Iflyme

Hellian, freefallers will fall faster than RW workers and other belly flyers, pehaps 30% faster. RW workers would fall at roughly 120mph, and while going head down, the freeflyer could hit 170 - 190mph. So the belly flyers will be in freefall longer than the freeflyers, and thus subject to more freefall drift (being pushed futher by the winds). This will give greater horizontal separation at opening time than if the freeflyers were out before the belly flyers. Did you read the discussion paper on exit order I mentioned earlier (I posted a link to it)?

What container/canopies did you buy, Albatross?

Hmmm ... for me it's: 77 jumps in almost 3 years, 77 jumps in almost 3 years... Something is wrong with this picture (I envy you, you bastard). Frank

Don't worry 'Sis, I bet we all have those skydiving dreams! Ever since I was a kid, I've always loved jumping. I was a real good high jumper back in high school track and field days, and I was always getting my buddies to go with me to lakes and rivers where we (read "I") could jump off cliffs into the water. The dream I've been having for years goes something like this: I'm running down my parents yard (where I grew up) which is sloping slightly downward... heading towards the bushes... with each step I take, I am able to leap further and higher, 'till I am bounding many yards (see, I even abandon the metric system for you foreigners) with each stride. It's like I can almost fly. Well I've had this dream in many variations for years. Last time, I was jogging down a beautiful winding country lane, and there were lots of trees and hydro wires around. With each stride, I could sail further and jump higher, until I was right up in the wires! Sometimes, in this dream, I can take a huge running stride, then sort of swoop - just keep my feet up off the ground, and sail along... Since I started skydiving (about 3 years ago), I've had lots of skydiving dreams. I had my first "mal dream" the other night. It was too wierd, because when I realized I was having a mal, I was in the gym at school, and my mal was kinda stuck up way up where the ceiling meets the wall, and I couldn't get it free... I had one the other day where I was out in the community, and I saw a gal skydiver coming down, and get hung up in the electrical wires... being another skydiver, I called 911, but the DZ operator got her untangled and out of the mess with ease, and I was the boob because I had panicked! But most of my skydiving dreams are just of cool freefalls and canopy flight... Ain't it great!!!

I had one a few weeks back ... wasn't bad at all! The Endodontist who performed it (a young woman) had a boyfriend who represented Canada on our rowing team at the Olympics in Australia... somehow we ended up talking about skydiving (funny how that happens, huh!), and she said her and her boyfriend would come out for tandems this summer. But really, the root canal was a piece of cake. What I want to know is how you can be useful to anybody after being at work for 17 hours! Frank

I agree with Fruce, Froggie... chalk it up to learning. You're not gonna win the gold medal every time - this time you just "got thru" without wrecking yourself. So just hang in there, and apply your new knowledge to the next jump. Frank

"Rigger", Ben's dog, and the dog seen most often at our DZ has had both eyes removed... she can't chase the tennis ball anymore, but she manages to get around with her using her keen sense of smell... when I first saw her after her second eye had been removed, I almost thought it was cruel keeping her alive, but she is sooo much loved, and treated so well around the DZ that I'm glad she is still around! Frank

bastard

Hey, Carrie, nice to hear you had a good spring break. So you got no jumps in at all???

Why do you post anonymously? You obviously have lots to say... tell us who you are and join the battle!

Well let's have this discussion... my understanding of exit order is that freeflyers should ALWAYS be out after belly flyers because the BF will experience more freefall drift and get pushed further away... is there really ever a time when there is no wind aloft? There is a good discussion paper about exit order here: http://indra.net/~bdaniels/ftw/sg_brb_exit_order.html Frank

Don't sweat it, dude! Now if somebody yanks your silver handle in freefall, THEN you can get all pissed off...

Well, Skyhawk, this proves that you can never count on VERTICAL separation... you need lotsa horizontal, though. I just pleased to hear that a collision didn't occur. A similar thing happened to me last summer - went past a canopy in freefall - and I still pulled at 3000! The other jumper pulled higher than he had planned - so that's when I learned that vertical separation isn't guaranteed. Frank

CSPA recommends a C licence to fly camera. Frank

Way to go, Skymama!!! I just love to hear from someone who is inspired us bunch of clowns to get back up in the air. Isn't skydiving a super sport!?!

Doesn't the Skydiver's Handbook make reference to a French skydiver who passed 5000 jumps without a mal...?

Ya, I've jumped into snow before: Last April into blizzard at 5000 feet that was light rain by the time it got to the ground... landed in the field covered in snow (very cool)... and last time I jumped (2 weeks back) I pulled at 10'000 to watch the CReW guys... it was into snow and ice pellets. The stuff that accumulated on top of my canopy looked cool from below (snow is wet here, and it doesn't all blow off). My moustache was iced up, but by the time we got below 5000, it was nice and warm again!

Our two cats, Jasmine and Whiskers, steal piece's of the kids lego, and play hockey with them anywhere there is no carpet... the are alo quite fond of thoses skydiving elastic bands. When I moved the chesterfield to vaccumm under it the other day, there were 11 elastics under there. I think the Whiskers likes to push them under there, then try to retrieve them. They also leave the lego and the elastics in my shoes - the lego hurts when ya step on it when it's IN your shoe. Frank

Well of course - but just remember - nobody's ugly in the dark!

Wait a sec - I'm not a foreigner - you guys are!

TripF, you get your mind outta my pants! And I've got no secrets ...

I have no "superstitions", but gear checks, and a big "wahooo" just before "DOOR" are rituals I engage in... And "very big guys" can be gay, too! Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Have fun up there, Skyhawk!

Pammi, that's the story of my life! ('hic)

Spring is in the air!