jumping out of the helicopter while it was still on the ground! At least Merrick was actually jumping when it happened. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

The book in this case is more like a pamphlet, and is totally worthless without the video. I laughed when I saw it after they talked about the "book" and video combo. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

We have quite the variety at the DZ's I frequent in Georgia, but the most popular seem to be Dolphin, Javelin, and Mirage. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

I think that you will learn something from this video, just off student status. I think that it is a bit pricey at over $1/minute, but at the same time, it is cheaper than 3 jumps, and it will probably help you out enough to increase you skill more than 3 jumps would. I would probably buy it, if I had the money and was just starting out. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

If you want a cheap and totally random way to visit some DZ's then buy a copy of the Airport Facility Directory from your local airport FBO or pilot shop. There is an index in the back the shows all the airports with dropzones. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

I have the video and it isn't bad. I have watched it several times. I don't know if I could justify the cost given that I received mine as a present. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

Nope, she pretty much just shrugged it off. This is only the 2nd pack job I've ever paid for. The last one I paid for because I had to get out quickly. After I repacked the PC her pack job still gave me a 180 on openning. So being lazy cost me $50 for a repack, $40 for a handle, and $6 for the pack or $96. If you add in the $48 for the jump ticket then you're talking student jump money! Oh well, it is a lesson learned for me. Maybe someone else can learn from this too without having to shell out the $$. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

On jump #132 I had my first malfunction. I was doing a sitfly jump from 23,000 feet. I did at least 10 backflips on the way down. I never use packers, but did this time because it was just too hot to pack. I had noticed that several inches of my PC were sticking out so I just shoved it back in. That was a mistake, I should have pulled it out and repacked it. If I had done so, I would have seen that it wasn't properly packed. After two minutes of freefall the PC had worked itself back out about 3". When I went to pull I couldn't find the handle. I went to the edge of my rig and started to feel around for it, but didn't find it (I only figured this out from observing the rig later). So at 1800ft I went for the reserve. I lost my handle, but did manage to get my freebag. The WFFC safety guy found my freebag (thanks Larry!!). The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

I wonder if I just attended the last WFFC at Quincy. With all of the harrassment from the local cops it might just be the case. The arrested some guy because they said he wasn't wearing enough clothes. They tried to arrest some girls for participating in a bikini contest, which Barney Fife and all the other cops gladly watched first. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

This is exactly what has happened to aviation. If the laws were changed to prevent the suits, Cessna could sell brand new planes for $40,000 not $140,000+. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

Dolphin 2000 D-3, Hornet 190, Tempo 210, CYPRES Perhaps when the Freaksis downsizes some day I'll downsize to her Hornet 170.

Sucks, doesn't it. I think I'm at least close to getting closure with my previous employer. I think I could have gotten a better (i.e. more fair) deal, but right now I'd rather just have the closure. The good news is that I've decided to give up the whole software thing, and according to the budget I've worked out I can afford to get my comercial, flight instructor, and instrument flight instructor ratings over the next two months! Hope things work out for ya! The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

Have only jumped a Javelin and Dolphin. The Dolphin was much more comfortable for me. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

Broken Eagle, Bird, and I will be there on the 5th and 6th, before heading down to Quincy. We'll be the ones in a Cessna with a tail number of N65740. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

OK, people. Where and when should we all meet at Quincy? How's about 10am each day at the Muff Brothers tent? If you are there that day and want to join up with other dz.comers then be there at that time. BTW, I'll be there August 7-11, leaving early on the 11th, and arriving early on the 7th. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

I don't mind jumping with other low timers, I only have 129 jumps myself. I guess I'll miss you tomorrow. Did two jumps today, and my budget doesn't allow for much jumping till I get a job. Did my pre-second head down jump today with Trey. It totally rocked. I'm suprised he managed to keep my sorry ass head down all the way to 4500. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

That 16-way was fun, but didn't really come together. I think we needed a little more practice. People also got a little confused when Doug took the slot to my left when he was supposed to be across from me. It wasn't his fault, the 2-way I took out the door was not stable and I had to keep fighting to keep the other guy from going onto his back. Once that was under control we had to stop the spinning. The 4th guy for the base was nowhere to be found for most of the dive. The divers took way too long getting out the door and we only got 12k since it was getting dark. Oh well, we got 9 of us in right before breakoff. It was kinda cool burning down through the center when the outside had already broken off. Looks like a couple people need to work on their tracking. I had to stop my track early because I was gaining on them and closing when they started 6 seconds earlier. As I said, lots of fun and educational. With a little more practice we might actually get it right some day. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

Welcome back. I might see ya in Thomaston or Rome if I can scrape up some jump money. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

Depending on when you arrive you might run into Broken Eagle, Bird, and myself. We're flying back Saturday, and staying offsite. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

It may depend on where you are trying to access it from. That train wreck up in New England last week wiped out a bunch of MCI's fiber and has had an effect on numerous websites. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

I've worked for Bell South before as a consultant. Not something I'm looking to repeat. I'll have to see what comes up. Not looking to do any work till after Quincy. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

The only problem is that with 127 jumps and just over a year into the sport I can't get a tandem rating and I need another 3.5 hours of freefall time for the AFF rating. That is about $4800 and way too much time. It would honestly be far cheaper for me to get my comercial pilot's license and Certified Flight Instructor rating. The $$/hour is less, but I could work all week, not just weekends (and winter time too). Sad thing is I'm not going to be skydiving for a while. I'm still going to Quincy, but outside of that skydiving is something that will have to wait. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

Funny you should say that, Mike. I've been seriously considering giving up the computer thing and trying to get a pilot job, or maybe teach and fly (CFI?) What time I don't spend with the lawyers this week I'll be trying to put the last finishing things on my plane, and hopefully doing a little flying. I told my CFII that I would either be slowing down or speeding up my training, I don't know which yet. I had an interesting flight today. Flew to RMG to shoot an ILS approach and found the RMG VOR was down, then flew to OUK to shoot a localizer approach and the NDB was down. So we flew back to 47A and he suggested I use the complex signoff he just gave me to play in the Arrow a bit. I told him with the day I was having I didn't think it would be a good time to do my 1st solo in that plane! Too many decisions to make in a day. The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

That's the good news, the bad news is I got laid off this morning. This makes two years in a row that I've got laid off on my anniversary (or the 1st business day after in this case). The Dutchboy http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra