demoknite

This thread was about go-pros then devolved into a gear check thread. Unfortunate. I guess its just a different way of operating. At all the places Ive jumped whoever is manifested on the load all gather in a common pre jump area where people declare their jumps, exit order is established and landing patterns are discussed and (gasp!) people check eachothers gear. If you dont get checked by someone else, you dont jump. Im not hear to change the world or the way anyone operates. I was merely stating how it comes off as a bit snooty.

Its not the fact that you want to maintain and check your own gear (thats great!), its the attitude that you can do it better than others and no one dare come close to your kit. Just a skygod mentality. If thats how you feel more power to you. However, your last quote sort of alludes to the original post. If someone personally chooses to wear a GO-PRO and takes responsibility for his own demise (or success) whats the big deal? Someone needs 100 jumps to be a coach but that same 100 jump person will be a splat on the ground with their GO-PRO?

This thread in a nutshell is one of the major things wrong with skydiving today. Unless youre jumping some super secret gear that only the CIA jumps your gear is in a standard dual container single harness configuration. Its not special and neither are you. Do you just walk from the hangar to the aircraft without having anyone check you? You have almost a million jumps so youre awesome and perfect right? No need. Sure there are small variations between different pieces of kit but the misrouting of the chestrap is the same. Twisting your leg straps is the same, etc. You need to be checked. These are the same threads where peoples heads explode when someone asks about canopy downsizing but we dare not lay a finger on your rig. Taking grips and holding hands during free fall is ok though. You can hold my chest strap or mud flaps on exit, just dont check them on the flight line. Gotcha.

If you weren't so high up on your horse you might be able to get over yourself. geez

How many skygod/camera gods were on the flightline and didnt notice his chest strap being misrouted? Maybe they were too busy seeing who had the most jump numbers or the sickest camera set up on the lift instead of checking each others gear? /cynical

Some have said this is a pic from a real rescue mission. Maybe it is. To answer most questions: the smoke is not the target, just a wind direction indicator as someone mentioned. The two canopies is a RAMZ package (Rigging Alternate Method Zodiac). The boat is deflated and wrapped in a neat little package with the outboard motor and bottle to inflate it. They can have additional fuel, food, medical gear, radios, etc. included also as the mission dictates. Photos can be deceiving but usually these jumps are made from around 3500-5000 feet. If they do land a bit far from the package that is where the training comes in. Air Force pararescuemen, while not well known, have the toughest training of all the special operations forces. They will be in shape enough to make a long swim to the package if they have to. If it was a real world mission they would have done thorough wind and ocean current conditions briefings and done multiple passes over the drop zone to validate it. They dont want to land upwind/up current from the package. If its real world they will sink the chutes, training they will be recovered by a safety boat crew. If they get lost on a training mission its usually seen as just a training loss and nothing bad usually happens as its very dangerous training event for the operators and boat crew.

A more realistic question would be can someone with 150 freefalls and and 50 military static lines get their C?

How will the World Cup affect your skydiving this summer? Voting enabled.

On my 35th jump, I jumped without a parachute, chased it, got into the leg straps, did up the chest strap and was in the saddle by 3k.

Since when did jump numbers become a requirement to pack a certain parachute? I know riggers who jump 170s and only jump a few times a month because they are packing mostly, but no one would think twice about them packing a high performance chutes (and the reserves to match). What about the packers at DZs who arent even FAA certified packing parachutes that no one thinks twice about?

Win. Thread over. lol

Judging from your profile, your from the NE United States. You might want to ask the people who do hockey goalkeeper masks how they do it.

Judging from your profile, your from the NE United States. You might want to ask the people who do hockey goalkeeper masks how they do it.

Thanks Wendy for not railing the OP like everyone else. My first thought was the guy wants to do 200 jumps as quickly as possible and learn not do 200 hundred hop and pops. Maybe thats my optimistic nature. I assumed he wants to know where he can manifest on loads relatively quickly, get into some 3 or 4 or 5 ways. Then maybe do the last 50-75 or so free flying. What place has good weather and wind patterns...etc

How would you have answered the question without looking at his profile?

I cant apply for the GK but Im assuming you have to have some sort of sport jumping experience? You cant show up airborne qualified only since there arent very many people HALO qualified...??? Seems like a pretty good gig to get out of the "regular" army and get to be a recruiter without actually being a recruiter.

I got the fee for my Senior Riggers ticket test reimbursed. But that was through the education office and not the actual GI Bill. Since its an FAA certification its reimbursable. Getting an A license is not done through a federal agency or accredited university so not reimbursable. Also, the demo teams are definitely worth the money. If you knew how much money was spent on tons of other programs you would know those teams money is a drop in the bucket. Its a good recruiting tool inside the force as well and all the caliber people it takes to run a team pay dividends once their time is up and they pass on their experiences at their next assignment.

I was under the impression that the only people certified to pack main parachutes are certified senior/master riggers or the person jumping the rig. it seems a lot of establisments use "packers". It doesnt answer your question directly, but it doesnt seem to ever be addressed on this site.

I stumbled upon this today. Rachael Ray does a tandem with one of her viewers. I searced the forums and all I got was EVOO. Sorry if this is a repeat. Link does not pop or click as my HTML sucks. Watch and discuss. http://youtube.com/watch?v=l7H4WmSWe14&feature=RecentlyWatched&page=1&t=t&f=b Edited by slotperfect - because my HTML doesn't suck!

Is he a USAF PJ? He looks vaguely familiar.

Youre frustration is understandable. But travelling to different drop zones should be more holiday based than weather based. If youre in the UK it may be rainy and all but it does have its beautiful fall and even winter days even though the days are a bit shorter. What if you had gone to Florida for a few days of good weather jumping? You probably wouldnt be jumping right now. Just stick it out I say.

The only thing I dont like about the skydiving scene is the need for everything to look cool over safety/function. Someone alluded to "try getting laid with a protec". Why does it have to be like that? Its hard to get laid when your concussed or dead as well. I dont mind the wind noise or even the cold in the winter. The freefall is about 40-60 seconds and the canopy ride is a few minutes. If you cant handle the cold or the wind, then man up Nancy or find a new indoor sport. /end rant

If you can get a hold of the army manual for MC-4, that would help you out immensely. It is definately and idiots guide. Dont let anyone tell you pro packing is superior. Just because "everyone is doing it" doesnt make it neccessarily better or worse. All that on heading openings, softer openings stuff is rubbish. The only disadvantage is that is takes up a bit more space than a pro pack. If your DZ has the space, go for it. Most people can flat pack pack a little bit faster especially if the canopy is 150 or larger.

Although the lift tickets will be cheaper, skydiving is a very fashion concious sport. Why spend a couple of bucks on some sporty pants when you can spend a couple of hundred on a free fly suit. If youre just a fun jumper why spend tons of money on a gripper suit. Wrists and ankles work well. A protec helmet is no where near as cool as an oxygn full face. The smaller the parachute the cooler. Make sure youre turf surfing too. We wouldnt want you to do a regular stand up landing.

With any DZ your best bet would be to go during mid week. I would call around and ask. If I were you, I would give UK Parachuting a call. Its in East Anglia near Attleborough. Give me a PM and Ill tell you more.