Feeblemind

Hey, Glad to know you were thinking of Cliff today, as I was driving out to the DZ today Cliff was on my mind. I am more than a bit irritated he is not there to argue with anymore. I just hope folks will learn from the incident that took his life. Today as I was landing and someone decided to pull a downwind swoop. Needless to say I was more than a little bit irritated. I took a few deep breathe and waited a bit to talk to the ST and A. He promptly advised me he had discussed the landing with the individual. Lets all use or heads: Gear Check (full!!) Board 1,000 feet Gear check (i.e. check your handles) Give eveyone a high 5 at 10,000 Gear check (i.e. check your handles) Spot Jump Fly Deploy Land Repeat Stay safe my friends Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

since you asked. from what i saw you and a good number of others were all facing south and were on final. camera guy (who either pulled lower than he should, spiraled down to land faster, or both - i wasn't paying attention to that part of his descent) was flying WNW slightly higher but with barely enough altitude to be able to turn back into the wind. when he did his turn (toggle - not flat) it put him right in the middle of all the traffic. there was no way you could have seen him before he collided with you. he was, for the most part of his turn, in your blind spot. his comment when he walked back from the field: "the other guy hit me from the back" who? "i don't know. i didn't see him." even after several of us told him it was his fault he insisted otherwise. oh yeah, if you think this happened at 100' you must have been measuring it with baby feet or something. it is true though that after this incident the big way landings became (almost) boring. I am only a 2 year jumper an I do some video from time to time for 4 to 12 ways. I once made the mistake of being observed as not pulling as the group turned to track. I was "EDUCATED" by the ST & A and advised to not do it again. I also have made the mistake of spiriling down, this again resulted in an "EDUCATIONAL" conversation (actually it was one way). I would be curious to know: 1) How large was the skydive? 2) What was the break off alt.? 3) Did the camera have the center? (I am assuming so) 4) Has the camera guy seen the photo and relized he was the "high" person"? I am not going to try and accuse or make a negative statement here, but there is no way to sugar coat my meger opinion. If the camera was to pull in the center, he spirialed down after that, entered in the middle of the pattern (I have jumped at Z-hills, so I know the landing area), collided with a canopy, he disputed the facts from other jumpers that "he" was actually at fault. Well note to self, don't get on a plane with the individual again until he comes to his senses. I would think two fatalities (RIP Tommy and Cliff) in the last month might make make folks more aware, I guess not for some. Lastly, I am glad your OKAY Prof. and that this had a positive outcome. In the words of my ST&A: It's better a long walk back to the packing area rather than a short crawl to an ambulance Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

It was NOT a release dive. AFF level 2 inst an intentional release dive...level 3 is. Ill explain it again. We exited the skyvan. They were still holding me. I did my coa..yelled my alt to the reserve side...and then to the main side...they were still there. I did my two practice touchs....looked around...they were within my visable view. I was falling ALOT faster than they were...whcih is why they couldnt catch up to me without coming down over top of me. And that is exactly what the instructor told me. They are taught when doing the instructor course to come in from the side of the student...never the top. I saw my main instructor for a very brief second at 11 o'clock then i didnt see him. I turn my left and right turns on my own and still was not able to see them within my view. They even told me they had no intentions of releasing me on that dive. If i remember correctly...main instructor lost grip of me...and when he was coming in to dock with me again he went over me..and my reserve instructor put one of his hands up to stop him from coming into my dead air behind me...when we did that his other hand lost grip...at that point i was alone because i was falling alot faster than they were. They were falling at 110ish....my reserve said i was falling at about 150ish. I was falling faster becasue i had my arms in further than they should have which made my decent rate alot faster than them. ok..i described it in as much detail as i remember. Thanks for the clarifications, Good job on stopping the skydive and safely landing your parachute. As far as your AFF-I's not being with you, I will leave that for the more qualified to address. Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

Most rigs close left than right? So the accronym I was toaught has beens all wrong?! Big (bottom) Titted (top) Rich (right) Ladies (left) It was all a LIE so you say!! Dammit I have been trumped and mis-informed by my pears all this time. Crap no I havent, it is you that are in error Olie Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

First off, Glad you had fun!! Now for the more serious side, I am assuming this was a release dive with two instructors and it sounds like you were very stable so you got released. My question is were the instructors "gone?" or had they just released you? It appears by your wording they were in fact, GONE. Instead of flamming you, I will agree with you, if your instructors were gone you should have pulled!! A number of things could have happened, and "if" your instructors were not able to reach you and you bet your life you could do it on your own. I am a coach and a vidiot, not an instructor so I will keep my yap shut in regards to where your instructors were. Hopefully my instructor will chime in and give his opinion. I wonder, If my instructor told me "If for some reason we get significantly seperated and you cannot see me, PULL" I wonder if I would have gotten chewed out or excused as his student. Stay Safe, Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

Happy Birthday Sean!! Hope you leg heals fast. Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

Turtle, In you line of work stupidity makes your life difficult. In my line of work without stupidity I would be unemployed!! Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

Cliff, I will miss all your words of encouragement when I have complained about just doing video. I agree with Bytch when she reflected on your "Don't Fucking Die" comment. You will be missed my friend and I hope to see you on the other side! BSBD, Phil Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

Jason, Nice video!! The added text really pointed out the issues and made the video very educational I have read all the posts and scratched my head a bit. I am not going into detail on the errors as they have been clearly identified and addressed. I will however comment on the base: the jump numbers of the base consisted of 175, 500+ and 650. Boomer and I have based numerous hybrids together and with others without issue. The base was dirt dived exit to break off and our portion of the dive flow performed as designed. I take exception to someone questioning a 175 jump person being on an 8-way hybrid with out quantifying their comments. IMHO it would have been better to ask “why” a 175 was in the base, one of us could have explained that this jump consisted of 8 REGULARS at the DZ that have frequently jumped together, knew each others experience/skill level and that the 175 was in a slot sufficient to his skill level. Cass, No worries I will jump with you anytime!! As Jason said, we have all taken out a formation, we hate making the error but we all learn from it. Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

My interpretation of the original rumored plan was a SkyVan, KA (byron's) and the second PAC750 from Davis if need arised. Well the Skyvan ate a motor and Davis's 2nd pac was dispatched on a long term lease. Well poop happens! Thanks Byron for getting an Otter to replace the skyvan!! My plans have changed so I will only be there for Sat. Thanks for all the hard work so someone else will have to kick the chili up a notch!! Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

FYI for those not following the other thread. Phone calls were being made yesterday. We will come up with something... For those of you that are interested, I spoke with Pat Conatser this afternoon (10/3) and he asked that I post this for him. The Skyvan will be down for at least a month, probably longer. For those of you wondering why jump ticket prices cost what they do, this little "fix" will cost over $100,000 (probably WELL over $100,000). Also, having spent a few days at Perris in the past, I know that Pat, Ben and their mechanics won't let the Skyvan back in the air until everything is right. Ask Pat sometime why he puts such effort into aircraft maintenance and safety. His stock answer is, "My family and friends are on those planes". Of course, he also might be flying one of them, so I guess there is a big incentive to get things right. Jack Gramley I am sure the Byron crew will let us know all know what plan "B" is as soon as they get the logistics worked out. Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

Also aren't the skyvans supposedly going to time out soon? I heard rumor the manufacture will no longer support them so when they time out, thats it. Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

Since humor is not my fortay I will be forward, I believe the actual fatality rate is 1:100,000. (I may be wrong, but that was the number told to me) You have two choices as I see it: 1) Live life to the fullest!! you get only get one turn on the planet (some believe otherwise). Enjoy the ride and live life to the fullest. Yes death may find you along the journey, but you will have a smile when that time arrives. 2) Lock yourself in a closet and patiently wait for death to arrive, it will eventually and how much enjoyment will that be? Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

The series of shots is 9 pics from start to end, I am sending them to isaiah 1st before I post them Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

Lost the quality reducing it, but here you go. Also I was in error, pic is on page 6. Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

Just a thought, if it was not for skykimmer calling me a big P#ssy in the hangar (didn't want to make a tandem jump, actually I am affraid of heights) I never would have done that 1st jump and would not have been in OR to take the photo. I would however most likely have more money in my pocket Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

I just received a complementry copy of skydiving magazine with a check for my 1st published photo. I know it may not seem like much to anyone else, but it is a start for me. Photo is of Isaiah McCauliffe swooping the pond at the all of the above boogie in Molalla, OR. Page 8. Isaiah, if you're out there shall I post the balane of the photos? Yes I now, yet another case of Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

I agree with the above, in addition: Advise the seller you will only participate in the purchase via the use of an Escrow Service It will protect both the buyer and the seller. It works very well and the fee is nominal. If the sellar backs out and refuses (no expense to him/her, report it to E-bay, looks like a scam, smells like a scam, it's a scam!!! Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

Even though they (Ben and Carey) have lost their instructor and group rating can't AFF be taught there by another certified AAF-I? Not that I would ever spend a dime their (because I wouldn't, due to their business practices). Just trying to get clarification. I learned at a DZ has chosen not to be a USPA group member, but was taught by a USPA certified AFF-I and received my USPA profeciencey card to continue on with my A Lic. Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

After an evening with friends, drinks and makng dinner. I suggest a Evolution, smack down or throw down....Whatever you wish to call it!!! Make your best chili and put a $20 or $50 with it (byron approved entry fee of course) Winner take all as well as the bragging rights!! Who's in? Feeblemind (in) Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

Nope........I am tired and my back hurts. Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

What plane do you ride on in Davis? Obviously not the one I have been in. Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

Who are the judges? Is this for bragging rights or are there rewards of some type? Do we have to make sissy chili or can we Zip it up? Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

I cant get in either Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked

I am new to stills in the sky, but what mode are you shooting in? I spent some time getting advice from several photographers. I am using a standard Nikon D70 (modified for bite switch), Sigma 16mm, ISO 100, Manual settings, F11 and a shutterspeed of between 250 and 500/sec. Here is a shot I got last weekend fun jumping with Guano. Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked