Zennie

Specifically, I want to be covered if I'm ever rendered unable to pull (e.g. knocked unconcious, or some other freak occurence). I'd note, as I mentioned earlier in the thread, that I've already broken that "rule" when I took my new canopy for a test spin in a Cypres-less container. I really love my equipment, so I'll prolly jump it while the Cypres is being serviced (4 years from now ). I'd just do more high-pull solos. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

Or kids. My wife and I are DINKs as well (Dual Income No Kids). ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

This sounds strangely familiar. You aren't MikeMcLean (see "I Almost Bounced" thread) perhaps? ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie Edited by Zennie on 5/3/01 10:58 AM.

Give me a helicopter so I can do a helicopter jump every time I show up. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

Heh. Don't worry about it. I was just razzing ya. Most folks at Spaceland know me as Ted. Ann & Rabbitt call me Zen/Zennie, but that's about it. I respond to just about anything. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

Heh. It's sort of become our home-away-from-home. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

Good points. When I suggested the 150 I didn't know what she was jumping now. I was at about .98 (I'm about 185 out the door) when I first started, so I figured something in the 1.0 vicinity would be pretty safe. Started with a 190, then went to a 170 and now jump a 150. When I transitioned from the 190 to the 170, there was a noticable change in performance, especially on approach. I came in a lot hotter on the 170. I haven't noticed the same difference going from the 170 to the 150, however. Actually, the landings are a lot smoother. Anyway, I agree that a dramatic change in canopy sizes may not be such a great idea. You have certain expectations performance-wise that aren't going to be there on a dramatically smaller canopy. I think a 1.0 wingloading is OK, but like somebody else mentioned, it would be a good idea to gradually transition down to that size. But don't take our word for it, consult with your instructor. He/she will know your capabilities better than any of us. I consulted with many people at the DZ who were familiar with my abilities before settling on the 150. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

BTW. I'll prolly be out there at least on Saturday. I'm pretty easy to spot. Short bald guy wearing a yellow duct-tape-covered Protec. See ya there! ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

Sometimes? I'm there every weekend (since I started jumping in December)! I'm so hurt. **SOB** ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

Heh. I read a lot. I lurked rec.skydiving for about a year before my first jump. Also hung out on the web boards and read Poynter/Turoff's book before I made my first jump. I've read all of the incident reports (both US and international) and all of the Cypres saves. I also subscribe to Parachutist & Skydiving mags & read them cover-to-cover. And I talk skydiving with just about anyone willing to talk abut it. You pick things up. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

I've read a few threads on this and IIRC, Southwest at the very least is cool about it. Most people just bring their Cypres card and the security folks don't give you any hassles. Just make sure your Cypres is off before you board. I plan on carrying mine onboard, if for no other reason than to see the other passengers' faces. There was a thread here a while back with people telling funny stories of how people reacted when they carried their rigs on. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

Wow. Those were the two main candidates (well, not a Cypres, but an FXC). The only other things that I can think of are that shifting around in the plane might have moved the reserve pin, the reserve closing loop broke or the reserve pin broke. Regardless, that's just freaky. Glad you're OK. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

Funny you mentioned this. I was talking to a few TIs after hours once, all of them with thousands of jumps. And they're all going on about how they could never BASE jump because they're afraid of heights (even mentioned ladders). My jaw about hit the ground. So this is not uncommon. Weird, but not uncommon. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

What type of rig were you jumping? ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

Dude. Way to go man. You are a living example of Skydiving Rule #8: Never give up. Glad to hear you're OK. If you're ever down Houston way at Spaceland, ask for me and I'll buy ya a beer. Heck, tell your story and the whole DZ will prolly buy you a beer! ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

Ya give good Karma, ya get good Karma. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

I think y'all need to go right out and buy a lottery ticket! ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

You could call him Dead Mike, but that name's already taken. Reminds me of that video of the guy who cuts away his main ("Bye bye!" ) and winds up with a lineover on his reserve. He fights it and gets it cleared *right* before he reaches the ground. Soon as he's down you see him turn the camera on himself and he goes "Holy.... fucking.... shit! I'm done for the day!" Both scary and hilarious at the same time. (anyone know where I can find that?) BTW. Will his wife let him skydive again after that? Liz would ground me permanently. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

Alaska? Sorry, couldn't resist. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

That's about the best writeup I've seen describing the first jump experience. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

Not a serious problem with heights so much as a serious problem with airplanes. I'd get all sweaty-palmed and ancy on takeoff & landing. Skydiving's pretty much cured that. I've been on jump planes that have got to be way more heavily loaded than any commercial airliner. Still, I'd rather go out the door than land with the A/C. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

Not sure I'd hang that close to the props, but other than that, looks like a blast! ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

I've heard the same thing about SDLV -- that they treat "regular" skydivers like crap. The Gravity Zone is run by the same folks who run the Flyaway wind tunnel in Vegas (which I enthusiastically recommend if you're there). ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

It's all speculation, of course, but one possibility is that his main deployed prematurey, got entangled & broke the tail off. With those kinds of forces it wouldn't surprise me if the jumper was knocked unconscious or killed right then. If he was wearing an AAD, it could have fired. Thus two out. But I'm just guessing. ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie

Yo' Ann! You made it over to my other haunt! Rabbitt & Levin both landed off? Holy smackerel! ------------ Blue Skies! Zennie