pilotdave

Yeah, seriously. Yesterday the guy I share a cubicle with (yes, I'm THAT high on the food chain) came in and told me he has the flu again. The last time he had the flu, he went to the ER and was told that he had the worst case they had seen all year. And yet the second he felt a little better, he was back at work. This time I kept telling him I didn't wanna be around him but he didn't seem to care. Dave

I don't see how higher altitudes don't give helicopters the same advantages as planes during emergency situations. What disadvantage does altitude give a helicopter during a tail rotor or drivetrain failure? I would just assume that more altitude means more time to recover from whatever the situation is, and more time to find a place to land, if need be. The only situation I can think of where altitude is bad is during a fire, when you want down NOW. But I dunno. But as far as avoiding the flow of fixed wing traffic, that's interesting. Seems particularly dangerous to me. I guess I'm just used to larger, faster helicopters that can fit into the flow a little better. I jump at an airport with a big helicopter school, and I know they have a separate traffic pattern for the helicopters (right traffic for helicopters, left for planes). Dave

Just buy used. ZP isn't so bad to pack once it has over about 100 jumps on it. When I bought my Sabre2, I specifically went looking for one with ~100 jumps at the size I wanted. Found the perfect one, even in perfect colors to match my gear, in the dz.com classifieds. Dave

There's no set rule about how high an aircraft needs to fly over an airport. Sounds like this one was departing anyway. Not a smart move to depart over the DZ, but not necessarily illegal. Typically pilots overflying airports try to stay at least 500 feet over pattern altitude. A lot of helicopter pilots don't bother with little details like traffic patterns and departing over runways though. Dave

Mine fogs every time in the cold weather. Only had to land with it closed once though (first and last time i wore those gloves), and luckily had enough visibility to land safely. In the cold weather I crack it open under canopy, in the summer I open it all the way, and I always open it all the way on final. When I first bought it I tried landing with it open and closed and found I could judge my flare better with it open so I just stuck with that. There's a lot of good Z1 info at http://www.unfeathered.com/thinyoushoul.html. Has good tips to prevent fogging and other stuff. Also, whenever I think my helmet is going to fog, I carefully breath out of my mouth with my lips on the padding, so I'm blowing almost directly out the vent holes. That helps when I'm in the plane with the helmet closed for a long time (like while my RW group is climbing out). Dave

I like knock knock jokes. Dave

How is hydrogen made? Can it be done in an energy efficient and clean way? If it's not energy efficient, it wont be used. If it's not clean, there wont be a reason to use it. Dave

I don't know much about any of those canopies (have 17 spectre jumps and none on any of the others), but one more to look into (not necessarily suggesting it, just suggesting reading up and asking about it) is the Sabre2. It's a bit higher performance than the other canopies you listed, and maybe you'd want something slower after jumping a 290, but it may be an option at light wingloading. I demoed a spectre and sabre2. I found the sabre2 a bit quicker, but MUCH easier to land. The spectre is definitely capable of nice soft landings, but I just found it required a bit more timing to get right. The sabre2 was, to me, just more forgiving to, well, bad technique. If I flare too high, I just ride it down and flare the rest of the way. If I flare too low, I can just flare a little more quickly and lift my feet up if I have to. The spectre was probably more similar to what you jump now. Flare all the way, every time, from the right height. My first canopy was a PD 9 cell. Easy to fly, very forgiving, and still quick enough to be fun. And SO easy to pack (relatively speaking). It may not be as modern as the other designs but it's probably another good choice, and less of a step up from the others. Dave

I see that as apples and oranges. You might say its funny when swoopers wear helmets. They'd be safer if they just got bigger canopies and wouldn't need the helmets, right? But obviously jumping a small canopy is a calculated risk. Jumping without an AAD is a completely different calculated risk (though plenty of people see jumping with an AAD as a bigger calculated risk). To me, what you said is about the same as finding it funny that I jump out of planes and yet I wear a seatbelt when I drive. Dave

Yup, same in CT. I only did 2 jumps yesterday. Found some dry grass on the first one, and had to hop skip and jump right after touching down on the second one to avoid the mud and deep puddles. Watched one student take a crosswinder and splash down in the mud. Got his brand new mirage and spectre covered in mud. At least the ground is about as soft as it could be! Dave

Only thing I'd worry about is having to cancel cause the TSA gets nervous about something. Dave

The most wonderful thing about skyventure is the walls. You won't backslide because you can't backslide in there. Your feet will bump the wall, you'll stick em out farther, and thats it. The big thing is remembering the body position that works in the tunnel so you can use it in freefall. Dave

Today was gorgeous for jumping. I jump in CT but from the air we could see Orange, MA and Long Island. Dave

First one I didn't take myself. Taken by my passenger as we flew over the potomac river near Annapolis, MD. Second one I took last safety day. Dave

Well, the FAA has its head up its ass. Does the USPA?

Skyventure has pads and earplugs. Use em both. I didn't use either when I was there (in orlando) in january... bad idea. But definitely wear your own jumpsuit. It's a lot of fun, and harder than it looks. But after your first couple minutes, you'll probably start getting comfortable in there and have a great time. And definitely don't be nervous about it. They'll get ya all trained up before putting you in the tunnel, so you'll be able to go in there and just relax and learn some new stuff. Dave

Is this BSR violation a safety hazard to all on board the plane, or just those people knowingly violating the BSR? That makes a big difference, in my opinion. And I don't see how having a USPA rating makes anyone more responsible, unless they're an S&TA. Dave

Ummm...you sure? Be more specific. Does it work no matter what the airspeed is? How about group size? I think to make a statement like that is just silly. It simply doesn't work. If you want to address it, say that it simply doesn't work. Dave

My progression so far: First jump: PD-170 The rest of AFF: PD-230 A couple rentals: Manta 288 At around 40 jumps: PD-150 100th jump: Sabre2 150 demo About 110 jumps: Spectre 135 demo Around 130 jumps: Sabre2 135 demo Jump 135: My first tandem! 330 main

True. They can easily solve that problem by removing you from the loop. Dave

Good point... Hey Sangiro, what has your DZ.com fame brought you? Money? Women? Free jumps wherever you go? Gear sponsorship? This is starting to sound like a good idea. Dave

Well when I get bored I can go downstairs and take a look at the comanche helicopter production line (for now). Soon I'll be able to go out and watch S-92 helicopters being test flown. Guess thats the benefit of working for a helicopter company. My office is just like the movie office space, except for posters of helicopters all over the place. Dave

ASSUMING (big assumption) that exit separation was proper, isn't breakoff tracking really taken into account? I mean, tracking off the line of flight is a bonus, but the time left between groups SHOULD be chosen so that there will be horizontal spacing between groups after both groups have broken off. Now a tracking dive or especially high breakoff/long track would be different. Not saying tracking off the line of flight isn't a good thing, but I'm agreeing that separation from your own group and proper exit timing is more important. Dave

Hope one of em remembered the key. Man would THAT be embarrasing! Dave

Hmm working fine for me. Oh wait. That's on my hard drive. Dave