MWGemini

I've certainly been reading your posts in this thread. Perhaps I wasn't clear in my earlier post. What I meant to say is that I have no desire to find out what is more likely to fail: my reserve or my AAD. If all goes well, I'll never use either. Experience shows that nothing ever goes as planned, however. In the event I need either of these devices and I don't have it, I'm dead. Thanks to modern technology and years of innovation on experience by jumpers who were experienced long before I was born, we now have reserves and AADs. My reserve was built two years ago by one of the most reputable names in the business. It was packed last weekend by a skilled and knowledgeable rigger team. My AAD is a Cypres, just had its two year service done a few months ago. I've bought the best equipment on the market because my life is the extra cost. I hope I never see my reserve inflated. I hope I never see my cypress cutter expended. I'll take every step within my power to ensure that I never have to use either of these devices. They are backups, to be used only in the event of an emergency. They should never be relied on. Being told that I don't belong on a jump because my experience level is too low (which has happened) and me responding with "But I have a cypres" (which I would never say) is no different than me trash packing my main and saying "If it mals, I always have my reserve", and that is no different than someone who downsizes too quickly, and is on a canopy they shouldn't be on, but says "I'll just fly slow and be extra careful". Those are all stupid decisions to make, as evidenced by the fatal impacts of skydivers who have said those exact things. When Murphy comes to visit, he makes his presence known. Don't open the door for him. Mike

I meant that I wouldn't want to find out by experience. Are you trolling, or just not reading these posts? Mike

As a statistical comparison, I have no idea, and don't want to find out. I do however know that when I was first learning to pack, there was at least one time (and probably several) that I unpacked one of my pack jobs because I was unsure how well it would open. Some people said that I always had a reserve, or an AAD. I would rather rely solely on myself. I won't jump a pack job that I think has a high likelihood of requiring me to chop it, just as I won't jump in a situation where I feel I'll be relying on my AAD. The reserve and the AAD are there ONLY in the event that something else has gone horribly wrong. You shouldn't have to use it. And you'd better not rely on it. One day it just might let you down. Hard. Mike

Of all the cases where jumpers could not deploy for themselves, the vast majority are jumper error, yes. The only exception being if an aircraft hit the jumper in freefall, or the jumper had some kind of physical problem (such as a heart attack or stroke) that prevented deploying a parachute. If another jumper collided with the jumper who gets knocked out, there is probably a reason for it. Like being on too large of a jump with too low an experience level. Bottom line: if you EXPECT to NEED the AAD, you don't belong in the air. Mike

Comparing a reserve to an AAD is stupid. The reserve is there in case your main malfunctions. The AAD is there in case YOU malfunction. I won't go on a 12 way hybrid as a sit flyer because I'm nowhere near the skill level required for a jump like that. I might cork and injure or kill myself or others. But we all have AAD's, so that makes it ok, right? WRONG! If I am not skilled enough to safely make a jump without an AAD, I don't make it. I refuse to rely on the device to save my life when I am unable to save it myself due to my own inaction or stupidity. The AAD is only there in the EXTREMELY RARE situation that something far beyond my control happens on a jump that makes it impossible for me to deploy a parachute. Like getting knocked unconscious, or dislocating a shoulder (although even that would leave me with one good hand to pull silver). A main can malfunction for a lot of reasons. We can also do a lot of stupid things. Bottom line: if you think you will NEED a cypress on the jump you are about to make, do yourself a favor and ground yourself. I think is what Hooknswoop has been saying all along. If not, it is certainly how I feel. Mike Edit: Fixed typo that spellcheck missed.

No, but I might not be able to afford all the food. Apparently my credit score changed in the last month since they ran the last credit check, so now for some reason they can't do the VA loan, which means we have to go just off Sarah's income, and that makes our interest rate a lot higher, which changes our monthly payments to an amount that is stretching the limits of what we can afford. We should know by tomorrow what we're going to do, though. Mike

Hehe- Hate to do this to you, Marion, but I might not be there. We're having some problems with the financing for the house right now (DAMN BANKS!). We should know more tonight or tomorrow. Mike

Well, the reason why I ask is that during my student training not so long ago, I was taught that a good place to start my pattern when the winds were from the west is right over the patch of tree at the end of the runway, fly down the length of the runway, then turn to base. That means for about 400 feet of altitude and half the length of the runway, I'm pretty much directly over it. Shouldn't be an issue, because the aircraft should be much lower than 600ft when landing on the runway, or taking off from the runway, but now I'm beginning to wonder if maybe I shouldn't change that pattern so as not to fly over the runway. Another thing that I started thinking about is that I don't know the aircraft approach pattern. I haven't been watching their landings enough to know which direction they usually come from in certain wind conditions, and how they make their approach (what altitudes do they turn at and where). I don't know if every pilot has their own method or if the DZ mandates a particular pattern. Maybe these are things we SHOULD know? Nice pictures, by the way. Have you figured out how to burn them to DVD yet? Mike

With the recent incident at Deland, I've been thinking about what measures can be taken (both at CSS and elsewhere) to prevent that happening here. Does anyone have any suggestions? Mike

I had PRK done when I was in the Army and recommend it to everyone looking into the surgery. There is no flap cutting, so less chance of scarring and halos later in life than with LASIK. The downside is that it takes longer to heal and hurts a helluva lot more, since they scrape the protective coating off the the eye (epithelium) and expose raw nerve endings. I went from 20/200 and 20/100 to 20/10 and 20/15. Immediately after the surgery, my vision was so clear that I could see the veins on a leaf that was on the other side of the room, about 15 feet away, with perfect clarity. Mike

Just another case of the facts being blown out of proportion. The amount of oil in the world is finite, but more than sufficient to sustain us through our lifetimes. That is not to say that there is not a problem, because there is, but it is certainly nowhere near as bad as the writer (an extremist judging by his other blog entries) claims. There's a thing called common sense. Some people seem to lack it. Others just like making sensational claims so that they can be the center of attention. Which category do you think this person falls into? Mike

I remember hearing or reading somewhere about the creation of the British airborne, shortly before WWII. Apparently they asked a unit for volunteers to jump out of planes, and half the men volunteered. When the sergeant gave the list to his commander, the commander then told the sergeant to send them to supply to get parachutes issued. The sergeant responded with, "Oh, we get parachutes?" Pretty sure it's not true, but still kinda funny. Mike

Would you mind sharing his technique, or a rough list of what steps and paints he used? The colors look great, especially the way the green kinda fades from the flames to the black. How long did it take him, and how many coats? Thanks, Mike

Maybe that will be the name of the new Z-brace canopy. Just a guess... Mike

I was bitten by a brown recluse when I was in the Army. Along with about a million other random insects. Most are just annoying. The recluse bite is the only one that actually had me worried. Mike Edit: grammar

I sense a lawsuit against the local cops and the Best Buy on this one. Mike

Yeah, it was good seeing you again, Guido. Now that you've given me my ration of shit over failed fondue Friday, isn't it Joe's turn for the lack of CASA that we came out for? Weather for Sunday looks fairly nice, Saturday is still up in the air. Hopefully it blows through fast and we get blue skies both days. Mike

I got in one jump today- from a King Air. We didn't have enough people to put up the CASA Joe told me would be flying all day. Oh well, still had fun and BARELY made it back in time for my test. Mike

IF I come out tomorrow, it won't be until about 11, and I'll have to leave by 1. I'll only be able to make one jump. Still unsure whether I'll be able to get out of class and get out there, but we'll see. Dave- at some point, I have some Maple questions for you. Mike

Interesting point. I've got a Mirage G3. Another reason I'm thinking about getting a mannequin is because I have two cats, so that will keep it out of convenient scratching height for them. The stand above (while very nice) would not. Thanks, Mike

I guess I should have been a little more specific. I'll only be storing it during the week. It will come to the DZ with me every weekend. Thanks, Mike

What is the best way to store a rig when not in use? My DZ hangs theirs on specially made racks, which I will probably do once I move to a place with more room. Right now, I just put it in a closet, leaning against the wall. Should it be hung, laid flat, leaned against something? If laid flat, on which side? I know this is kind of an odd question, but since my rig is worn for only a fraction of the time, I want to make sure that I'm storing it in a manner that will not damage it or cause the material to get an unwanted memory. Thanks, Mike

Yeah, I am an asshole. But women who play games and can't be honest, both with themselves and their significant other, are just wasting the guys time. That is not the way to build a strong relationship. I know of some men who do the same thing, so it is not gender specific. Women tend to do it more often, however. My wife has as little tolerance for the stupid games as I do. Neither of us are perfect, but at least we see eye to eye. But you're right. I am damn lucky to have her. Mike

I've got a code too. When women talk in their code, my response is "we're through". It's code for "I'm sick and tired of your games. Go fuck yourself." Luckily I found a woman who doesn't play those stupid games. I married her. If you can't be honest with your feelings, what is the point. That lack of honesty really shows how weak the relationship is. Mike

As a covert insertion tool, I could see where it would be very useful, but I'm just wondering how covert it would be. I mean, you wouldn't want to just drop it on their heads, and they are large enough that hiding them might be difficult. Still a very cool design, though. It will be interesting to see what you do with it. Thanks, Mike