SkymonkeyONE

They must be from another tribe; maybe the X-keys variety. Skymonkeys aren't that stupid.

No WAY was that an "old" J.P.

Dude, that commercial is funny as hell. "Yeah, but his is bigger.." I was dieing! Chuck

Just for the sake of following the original question, I am five-seven, 155 pounds before gear. I have jumped with several people who could out-float me at a given forward airspeed on flights, but none that could do so at the faster forward speeds we fly at when everyone is jumping SkyFlyers. I feel that the ability to "punch it out" is something that comes with experience. It's amazing how fast you can accellerate away from someone who is flying a bit dirty. With that increased forward speed, of course, comes the ability to get more lift, thusly increasing your flight time. Once a wingsuit pilot finds that "sweet spot," they then generally try to fly with likewise-accomplished flyers to really up their fun level. Chuck

We had a very good time in the bar last night. Two bands, lots of liquor, and amazingly, no hangover. I am sure the two guys from the Swiss 4-way team are not faring so well; they were hammered. Chuck

We managed to get about eight loads up yesterday here at Raeford, dodging weather, but today is a wash. It stormed quite hard last night. The sound of rain beating on the top of the Rancho Deluxe is peaceful. Just what I needed after a very fun night in Aviators. Chuck

Actually, I was photoshopping a new one yesterday, but wasn't able to compress it enough to get it down to 10kb. I got it to 12, but need to work a bit more. Yes, I am sure one of you could do it in five seconds, but I AM gonna get it done myself! Chuck

TB, you need to lose the "tall, black fighter pilot" avatar and put in a glamour shot for the gals. That, or just replace it with a shot of you in your GTi. Chuckie

Skymama is in fact a hottie.

Actually, I stood right there and watched it. 1600 pounds. I only posted what I observed with my own eyes and what I was taught. I in no way inferred that something would happen to the other type of soft link (or rapide for that matter), only that the condition I stated was a possibility that did not exist with a PD Slink. No more, no less; certainly not "disinformation." Chuck

BWAHAHAHA! Actually, that would be a big orange ball sack, but why split hairs? LOL! The pic you edited is one of me trying to slow down as LeRoy was doing his best to sink pretty much straight down. Once he found it better to actually poke his legs out, he took off. If it doesn't rain all day we will get better pics. I am training John (Droopy) and Matt (MattM) this morning. Assuming, that is, that Matt can find a way to unstick his head from Coconut Monkey's toilet. Chuck

BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Amish boy swung for the fence and HIT IT! NOICE! Chuckie

Oh shit, tha's SO funny! Dude, if I were not totally feeling good right now, I might be able to come up with a reasonable answer to what ever it was that you posted. What did I just type? MattM says: TO THE FENCE!)

LeRoy and I just went up on his maiden SF-3 flight (he lived). That's 24 malt beverages, my monkey. I will let him post his review as he had never jumped anything other than his Classic. I may be mistaken, because I think I let him jump my GTi once. Anyway, he enjoyed it and it looks great; matching his main perfectly. That was my fifth flight on my SF-3 and I can't begin to describe how much I like it. It's the shee-wa-tay! Chuckie

I don't have a beer yet. Wait! It's well after five PM! What the hell am I thinking?!

PLENTY of times, dude. My work canopy when I was in the army was 375 square feet. I only weigh a bit over a buck and a half, so when I was jumping hollywood I was loading at that or less. Chuck

That's right, you WOULD be slipping and sliding your ass off. Better make that 30 end to end for a total of 600 feet. Better yet, JP, have you buddy build a 300 foot long slip and slide (with a pool at the end)

Matt, you would have to buy at least twenty and put them end to end to accomodate me. That would be some funny shit.

That is actually far from the first instance of soft links. Jimmy Cazer was making them nearly a decade before then. They were not removable, but served exactly the same function. Having just completed my PD rep training, I saw first-hand how tough these things actually are. Far stronger, in fact, than rapides in any size. Rapides under extreme pressure distort and end up actually cutting through line much like a knife. That is the problem with "the other" links; that the little steel ring could actually cut the other end of the soft link under great pressure. The Slink bumpers are also good for another reason; one which brings up another discussion altogether. "Slida-flappida is a disease only you can cure" is something that anyone who has ever met me will say that they have heard. The problem, other than being totally un-cool, is that a flapping slider will ride right on top of standard rapide bumpers and jump up and down on the lines right at the point where they are bartacked. This up and down motion on those bartacks will ultimately degrade the seam and certainly the lines at that point. Killing your slider will certainly help that "jumping" and wear a bit, but protecting that bartack can only properly be done by keeping the slider grommet off the juncture. This is now addressed with the Slink covers. You simply kill your slider, then pull the slider over the Slink covers. That, of course, is for the masses who choose not to pull their slider down over their risers. Chuck

Navigators are fantastic mains. I use them for student mains here at Raeford in sizes 220, 240, and 260. Hard to beat them for the use your father is looking for. Chuck Blue

Nope, I just muddled my way through, only taking the easy way at every turn. You know as well as I do that they give us the fuzzy green girlscout hat when we arrive at Fort Bragg. chuckie

That's cool. Are you ready for a SkyFlyer yet? PM me.

You KNOW I am dieing that I was not there for that stuff, so cut it out Arlo. As to whether the local BirdieGals in Deland are hot, that is an understatement. I am LOVING you all a second time! Chuckie B

all of the above

Tag, your it. I found you, though you bear no resemblence to a tall black man. I lived through the return trip last night with no problems. I had planned on staying over in Savannah last night, but was unable to get in touch with my buddies there until I was 100 miles up the road and crossing the Santee Cooper bridge. Oh well, I needed to get home anyway. I had a blast in Deland. Good training, fun BirdMan flights with TB and others, nig-noggery on the typical SkymonkeyONE scale, and little sleep. It's all good! Chuck (910)273-6291