SkymonkeyONE

Uh, Bets, Jari has been posting here since the forum was created. His "old" username was "Pupu". Who loves ya? Chuckie

Really? I was told it was a pre-Sunpath Jav.

That's true. In case you guys didn't know, it's always there and always open for use. Chuck

Actually, I believe Elsie will be two feet larger than ours and still be able to pin you to the roof with a rucksack on. Nice seeing you, Ron Chuck

There is a big writeup on that plane in Northern Pilot this month. To me, it looks like a pistion Caravan. Cabin and door are about the same size as those of a "standard" caravan. I As I recall, it has an IO-540, detuned a bit. The door is very cool as it slides forward like a Porter, but apparently on the outside of the plane. Anyway, I think it's a cool plane. Chuck

Actually, what people write in their profile is almost totally verifiable, at least to me when it comes to skydivers in the USA., as an S&TA who works for a regional director. That, or simply making a call to the person's dropzone. The point of my post is there are both types of problems on this site: people with an incredible amount of experience in one discipline or another who put nothing in their profiles yet get pissed when people call them on something they have written; and others who have not the qualifications, who type incessantly, read the site, and try to pass on what they have learned here. You don't have to convince me about the people walking around with national/world championships yet no ratings; some are my best friends and wear black and gold jumpsuits. Still, theirs, in general, is a very defined skill-set. Because a person has a wealth of knowledge in one little area of the sport does not mean he (or she) has any idea about other disciplines. Anyone ever see Cheryl Stearns try to land the Stilletto in her style rig? It's ugly.

SkyKAT alarm blared half of the night, very loud I am still tired, ugh

My ideas on that topic: I have been skydiving over 22 years and have every instructional rating I need to make a living as a dropzone school manager. I am not ashamed of that fact, nor do I have anything to hide to the masses who frequent these forums. Personally, I don't understand why anyone of prominence in this sport would chose to hide their qualifications from others who are clearly trying to sort through the rubbish. In my opinion, this is one of the simplest ways for a newbie to this site to do so. Oddly, I have only ever come across one person who exagerated his qualifications and was found to be an utter fraud (Spectre230). So, that said, yes, there are some incredibly experienced skydivers on this site who chose to stay pretty anonymous, but what sucks is that there are exponentially more less-experienced skydivers on here who would lead you to believe that they are authorities, just due to their post numbers. In closing, I would just ask that all truly experienced skydiving instructors/coaches/organizers on this site AT LEAST fill out their qualifications in their profile. I don't need your name or your home address, but if you don't do so, please don't get pissed when your thoughts are scoffed or ignored. Believe it or not, most people on here DO look at profiles as an indicator to your "real" experience. Chuck Blue D-12501 AFF/SL/TM/BM-I, S&TA, PRO

That is absolutely correct, especially in a "mass tactical" scenario. These jumps are generally performed, even today, with round, non-steerable mains like the T-10 and T-10C. The intent is for the personnel, because of their close proximity to each other, to NOT steer (by means of "slipping") until right before landing. This, to prevent canopy collisions. Chuck

I failed to add that David Clark was skydiving five weeks after this surgery.

Actually, I know a person over the age of seventy who just recently had this operation and still skydives regularly: CSM (Retired) David L. Clark of the Green Beret Parachute Team. Of course he can also drop down and knock out over 100 pushups in under two minutes. I believe he to be the "exception" to the general health of jumpers his age. Chuck

Agreed.

I absolutely don't condemn the institution, even after two incredibly bad experiences. I could stay a bitter person, but that would be counterproductive. I am not sucking in my current relationship, so why would I arbitrarily say "no more marriage?" Chuck

I mean that the majority of full-time RW teams who make a LOT of jumps per year all jump Stillettos. The GK competition teams jump 107's and 120 mostly, with a couple of 135's thrown in. Airspeed does the same. Airspeed toyed with V-Lo's one year, but switched back to ST's when they found the other canopy more than they needed for their application. That said, these guys MURDER it under ST's. I am serious. Rear risering to a complete stop, dragging end cells, very tall turns, just outstanding. Some jump V-Lo's for their fun jumping, but the great majority of their skydiving is under the "old standby". I have a 107 in my staff rig and I can rear riser the piss out of that thing. It is very forgiving due to it's quite-larger-than-my-Velocity 79 size. Chuck

Hey, Christian, you gonna eat pond at Rantoul this year? See you soon.... Chuck Blue D-12501

There were several tandems done out of John Edowes Allouette at Panama City Beach, FL during the PST meet. I am SURE there were some pics taken.

that's not technically true, Paul. There are plenty of active duty units from here that get tasked to do what we both consider to be high-level demos. What we are talking about in terms of the group in question basically mirrors one of those open-field demos. They are not particulary difficult, assuming they have some fully qualified Master Parachutists doing the jumpmastering. That said, there are a LOT of us who meet all of those qualifications here on the boards, either posting regularly or just lurking. I would be interested in talking to some of the group's cadre. Chuck "I have a lot of pretty badges"

Unless something changes, it looks like myself, MonkeyLip, LouDiamond, and Packaho are now going to be leaving Raeford on the 30th. Nice, very nice. We are driving straight through.

My fellow chimp, Timothy (maggot) is exactly correct. I remember not long ago when someone was outraged that Bill Booth was a "newbie." I am sure Bill didn't give a shit, but the post whores were abhored. I chuckle at stuff like that. Chuckle.....Did I make a funny?

I had owed Stacy a hat for quite some time, but just kept losing her address or forgetting. Anyway, I finally got it done and sent to her. It is absolutely true that Stacy Weeks was the first person outside of Raeford dropzone to earn the title "skymonkey." Now, Stacy, you owe me like in prison. Chuckie

Don't forget to get the "dropzone.com" option. Dude, my shorts rule.

That was a post by another person who is still very much here, but no longer goes by that handle. Any guesses who the offender was? Chuck

You would be surprised how far people go to bump up their post numbers. Actually, no, you probably wouldn't. After a time it just gets very irritating to me. That said, some of my very good friends on here are complete and utter post whores. While the majority of people think that we let them get away with murder, a simple PM to most any of them will let you learn that we occasionally have to dress them down and wake them up to the fact that they are simply overdoing it. Chuck

I "heard" this happened about 1995, very early in the morning. I don't personally have the tape though; I believe it got played to death. I am sure another copy exists somewhere, but I wouldn't know where to look. A case of Miller Light used to get you a lot of favor with some people back then. Chuck

I am rather fond of Orange and Blue myself.