azureriders

Thank you Squeak, I was reading through this thread thinking the exact same thing, then get to the end and you have already posted it.

update to those who may be interested: I made another jump yesterday and was really pleased with the outcome. I slowed everything down a whole lot and concentrated on leg awareness. because of all the storms here i have not been able to be as current as I would like and my instructors wanted me to do 3 prcp's because of this. I slowed down so much, working on heading between ea prcp, that after completion there was not much time for a release. In debriefing I learned that the primary instructor had waved the secondary off at 7500 but the secondary was not as comfortable with my position and did not release. Only once did I begin to turn enough to speak of and I stoped it in less than 90 degrees. Next dive flow is only one prcp and then hoover control. I have no doubt about being stable enough for release with this much time and then on to the next level.

give me one night with one of each and Rebecca and I will tell you in the morning

Search my posts and you will see that I have went through exactly what you are worried about. Four tandem progresion jumps, then an AFF with one instructor who was not able to give me a release in the air but released me to the next level. On to the second AFF jump, everything looked perfect, gave the instructor a nod for the release so I could do some turns and went into an immediate spin which became flat very quickly. WHAT NOW?? That was simple, keep your head and remember your training. You are taught to deal with these situations. The instructor attacked the spin, knocked me out of it briefly but was not able to redock at that time. I started to turn again but before I could get up any speed I deployed my main, looked up for the line twist (that some how were not there) and enjoyed a long canopy ride down from 10,000ft with a broke suspension line and sore legs. The point is, I spun, I lived, and I am still jumping, and I love it. I have only had a chance to make two jumps since then, because of katrina, but their is alot of improvement and I can't wait to get up again. Put your fears to rest and pay atention to your instructors, they will prepare you for what you need to know. Arch, relax, and TOE taps. Not argueing with someone with more jumps than me, but I was taught that you can drop your knees and still do heal taps, but when you point your toes in for a toe tap you actually lift your knees, which is better.

Ouch! others on here may know the story but I am a newbie, please do tell

Sorry, call me odd, but I like a good looking woman with small breast.

KJ you should have asked about a barking at night problem, I can fix that quickly. The hardest thing to teach any animal is what to do when you are not there, simply because you can not be there for the training. Haven't talked to you since you left the south. How is Idaho treating you other than barking dogs?

Some say that all men should be intouch with their feminine side. Well I am very intouch with my feminine side and that side of me is a total lesbian so I have no need to go gay for anybody, one side of me is already there.

Correct on the BOC. dolphin is just a name brand

Just wondering, have you ever been to the ninth ward in New Orleans????

I am going through a tandem progression course. my four tandems where all rip cord released drogues, naturally. Then on level five, my first so called solo, although my instructor was clinging to my side, I was given a dolphin container with a standard BOC pilot chute through out. Like others have said, I am sure this varies from DZ 2 DZ

The ATP course as outlined by the USPA level 1) Tandem jump, fun Jump level 2) Tandem jump, AFF style (standing) exit, three practice ripchord touches, altitude awareness, pull the ripchord yourself level 3) Tandem jump, AFF style exit, three PRCT, 360 to the right, 360 to the left, altitude awareness, pull level 4) Tandem jump, AFF style exit, three PRCT, 360 to the right, 360 to the left, Forward movement for 3 seconds, backwards movement for 3 seconds, altitude awareness, pull Ground school on emergency procedures and canopy control Level 5) AFF jump: 3 practice ripcord pulls, maintain heading, altitude awareness and pull before your instructor pulls for you Level 6) AFF jump: 360 right, 360 left, forward movement for redock, altitude awarness, pull Level 7) AFF jump: back flips etc Level 8) AFF jump: front flips etc in the ATP course levels 5-8 are all with only one instructor There are a few other details like circle of awareness, toe taps etc that you will be expected to do on each jump. The above outline is what my DZ told me that the USPA recommends. I did not take the time to verify that as my DZ and most others from what I understand, have modified this course, in one way or another, to more safer standards in their opinons. My advice, as I am at this point right now, if you stay with the ATP course make sure that you complete level 5 perfectly before going on to level 6. My DZ and/or the USPA did not require a release on level 5, but trust me, if you can not hold a heading well enough to get a release, you are not ready to work on turns. Also on level 5 it is not a bad idea to pay the extra slot, very inexpensive, for an additional instrutor so that you have two pros saving your ass instead of one. with some searching of my posts you can find my story about my level 5 experience Then there is always the AFF route. No need for anymore tandems. Straight to the ground school and off to the plane with two instructors and your own chute, but someone else would be more qualified to tell you what to expect there. Hope this helps

My DZ uses red and yellow paddles to direct students in incase of failed radios. Red down turn right, yellow down turn left, both down FLARE. I thought this was standard practice at DZs and don't see why that wouldn't work for deaf students without a radio. ON my first AFF jump my radio was never turned on and I landed just fine with the paddles. Ofcourse it helped that I flew the pattern with out any help and then spotted the DZO waving the paddles while on my final.

I have considered doing a ride along. I used to do some fun flights with a pilot friend of mine in a rented cesna. He was no jump pilot, but the landingw where still fun. When leaving the door and watching Travis nose the outer straight to the earth, I sometimes wonder who is haveing more fun. Me or him?

Triva: 1) Chickens, if you get away from the over fed roid eating type that you find at your nieghborhood grocery, CAN fly. They live on the ground and only fly to get to their roost where they sleep for the night. The smaller the breed the better they fly. We actually trim the wing feathers on one wing to keep them from flying out of the chicken pin. If you trim both wings (balanced) they will still fly out. 2) Wild turkeys most definatley fly. Again, they live on the ground and only fly up to their toost each night. but they normally roost very high in the top of a tall tree. No problem at all for them to get three stories high. Also illegal to shoot them while on their roost. If you are hunting them, you have to wait for them to get on the ground and them call them within range for a shot. 3) Cats. when reaching terminal, will spread out as wide as possible in a belly flying position and slow themsleves to rate of speed that gives them about an 80% survival rate. Normally only suffering from a broken jaw, which hits the ground on impact. Chickens and Turkeys I know. The Cats I am only going on what I have read. On the net and even right here in these forums. Just search and see

You can file a complaint with PayPal and also file an "Item not recieved" claim with Ebay. If the seller intends to keep selling on Ebay, he will have to fix your problem or the rep he will get, from just your one incedent, will kill his sales. However, if he was a hack and does not plan to use his Ebay name anymore, there is not much that can be done. I buy Ebay alot, and at times for a lot of money. Even a F350 duel wheel pick up, talk about the jitters.

She hasn't started her AFF yet, but my wife's tandem instructor don't seem to mind her long hair.

Nope, but I know a bunch of red heads. Includeing the wife. Check out the ponytail whiping over Martins head.

Because, a redhead is nothing more than a blonde minus impulse control. Blonde - Impulse Control = Red Head

all ya need is spurs and a hat yeah ok, and all you need is a parachute and googles to be a skydiver

Seems that the two men had their mains intangled. One of them was able to cut away and hold onto the others chute while deploying his own reserve. Very interesting but would that be considered a Mr. Bill? Not that it matters what you call it, awesome just the same.

That same site actually has a whole right up on the tail gunner. I found the site while looking for info about him, then read further and found the Terminal Mr Bill part.

yeah, I like that part too. A PLF without the P. Who wants to practice those?????????

I have read through a few threads here and have heard that the golden knights are the only people to claim to pull this off. I was reading through this site which gives some far fetched but I guess realistic advise about surviving a terminal experience with no gear and it made mention to a terminal Mr. Bill. I was wondering if anyone else had heard of this or any other successful attempts?

Well, I have a while to go before worrying too much about it. The way my schedule has been going and with winter apon us it will probably be mid summer before I have an "A". But I will keep my eyes open for a good deal between now and then. It would have to be a real sweet deal right now though, for the fact that I dont know how my skills will progress between now and then.