SkymonkeyONE

Shady was WAY too fucked up to post, but we registered him anyway. Chuck

Like Pruitt used to do it, when he DID do it!

Agreed. Betsy, feel free to put me on the list now that Steve has told me what I asked you for some time ago. I like Craig. Chuck

Err. Well, it's true that we are going to have a great time at Eloy, but I also have a lot of very cool friends who work at Mike's.

Back to the original question: Army riggers work like slaves. If they are assigned to a unit that does a high volume of jumps, then a lot of times they work round the clock in three shifts. The only opportunity you are gonna get to start "skydiving" for free is if that unit also supports MFF operations. Then, the MFF rigs don't get packed until they meet mission with the SL rigs. The HALO riggers at the SWC rigger shed get their shot at freefall school based primarily on how long they have been working in the shed. You will not be seeing MFF school as an army private. Still, should you like a sort of "assembly line" job, then you may just enjoy life in a pack shed. We have a lot of young army riggers jumping in the military clubs. They come around because they were led to believe that they would be skydiving at work soon after arriving at their permanant duty station; such is not the case. About the only military club/demo team around now that trains people from just off student status to become skydivers at no cost is the 82nd Parachute team. Ron Hill made quite a few jumps with those guys when he was a poor army private, living across the road from Raeford DZ. It was a way for him to stay moderately proficient at skydiving while padding his logbook with the demo experience that some think the GK's look for. The truth of the matter is that the 82nd team is where the GK's get the great majority of their tryouts. This year's tryouts absolutely decimated the 82nd team, leaving them barely able to function without outside support. As far as rigging jobs go on the GK's (and certain other much-sexier places), they are generally few and far between, being filled primarily by injured members of the demo teams, or someone the team really liked, but was injured in tryouts. As Scott said: the promotion rate for riggers is really slow. The rigger we have on the USASOC parachute team has been in the army 12 years and is still an E5. By comparison, I made E7 in 8 years. PM me for more info. Chuck

dick and balls in the pump!

If you pull in a full track and do not sit up, then you will be able to tell you have a hesitation with a standard bridle. If you pack with your lines to your back and your grommet straight to the pin, then sit up at about the 1.5 second mark after throw, then you may never experience a hesitation. If you don't do all these things, then I can guarantee you are gonna get caught low at some point. Me? I jump a nine foot bridle all the time now and it only helps. I also always pack "pin to grommet" and that also helps. Bottom line is that there is absolutely no downside to jumping a nine-foot BM bridle. Chuck

Hey, Ramon, my brother. You said "stinker." As for the comparison of Stiletto vs. Cobalt being "the same", the poster is totally confused. I can tell you that as a person who jumped Stilettos for six years prior to stepping up to far better performing mains. There are a total of zero competitive swoopers jumping Stilettos in competitions other than the PSN. chuck

All I have to say is: 1.5 days till meltdown.

If you don't show up in PHX piss drunk, then you MUST not be in the holiday spirit. chuckie

Hey Arlo, what do you mean, Satan? I am simply a monkey with a mission! PS: it was ON Saturday night! Chuckie

I am all over some tracking dives, my monkey!

I gotta tell you; I would love to fly a SkyRay. Problem is, they are fucking TERRIBLY expensive and I have not seen one in the states. The closest thing I think we have here is the Apache. Chuckie

Tom, that was me logged on as Katie. PM me right away. chuck

Uh, that was me, logged on as Katie. Chuck

I jump nine-foot bridles on both of my rigs and don't notice any notable difference. True, your "snatch" does not come for a half second later, but that is fine with me. It certainly does not hamper my surfs if that is what you are asking. Chuck

That is unfortunate seeing as how we already have already purchased our non-refundable plane tickets. Oh well, I am sure we will find plenty to get into. Chuck Blue Raeford Parachute Center

If someone comes to the DZ and doesn't ask for specifically what they are looking for, they are, too, likely not to find anything. Ask where we are and you will get an answer. I know both Larry and Tony were working at SkyKAT and Tom Gade was in the school. Dude. I can guarantee Nathan was there. What do you drive? Chuck

You are whining like a biotch; quit it. Come to Eloy and get blistered, then you won't give a shit how short a time you were actually there. Chuck "ten days in Eloy"

Gracias, Wendy.

four left the box. There's four left in the box.

Ass Monkey, Monkey...That funky monkey!

Oh, I forgot to say that I know several people who use Sunto Vectors as their only visual altimeter (along with their three-tone dytter). They work perfectly in freefall, so long as they are set correctly. Chuck

who you been talking to? LOL Scott, my brother! You are becoming a straight-up PIMP! Big Daddy Chuckie

g-g-g-gimme some 'o dat HOT SHOCKLIK!