rapper4mpi

This is similar to the post in Safety and Training on how skydiving is portrayed in the media. Real TV and any skydiver that submits accidents to this show is not helping the sport. BUT sometimes when we try to help the sport as in Skydive Miami's attempt on MTV, it can come back to smack us in the butt. Check this out. The first part in an email I sent to Skydive Miami, the 2nd part in the response. I apologized to skydive Miami since then. After watching the MTV Road Rules/Real World Challenge segment on skydiving, I was a bit confused. Why would a reputable DZ let MTV show the sport of Skydiving in the manner that it did. Your chief instructor said "If your reserve fails you will die", come on, you know it is not cut and dry like that, and I hope you would know that whatever you say, may be taken out of context. I'm not blaming Skydive Miami, or trying to start an argument, I'm just concerned that when we can get the kind of coverage that you did, that you take every precaution that everyone lands safely. Two of the "cast" members hammered in pretty hard, how could you let that happen? Just so they could score some points? I was not there, but this seems like it could have been avoided. What were the busses doing parked where they were? What about the prize X-terras? I feel safety was slackened just for the opportunity to host this event. I know MTV is influential, but someone missed the boat on this one. Why were cast members giving radio commands to the students? This coverage singlehandily could have attributed to many possible students choosing not to try our sport. Speaking only on behalf of myself, I say thanks a lot....Try to be a little more thoughtful in the future. I would welcome a reply to my letter. I may forward this to the industry publications, but I am not one to write something without hearing both sides of the story, so I hope to hear a reply, otherwise I will assume my assumptions are true. Again, I mean no harm by writing this, I'm just very concerned, I would appreciate being proven wrong. Thank you for your time. blue skies Hi, thanks for your concern about how our sport is portrayed by the media at times. As you can well see, MTV presented a very one-sided view of the complete training process for an AFF Level 1 skydive. I will answer your questions in the order that you have asked them : They repeatedly asked the question (the film crew) "What happens if both parachutes do not work?" to which our CI, after trying to work diplomatically around the obvious, finally provided them with the answer to their question. It's a tough situation because they could also have also shown on TV a negative version of him avoiding their question (which he did for a long time). Landings: We have a ten acre landing area for our operation, bordered on all four sides by open farmers fields (literally hundreds of acres). The buses were on the south edge and the Nissans were on the north edge, winds were out of the east at 5 mph. Canopies were the latest Navigator 280's from PD. We use the standard flight plan were a student remains in the holding area until 1000 ft, then they do their downwind, base and final as per normal. The way they edited the footage makes it look like other cast members were giving last minute instructions to their team-mates, nothing could have been further from the truth. After a student had deployed and done their canopy check and was in the correct holding area, this was the only time that team members could say a FEW words to their partner under canopy. The instructor then took over as per normal and assisted with the flight plan. We had numerous safety briefings (not shown on MTV) were we told the participants that if we noted any un-safe practices under canopy that they would be immediately disqualifed. MTV wanted the viewing public to be under the impression that it was a competition, so they edited accordingly. In reality there was no competition because the instructors, using the radio, set-up each student on a long final approach, it was pure luck if they landed in the peas, undershot by fifty feet, or overshot by fifty feet. MTV obviously thought that this lacked drama, and edited accordingly. Please also remember that out of this group of twelve students who did not exactly choose to come skydiving, some had a lot of natural talent, while others obviously did not. I am an AFF instructor myself, and the reality of it is that no matter how comprehensively we train a student, there is a certain percentage that will overload and be unable to perform up to standard. I agree that two hard landings out of twelve is unacceptable, but these were twelve unique individuals, to put it mildly, and we did our very best with an extremely experienced staff to look after everyones safety. MTV and the viewing public unfortunately want only the drama, we as skydivers always seem to struggle to get people to understand why we love our sport so much. Michael, I could go on and on about all the extra safety precautions we took, MTV chose not to view a single one of them. Please reply to my side of the story, I do understand your concern. Sincerely, ******** I guess no matter how hard we try, big money will always win out! -Rap

So let me tell you all about my experience with Mike Michigan and Michigan Suits. I ordered my first freefly suit from him about 450 jumps ago. Back in 1999 when they were still making them really baggy. So to start this season off, I thought I would order a new suit. Not that my old one was worn out, it still looks great, but I wanted a new suit, you all know how it is. Anyway, I look around at other companies, and they all seemed great, so I stuck with what I knew. I place my order and 3 weeks later it arrives at my front door! So excited, I strip down and try it on. Fits great, looks great...but wait, the stripes I ordered, big stripe red, small stripes white, are reversed...hmmm that is not right. Now before I go any further, I did initially order my colors this way. but as soon as I realized it (literally 5 minutes later) I called Mike and told him to make the switch. He said no problem. Well that note must have been lost. So I called Mike told him about the problem. He said, not to worry and send the suit back and he would fix it. I called him three days later to see if he got the suit, he said that he just did, and my new suit should arrive in a few days! Wow! How's that for service? He built me a new suit before the first even got to him. Anyway, I now have the new suit and it looks great, fits great, and is exactly what I wanted. So if anyone out there is looking for a good quality suit, that lasts at a competitive price, check out www.michigansuits.com -Rap

So let me tell you all about my experience with Mike Michigan and Michigan Suits. I ordered my first freefly suit from him about 450 jumps ago. Back in 1999 when they were still making them really baggy. So to start this season off, I thought I would order a new suit. Not that my old one was worn out, it still looks great, but I wanted a new suit, you all know how it is. Anyway, I look around at other companies, and they all seemed great, so I stuck with what I knew. I place my order and 3 weeks later it arrives at my front door! So excited, I strip down and try it on. Fits great, looks great...but wait, the stripes I ordered, big stripe red, small stripes white, are reversed...hmmm that is not right. Now before I go any further, I did initially order my colors this way. but as soon as I realized it (literally 5 minutes later) I called Mike and told him to make the switch. He said no problem. Well that note must have been lost. So I called Mike told him about the problem. He said, not to worry and send the suit back and he would fix it. I called him three days later to see if he got the suit, he said that he just did, and my new suit should arrive in a few days! Wow! How's that for service? He built me a new suit before the first even got to him. Anyway, I now have the new suit and it looks great, fits great, and is exactly what I wanted. So if anyone out there is looking for a good quality suit, that lasts at a competitive price, check out www.michigansuits.com -Rap

Just call a dealer that carries them and ask. They would have all that information. OR if you can't get that info, order a pair and see what is on the label. -Rap

Oh I'm sorry the remaining percent left the line blank, they were non respondants. -rap

Hey Medic, here are the results from the 2000 USPA survey: 51.1% Formation skydiving 15.7% Freefly/Freestyle 5% Style and Accuracy 4.5% Canopy Formation 2.3% "Other" 1.7% Skysurfing I think most in our sport would agree that this is an accurate representation of our sport as a whole. Take it for what it's worth! -Rap

Actually I have theory. First of all, freeflying is a smaller part of the skydiving population as a whole. Secondly, it seems that most people here at DZ.com are lowtimers, and with that, they spend more time learning about gear, RW and asking broad questions. As the experience gets better, more posts will follow. Agree? -Rap

I have 650 jumps in 6 seasons. 5 static lines 1 tandem 15+ night jumps 3 water jumps 1 cutaway 1 cutaway above water 1 naked jump 50 demos 500 freefly 1 CRW the rest are RW, solos, etc... -Rap

Definitely worth watching! Can't hurt. -Rap

For records sake, I'll answer my own question. With the help of these forums I found what I needed. The Bogy was made by Advanced Para Systems in TX. 903-886-7662. The pack volume on a Bogy 178 is 376 cu. in. with dacron lines and 346 cu. in. with micro lines. -Rap

I'm looking for the pack volume of a Bogy 170, which was made by Advanced Parachute Service in the mid-eighties. Anyone know? -Rap

Cutaway on jump 155. Racer Rig in a sit, bridle floating above my head. Total mal. Pulled cutaway and reserve even though I had a total. Threw both handles, but landed nicely! -Rap

I have a JVC GR DV1, it is what the earliest freeflyers where using. In its day it was the best thing out there. I got one for $450 off Ebay to see if I would like flying camera. Now over 200 jumps later it works just as good as the day I got it. Next to the sony however the difference in image quality is noticable. Plus with the JVC I have the thing covered with gaffers tape. Go with a Sony if you are serious about flying camera. -Rap

You are correct. -Rap

I responded back to John: "John, I again thank you for your response. I think what is happening is that people don't like hearing that their existing gear may have something wrong with it. My rigger said that, yes this is a problem on a few types of rigs out there. He also said that if you have a rigger that knows what their doing, they can avoid this problem I.E., keeping bulk away from the top of the container. Do you agree with this?" His repsonse was simply "NO" What do you all think of this? -Rap

More fuel to the fire.... "The problem can be analogized to bending over and standing on your neck tie and then trying to stand up. The Tuck Tabs are the culprit. It is a deficiency in the design. We learned about it during our 2 year quest to provide a closure/retention system to replace the Velcro on our riser covers. Not a simple problem. We now have and are producing a good solution which has received wide acceptance. We did this without increasing the bag extraction force requirement with the main full and closed. One of the other manufacturers, who shall remain nameless, after a recall and redesign and re-release of the tuck tabs on his rig, confided in me that Tuck Tabs didn't work. I then asked him why he released them and he replied "because the market wanted them". Does that give you an eerie feeling, it does me. Trust but verify!!"

Here is my initial email to Jumpshack and their response below... "First I want to say that my first 175 jumps were on a Racer. This was an earlier rig and after a sloppy pack job on my part I had a total mal. Bridle between the top of the bag and the underside of the pin was flapping in the breeze. So I stopped jumping one. But this letter is in response to that Spin Test that is posted on the site. I would like more information about that. What type of rig, size of reserve and main. Why did you happen to be filming when you opened this rig. And finally, do you treat all your rigs that way? I.E. throwing them on the floor? I applaud Jumpshack for bringing this issue to the surface, but we need more detail, as it stands, it seems that you are using this to sell your product without offering all the facts, which is distrustful and actually turns customers away. Please respond, I look forward to hearing from you." "The video speaks for itself. What we are suggesting is do the test yourself. We intentionally don't identify the rig 'cause it can happen on several different similar rigs. I will tell you that it is done with the main full and closed and this main had a 190 Sq. Ft. canopy in it and that the total weight of the rig was 22 pounds. The pack job was done by the manufacturer of the rig and we, upon suspicion that it would perform this way got out the camera. We had the rig in for a repack. Don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you see. Test for yourself." John

I agree with point 1,2, and 3. But no company in which you trust your gear with has a right to swing it around over their heads and let it go skidding across a gym floor. I don't care if it didn't hurt it, it is the priniciple. Also if I drag my gear across the ground and get it dirty, I'll still be pissed, but at least I did it. -Rap

I understand what I see, and in fact, still would be pissed if they did that to my rig. Although this is a very important issue that needs to be addressed, but like you said, it is offered up with no explanation, or even how to prevent it from happening. Anway, it still won't get me to jump a Racer, had my first mal on one. -Rap

After watching the video again, I would be pretty pissed if someone handled my gear that way. Did you see the way they threw it to the ground on the gym floor? Also, what about how the camera just happened to be there as they opened it? Something seems a bit fishy. -Rap

Again I spoke to my rigger about this and he said that there are a number of rigs on the market that that can happen too if packed improperly. Basically keep the bulk of the reserve away from the top of the container and this will not happen. Furthermore, have you ever held onto a pilot chute out of a car window going 60 mph? Try it, it hurts! So with the snatch force going at least that fast, I think it would pull out in time. -Rap

If you are referring to the Bonehead Mindwarp that has a audible "pocket" that you place the audible in from inside the helmet, then YES the TimeOut will work very nicely too. I have an older Bonehead (about 4 years old) and I have been using a TimeOut in that helmet about the same time. The sudible fits nicely in it, without protruding, and is easily heard while in freefall! Go for it! -Rap

Bar-headed Geese and Demoiselle Cranes may actually fly at heights of up to almost 30,000 ft. - that's more than 5 miles above sea-level! WHY? Because, to get to their destinations, they have to cross the Himalayas!! So I think it is possible to have a bird strike, but highly unlikely. -Rap

I've owned one of the earlier Bonehead Mindwarps for a few years now, and I have to say I'm very pleased. Very durable, and I've even mounted a camera to it. It holds much better than the Invertigo. If I was in the market for a new helmet, I would look at a new Mindwarp or an Aviator by Arrow Dynamics! -Rap

Yes I've read all the published reviews, but I was looking to see if there was any other opinions out there. Maybe there just isn't much to say? -Rap