squarecanopy

Alex, I can really identify with everything you said. I'm another FNG and have not wanted to stir the pot because of that, but it is scary some of the stuff that is going down and this last run of "double fatality" posts here is just ENOUGH. I don't want to die skydiving, but I really don't want to splat because somebody hook turns into me. I will exercise my meager dollar power and go to another drop zone if my home DZ does not want to enforce a no hook turn policy. BOB!! Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Victoria, I jumped with Josh on several occasions at Mile High and he was the Tandem Instructor the day my wife decided to go on a tandem jump. I was pleased that it was Josh that was her TI, and she had a great time. Josh looked out for the safety of others and he and I had a few talks when he was concerned about something I did. He approached me with a firm but gentle attitude, and as a newbie I appreciated his tips and his way of helping me learn. I have missed his upbeat presence at Mile High. He will not soon be forgotten around here. I am saddened even now when I think about him, and I offer you my sincere condolences and prayers for your family. I hope for peace for all of you. Blue Skies, Josh, Fly Free until I see you again- Bill Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Great idea Kristi. I want to say thanks to Bobby Knappe for getting my sons and me into this sport. You are the BOMB. Brad Cole is the best, my mentor and rigger and all around skydiving sounding board. Miami Mike was one of my AFF instructors and has more ability to get a freaked out student jumper to relax than anyone else I have ever jumped with, Thanks Mike. Last but not least for now, Clay our pilot at Mile High, you just sit up there without complaining and hot load all day every day, up down up down while we have all the fun. Thanks for being such a skillful pilot! It has not gone un-noticed and is appreciated. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

it is a fact that rats and cockraoches scatter and run when a light is shined on them. Michael Moore easily fits in either catagory. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

COLORADO SUCKS. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN HERE Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Hey Steve, I have always maintained that the most dangerous thing we do every jump day is drive back and forth to the DZ. My opinion is based on the fact that I cannot control enough of the human element all around me on the highway to make operating my car as safe as it should be. From the looks of the initial information on this double fatality last Friday, the human element in the person of the AFF student that flew into the other jumper was the cause. That mistake could happen at any place where people leave Properly Operating Aircraft and fall back to earth. It just happened to occur at a DZ where other recent fatalities have happened. I have jumped there and been safe, and I jump regularly at Mile High in Colorado even though we have had two fatalities there in the last year. Think through what the real cause is before scratching any particular DZ off your list. BSSL, Bill Just burning a hole in the sky.....

I was jumping a Sabre 2 190 at 1.36. After 25 jumps, I upsized to a Sabre 2 210 at about 1.1. The only problems I have had with 90 turns on open were at Eloy, using a professional packer because I was on vacation. It got a right hand line twist or hard turn every opening. At least it opened the same every time. Get a local rigger to show you the right way to pack the Sabre 2, and you should not have any issues with turns. As for closed end cells, the Sabre 2 is known for it. Pump them open with your toggles, no big deal. One thing you could do until you are ready to downsize to the 170 is to demo a 190 from PD. They are really cool to deal with when you get a demo canopy, it does not cost much, and you can fly the bigger canopy for 2 weeks and get some valuable experience while at a safer wing loading. And by the way, your English is outstanding. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Actually, they are. They're just up there with other farm animals. Alphons (thinking of applying at the local zoo) You are right. I did not notice that, I just figured that since horses are the pet of choice around here, they are everywhere and would have their own catagory. I like horses, but they basically are a large leather bag of bones that you shove money into. And all they do is make horsepoop out of it. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Most skydivers' seeming indifference to and lack of knowledge of their gear baffles me. I want to know everything about how that thing that saves my life works. I think that a working knowledge of all parts of a rig would be a good requirement for a B or C license, and a rigger level understanding of a rig would be a good requirement for a D license. I base my opinion on years of observing pilots in the general aviation business and how the outcome of emergencies was positive or negative based on whether the pilot was a licensed mechanic or not. Not a scientific test or anything, just watching for 40 years and noticing that the mechanic pilots bust their asses alot less when things go badly. Understanding of equipment provides options when said equipment ( that is sustaining your life) malfunctions... Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Oh Man....Friends don't let friends drive Chevys... My dad bought a '68 C20 longbed brand new, it is still a cool old truck. My brother has it now and still drives it in the summers to haul a camper to the lake. Congratulations, post some more pics as progress happens! BSSL , Bill Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Dreaming about it, talking about it, reading about it, scheming about how to get more jump money, studying the SIM, or looking at Kallend's exit separation simulator program Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Just a few opinions: 1) CATS SUCK - except the mountain lions that come through my property once a year or so 2) Puppies are a pain in the butt, especially the one that I caught chewing on my chest strap. Damn dog, now I have had to start putting my rig away after every jump day. 3) I noticed that horses are not on the list. Are you equine challenged? Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Ann, If you are even struggling with this question it shows that your heart is in the right place concerning your children. But as all the other sages here have pointed out, we cannot be safe in this life, we can only manage the risks. Skydiving is no different, and to shrink away from it because you have responsibilities is to short both yourself and your children. Show them how to properly enjoy life, without all the crutches and the false sense of security. My boys have both become skydivers, and realize from their experience that Dad is not crazy, and that life is an adventure if you are willing to meet the challenge. Blue Skies, Safe Landings! Bill Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Thanks, Arvel! I guess I am just looking for a little support when I "stall" in the doorway for good reason. I don't have many jumps, but I have thousands of hours in small airplanes and I can gauge groundspeed... I'll try the start the count over trick, and live to jump another day! Just burning a hole in the sky.....

WTH is with some of these jumpers? Twice last weekend I am in the door, watching the previous group staying virtually right underneath the tail of the airplane as they fell away, due to the high headwinds/low groundspeed on jump run, and everyone up in the plane is screaming GO GO GO. Is there a teachable "method for dummies" on how to gauge exit separation or are we just going to have to have some collisions under canopy before the jumpmaster on the load will quit demanding "Keep your separations down to 5 seconds!" no matter what the conditions outside the plane? How do you guys handle this at your DZ? Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Hey Melinda! Welcome to the Forums! Now this is a switch- I was heavily into MX when I was younger, raced local MX and crosscountry races out in Nebraska for about 9 years. Even raced up Pike's Peak on New Year's Day 7 times. I never made a skydive until I was 45 years old. Now I jump whenever I can, just putt around on one of my old trail bikes (Yamaha TT500) once in a great while. I have two bad shoulders from dirt bikin'. Will have to get the surgery on both of them in the next few years. Ride safe and don't do any Travis Pastranos* unless you are wearing your rig... BSSL, Bill * Check out his video on skydiving movies.com where he rides his Suzuki off the cliff into the Grand Canyon... Just burning a hole in the sky.....

It snowed 6 inches here last night- we are going jumping tomorrow anyway Around here we say Cowboy Up, put on our long johns, and jump. If we didn't we would not get to jump from December to April Besides, who needs to be able to feel the pilot chute handle or your toggles anyway? Makes it more sporting during the landing if your fingers are frozen ... Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Were you looking in the mirror to do that? Fine art work!!! Just burning a hole in the sky.....

I have a Z1 open face and just recently switched to a Bonehead Mamba. That helmet is the bomb. Carbon fiber(very strong for the weight) very light weight, comfy, quiet both in the tunnel and skydiving, great visibility, full face protection. I love it! I don't have alot of skydiviing experience but raced motorcycles for many years, have many many hours with my head in a lid, both open face and full face, so I do have alot of experience with all the various aspects of what goes into a "good" helmet. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Your real problem , Space, is that you are too damn smart... Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Hoss, your suggestion is not only uncouth and violent, your crass approach to also wanting to make MONEY by selling the video of these poor young men's pain is truly trailer trash. I LOVE it!!!! ROFLMHO Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Unfortunatly I'm a fool who needs to learn the hard way on some things. Luckily skydiving scares me too much for that to apply, but motorbike selection, we'll see. If I find a good deal on a 4 stroke I'll go that route. I rode dirt bikes for many years, took 6th to the top of Pikes Peak one New Year's Day race ( no plowed road- 7 miles through the waist deep snow at 14,000 ft altitude) so horsepower was definitely high on my list-but the reason I never got hurt bad was I started slow and worked my way up, and I had pro class racers for riding buddies that were looking out for me. Get hooked up with some local dirt riders in your area, and get them to help you progress at a sensible pace. Dirt bikes are killers if mishandled. Don't under estimate their power to snuff your life in an instant-and then you can enjoy the rush of riding. And like somebody else already said- buy the BEST boots and helmet you can possibly get- they are a cheap investment in your physical health. Blue Skies Safe Landings-Bill Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Seem like that' s what I am aiming for too! I sure have not been sticking to my work out, even though I have not posted any pics and am sort of participating over here by myself in a parallel universe Just burning a hole in the sky.....

What you may have figured out by now from all this truly expert advice is that your melon isn't subjected to the same potential injury during jumping as say, dirt biking. So what you really need a helmet for is not to keep your head protected from serious cranial impact, rather you need cover from the wind, noise, cold, and the kicks, bumps, scrapes and bangs. If the really serious impact to the head ever comes, hopefully a lightweight, comfortable, great visibility helmet will be the least of your worries. During all the other skydives where you live to jump again, that same helmet will be an ASSET. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Sounds like you just hate Valentines Day! Actually Valentine's Day was created by a syndicate comprised of flower growers, candy makers, and jewelers who saw all of us coming and wanted to cash in on the "romance".... Just burning a hole in the sky.....