nightjumps

Not only was it the best, It was as psychologically demanding as some of the other "high speed" courses I went to.

Zero

I really, really, REALLY like this. You'll forgive if I steal it for training purposes.

Packing is performance oriented. Therefore, It should be 1) demonstrated without instruction, 2) taught by the numbers while the Instructor does it, 3) Then you take over and s/he teaches you again by the numbers, 4) then you practice by the numbers while the Instructor guides you with corrective training until you are proficient. Attached is a document used to wean students off number 3 as a memory jogger. A word of caution, the Pro_Pack document might be "different" than what you're taught. I have students split the line groups over their head on each shoulder rather than all line goups over a single shoulder. It helps to accelerates remembering the specific steps. On a final note, you may have one Instructor teach you one way and if unavailable, another supervise or teach you differently. "Different" in packing isn't necessarily "wrong." For example, I've seen 15 different ways to pack a pilot chute. They all work. Be receptive to different "styles" and you'll develop your own. Pro_Packing_Checklist.doc Flat_Packing.doc

Well, it would appear there are quite a few Airbornes, Ranger, Pathfinders and SF in the AO. Folks, I can tell you this after getting out of the Army and for the next nine years, I tried a "normal" life... Fishing, hunting, boating, motorcycles... but there was something missing. One day a friend (knowing that I was a former skydiver) asked me to set up a "team-building" exercise for his department to go skydiving. I contacted one of my old "Coaches" [JM, then] who now owned a DZ and set it up. I went out to the DZ about halfway through the class and shook my old JM's hand. He said, "I don't think I have any student gear that'll fit you. " [see my name?]. I said, that's alright, been there, done that. And, then he said, "Well, lets go check, I just got some new Dolphins in, maybe one of those will fit you." I tried it on and it fit. I asked what was in it and he said, "A Manta." "Well, that would work," I replied. He asked me what this handle did, what that handle did, What order do I pull them, what's my decision making altitude, etc. He waived a PLF performance (Go figure) Sucked me in for about 20 minutes and then said, "There's a slot on that plane (engine running), why don't you go to 5 and make an HnP, so I did. I left a little unstable, flailed for a second, got stable and dumped. Landed 5 meters outside the Pro "X" He asked me, "Well, how was it?" I told him a little unstable, I'd like to try it again. He said, "Well, lets go do a packing refresher and get you back up." I did and left the plane feeling the hill. I felt every air molecule. Slid down the hill for about 8 seconds, dumped and landed about 20 meters from the Pro "X" I went to my cell phone, called my wife and said, "Well, I'm back in it." She knew. She asked, "How much?" "About half my income and all my weekends." After nine years, that's what was missing. The sky. The commeraderie. I sold the boat, the guns, the fishing poles and bought gear. I don't know what it is about those that "..have tasted the sky," but I'm glad we do it. I'll never give it up again. I don't know that I'll ever be some kind of RW Nationals Champion, but I hope in about 30 years, they'll say, "You remember that old guy that used to come out and make a Hop & Pop..." Thanks All

I ProPack, but "think" the best pack job is a flat Propack.

Yes, Mar... Its beer. I think I owes ya a couple. Thanks for the congrats.

One of the things that has bothered me over the years is seeing the number of AFF students who walk away after a couple of jumps. The Accelerated Freefall Program is a good program. But, it is "Accelerated" and as such is not for everyone. The problem is that not everyone learns the same way. And, what it doesn't teach is knowledge confidence. Because it is performance-oriented training and it is accelerated, in some it teaches fear and anxiety. Its a lot of information in a short period of time. Jen, here's what I propose. How about a "pause." Tell yourself you're not going to jump for two weeks. During that two weeks, please do the following: 1) Re-dive your last level at home each night. Visualize the exit, freefall, canopy opening, canopy control and landing. 2) Learn more about the gear. Harness tensile strengths, suspension line strengths, reserves, etc. 3) Watch people pack (well, good packers). Watch them several times. 4) Pay for and learn the next level, but tell the instructor you want to schedule the actual dive for a week later, then go home and each night practice and visualize the dive... Practice the ride to altitude, the exit, the dive flow, the canopy activation and deployment, your canopy control and the landing. 5) Finally, find a female mentor. Someone who will "walk & talk" with you and impart knowledge. That knowledge will give you more confidence and more confidence will lead to your next dive. Remember, just cause its accelerated doesn't mean you have to do it at the DZ's pace, you can do it at your own. Feel free to take your time. Finally, Ivan has a great suggestion... Ask your Instructor if you can do a "Level X" Dive. No stress, no hard dive flow. Just exit, one practice touch and feel it till pull time. Feel free to email me directly for mentor suggestions or white papers and/or websites that you can read to help build that knowledge base.

Como esta, senor Chile. Will tell everyone you said, "Hi." Hope to see you soon. Perhaps at Dale's Record Attempt, June 21st?

PoPs and BBMSC are two separate entities. Its a thought though. I did the scr-awards.com website for Bill so I'll ask him his thoughts.

And, we're going to build from there.

Perhaps I'm too old school. After purchasing a canopy, I "learn" my canopy's "opening characteristics" (by opening high several times), I simply do a count (one thousand, two thousand, three thousand...) every time I pitch out. Open religously at 3,000 and count - on my current canopy, its a six thousand count for ~800'. If I get to eight thousand... its gone. No sense getting near AAD altitude.

Steve, you and I have a similiar background. I joined 12th Group in 1979 and went to Airborne School in 1980 (Honor Graduate). Spent ten years in 12th Group...Jumpmaster, Pathfinder, "Q" Weapons, O&I, etc. I was home between phases in 1981 and found a local DZ. Took my shiney Airborne certificate and met a guy named, "Curly Roe," and asked him if this meant anything in learning how to skydive. He said, "Yep, means I gots to unlearn ya some bad habits." Curly was a former Black Hat. I too, put in for HALO but was denied because 12th didn't have a HALO Team. But, I skydived the whole time in 12th Group and was a better Jumpmaster for it. Still miss standing in the door of a C-130 on a night tactical as JM. And, I do a lot of night skydives cause of it. That's why the poll. Was wondering how many else.

I'm just curious if my fellow Airborne graduates feel like their time at Benning gave them the thoughts and/or confidence to take up skydiving. There's times I wonder if I would have ever had any introduction to this wonderful sport if it wasn't for Airborne School.

Well, lets hope you don't figure it out while you're busy flying... They only fly well for a little bit after the pilot leaves.

And there you have it. This is an excellent standard for the downsizing decision-making process.

Paul, Thanks for the .xls. Very nice tool.

If they close their eyes, is it a night jump?

There's positives and negatives to both. The student pull cord was the primary "package" from most of the manufactureres until not too long ago. More than likely, when it comes time for new student gear, most DZ's will transition to the student BOC.

Paul, You've demonstrated the ability to learn. Good way for a skydiver to be. Doesn't matter if you've got 54 skydives or thousands, you can always learn something new. Welcome to skydiving and to the forums. Hope to see more of your wisdom as your skydiving career progresses.

This has to be one of the most irresponsible "replies" I've read. One should not plant negative thoughts in a student's head that may affect their performance.

One RW Flitesuit. One circa 1980's Silly Suit (used in winter) One Tony Freefly Suit One Tony Freefly suit with extra bag for Tandems.

Skydive Tulsa specializes in Anvil Brother students. Most of our guys are over 6' and 200+lbs. We have everything for the Anvil Students up to and including an MC-4 (375 lbs exit weight). Contact us at www.skydivetulsa.com P.S. Bigun is 6'6" 242 lbs. (edited to include: Around 1982, someone told me I was too big to skydive... hehe)

That's what I did wrong. Thanks Dave. Inner voice

Ya know, when I first started teaching I would try to predict who was going to do well or poorly. You might as well use a friggin crystal ball to predict who's going to do well and who's not.