Flyer2Diver

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Everything posted by Flyer2Diver

  1. Flyer2Diver
    Raeford shows up as a public use airport ("PK Airpark", 5W4). I suspect that's why it's in the Garmin DB. A while back when I flew up near The Ranch, it didn't appear in the Bendix/King KLN-94 I was using. It's also a very hard field to spot unless you know the landmarks. As for the restricted airspace, that's fairly standard fare for GPSs. The problem with these toys is that they work so well for most things that it's easy to become dependant and stop looking at sectional charts, etc. (I guess it's not unlike the jumper who becomes dependant on his audible). Blue Skies _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  2. Flyer2Diver
    Damm - I wish! I got a ticket on the way to the DZ this past Sunday. Aargh!!! _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  3. Flyer2Diver
    I'm very glad to hear that you're working on this. I remember when I was learning to fly over northern NJ and we'd frequently be tuned to approach and hear newton or sussex announcing jump operations. We'd steer clear, but I suspect many pilots don't listen to approach (especially because it's hard to know what frequency to tune on a long flight without actually getting flight following handoffs or being IFR). Maybe this could be the subject of an Aviation Safety Program seminar (I believe the FSDO gives those?) _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  4. Flyer2Diver
    I'll be there - and bringing beer _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  5. Flyer2Diver
    True, but as a pilot, I'd rather not count on jumpers seeing my little cessna at 3,500' from 14k - and then you have the possibility of a cloud between us during spotting (even if the jumpers don't penetrate the cloud). IMHO, if most pilots had an understanding of skydiving operations, they'd choose to stay clear of the airspace if possible. I think it'd be smart to give them the tools to make that choice by depicting DZs on GPS maps. Of course, pilots would still be free to fly in the area, just like they are free to fly through an active MOA. And of course none of this should relieve the jumper and pilot of the jump ship from scanning for traffic. Just my .02 _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  6. Flyer2Diver
    Pilots certainly should be looking at the sectional charts, but it would also be a good idea for GPS manufacturers to include DZs in their databases - since many pilots rely on GPS for all their navigation Also, many pilots don't have any clue about skydiving. They don't realize just how big a deal it is to fly through that airspace (even if they're 'extra careful'). I know because I was one of them before starting to jump. _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  7. Flyer2Diver
    Congrats! I take it you mean 7/10 - since 6/10 is in the past If I can make it up on the 10th, we should make some jumps, and I'll certainly drink your beer
  8. Flyer2Diver
    I got signed off without jumping my packjob, but it was only because the timing didn't work out. I learned to pack late in the evening on a Wednesday and was traveling to another drop zone with my new license on the following day. Last weekend I jumped the first rig I packed. I pulled a bit high and was half suprised that it opened fine
  9. Flyer2Diver
    Rushing to get on a short call, omitted gear check and jumped with cypres off and RSL improperly connected (would likely have prevented a cutaway). Thankfully the RSL problem was caught on jump run. Lesson: Rushing to make a short call usually isn't worth it - I've since become a lot more conservative about hopping on short calls. Leaving the otter at 14k with my helmet unbuckled. Of course the wind sucked it off my head as people were pointing at the strap. Luckily it found its way back to the DZ parking lot that day without doing any damage to itself or anybody/thing on the ground. Lesson: Check all straps & buckles on jump run - not just the "important" ones. _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  10. Flyer2Diver
    I'd have to say Same Direction by Hoobastank (rest of "The Reason" CD is awesome too) _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  11. Flyer2Diver
    I found this guide on the Ranch web site to be a useful review after learning in-person (reading and looking at pictures before getting in-person instruction didn't help me at all FWIW). _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  12. Flyer2Diver
    Accelerate to 120mph and extend hand out window - voila, a mini wind-tunnel (just don't wreck at that speed!) _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  13. Flyer2Diver
    I lift weights 3x/week. Mostly freeweights, usually for about an hour per workout. Used to lift more, but now my weekends are full with jumping and recovering from jumping, so I mostly just lift during the week after work. Occasionally I'll run on the treadmill too. I know I should do more cardio, but I don't really like it. _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  14. Flyer2Diver
    Try selling on eBay Motors. I sold my last car there, a '98 Ford Contour SE/5speed - got a great price for it and by listing in the ad that it was a stick, all the bidders wanted stick. My new car is a stick too, natch. _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  15. Flyer2Diver
    Robyn is awesome - he's still at the Ranch doing tandems, I saw him there on Saturday. For me, my first TM was Chance McGuire in 'Vegas. He gave me a great first jump.
  16. Flyer2Diver
    It's all too easy to loose sight of that! Some of my most fun jumps haven't gone as planned.. Congrats on the 50th - I also did my 50th this weekend.
  17. Flyer2Diver
    1 : 8 : 0 1 helmet lost from 14,000 feet (lesson: double-check buckle!) - later recovered undamaged in the parking lot!! 8 jumps, all on Saturday. 6 Hop 'n pops doing canopy piloting. Fun stuff! No beer this week for firsts, but I owe the pilot for the awesome spot on the jump where my helmet went for a joyride! Blue Skies _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  18. Flyer2Diver
    OK, no shit, there I was - 14,000 feet in the Otter yesterday. About to launch a simple 2-way after a day of canopy control hop 'n pop's. I get in the door and am holding the bar, and at least two people are pointing at me. I wonder "what are they pointing at". A split second later, I feel it - the chin strap of my brand new bonehead helmet fluttering against my neck. I reach for it, but the wind reaches faster and I feel it leave. Oh Shit! So I resign myself to having a $160 jump, and learning a good lesson about double-checking everything - not just handles, pins and harness. I did one more jump with a loaner helmet (thanks, Sonic & Donna). Driving home and the cell rings - it's the gear store, and they've found the helmet - in the parking lot at the DZ, completely undamaged! How's that for a great spot!! I had to buy some raffle tickets, because it was clearly my lucky day! Blue Skies John _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  19. Flyer2Diver
    Unfortunately there's not much you can do about that - the phosphors in CRT monitors wear out over time and cannot be replaced. The best way to prevent this is to make sure to put the monitor into energy-saver mode when it is not in-use, or use a blank-screen screen-saver. Screen savers which have pretty pictures, effects, etc. do prevent burn-in of patterns on the screen, but they will still wear out the phosphors over time. John _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  20. Flyer2Diver
    Congratulations!!! If he is interested in eventually flying for the airlines, he should check out ATOP at http://www.b737.com - I did it this past weekend and it was a teriffic intro to airline flying. Blue Skies _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  21. Flyer2Diver
    I was doing a bunch of jumps this past weekend in cargo shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt. Of course, as was mentioned here, I made sure to tuck in the shirt to make sure it wouldn't blow over my cutaway and reserve handles. Comfortable in hot weather, but I didn't have the control in freefall that I got from wearing a suit - I wore a suit (and sweated it out!) for RW. Just my 37-jump $.02 _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  22. Flyer2Diver
    Great weekend full of firsts 1 : 9 : 1 1: Engine start and emergency descent procedure performed on a Boeing 737 sim. (Flying approaches in it tonight - wish me luck!) 9: Jumps at Skydive Houston. First jump away from my home DZ (The Ranch). First jump with my new A license, first 4-way, first 6-way attempt, first funnel on exit (but we did end up with a 5 way). First jump on a Sabre 190 canopy (all great landings). 1: Case beer owed for the aforementioned firsts. Shiner Bock as ordered by the locals
  23. Flyer2Diver
    Congrats!! I still remember the day I took mine - December 26, 2001. Best Christmas present ever! Now your problem is that you've got two hobbies that both need good weather - makes weekend planning tough! Blue Skies John _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006
  24. Flyer2Diver
    I did 8 two Saturdays ago, and didn't have any issues except being dead tired when I got home
  25. Flyer2Diver
    I had many, many bad exits! I got a reputation among the instructors as the guy who forgets to arch. I never had a problem regaining stability, just didn't look too elegant. I even tumbled the exit on a hop & 'n pop. That one made me nervous, but I'd done it so many times it was easy to fix real fast without even thinking about it. Now, I kinda think it was a good experience - instability is no problem because I know I can get stable whenever I need to. I've since realized that my problem was not properly presenting my body surface area to the relative wind, and not arching - I'd be so focused on thinking about the dive flow, count, etc., that I'd blow the exit. Blue Skies John _______________________________ 30005KT 10SM SKC 23/05 A3006