SkymonkeyONE

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Everything posted by SkymonkeyONE

  1. SkymonkeyONE
    I remember my first 8-stack. Green Beret Parachute Club, Sicily dropzone on Fort Bragg, UH-1 Huey, 1988 maybe? I remember clearly that we did it with eight different kinds of mains. I was jumping a Bogy 175 nine-cell and was next-to-last to dock. There was at least one old Strato Star, a Raider, a Lazer 7, A Fury, a Unit III, and a Raven; not sure about the rest. Jump what you brung was the rule of the day. Chuck Blue D-12501
  2. SkymonkeyONE
    Anyone remember the episode of Gilligan's Island where a guy surfed a wave all the way from Hawaii to their island?
  3. SkymonkeyONE
    There is also plenty of video of complete morons standing at the beach and watching the wave come ashore at them.
  4. SkymonkeyONE
    We have a sonicare that hardly ever gets used and a couple of oral-B thingy's that don't get much use either. I would just as soon use a regular brush.
  5. SkymonkeyONE
    Navigators are fantastic mains.
  6. SkymonkeyONE
    Actually, I know Tammy from Jacksonville, also a BMI, will be there with suits.
  7. SkymonkeyONE
    You are exactly right with that one, brother! There are a lot of places in the USA that still do what ever the hell they please and don't give a shit what anyone else thinks about it. Still, that does not make it right. Just to save space I will respond back to my boy, Elviso, here as well. You are correct, Cat E is all solo exits and there is no real reason why a Coach or SL-I, or IAD-I wouldn't be able to do them in my mind, but we do not clear students off to "self supervision" and Cat F coaching (with Coaches or whatever Instructor is available) until they have performed aerobatics. This, of course, assuming one is following an AFF-based (or hybrid AFF/tandem) ISP system. The bottom line here is that no, it is not OK for someone without an AFF rating to take a student with two or three "training tandems" on a single JM harness-hold jump. Chuck
  8. SkymonkeyONE
    Another point of contention with the definition being used by these "founders" of Atmonauti: the belief that they are flying on a 45 degree angle. This is simply not true. While their bodies might be cocked on that angle, they are by no means moving across the sky at a 45 degree (one-to-one glide ratio) angle. The very best trackers in the world do well to get a one-to-one ratio during their descent in the max-track configuration. Chuck
  9. SkymonkeyONE
    I don't know why you need five thousand feet for a hop and pop, but at Raeford I believe the price to that altitude is $10 or $11. I am pretty sure it's eight bucks to 3,500. Chuck
  10. SkymonkeyONE
    Scott, who was it that had the premature at Rantoul? Was it this year or last? Was it one of my dad's group? I don't know anyone at Skydive Opelika that jumps a Vigil so that's the reason I am asking. Chuck
  11. SkymonkeyONE
    Visit all the local DZ's and form your own opinion. Some are very "business" and others are much more "family-feeling."
  12. SkymonkeyONE
    No dates listed.
  13. SkymonkeyONE
    I know when Summerfest is, early August and in direct conflict with Rantoul (so I and other vendors will not be able to make it), but I could find no dates for the Grand Prix. Also, it was my understanding that the pro events would be for pro's only, thus quantifying the existence of the "standard" or "intermediate-only" Canopy Piloting Circuit. I am not sure about the other proposed regions, but here in the Carolinas where I am the sole, currently-qualified pro swooper there were not going to be any pro rounds at our events (at least not until next year when new pilots step up and qualify pro.). I don't get it. chuck
  14. SkymonkeyONE
    That's four fantastic responses so far. Each of you have made good points. All will agree that mastering one technique before stepping it up a notch is critical, no matter what the wingload. Perfect examples of people destroying their bodies throwing too-advanced (certainly un-practiced) turns are all around. Andi (bikerbabe on here) femuring in on her first jump in Jim Slaton's course; Adria Allen, etc, etc. Derek and I used to bash heads repeatedly over "smaller is better for learning HP turns", but his point is valid in the context of that article. One thing to consider about the whole article though is that I believe Robin's article (and Derek's analogy for the most part) relies on the premise that all turns are "snapped around" causing the pendulum effect. A smooth carving turn will always give you the ability to let up on the riser and plane out much more quickly. If you are banging your turns that hard you might as well be toggle whipping; your margin for error is equally slim. Chuck
  15. SkymonkeyONE
    You guys both made me proud. I'm crying tears of joy here..... Ciao, Chuckie
  16. SkymonkeyONE
    The way I (and my boss, Tony Thacker, the mid-atlantic conference director) read it, only AFF-rated instructors may take harness hold grips on students not cleared for solo freefall. If they are not cleared from CAT E then you can't lay a finger on them on exit or in freefall unless you have an AFF rating. A guy with only a tandem rating has no business taking anyone on a single-jumpmaster harness hold (read: AFF) jump. I find it fascinating that some people (in the USA) would think otherwise. Chuck Blue D-12501 AFF/SL/TM-I, BMCI, PRO
  17. SkymonkeyONE
    I am going to concur with Kim on this one. Unless you have ALL of the facts, you seriously need to refrain from posting derogatory information about gear; particularly lifesaving devices. Chuck Blue D-12501
  18. SkymonkeyONE
    Ooh, permission from a greenie for a personal attack! Ok, you're a dick! Chris Nice, speedy response, Chris!
  19. SkymonkeyONE
    The military honors will be at JFK chapel on Fort Bragg this Friday at 2:00 PM.
  20. SkymonkeyONE
    I just killed your thread.
  21. SkymonkeyONE
    Call me a dick, but some of you people really DO need to lose some weight. Either that or change your damn avatar. Ugh.
  22. SkymonkeyONE
    Don't call him Shreck; his name is now "Skinny."
  23. SkymonkeyONE
    I have never used packing weights and I also do not have any need to secure the container behind me when I pack.
  24. SkymonkeyONE
    The school has historically always taught rear mount and has only recently (last decade) even mentioned front mount. Last I checked (when I retired in 2003) all they had were old ALICE packs and spider harnesses. I never had a problem with rear mount and it was all that was taught or used in either my basic or MFFJM course. I have flown front-mount and like it OK and I have also flown combo front/rear with no problem. chuck
  25. SkymonkeyONE
    Perris, May 5-16. Negative....PIA is next and Dublin is after that.