johnny1488

Most people seem to just go through the motions and dont know why. I like a quick barrelroll at the end of my track but the end result is the same. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

The crossfire was made long before the recall and was well received. The recall effected certain canopies from "certain" factories. The crossfire2 was designed to take the current design to the next level, not to fix some problem with the old one. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Why are you afraid of that 135 already? Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Read. Read all you can about parachute design and why they do what. Why a 9 cell will (most times) out glide a 7 cell. Why a flare works. Look at canopies that manufacturers classify as beginner or mid range. Like pd's spectre or sabre2 or Icarus' Safire2, omni or omega. Try to learn the most you can on your own so you can make the most of the advise that is given to you. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Yeah Maxy swoops the hell out of that thing. I was just thinking of having a larger canopy that dives a bit better to try to keep some safety margin, ie I dont want to fly his 109 just to make it dive. I know exactly what your saying though and nothing I do has anything to do with the "cool" factor. Thats why I started on my 209 with doubles and 45's while others downsized and said "i wont hook til I have 1000 jumps." Intentional or not, shits creek w/o a paddle hurts. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

There is not much room for error at the ranch. I will probably jump my ass of with the safire this season and see if simon is coming up for the pond swoop nationals. If he is I'll ask him to bring a xfire2 169. Also I have no problem with the elliptical term. Is the navigator "elliptical" in the way of having a constant cell aspect ratio or does it have a taper to the leading and trailing edges of the last 3 cells on each side. Like the sabre2, is that tapered like the stilleto is? Having the cells on either side chopped in the front and back? Just wondering out loud again. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Im aware of the size difference but thanks for adding the info for everyone. I jumped a safire1 209 for 275 or so jumps. I now have a safire2 169. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I know its a way off but if after a number of jumps (and probably this whole season) on the safire169 if I wanted to go to a xfire should I move sideways to a 169 or downsize? I would wait until I would have wanted to downsize to a 149. Would the planform change and size be a bit too much? Just talking out my ass now but curious anyway. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

The more I think about the choices and read replies the more I think the safire is the better choice. I was just getting anxious for a bit more. No need to rush things just yet. Thanks everyone for your input. I haven't switched planform shapes yet so the idea of starting over makes sense. Thank you. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Im not looking to make a switch to downsize. I was considering a xfire2 169 for my safire2 169. I was thinking of the flight characteristics of the canopy ie longer recovery arc. I was asking if I would need to break any bad habits after puting 300 or more jumps on this safire and then going to a xfire like the altitude (or lack of it) that the safire lets me turn in or how hard it pulls out of a dive. I thought it might be safer to learn on a bigger xfire first. I have no problem sticking with the safire. Also every one of my last 300+ landings (with the exception of a few out landings) were with some input, mostly 45's to double fronts so id like to think im not starting from scratch. If I decide the safire is the canopy to stay with I dont think I'll fly a xfire till Im ready to switch. Thanks for all the input! Add more if you wish. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Im pretty sure I would chose the xfire. I was wondering if I should try to learn on the safire a bit longer. If it would help me in the long run. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I am flying a safire2 169 and am landing 180's pretty well but am worried about how low I have to start the turn. I have probably 40 or 50 jumps on the safire. I was thinking of having simon send me a Xfire2 169. I am worried that I will like it too much and get bored with my safire. Should I continue to work on my skills with the safire? If I do I am still leary of downsizing eventually to a crossfire2 149. Seems like a big change. Anyway my question is what is my best bet for learning with safety in mind also. Other stuff 400+ jumps 230 out the door 275 jumps on a safire1 209 before this Im not extreme with my flying and have no problem blowing off a landing for a safer route. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I rented from autorent.com. They were in ft lauderdale but im pretty sure they have one in orlando. There rates were very good and only like an extra $15 a day under 25 as oppesed to $40 or go fuck yourself I got from all the others. When I went to the keys i got a convertible mustang for 4 days for $260. Hope this helps. Also check the website for the airport your flying into. They should have a list of the renters on or around them. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I have close to 400 jumps on my odyssey and not a single problem. So comfortable I dont know its there. Never and discomfort from the latterals. (it was cut for me though, I'd be leary of buying used)When I bought mine my dealer mentioned the posibility of getting a line snagged in the corner but I havent done any docking yet. Absolutly no drawbacks to this rig. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Im getting tired of a cold white and grey ranch. I want this one back. Come on spring. Sorry this doesnt look the same as the one I have. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

when you delete a sent PM does it "unsend" it like the option on AOL? I sent one and deleted my sent version right away and am bugged on whether it got sent. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

One of the guys at l and b said emulators in his email but I had no idea what that was. He is going to write me again when they get back from the symposium. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Does anyone who has a mac use any software to run windows programs like virtual pc? I am considering a mac and the only software I use is my jump track. No version for mac, I checked with l and b. Anyway look forward to feedback Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

There is a long clip of the da vinci flight on skydivingmovies.com. Dont remember where sorry but im sure someone will find it Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

good: Any honda after 88 Any vw after 84 Any gm car after 88 stay away from ford, hyundai, chrysler before 94 dont get too spooked. Look for a clean car and motor. Look for a car that looks like its been cared for. Ask for maintenance records. My opinion from 7 years of being a mechanic Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

The spring goes underneath you horn button. Should be a small hole that it slides into to keep the contacts apart. Im glad you got it fixed but you should see some of the abortions that come through my shop from d-i-y jobs. Glad you werent a victim. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Depends on how indepth you want to get. Go to the library and get a wiring diagram for your car. Check ALL the fuses (underdash and underhood, cant tell you how many times i've been burned.) See which wires bring power to the switch and wich one sends it to the headlights. If its coming in and not out its the switch. Sounds like a switch to me but you should have it checked. Doesnt take much to diagnose. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I'll feel bad about stealing when the artists arent overpaid millionaires. I dont pay for music because I dont think they deserve those houses and cars and the only reason they have them is we gave them the money. Having that much money is just ridiculous. Once you are that rich give the music away for free. I'd like to see someone try to take me in for "piracy" Support who you want to, steal the rest. Sorry for continuing the off topic forum but stupidly rich people suck. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

We dont need any more regulation, we need training. Not in swooping but in emergency controls like braked turns and approaches. Yeah I know its in the new student program but not everyone absorbs the urgency of learning these skills. I dont think addition of formal training is the answer. Make students understand why these skills are important. I've always said that once a student has an A license they are responsible for themselves. If it means keeping an a license away from them longer than do it. After that they should have the knowledge to make informed decisions on how to fly, when to jump, ect. If you see a newbie doing something dangerous than by all means stop them but dont but regulations in place to limit our sport. Perhaps we need someone to wipe our asses also. Or tell us when its safe to jump in winds based on jump numbers, licenses, or some other pre-determined factor. Nothing will be absolute in all circumstances. Its the same old argument like " if no one was allowed to jump over 1:1 there would be fewer injuries". There would be fewer injuries if we didnt jump at all. When I started jumping I was compelled to learn all I could about every aspect of the sport and all aspects of the devices that were saving my life. Personally I dont know why it's not the same for everyone. I will relinquish the soapbox now. Regulation is not the answer. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Im not a rigger but I believe as long as you dont alter the reserve system the rest is fair game. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome