SkymonkeyONE

Let me go on record as saying that Alti-2 has fantastic customer service. All is well in the world. Chuck

It's just my wild guess, but I bet you that dude bought the canopy online in the off season and just showed up at whatever dz you were at to avoid problems with people who know better at another DZ. With 400 jumps that guy has no business whatsoever under that main.

My dad's DZ in Alabama uses PC assisted SL. Both military clubs in NC used direct bag SL until they recently switched to IAD (in a BOC). We don't really do SL at Raeford anymore, but if you "force" us, we will use one of our AFF rigs setup with a direct bag SL.

Yep, that was me.

solo exits? Poise off the step. Groups of two? Same thing. Three? Either all three outside poising, or two out and one in, dive-poising.

My canopy only very rarely gets around on me even once, but I have had one real spinner that resulted in a chop in over 400 flights

I believe what we ended up doing last year, as far as flight plans go, will have to be in effect this year as well. That, or exactly the opposite side, depending on which way the prevailing winds are. We will absolutely have to have a "line of demarcation" which nobody will be permitted to fly back over during flight. I have a feeling it's going to be another very-busy year at the BirdMan tent. As for students, I think we are going to have to keep the higher-jump-number restriction for first-flight students like last year as well; too great a chance for catastrophe if an errant navigator flies back under the other jumpruns. Any BMI will be able to take students up (it's their right as a graduate of the course), but we, like last year, will have a meeting at the tent/trailer (Rancho Deluxe again) to discuss training protocol and who will be doing what at the actual BM, Incorporated vendor/training station. There is absolutely plenty of work to go around and there are some times of the day (read: early in the day) where we are short-handed at the tent. We, like last year, will have the manifest people checking for the "BM" on the wrist bands. We will give the briefings at the tent to people as they come in. No wingsuits on the planes without the "BM". No wingsuits on other than the plane flying the correct jumprun. Get busted by Bryan Burke and you are done flying wingsuits. I myself got scared to death on two skydives last year where I was showered with "falling maggots" from trailing airplanes. We will have to be very disciplined in our flight plans this year. Chuck

there is a bird boogie in Eloy in October. We will be running a BMI course there as well.

I am excited about any new development in the sport. The more birdies in the air the merrier. Chuck

Dave, you ought not have any problem getting out on the step. We get three people outside sometimes with no problem. Just pivot out and keep your chest very close to the strut.

When possible, we fly opposite patterns when we have more than one large group. One exits left, then left; the other right, then right. So long as everyone knows to stay on one side of an easily recognizable ground reference, you ought not have any crossing at the bottom. I have been scared before when things did not end up as planned due to the actions of a lone individual.

Yes, that's a teaser. Yes, the wings are smaller and very-differet than an S3. No, it's not really a beginner suit, but pull time is easier than in a classic. It's a prototype aerobatic suit, which tests the feasibility of full inflation during both back and normal flight. It still needs some work in one area. It's damn sexy. No, there is not another one yet. It is definitely not a replacement for your "big" suit.

Tonto, there are two stock suits at BirdMan that will fit her; actually three. Two Classic II's and one GTi. A solid red Classic II for sure. As for you, I would say that whatever the fall/glide rates you encounter on that first dive, you will both be able to compensate and flock together in whatever suit you get. For you, I would either get a GTi or spend the extra scratch on an S3. There is a good pic of me flying with Katie at Moss Point on my website. See that she is stretched out in that Classic and I have my feet on my butt? No problem flying together at all really, plus I was able to stretch out when we were not docked. Chuck

Your profile indicates that you have under 200 jumps, so your "need invigorating" and "been watching for years" phrase have me wondering how long they have been spread out over. 500 jumps minimum or 200 VERY current jumps (in the past year) are what we require. Chuck BMCI

Make no mistake, I take as much care of myself on a tandem as I do on a solo skydive, but when you accept the responsibility of doing tandem skydives you are also responsible for the safety of your passenger. Simply stating that you are going to pile in on top of a tandem student and not give a shit is incredibly callous. I see that a lot in people who have simply done too much of one thing and for whatever personal reason just stop caring. If you do not feel that you are equally responsible for the safety of your tandem (or AFF) student, then perhaps you need to find something else to do. Lord knows there are easier ways to make $30. Your 2000 tandems versus my 500 mean nothing if you have stopped caring for the ultimate safety of your passengers. In my past line of work we did tandems as a means of delivering packages and assets to the ground safely. Getting those packages to the ground was ultimately more important than my "taxi service". My opinion, but what the fuck do I know; I have only been jumping 23 years. Chuck

There is a really easy rigger fix to loosen up a suit that is just marginally too tight. PM or call me and I will tell you what to do, Matt. PS: I am in Lake Wales until Sunday.

Really, really nice pics, Scott. Who da monkey?

That's a really nice video. Lots of puffy clouds to play with. Beautiful.

Keep your bullshit responses to the talkback forum please. We do not tollerate one-liners and facetious answers in the topical forums. Chuck Blue D-12501

I have a LOT of jumps on CC 65's, 75's , and a lot more on an H-mod 85. I never once had a bad opening on any of my personal/team canopies, but I did eval on some stock cobalt customer canopies in sizes 105 and 170 that knocked the living shit out of me.

Who else will be there? The meet is this weekend (26-28 Mar?) and I will be there competing one way or another in my inaugural POPS meet. Lovely. I will also have a full compliment of BirdMan suits and Pantz for those geezers who wish to give it a whirl. Chuck Blue D-12501

POPS meet in Lake Wales, FL next weekend. Be there or be square! I will be there.

OK, we made it back home safe. It was a fun boogie; much more crowded than anticipated. I got there Friday morning and got set up. Nice place to skydive! It was a bit breezy, but I know there were over 500 skydives made on Saturday. The swoop meet was fun, but we didn't start as early as I would have liked (thanks HANS!). Great food. Lots of drunken idiots around the fire. Fun.

Bring the pain. I am off to Deland again tomorrow for a couple of days, then down to Lake Wales for the POPS meet this weekend. See you in Louisburg at Easter, fools! Chuck

Those corners are not open nearly as far as mine are.