grimmie

There are a couple of major factors that go into preventing collisions and having an effective landing pattern. DZ's have to educate their customers better on patterns. We have to do more than just show them a photo of the DZ and say, land here, don't land here. Someone needs to be in the LZ and help enforce the rules and pattern. Skydivers need to look at the load they are on. What is the exit order, who is at what altitude flying what type of canopy? Skydivers need to get their heads out of their asses when they fly their parachutes. We all share the same airspace, the 100 jump big canopy guy, the hotshot hanky flyer and the vast array of in between jumpers. If you are going with the "first jumper down sets the pattern" rule, make sure that person actually knows how to set a pattern. Nothing is worse than being in the saddle on a light and variable day and watching some hotshot zig zag all around at a low altitude and then do a last minute 360 to land. In the meantime 2 or 3 other jumpers are set up low in the wrong direction. It's a pretty simple and easy thing to sort out. Look at the winds before you board. Discuss the pattern in the loading area when you are organizing exit order. Look at what types of canopy pilots are on the load, ask who is flying what. We always dirt dive the jump, right up until the parachutes open. It's time to dirt dive the jump all the way to the ground. There was a very nasty landing with injury at a recent boogie. It involved not following a plan and a last minute, "Oh Shit! I'm in the wrong direction" low toggle turn. Canopies can land downwind, crosswind and into the wind on light days just fine. A sprained ankle or wrist is better than a broken pelvis, neck and femur anyday. Don't make a sudden turn low at 50 feet. Don't get ground fixation. Look out ahead and see if anyone is approaching from about 500ft in. Look around. And remember..."It's better to walk 100 yards than get flown 100 miles." We don't all have to land in the same spot. DZO's and managers, enforce the rules.

It never gets easier to witness. Take each thing you see or hear about and try to learn from it. Some jumpers forget that there is no such thing as a routine take off, routine jump or a routine landing. Keep vigilant and current. Take a basic first aid or EMT course. We never have enough "qualified" helpers at the DZ when stuff goes wrong. And it's OK to talk with your skydiving pals about what you witnessed or feel about it. We have all been there.

Hockey gear in a hot car for a few days trumps all of that!

Katana 120. Wonderful opening, smooth flying, nice landing.

Second Hand Lions (2003)

Ice hockey, shot blocking, ouch, losing four front teeth didn't hurt as bad... My almost 5 year old little girl, off the couch and a flying knee leap into...ouch...

That's OK Grimmie. I still love you for letting me jump when I showed up out of the blue in Belize! The old "oops, there's a boogie going on here, wow, what a coincidence, who knew?" trick! You're welcome.

Dear SkydiveJack, I hate you. Love, Grimmie You should have tried to make a leap out of it after the ride!

I have a commercial helicopter rating. I fly with the guys at Los Angeles Helicopters in Long Beach. They are a top notch outfit with excellent instruction. The owners are all good friends of mine and have been in the business for a long time. Their machines are well maintained and they are a Robinson dealer also. They won't BS you. Call me if you need some info.

McSorley's hockey stick. That memory is a kick to the head. Now back to science...

We were doing 16 way at the Lost Prairie boogie last month. On our second jump the pilot made a series of errors and laumched us off of the plane at 130+kts and a 30 degree downward right turn. It was a pretty crazy launch to say the least. Very violent. I was outside center giving the count. Instantly and with tremendous force we were launched out of the door on "Set". I knocked heads with the inside jumper across from me and was knocked out for 3 or 4 seconds. I have a "Platinum" full face hard shell. The impact put a crack in my helmet about one inch long in two different spots. The jumper I hit lost his face piece and was knocked silly, but not out. A frap hat or no helmet would have been a disaster. IMHO Note: the pilot bought the entire 16 way and video man another jump ticket. That was a class thing to do. I also think that jumpers with full face helmets have a better chance of surviving a crash on take off or some other aircraft problem. IMHO I was in an Otter and a Skyvan that each had take off issues. Everyone was scrambling to get their helmets on. It amazes me that long time jumpers still don't wear their helmets on take off. Wear your helmets kids. Note: I don't wear it in Belize because I have seen a jumper almost drown during a water landing wearing a full face. But I plan on getting an open face hard shell soon for the boogie.

I'll stop in next week.

I have discussed starting a large WFFC type boogie with a few of my pals. There are some drawbacks these days to an event like that. The start up funding will have to be rather large. DZ owners don't really want to ferry their planes to the midwest. Most people are within an hour or two of a turbine to jump. The economy will keep jumpers from attending. And does anyone really want to put up with 3,000+ skydivers in one spot?? It takes about six months of planning to run the Boogie in Belize, with about 140 participants. A WFFC type event would take a couple of years of planning to run smoothly.

I just retired last month after 31 years on the job. It's the best job in the world. If you want to get hired you have to go into it with the right attitude, get some good advice from the guys in the area you want to work and take as many tests as possible. If you have a DUI or arrest, any health issues or something in your background that isn't good...forget it. Think about this. What does a -enter a boring job here-have to talk about after 30 years on the job? It's an adventure for sure.

...jump into the bay today! So I'm driving across the Coronado Bridge in San Diego this afternoon and my wife says "Hey look, that C130 is on jump run". WTF! There they were, six at a time getting out pretty low just short of the bridge flying a North bound jump run. I'm not sure if I'm more proud of our Navy or my wife knowing what a C130 was! They did a lot of passes, 6 at a time.

coffee all over my keyboard.

It's the Ranch video with Swoop Kerwin, Steve Duda etc. I'm going to swing by Skydive SD this weekend and see if a vidiot can help me out!

I found it! Can we convert VHS to DVD at the drop zone? If so I'll bring it by next week.

The best stuff ever. Can you still order them somewhere?

'The air had rareified molecules". I have a copy. With Steve Duda hurling in the parking lot, swoop Kerwin and the Chuckie Bonis landing. I'll dig in the old VHS box of tapes.

Belize+3 www.skydivebelize.com

I have seen a "Pressurized" canopy come out of a twist and send a jumper into the dirt exactly like that at a boogie a few years ago. I thought he hooked it in too, but it was the turbulence.

The engines on the jet have a time limit by years not hours. I think Pat told me it was a 10 year inspection that costs about $150,000+ to have done. One engine is at that limit. They are so busy in the hangar rebuilding the Skyvan right now, and keepin the Otters going, that the jet is on the bottom of the "to do" list. The DZ runs all of it's cool stuff, Otters, Skyvans, Porter.

I have posted this more than once. The 3 canopy collisions I witnessed invoved a Golden Knight cameraman and a French 8 way team member, a CRW competitor into his team mate on landing above the peas and an airline pilot into a long time jumper. Collisions under canopy are just like traffic collisions because someone, or both, drivers are operating with heads up their asses. Downsizing, fast canopies, lack of a pattern, hook turns etc. all up the ante, but it all comes down to looking out for yourself and the other pilots and flying defensively.

Beer and pizza delivered to the staff after a hot summer Sunday of jumping, they will be pleased.