mdrejhon

Correct, the PC does not inflate until I let it go. Again, I did not do anything to my pull motion except intentionally delay letting go of the handle for 2-3 seconds. It was not dangerous at all in my opinion. I limited it to 2-3 seconds, since anything more is risky. In fact, some people are so slow pullers, they take a full 1-2 seconds to throw - I'm usually a very quick and fast puller with little time between waveoff and throw motion and had to learn to relax more in the student jumps. I also had many consecutive stable pulls before I decided to try this. There is a lot of FUD about whether one can hold onto the PC handle after pulling out. Some say "impossible to hold on, it's ripped forcefully out of your hand", and all that. For the flying stuff I don't listen to information I read online, I clear it by looking up some good source (i.e. Brian Germain) and/or people I know (i.e. instructors and good experienced skydivers from my dropzone I trust). I felt that the best thing for me to do was to experience it first hand. I did not do anything to my pull motion except a inserted minor delay, and I did it at a pretty healthy altitude of 5000 feet, not at 2500 feet. If I felt any discomfort, instability, or extreme pressure I was prepared to let go immediately. Again, what I did was not dangerous at all for my current skill level. That is my judgement. I just did a standard pull motion with just a strategically inserted 2-3 second pause. It went uneventfully. I did it only once in a pre-planned manner. I did it at a higher altitude. I verified the safety of this operation and I knew about the bridle risk but that can happen in lazy pull anyway. It already helped me ensure that I am a non-lazy puller, and feel safer as a result. I am not doing this procedure again. That is it. It may not even be a good procedure. But it proved useful to me. Of course, I am not recommending this procedure without talking to an instructor first.

After reading about lazy pulls online and in a book, and wondering if I was doing that, on one of my planned 5000-feet pull jumps, I initiated pull at 5500 feet and intentionally held onto the pilot chute for 2-3 seconds at full arm extension (down to 5000 feet), to see how much force there was, how quickly it would "slip" out of my hand, how it affected my body position. Just my usual pull motion from slightly higher altitude but with an intentional 2-3 second pause. It helped me figure out that I seemed to be letting it go fine at full arm extension in the past, I found that the PC doesn't inflate that quickly and forcefully when held upsidedown handle-side-to-ground until you let it go and it automatically rights itself handle-side-to-sky (and inflates) with a real forceful pull. It gave me some useful feedback on whether my pulls were getting lazy (I *might* have had one or two lazy-yet-uneventful pulls so that's why I did this PC exercise to be sure). It at least showed I can easily hold onto the pilot chute all the way to arm extension without it slipping out of my hand too early; not slipping out too close to my container (snag/burble dangers), and that I do not go unstable when I hold the pilot chute at arm's length to the side of my body for 2-3 seconds, and now I know how much force it takes to rip the PC out of my hands, which aids in how tight I need to grip the PC handle to avoid slipping before it's safely clear of my equipment. As always, pass everything through your instructor before trying anything new...

9 with only Cessna's. But only 7 if I pack myself. (And that was a Twin Otter boogie weekend)

Although I only have 117 jumps, I can tell you that overshooting my landing target is reeeeeaaaaalllllly easy at my dropzone and with my equipment. My smaller chute flies faster and likes to turf surf a lot more, which makes it harder to set up for accuracy than a bigger canopy (The more student-sized Sabre 230 was much easier to do accuracy on). On top of it, I have learned that winds are often stronger at higher altitudes. I've gotten really frustrated at my flying before and you will get over it... So now I often try to set up for an undershoot, but my priority is a safe landing so I don't like to go much over the hangar or trees at approach pattern altitudes. One time I saw myself flying backwards over the hangar and I had to steer myself around to a safe "out" on the opposite side (A nice farm field). Setting up for an undershoot and entering the final leg at half brakes, you can let up or go deeper brakes to adjust your glide angle towards the target. (But talk to your instructors before trying anything new, anything that's said around here) A really good book is "The Parachute And Its Pilot", though I had to temporarily set that aside to concentrate on studying for my B exam which I passed...

Mathematically on the clock, I think it is more logical to fly two loads to 19000, then there's extra safety margin for the remaining loads which would not need to be as hurried. For the first drop, even the two planes could be spaced far apart, there's plenty of altitude for two loads to converge. You dogs know more than I do so there may be something obvious I missed... But very neat, a 25-way out of one King Air. Almost unbelievable.

Psst.... Why not try Vancouver (hint, hint). Open almost all year round, I think. It's pretty temperate for Canada. I was there in December a few years ago and it was sometimes warm enough to go without a jacket. Never saw any snow except in the Rockies. Although I am a mere Ottawa mortal that has to suffer these winters too, I'm sure there are some cuties out west. Much easier than moving down south

In Canada, I'm allowed to pull as low as 2200 feet. I think I did that once -- on a 2500 feet hop n pop.

Finally. A wind tunnel around 1/2 day driving distance of Southern Ontario/Quebec Canada. I'll be flying Orlando SkyVenture for 15 minutes on October 11th, might purchase another 15 minutes on the spot. (I'd pay 30 mins all at once, but...)

Might be a good idea to notify them about the Florida Skydiving Center forms... just to be safe! BTW, I have created a tiny URL pointing to this thread http://tinyurl.com/d37pu for easier notifying of others (PM's, email's, etc.) It may reduce the number of no-shows as some of us skydivers make last minute trip arrangements (like I did - I only purchased the airfare two days ago!) And get someone to fix the website update issue, I want to see my name at www.deafskydivers.org as (possibly) one of the first "licensed" deaf Canadian skydiver. (But that's not nearly as important as making sure you have more deaf skydivers than DWR 2003! Nudge, nudge...)

Are these just simple verbal confirmations (potentially a few no-shows), or actual pre-paid confirmations via the Florida Skydiving Center registration form? (near-guaranteed shows)

This is what Billy Vance has in his database as of September 25th, 2005. If your name is missing, please make sure to let Billy know (email links at www.deafskydivers.org) and also fill out the registration form. I only registered a few days ago, so I wasn't in the September 25th database; (I'm not sure if this is a parallel copy of Florida Skydive Center's registrations. Even if you are already in the database, but have not registered at Florida Skydive Center, register at the links at the top) Clicky for Florida Skydive Center: www.floridaskydiving.com

Since a few of us were not aware of this, I'm posting this.... Important! The DeafSkydivers.org website did not link to this, (I am told there were website update problems). I needed to fill out this Deaf World Record application form: http://www.floridaskydiving.com/DWR%20e-mail%20form.doc I found it on Florida Skydive's Calendar by accident: http://www.floridaskydiving.com/schedule.htm#1005 Two of us (including myself) did not know about this, so I am posting a public message. You probably can sign up onsite at the last minute, but it's best to register in advance just to be safe. :) The more, the merrier, of course!

Cool, I look forward to meeting him. The question is money, since I do have other things in life I want to chase after (other kinds of adventures). The two I definitely most want is coach and EJR (PRO). Coach to jump with newbies and teach them to be safe flyers, and EJR (PRO) so that I can do demos once now and then. Tandem does definitely sound like an interesting idea, but I'd want to know how I'd keep my passenger safe. Another problem is I do have a life and I can really only commit two weekends per month at the dropzone (albiet I can jump whore in one weekend if I need to, 17 or 18 jumps in one weekend like I did for Labour Day and Canada Day weekends). But who knows... My mind is set on eventually becoming a good bellyflyer for now. I want to try Deaf World Record (20-way). Then maybe eventually Canada's record for biggest formation (Even as early as 2006, if I get skilled enough) I think I would prefer to be a video flyer since I probably will eventually get a camera "when I am ready". Less communication with the student needed, and I do enjoy video editing from time to time. I do have reasonable photography skills (http://www.marky.com/pictures/)

Congrats! (BTW... I just got my B license recently!)

Important! I only discovered this now (nobody told me, and the DeafSkydivers.org website did not link to this). I needed to fill out this Deaf World Record application form: http://www.floridaskydiving.com/DWR%20e-mail%20form.doc I found it on Florida Skydive's Calendar by accident: http://www.floridaskydiving.com/schedule.htm#1005 Shame on you all. None of you ever told me I had to fill out this application form. Done and credit card sent! Edit: - Airplane flight purchased. Arriving early Tuesday 11th, leaving Monday 17th. - Tunnel time purchased, 15 minutes solely for myself. Orlando SkyVenture at 6:30pm on Tuesday 11th. (I may purchase another 15 minutes, spontaneously)

A small group of deaf have currently scheduled windtunnel time at: Oct 10 at 5:30PM - 1 hour tunnel block Oct 11 at 7PM - 1 hour tunnel block Something like 8 or so will be there (some people will arrive too late to be a part of the windtunnel stuff). I'll likely be there for Oct 11, and I am thinking of buying my own 30 minute tunnel time block ($375.00) sometime after 8:00PM on Oct 11 if SkyVenture has some time left. If anyone wants to share (even if you just want to buy 5 or 10 minutes off me), please send me a PM before I call to reserve. If anyone wants to split a 1-hour time block with me, please let me know.

Have you contacted these people for an update on whether they are coming or not? Would be hate to be short of the largest all-deaf formation skydive. BTW, I believe I will be flying in on Monday 10th and flying out on Sunday 16th. What are all your plans for accomodations, out of curiousity?

I think eventually I'll want coach and just maybe EJR (PRO) ratings. Just so I can jump with newbies and teach them a thing or two (and know how to keep myself as safe as possible). Oh, and demos definitely do interest me. Due to my deafness, I am not sure I want to go as far as instructor or tandem ratings, but I am capable of doing one-on-one coaching.

There's a couple of lovely tarmac dogs at the dropzone I go to. Actually hangar dogs. They don't jump, but they are owned by various dropzone employees. Okay, that means I occasionally have to dust a few dog hairs off my D-Bag now and then.

That's an excellent idea -- the gear stores at the dropzones I am visiting. This includes Deland and Florida Skydive Center (Lake Wales).

Make sure that this hole is not called a "crossport" (an intentional hole between cells). Go show the hole to a rigger. Common newbie mistake. We all get scared when we "discover" our first crossport.

Very interesting to know about Greg Gasson (I think that's the name). Who knows, it may have even been a special super-soft-open pack job too. Also, don't forget those circus gymnasts climbing ropes - people who twists the rope around a leg or arm many times and literally hang without holding on. Same could theoretically be done with rig legstraps (if symmetrical on both sides, using both arms twisted around each individual legstraps about 4 or 5 times). I guess it would take a circus acrobat to accomplish hanging on during opening! Betcha it would be very painful as the opening would cause the twists to tighten/suffocate the arms. But billyvon's note would make this completely moot anyway.

I'm 23" so that makes it a tight fitting Medium or a loose fitting Large for the FREEZR.

I decided to call ParaGear and directly ask if they had a FREEZR helmet in stock. (I like Metallic Red and I heard it's a pretty comfortable helmet). Only problem is that I wish I could try it on first - but I know I have tried on a couple other helmets at the dropzone (Z1 and OXYGEN). Head size "Large" seems to fit me well. Is FREEZR "Large" roughly the same size "fit" as Z1 "Large" and OXYGEN "Large"?

Hi, I've been borrowing my dropzones' helmets for so long. Now I need a helmet I can call my own. I need a helmet is less than 2 weeks, so I am wondering if I should order directly from the manufacturer, or if I should order through a place like ParaGear. Opinions?