pilotdave

Funny how many different uses they came up for the new BoneHead BigFace© camera helmet... Dave

Version 2... now with twice the redneckness! Dave

Here's a car for you Dave...

Yup, I've flown El Al a few times. They don't mess around! They are not afraid to pick suspicious people out just by how they look, and they will also question everyone else thoroughly. They'll ask where you're staying, why you're going, how you're going to get around. They'll ask to see your maps, etc. I heard a story about my mother's uncle from years ago, before all airline security was so serious. He said to his wife in the security line something about a bomb, obviously a joke... apparently he got strip searched for it. I'm all for profiling. The little old lady didn't do it! Dave

You kidding? Did you not notice what happened to skydiving after sept 11th? Yeah, things went back to normal in most of the country, but I'm still suffering because of the "temporary" airspace restrictions they imposed. Call it security if you want but it sure impacts my freedom. I used to take friends up for airplane rides over my school. We'd just circle around over campus checking things out. It was a lot of fun. If I tried that today, I'd have an F-15 on my ass in about 30 seconds. Am I any more of a threat now than I was then? Before I can fly nowadays I need to check freaking college football schedules to make sure I won't be flying over any stadiums along my route (or soccer or whatever else is in season). Not to mention that I need to file a flight plan and be in communication with ATC with a discreet transponder code every time I fly now. Any idea how much of a pain in the ass that is? We lost a lot of freedom after sept 11th. I might not mind so much if there was a good reason for it, but there isn't. Dave

There's always hybrid rocket motors. I helped build one for a school project a few years ago. It basically used rolls of paper for fuel and nitrous oxide for oxydizer (whippits). I actually bought a case of nitrous cartriges from a drug paraphanelia website since that was the best price I could find. The project was actually sponsored by my school so we were going to have the state of maryland pick up the tab, but decided not to submit that receipt.

Weird. Mine definitely doesn't whistle. Keeps things nice and quiet. I was shocked on my last jump when I was doing a 2 way night jump and the other guy yelled something to me and I actually heard him... in freefall. Never had that happen before. Sure couldn't yell back though. Dave

I agree... the Z1 is a good helmet, but it definitely has quality control issues. I've had no major problems with mine (none of the problems AndyMan mentioned), but then again I don't jump nearly as often. I was just surprised at the overall quality. It looks somewhat slapped together. Not really noticeable from the outside except for a very small amount of roughness in the paint job in some spots. But some of it is really just ugly, like the way the velcro that holds the liner on is put on. I attached a couple pictures. You can see the velco just sticks right up with a whole bunch of the sticky side exposed. You can't see it when the visor is closed, but it's really obvious when it's open. That just seems inexcusable to me. These things are hand made I would assume. Could they not have placed the velcro just a little more carefully? The other thing I noticed when I got it, which I already fixed, was a few threads hanging out the mouth openings. It's as if they're made by robots and shipped out with no inspection. But I really do like it and would honestly recommend the Z1, even with its flaws. Dave

Hey, I keep seeing that the Lincoln Lab is doing interviews on my campus. I'm looking for a job and they're one of the few places that lists that they're looking for aerospace engineers. What do they do and is it a good place to work? Dave

There are a bunch of other threads about this, but here I go again... I have a Z1 and my glasses fit fine under it. I don't believe the size or shape of the glasses makes the biggest difference. It's the size and shape of your head that will. Only thing you can do is try on some helmets and see what works and what doesnt. I have no trouble even putting on the Z1 wearing my glasses. When I bought it, I assumed I'd have to take my glasses off to put it on and I didn't really like that idea. Dave

I know of at least one DZ (non-USPA) that does AFF1 with only 1 JM. Dave

I suggest stopping at a place called Burdick's chocolate in harvard square. White hot chocolate... MMMMMMMMMMM! They also sell chocolate by the pound. $42 per pound last I checked. Dave

[replyI would buy rig C - a rig that is common here, that is easy to pack, that has no problem with the poptop staying closed, and that riggers don't mind. Around here, that's a reflex. This is a good point. There is nothing wrong with the reflex, and it is a "west coast" rig. That's why they were on sale for 40% off a few years ago... just to get more of them out there. It probably worked pretty well... a few people in my club were buying their first rigs at the time and went with reflex for the price. At my DZ they are fairly common. But last summer I was jumping at a DZ in Connecticut where I only saw one other guy jumping a reflex and one rigger wouldn't pack it and another did a so-so job on the pop top (but eventually got it tightened down pretty well). You can't expect a rigger to have any expertise on a rig he rarely even sees. On the other hand I got a repack from a brand new rigger once. It was his first unsupervised reserve repack. Hell, I even had to print the packing manual off the internet for him. Last thing you want to hear your rigger say is "hmmm, what the hell are they trying to show here??" but it came out fine with no pop top problems. (for the record, he had packed a reflex once before with help). The reflex is a good container, but maybe not the best choice in some parts of the country. You may not have had any problems finding a rigger, but you probably live in an area with plenty of riggers. Not everyone does. Dave

You can feel free to upload to skydivingmovies.com and post the link. Dave

Yeah it is true that any licensed rigger should be competent to pack a reflex, but it's also true that some riggers won't pack them no matter what. I've been refused by one rigger so far. While we're on the subject, I have a question. Would it be possible for a toggle to come loose in freefall and get caught under the pop top causing a problem on deployment? I've never had a toggle come loose or even had any flaps open in freefall, but it must be possible. Dave

More... finally: Bridge day 2002 marc03@hotmail.com.mov moved from /UPLOADS/ to /base/ KATE2.WMV moved from /UPLOADS/ to /from%20tv/ Lexx Forvard a1.avi moved from /UPLOADS/ to /skysurfing/ Lexx Forvarda7.avi moved from /UPLOADS/ to /skysurfing/ Lexx%20Forvarda7.avi moved from /skysurfing/ to /students/ Gabo mezcala.MPG moved from /UPLOADS/ to /base/ kate_show_1.wmv moved from /UPLOADS/ to /from%20tv/ aerodude.MPG moved from /UPLOADS/ to /base/ wffc 02.wmv moved from /UPLOADS/ to /misc/ jamesboole_films/loser_luke_complete_short_skydiving_film.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ _____READ_ME_____.txt moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ loser_luke_complete_short_skydiving_film.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ birdmen_over_empuriabrava.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ BASE_short_flim_dedicated_to_Jurgen.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ loser_luke_notes.txt moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ Birdmen_notes.txt moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ BASE_notes.txt moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ Empuria_daze_notes.txt moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ Freefly_edit_notes.txt moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ skydive_uwe_notes.txt moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ skydive_uwe_short_edit.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ freefly_edit_empuria_2002.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ empuria_daze.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ skydive_uwe_small.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ skydive_uwe_med.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ loser_luke_small.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ loser_luke_med.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ freefly_edit_small.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ freefly_edit_med.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ Empuria_Daze_small.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ Empuria_Daze_med.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ birdmen_over_emp_small.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ birdmen_over_emp_med.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ BASE_short_film_small.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ BASE_short_film_med.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /jamesboole_films/ Nachtspringen 2.mpg moved from /UPLOADS/ to /misc/ Nachtspringen.txt moved from /UPLOADS/ to /misc/ Thanks for all the uploads James. Created a folder for ya. Sorry it took so long! Dave

Yeah, i'm having trouble translating this one.

I have one, catapult installed. I've heard so many reasons to remove it, but as far as I've ever heard none of those problems have ever actually occured. On the other hand, I have heard of the catapult saving someone's life when the other reserve pilot chute had been incorrectly packed (under the decorative cover so it was useless). I bought mine from my former rigger. It had been his personal rig (the few times he jumped I guess). He was a BIG fan of the catapult. I never knew why until I found out he was the rigger that had fucked up. I would consider removing mine if anyone could show me any evidence that the catapult actually makes the rig less safe. It actually would take very little to convince me. The fact that every VERY experienced jumper that I've asked has told me to get it removed is nearly enough. Problem is none of them have given me a good enough reason. Not that I'm waiting for it to kill someone (it could be me), but I just havent been convinced that the potential dangers it adds outweigh the potential benefits. I haven't had any major problems with my reflex. But my next container will be something else. No specific reasons. The only issue i've had was a poorly packed reserve pilot chute that kept coming loose for one repack cycle. But I'm getting tired of jumping a rig that some riggers refuse to pack and too many people disagree on. Dave

DZ closed till march 8th (at least) basement leaking... into my roommate's bedroom and its generally disgusting out right now. Went out last saturday night to a friend's apartment. They needed one more person to make even teams for a board game. I was planning to be gone a few hours. I ended up getting snowed in and couldn't leave for 4 days. For some reason I don't feel like going out this saturday night.

Awesome! I've been hovering in the 140ish hour area for years now. I finally got back into flying last semester and then we had the winter from hell (if it froze over), and now i'm inside the washington DC air defense identification zone which makes flying a pain in the ass. That all happened like the day after I emailed a flight instructor about doing a night currency flight so I can fly back from the DZ after sunset. Oh well... maybe i'll try the flying thing again when the snow is melted (which seems like it'll be august). Dave

Yeah that is Ushuaia, but the comment about not needing to breathe came from another show... Either a different episode or a different show, cant remember. Dave

Yep, thats a neat way to do AFF. That video is available at skydivingmoies.com in /from tv/cnbc - ushuaia skydiving.mpg for anyone with patience. I attached a couple screen captures. This guy's (apparently) first jump is with the 8 way team, and then he goes on to do CRW, in a 17 way diamond (or whatever you crazy people call it) over paris, landing by the eiffel tower. Cool show! Dave

http://www.skyeyeskydiving.com/images/AFF_Level_1.JPG This student looks like he really wonders why the instructors are pointing at each other.

I dont have the video from discovery channel (anyone even know what show it was on?), but there are a couple videos of the jump in the /RW/ folder of skydivingmovies.com. One from the ground (high and low quality) and another from inside the formation. Thanks to Nolowe and Billvon. Dave

Yeah, our most current list of clubs and contacts is at http://www.inform.umd.edu/studentorg/cpsc/OtherClubs.html. If your club isn't listed or the link doesn't work, post the correct info. The contacts are in the excel file at the bottom. Lewis's article on how to start a club is a good start for info. An organization would be really cool but I think it's probably too much work for college students that are probably already running club's of their own. Maybe the college skydiving listserve or another email list would be an easier solution. Dave