justinb138

Just watching you try to squeeze into that Icon of yours and look happy is revenge enough for me. As for the Wings logo, you tell us what you want or give us a picture, and we'll embroider it on for you. We've done tiger paws, guns, medals, you name it. Can I get a VSE Logo on my Wings just to confuse people?

Here's another reason: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=293649#293649

A Navigator is a pretty flat gliding canopy, and I've easily made it back from some long spots on them. If the problem is students not making it back, why not drop them where the can make it back, and fix the real problem? I've been a student and had experience getting out late. Never had any problems making it back under a navigator, silhouette or Sabre 2. I've landed off as a student, and I'm glad I had a Nav instead of a stiletto. So how is putting students under HP canopies going to help that? If a student can't make it back to the DZ under a navigator, I doubt they'll make it back under a stiletto. True, but it's alot easier to due with the Stiletto than a Navigator. Or they could experience spinning line twists because of bad body position on opening. That'd be a great experience for 'em. Agreed. Any competent instructor I know wouldn't think about putting an average student under a stiletto. So how is a Stiletto going to help that? Why not fix the real problem (inadequate canopy instruction)? So by your reasoning, why not just give 'em a velo? If the winds are 18+, they shouldn't be in the air. Nope. I've flown all sizes of the Navigators, a few Silhouettes, a few Tri's, and my current Firebolt. I can't think why a stiletto would have made anything better. The Navs I flew worked just fine. PD made the Navigator for student use. I think they know a little bit more about canopies than both of us. If a student "panic flares" a nav or a manta at 15 ft, it probably won't stall, they'll just sink in and plf. If they flare the hell out of a stiletto, they're going to stall it and break their back, femur, etc.. Really? Go jump a Velo and pull with one hip 6 inches lower than the other, then tell me of you still think so. (Find the freebag first though). Faster turns and a more aggressive dive will require more canopy instruction, this is true. Not sure what the stall has to do with any of this except the flare power and I think its clear which canopy will result in a better flare. An imperfect flare meaning...? If a student flies at half breaks on final on a Manta and a Stiletto the Stiletto is much more likely to result in a stand up landing because it still has more flare power. Why isnt it a student canopy? Maybe we've been making student canopies as a result of the instructional programs out there. This doesnt mean that we should dog canopies that are not "student canopies" if we treat them as big boy toys.... Oh, and PD says so is probably a terrible reason--while they are my absolute favorite skydiving company and I love their products and their professional ethics, take a look at the wingloading recommendations on their canopies--do you subscribe to them? Are you loading your canopy very lightly in accordance with PD recommendations? Maybe a student shouldnt be taught to be scared under canopy but that tends to be the result anyway! And those that are NOT scared in the beginning probably end up with casts and bandaids. But I'm not sure why we would teach students that a Skymaster is safe and very forgiving but a Stiletto is instant-death. Again, I am not convinced myself that we should use Stilettos as a student canopy, only considering. Are there any seasoned instructors out there willing to chime in? Come on Brad and Derek.... Alan I'm not going to even respond to the rest... too busy at work today.

Give them a better spot. Why would a stiletto help in this situation? It will make it easier to turn themselves into the grouind in a panic turn. How will it help alleviate get-home-itis better than a Navigator or Sabre2? Have you flown both a similar wingloadings to know that? Navigators have decent flare power, and Sabre2's have a very nice flare. Because if you flare at 15ft and try to stand it up you break your legs. Most student injuries I see come from flaring too high, how is a Stiletto going to help? Have you flown a Navigator recently? They have a rediculously short recovery arc. Navigators can open pretty quick if you don't roll the nose. Hmm. It's more sensitive to body position than a Navigator. It turns faster than a Navigator. It'll dive more than a navigator. It's less forgiving of an imperfect flare than a navigator. It'll stall easier than a navigator. It's not a student canopy. PD says so. I'm nowhere near being an instructor, but the thought of it seems kinda silly.

Are you sure you're not confusing Stilettos for Sabre2's?

I've got one too.

I've broken 2 staplers and been injured once using that method.

is it Red? My swingline stapler is..

Which right there makes the ban pointless.

Tried asking them?

What's the worst is when the jackass going slow in the left lane is on their cell phone and is completely oblivious to everything going on around them. For this reason I'm considering installing a very large air horn on my car.

Funny that you mention that. On my way home from work yesterday, I saw a black Pontiac Grand Prix with NASCAR stickers all over it, trying to imitate one of the cars apparently. Some people just take the term redneck to a whole new level.

Well, at least his idea is something that has a chance of working. I've yet to hear any other good ideas. I never insinuated you weren't qualified to say it's bad, I was just curious if you had any better ideas. lighten up...

You got any better ideas?

What'd ya get?

I know two people this has happened to. In both cases, they were ticketed for no insurance, etc... and left, never to be heard from again (or show up in court, etc..). Neither had a driver's license.

My gripe is more with the immigration policies and (lack of) enforcement than the illegals themselves. There was a Dallas police officer murdered recently by an illegal immigrant that should have been deported many times (had a pretty bad criminal record prior to the murder, IIRC).

Now that's talent!, although it may be a bit painful for the student.

There's a database of sex offenders on the net somewhere. You can usually find out what the offense was. If it's bad enough to warrant a phone call from the Sheriff's office, it makes me wonder why the guy's not in jail still.

Tell 'em to wait a year.

Demo, demo, demo.

stories of my demise have been greatly exagerated Damn....I've must have misread something.... Oh well, I can at least hope...

Well, he ain't here anymore, so nothing more to worry about.

IIRC, my big Silhouette 230 has the 100-jump warning label on it.