Rhonda66

I have two views on this - 1. I don't feel, with 200 jumps, that I know everyone's gear well so sometimes I actually feel uncomfortable when someone asks me to check their pins so I definitely agree with you that everyone is not capable of giving everyone else a pin check. 2. On the other hand, as an instructor maybe you feel that you would always remember to check your own pin because you have so much experience. However, on my Level 7 AFF jump 5 years ago my instructor's reserve pin was dislodged in the plane and we had a big old mess in freefall and 2 chutes out in a spinning downplane afterwards. We found the packer's tag in the plane afterwards. Fortunately my instructor made it out of it okay, but perhaps it could have been avoided if I, or anyone else on the plane, just took a minute to peek under the reserve flap just to make sure... Personally, no I don't like others to check my pins without asking or being asked, but I think everyone should have their pins checked by someone else in the plane before exit whether it be a friend, an instructor or anyone else you know you can trust. My JM, the person I trusted the most, put both of us at risk and everyone else in that plane, demonstrating that it can happen to anyone - it's not just the low timers who screw up and need their gear checked - sometimes I think that students are the safest because they are constantly reminded of the dangers - As we get more jumps under our belts and become more and more comfortable with our gear and skydiving in general, I think that is when we start cutting corners and becoming more carefree and careless - Rhonda

Wanna buy a Falcon 175? Rhonda

True, true - never assume anything - point it out! Rhonda

I never even would have thought to check that before - my rigger didn't even suggest that perhaps the risers could be too long and I never considered that possibility - but now I know that you have to consider EVERYTHING! At least they were minor things, but they opened my eyes to the possibilities.... Rhonda

That's good to know - I always wonder whether it's best to cut away a PC in tow in case the main deploys on reserve opening - Seems like the best route is to cut it away first and then deploy the reserve. I guess it's better to have a plan, than to try to decide when it actually happens and then waste time trying to decide what to do..... Rhonda

Oh, aside from my chest strap incident, I also had two other dumb and totally avoidable incidents in Eloy..... I had a new Sabre packed into a Vector bag because I have a Vector and a Dolphin container at home and wanted to jump the Sabre in the Dolphin instead of the Falcon that was in it. So we just took the whole canopy assembly off of the Vector and swithced it into the Dolphin even though our rigger didn't want us to do it because he likes to keep the correct bag with its correct container, but I argued that I just wanted to jump the Sabre in the Dolphin for the trip to Eloy and then put the Falcon with the Dolphin bag back into the Dolphin container when we got home. First jump in Eloy, I throw out the PC and all is good until I reach up to get my toggles and I can't reach them because the Vector set-up has 24 inch risers! I did manage to get them unstowed, but we got rid of those babies as soon as I got down - The girl at Square Two described the 24 inch risers as being made for "gorilla men".....Oops, maybe I should have thought to check on that BEFORE jumping this Vector set-up in the Dolphin. So we get the risers changed and I jump again and now I can't release the damn right toggle because my hubby tucked the toggles into the rings on the risers and we soon found out that you're not supposed to do that. The toggle was completely knotted in the ring and could not be released. I considered cutting it away, but I didn't want to cutaway just for a stuck toggle and the canopy flew fine with the left toggle all the way up so I fooled around with the risers and found that I could turn the canopy pretty well to the right anyway just using the risers so I flew it back to the DZ - the flare sucked and I fell, but I was fine. So now I have a lot more respect for my gear - and for my rigger because had I listened to him in the first place, none of this would have happened. Rhonda

I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but the window on my PC bridle is completely useless and the colored section never lines up so I don't know if that's always the best solution - I can't believe the person forgot to cock it though - can't be much worse than a PC in tow - good job on the cutaway.... Rhonda

I agree. I don't like anyone screwing around with my gear without asking me or my asking them first and I wouldn't touch someone else's unless they asked. It makes me nervous, especially at an unfamiliar DZ. Rhonda Rhonda

Ohhhhh - chicken calling....I'm in - any ex's in MA? Rhonda

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only schmuck who has done it then... and I'm glad to know we're looking out for each other. Rhonda

I've done it - Don't do it!!!!!!! You know better than to torture yourself like that - don't you have a good skydivng vid. you can watch until you can't keep your eyes open anymore? Rhonda

Hey Everyone - I am ashamed to even post this, but perhaps it will serve as a reminder to all of us to be careful out there. I have always been the paranoid type of jumper who always goes over my gear over and over to make sure it's ready to jump before I get on the plane. Well, last week I was in Eloy with my husband for the week. On thursday I was in the otter about to make my fifth jump of the day when the woman sitting across from me noticed at about 7K that my chest strap was misrouted! I couldn't even believe it when I looked down and saw that she was absolutely right - I like to think that I would have caught it before I got out of the plane when I did my final gear check, but I'll never know. As far as I'm concerned she saved my life the other day - I just want to say "thanks again" to her - unfortunately I don't know your name, but you know who you are if you're reading this. It amazes me that someone else was looking out for my well-being and the well-being of other jumpers on the plane that day when I was so careless myself. We should all follow her incredible example. Be careful everyone and check your gear and the gear of those around you in the plane! If I could misroute my chest strap, anyone can! Thanks a million to my savior in Eloy! I definitely owe you one :) Rhonda

Married just over 7 months - we both skydive :)

True - true....... Me and my skydiving sweetie got married two weeks ago :) Rhonda

I have 200 jumps and have jumped a Twin Otter, Super Otter, King Air, Mullins' King Air, C-182, Cessna Caravan, SkyVan, CASA, and a hot air balloon - CASA, hot air balloon and Mullins' King Air all tie for my favorites so far.... Rhonda

I agree - swooping isn't for me either though my husband loves it. Look at it this way, when was the last time you saw an incident report about a woman hook-turning into the ground? Rhonda

That's the key mama - I'm not a mom yet, but I just got married (to another skydiver of course) last weekend so who knows what the future will bring.....I just want to enjoy everything that life has to offer. Up until a few years ago the thought of skydiving never even crossed my mind so I wonder what else there is to do out there that I don't know about... Rhonda

I go out fishing on Cape Cod Bay for stripers, cod, blues, tuna, etc. - I like motor boats - sailing is too calm for me :) Rhonda

Thanks all - lots of good ideas. Skydivers are never boring :) SCUBA is fun - I did it once in Cancun. It might be fun to get SCUBA certified, but I'm sure that once you get into gear and all that, it gets just as expensive as flight lessons or skydiving, right? Dirt bike riding sounds like fun too. Does any one ride jet-skies? Are they going to ban them? Thanks, Rhonda

Oh, BTW, when you bass fish, do you wear one of these? LMAO - I saw that post and I was tempted to respond. No, I have yet to have my rowboat or canoe or paddleboat go careening out of control on me nor has a bass attacked me as of yet so I think I'm safe....though I do find fishing almost as exciting as skydiving - nothing like a largemouth slamming a CrazyCrawler on the surface of a flat lake..... Rhonda

You'll love doing that. It was harder than I thought it would be - landing is still a little tough. I guess I was a model airplane wuffo because I thought you could just go down to a field and fly the plane. Well, we have a club right near our house so I did end up getting instruction and quickly found out that it looks easier than it is - kinda like skydiving at first. I flew my plane right at me and my husband last week and that was a little scary, but fortunately it didn't do any damage. Good luck to you - it is a lot of fun though I can see how it can get boring after a while. We're going to Wisconsin in a few weeks to a RC school to get aerobatics training so that should be fun.... Rhonda

hehe - if I had any singing capability at all I would love to try it, but unfortunately I wasn't blessed with any gifts in that area... :) Rhonda

I'm trying to find some new and exciting things to do and I was wondering what else you all do for fun. I joined AMA and started flying model airplanes recently and already soloed, I bass fish and I started to take flight lessons, but don't have enough money right now to finish because I'm a student. So what else can I do? Not that I'm tired of skydiving, just trying to find out what other things I might be missing out on...... Rhonda

It did when I first started to jump, but now not as much. I agree with PhillyKev - it just gave me a new outlook on life - I seek adventure more than I previously did and I don't feel as if there's anything I can't do anymore. Rhonda

Hi - My fiance and I are getting married next week and we are heading out to a model airplane flight school in Wisconsin for our Honeymoon in mid-August. The flight school is about an hour from Green Bay in Shawano. Does anyone know of any good DZ's in the area? It would be fun to get a few jumps in while we're there since the flight training is only through the early afternoon every day. Thanks, Rhonda