pilotdave

Sure it does...partially. The difference is that the AAD stops you from dying after the accident. The bigger canopy prevents the accident. Those options are not equal, so I agree with you. Dave

BASE: http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=1667 Check out this video too... just before the end, three skydivers are attached by a static line...first guy pulls, which pulls the second guy, which pulls the last guy. Pretty nuts. Dave

Isn't that a bit of a generalization? Add software to an electronic device and you add a whole new level of complexity and any number of failure points that can't be inspected. Software has been known to kill even when functioning perfectly. I don't think you can compare the number of failure points in electronic devices vs mechanical devices generally without looking at two particular systems. Dave

Might want to wait until at least you get your A license before trying a full face. I love my Z1, but I can't really see my handles very well with it on. It also does fog up under canopy in the cold, and in the really cold it often fogs and freezes in freefall (only close to the nose). In chilly weather, I crack it open under canopy and the fogging clears. This winter, on the really cold days, I find that the fog freezes and won't clear even when it's open. It doesn't block my vision too badly, but it is just one more thing to cause trouble. I once was unable to open it under canopy after it fogged when I was trying out a new pair of gloves (first and last time I used that pair). Worked fine on the ground, but once my hands were very cold and I was in a hurry, couldn't get the thing to open. Finally, while you're doing student jumps, the full face really will make communication in the plane more difficult. Get a cheap protec and a pair of goggles for now (or keep using the student stuff if it's not too bad) and decide what you want in a helmet in another 20 or 50 jumps. You'll have a much better idea of what you're looking for then, and have time to take a close look at other peoples helmets and try them on. Dave

You just love to argue, don't ya? I think he was just pointing out that if it can happen to a guy with (i assume) over 10,000 jumps, it can happen to anyone. I think this sort of thing is more likely to happen to someone on a hot 4-way team than a regular sport jumper though. Sponsored guys are getting their rigs packed for them, throwing them on, running to the plane, and doing tons of jumps per day. They're also more likely to be using new, less familiar gear and maybe making greater assumptions that it's been handled properly while out of their hands. This is where human factors engineering needs to come into play. The vigil is a very cool device with some great features. It's got the data logger and everything. Does that open it up to more possibility that it'll get screwed with? I mean, I honestly don't remember how to reset my cypres for different elevations of landing area vs airport. I'd have to pull out the manual if the need ever came up. All I ever do with my cypres is turn it on and occasionally check that it's still got a 0. If it had a data logger function, would I be more likely to screw up the landing area elevation setting? Maybe... Dave

That seems really excesive to me. I mean, if you were leaving it packed for months at a time I could understand... but from weekend to weekend? Is that really necessary (or useful in any way)? How much do you think that'll extend the life of the pouch? How do you know it doesn't degrade the life of the PC? Dave

The lack of moderation is what made rec.skydiving totally useless. Bonfire/SC is what keeps the other forums on this site useful. I don't always agree with the decisions moderators make here, but I do absolutely believe they are necessary. Dave

Jet fuel is a carcinogen? I need to stop bathing in it. Dave

Yes, php/apache/mysql can do everything you want. You'll be reading from the database (the inventory), using php to subtract one from the inventory, then writing the new inventory back to the database. Other than the upload function (which uses some perl), SkydivingMovies.com works completely through PHP talking to MySQL (and a few cool videos thrown in there too). Dave

The vast majority of airplane accidents are nonfatal. But anyway, back to the question, yes there are weight limits for tandems. Call the dropzone and find out (different dropzones have different policies). Which DZ in vegas? Dave

Have ya read this page: http://www.funjumper.com/skyride/? Dave

Why? Is it so hard to believe an ASC student would be defending them? Dave

Good question. I called. They told me Danielson, CT, which is the other DZ in CT. They aren't even open until May... if that (heard they may not reopen). Now the fact that it would be a much longer drive, and I'd be jumping from a 182 instead of a super otter, and it would cost more doesn't bother me TOO much. I mean that's the business model of 1-800-skydive, which is perfectly legit. Wonder how many people have been told they can't skydive in CT until May. Or how many have shown up to an empty DZ. Dave

Cause then all that crap would come back to the bonfire where I'd have to see it. I think of SC as dz.com's trash can. Course I've never opened it so I shouldn't judge. Dave

Well, I just did a google search for skydive maryland to see what comes up. The actual dropzone results are: Skydive Maryland, Inc, aka skydive orange, in VA. PAF in MD delmarva in DE ocean city in MD. Cross keys doesn't make page 1. In these cases, the only deceptive one really is orange, VA. Not so much the distance (it might very well be the nearest DZ to some people in MD), but just that they call themselves Skydive Maryland Inc. Delmarva is also not in MD, but again, they're close enough that they do and should get much of their business from MD. Dave

I'm sure ASC is a great DZ and all, but this is REALLY bad advertising. I half hope the real dropzone manager steps in to let us know this person is making ASC look bad on purpose. Seriously, what kind of dropzone manager would talk about their boss like this in public? Dave

But all that volatile fuel vapor in the half-full (or is it half empty?) gas tank might very well be an immediate killer! Dave

You do realize that financially, ASC's relationship with skyride is totally different from any non-ASC-owned dropzone, right? ASC can accept skyride GCs all day and make MORE profit than they would otherwise, or at least the same profit. ALL THE MONEY GOES TO THE SAME PEOPLE. Other dropzones LOSE the difference in money between a regular tandem and a skyride tandem. To ASC, it's all the same. Profit is profit. Question: What's a regular tandem cost at ASC and what does a skyride tandem cost? How about this one: what percentage of the price of a non-skyride tandem goes to into the DZOs pocket vs a skyride tandem? Dave

Many people (and dropzone owners) don't believe that the USPA group member program provides any real benefit to dropzones, so they choose not to join. However, USPA individual members (ie skydivers) get insurance with their membership, in case they damage any property on the ground. So some non-group-member dropzones still require individuals to be members. The instructors at non-GM dropzones are probably always USPA rated instructors too. So in other words, it's the same jumpers, same instructors, etc. USPA doesn't inspect or certify dropzones, so non-membership is not a sign of a bad DZ. You could probably speak with the owners of any dropzone you're interested in and ask why they are not a group member. My opinion: no difference. Dave

I don't know what the 7 criteria are, but I'd have to guess they're all either derived from barametric pressure or self diagnostics. It only measures pressure. Altitude, fallrate, etc, are computed by the unit. And yeah, they just cut the steel cable to demonstrate the strength of the cutter. Edit: it probably measures internal temperature too. Dave

Yes I am. And you are too. Stealing isn't right. You're allowed to judge those that steal. Tandem masters do like to get paid. I don't know a single one that would take a $55 pay cut though. That's what the DZ would lose every time they accepted a Skyride GC. Course your DZ just eats the difference. But sure, those savings are passed on to the customer right? Nope, they would be charged something like $20 extra. You have the false assumption that skyride helps business. I don't believe that. And Perplexiti, I'm not talking down to you because you jump at ASC. I'm pointing out that with 16 jumps, you don't yet understand a LOT about this sport. I'm willing to bet that when you have more jumps and have jumped at more dropzones, you'll understand why so many skydivers hate ASC/skyride. I'm not saying you'll hate them too. I'm only saying you'll understand. And with my 364 jumps and 6 years in this sport, there's TONS I don't understand yet. But after jumping in 7 different states, at dropzones ranging from tiny 182 DZs up to huge multi-turbine DZs, and currently jumping at a club where costs and profits are disclosed to everybody, I have learned a lot about what skydiving is all about and how the money works. Skyride is good for its owners, not the sport. Dave

Bad for skydiving is bad for skydiving. If something affects one dropzone, it affects the sport. This is not personal against skyride or its owners. This is skydivers standing up against something that is harming the sport. New ASC jumpers will understand that someday. Dave

My DZ doesn't accept Skyride gift certificates. How's that for positive? Seriously, you say you manage a DZ. Which one? The reason I'm curious is that I want to look up your area on skydiving.com or other skyride sites and see what FAKE dropzones they list in your area. Here in CT, skyride sends their customers to the fictional Adventure Skydiving Connecticut. Since there are 2 dropzones in the state and one may very well be closing soon, I really wonder where Adventure Skydiving Connecticut is. According to their site (http://www.skydiveconnecticut.com), they have the best safety record in Connecticut. Now please find the silver lining in that cloud. Dave

What if there's no silver lining? Maybe they're just crooks. Dave

Well I'm not gonna waste all day on snopes, but here's one: http://www.snopes.com/language/stories/brass.htm Dave