squarecanopy

Skyrad and Scoop, you make my point with the information you have provided. Obviously firearms are necessary to control those who arm themselves and use that advantage to prey on others. But the real point is that the FREEDOM to live life, including the freedom of self defense, should rest with the PEOPLE and not the GOVERNMENT. John's referred article points out that leaving resolve of every single criminal situation to "the authorities" will result in many more victims, who are as much at the mercy of well meaning but completely ignorant politicians as they are the damned criminals who take their lives, property, etc. Along with the right to self defense comes the extreme responsibility to use any weapon as a last resort ( something that has been a major focus of all my weapons training) , not like the silly movies that depict the same outrageous exaggerations about "proper" use of force as they do about skydiving, operating airplanes and cars, elevators, and 50 other subjects where reality is the furthest thing from the producer's mind... Just burning a hole in the sky.....

One interesting fact in support of John's post is that in light of the fact that private gun ownership is illegal in the great land of Britain, there should be no crime or preying upon the unarmed by the armed. The truth is that in London alone there are 375 armed bank robberies per year, with the robbers toting everything from 6 shot revolvers to automatic 40 round machine pistols. Is this a case of "when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns"??!!!Damn good thing that I can own a gun at my house or place of business so that when some maniac comes through the door waving his Uzi I don't have to try and fight him off with my nightstick like the bobbies in London... Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Thank you Reginald, Ryoder,Skybytch, NW Flyer, Cloudi, Orange1!! Your advice and insights are well taken - I put that post up to get some objective opinions from those of you out there who have the experience to help out. I really was beginning to think that I am just doomed to bad landings forever until it dawned on me that the wing loading might be a factor. Thanks again for the good help- Just burning a hole in the sky.....

I jumped at the chance to buy a local, relatively new rig at a good price that came availabe, mainly to get out from under the $55 per jump rental. I guess I don't look like I weigh 205, so the advice I got from the instructors and riggers at the DZ was based on the fact that they might have thought my loading on the smaller 'chute was less than it is. I am finally getting a handle on it after 17 jumps on this rig. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

I am learning the hard way that downsizing is a challenge. I went from a 230 after 30 jumps to a Sabre2 190. Wing loading changed from 1.04 to 1.26, and in the last ten (no wind) landings I have stood up 2 of them. I would have been better off these last 15 jumps to have stayed with the larger canopy and worked on canopy control rather than fighting the higher descent rate and landing speeds of the smaller chute. The outside of my rig is always dirty from my PLF's, and my pride is taking a whack too. Not to mention the fact that is can be harmful to the body to always pound in the landing... Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Immigration has always been necessary to promote the economic growth and health of this country because in every generation there have always been jobs that some Americans were unwilling to do but that needed to be done, and those jobs have been done by the Chinese, Irish, Polish, Mexican, etc etc etc immigrants of that generation. My ancestors were some of those "stinking Micks" that came to this country and did their part to make America great by IMMIGRATING HERE LEGALLY, rolling up their sleeves, working thier butts off, LEARNING ENGLISH, advancing themselves by work-thrift-multigenerational upward economic advancement by legal means, BECOMING AMERICAN CITIZENS in accord with the laws of the day, and pursuing life, liberty and happiness. They did not insist that they could be here in opposition to American laws, they did not insist that everyone speak Gaelic to them so they could have a job/home/schooling for their children, and they did not spend their time protesting laws that were fair to all Americans so they could do what the hell they wanted instead of obeying the same rules that all immigrants of their time obeyed. I find it amazing that any American would support illegal immigration anymore than they would support any other form of mass distain for our laws and culture. It is obvious which side of this argument a person is on by their convenient and deliberat avoidance of the issue of the ILLEGAL part of ILLEGAL ALIEN. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

ALLLRIIIIGHT TAMMY!!! Julie, I am so excited that all you tunnel flyers also want to skydive! Just think, this time next year we will have to do a big way with You, Tammy, Yvonne, Booby(oops - BOBBY)Carl, me, Brad, and whoever else...first step first, though, let's get you out into the clear blue next Saturday. Man this is COOOL!! Just burning a hole in the sky.....

I was so scared on my first jump that they had to coax me out onto the landing gear! (Cessna 206)Then on my second ride to the top for Level 2 AFF, the pilot let a hop & pop out and accidentally stood on the right rudder pedal while reaching for the door closing handle, and the airplane rolled up vertical to the right! I started to slide out the door and "dang near" wet my flight suit. My heart was pounding so hard that I completely spaced out the fact that I was 4500 feet above the ground, with a perfectly good parachute strapped on, and that the whole point of this little exercise was to GET OUT of the airplane in the first place. Now days I can't wait for the door to get open, 'cause the most fun is OUTSIDE!!!! [laugh Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Holy cashflow, Batman, this bunch really is addicted! Just burning a hole in the sky.....

I appreciate your intelligent thoughts on this subject. I do believe that we need to hold people accountable for their own actions, and to sue someone for an obviously unintentional mechanical malfunction of an airplane engine is to say that even though the people running the dropzone did all in their power to operate sensably, when a tragedy like this occurs the tandem student is no longer responsible for making her own decision to climb aboard an airplane that she really knew nothing about, with a pilot that for all she knew, did not even have a pilot's license, to go up in the sky with the intended purpose of abandoning the relative safety of the airplane and falling through the ether and then relying on 10 pounds of plastic to save her life, all in pursuit of fun and excitement. I think she is the only one who COULD rationally make that decision, because it is HER life that hangs in the balance. Nobody else on this planet should be able to reverse that . Just burning a hole in the sky.....

I know what you mean!! I made my first jump in Sept. 2003, and I was so scared the Instructors had to almost kick me out the door-then I broke my leg in a prairie dog hole during a landing in May 2004-been back now since Oct. 2005 and got my A license last month- and I'm STILL grinnin' so much my face hurts! It is possible that I am addicted. Hello, my name is Bill and I'm a jumpaholic... Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Walt, you retard!!! You are supposed to be on our side! Just burning a hole in the sky.....

The reality of all religions is that God states clearly in the Bible why we should seek him and how to live our lives and to treat others-it is mankind, in our frail and imperfect attempt at RELIGION that screws it all up and makes such a mess of FAITH that we get cynical about all the religious hypocrites that populate the earth. Not that there aren't non-religious hypocrites..... Just burning a hole in the sky.....

They say it takes about a week for the grin to wear off - Congratulations! Get with your dropzone or tandem instructor and get into their AFF program. Blue skies! Just burning a hole in the sky.....

A friend of mine and his Dad were trying to get investment info on the tunnel - My secondhand info is that Skyventure Colorado (the recicirculating one) is about a 7 million dollar deal - but if you go to any of the Skyventure websites, they have a tab for investors and I'm sure they would be willing to talk numbers to anyone serious about investing in a wind tunnel with them. Just burning a hole in the sky.....