pilotdave

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Everything posted by pilotdave

  1. pilotdave
    Both from this thread and others on the topic, I've noticed that not packing is probably a large-DZ phenominon, at least for the most part. Where I jump, there are no packers. Everyone packs for themselves. Even tandem instructors pack the tandem rigs. It's just a completely different environment from somewhere like perris, z-hills, or eloy. I bet there are tons of small-DZ jumpers that would be shocked that there are jumpers out there with hundreds or thousands of jumps that don't (or can't) pack. If I was jumping at one of those huge DZs, I'm sure I'd be paying packers at least sometimes... when I'm in a rush or after an off landing and long walk back, or any time I'm feeling lazy. I hate packing, but I don't think I'd ever stop doing it completely. Dave
  2. pilotdave
    Depends a lot on wingloading. A 170 is pretty big for me. That's what I used for AFF 1, and bought a lightly loaded 150 as my first canopy. My instructors even suggested a 135 was right for me for a first canopy but I went with a 150 anyway (mostly because my friend was selling it for the right price). But a few weeks ago I saw a ~200 lb guy with 30 jumps and no A license that had just bought a brand new spectre 170. After watching one landing, the S&TA told him he can't jump it again at least until he gets the A license (and therefore can decide for himself). That's the kind of sale that has to stop. No dealer should have sold that canopy to that jumper. Dave
  3. pilotdave
    Two advantages to the Z1, if it fits your head. Visor flips all the way up so it doesn't block your view, and the chin stays in place all the time (a disadvantage in many situations too). Dave
  4. pilotdave
    $200/month?? Holy fuck! Wanna advertise on skydivingmovies.com?
  5. pilotdave
    The longer talkback is down, the sooner the entire site will turn into rec.skydiving2. Talkback REMOVES the noise from the other forums like a sponge. Besides, talkback is the only place for skydiving related chat since that's not allowed in general skydiving discussions. Not having talkback is simply going to move those threads there. What exactly caused talkback to be shut down? Number of useless threads? Delete em. Number of political/religion threads? Make a rule against em. Dave
  6. pilotdave
    Typical insurance requirements are about 500 hours minimum for a 182 with maybe 25 or so in type. To get into a twin turboprop its more like 1500 hours, possibly even 1500 of twin time. Best way to get in is to get the hours required (no exceptions because they're insurance requirements) and be at the dropzone. The best thing you can do is JUMP. Dave
  7. pilotdave
    Yeah... also from the Navy Safety Center: http://safetycenter.navy.mil/media/mech/issues/aprjun01/FoulDeckWaveoff.htm. A mechanic takes a stroll across the flight deck late at night. Doesn't realize an S-3 is 2 seconds from touching down. Good thing someone was paying attention! Dave
  8. pilotdave
    A guy crossing the flight deck in front of one! Dave
  9. pilotdave
    I always thought that would make a great competition... 4 novices on belly, 4 pros on their backs. Then I found out that deland majik trains on their backs so maybe it wouldn't be so fair.
  10. pilotdave
    Yep. I went down there maybe 5 days after the attack. Even from pretty far away (where the media was set up), there was still a very strong smell of jet fuel. I felt bad for liking the smell! Dave
  11. pilotdave
    We're working on the issue. I have problems getting files to play myself, but it seems to only be me. If you can reach the download page, you should be able to right click on teh download link and save target as. That should save the file to your hard drive. Dave
  12. pilotdave
    Hmm interesting. Sounds like ya found a bug. I think I can activate your account manually... hang on. edit: ok, deleted your account... just sign up again. Quick, someone sign up with his username before he does! j/k Dave
  13. pilotdave
    Yeah we have a 100 meg limit. There are a few files bigger than that uploaded before there was any restriction, but they just don't get downloaded much. By compressing to wmv or divx you can get the file size WAY down without hurting the quality too much. Dave
  14. pilotdave
    Yep, activate it by clicking the link in the email. Is it not working, or didn't get the email? Dave
  15. pilotdave
    Do you have cookies disabled? The site "remembers" that you're logged in using a cookie. If not, then try hitting reload. What browser are you using? Dave
  16. pilotdave
    A bunch of people have signed up using dz.com accounts so far. I don't see why a spam filter would cause any problems. Also, just got finished improving the search feature. Much more powerful now than it used to be. Dave
  17. pilotdave
    Skydivingmovies.com now requires (free) registration. The good names are going quick! Also, uploads will be reenabled soon (later today I think). We've made a bunch of little changes to the site recently too. Please let me know if you run into any problems watching/downloading videos or anything else. Dave
  18. pilotdave
    There are plenty of MUCH simpler video editing programs out there. I have used premier a little but unless I'm trying to do something fancy, I use simpler stuff now. For the very simple videos I've edited, the real advantage of premier has been being able to sync the video with a music track. But to just get some videos online, it won't take months of learning. Dave
  19. pilotdave
    Might wanna look at the Dazzle devices. Never used one myself, but it's an external device that plugs in between the VCR and a USB port. Probably the easiest solution and pretty cheap too. I've been doing it with my GeForce4 video card with TV-in. Quality tends to suck but it works. Dave
  20. pilotdave
    I can't see it right now (codec issue) but http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=1201 might show it pretty well. It's basically when your pilot chute gets caught on your body (for example your bridle wrapping around your foot). Dave
  21. pilotdave
    Graduated last May from the University of Maryland with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. Tonight I start grad school... going for an MBA. Totally not interested in bidness but it sounds a heck of a lot easier than a masters in engineering right now, and my company pays 100% (including text books) so what the heck. Maybe I'll do more engineering later. But after being out of school for nearly a year, the thought of doing homework sounds so awful. Tonight is just orientation. Maybe I'll skip...
  22. pilotdave
    Don't know the answer to your question, but you might like this video: http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=94. Golden knights and red devils do helicopter jumps in 1964. The last couple minutes are freefall movies taken using a helmet mounted WW2 fighter plane gun camera. You can see the setup around the 4 minute mark, just briefly. Dave
  23. pilotdave
    Back when I was learning to fly I asked my instructor why she told me we couldn't do spins in the piper traumahawk. She said "well, we can, but it's just not very good for the plane. wanna try some?" So we did some spins. Then she asked what I wanted to do next. I decided to push my luck and asked how long we could fly upside down before the engine quits. She said "I don't know. lets find out." Instead of going upside down, she pulled the nose way up and then pushed forward, pushing about -1 G. After 3 seconds the engine began to sputter so she pulled back and it started back up. To maintain inverted flight you need an inverted fuel and oil system, not just a fuel pump. Dave
  24. pilotdave
    Totally unofficial answer since I'm not a rigger, but I did watch my rigger do this on my new vector3 a week ago. He squeezed it down with a pair of pliers. Dave
  25. pilotdave
    Cool. I made a shirt on zazzle a while back just as a prototype for shirts I was having silk screened. Those come out GREAT. Very high quality shirts too...nice and soft. Dave