SkymonkeyONE

http://www.nervures.com/parachut.htm is the link to the parachute I was talking about. Notice that the person in the photo is also wearing a wingsuit. Chuck

Well, I think I will drink me a cold beer, then run onto post and run some errands. Damn, my goatee be looking good, too! Chuck

No piercings whatsoever (too easy to pull out in a fight), but a lot of color. Both lower legs are completely covered in an aquatic scene, right arm has a huge bio-mechanical shark scene by Aaron Cain, and left arm has a big club-related band around it and another insignia on my inner left forearm. Chuck

I have been 26 for the past 13 years. Yes, this thread has been done before, so doing a search and then adding your info to it would have been prudent. Chuck

Last time I was there, you could jump as quick as you pack. The CASAs are a fairly new addition to the flightline. It used to be they only jumped the Hueys. Anyway, all the jumps are on the San Isidro airfield which is very large. Anyone who has ever been to the carribean will recognize the architecture. Lots of stone and cinder block buildings. As for the meals: no, they are not "dominican MRE's", but it is a military messhall, so don't be surprised. For the most part, you are fed "plato tipico" type fare. No, the base in not in a jungle. It's pretty flat around Santo Domingo, but there are some huge trees, making it feel very tropical. The base is very near the beach and the international airport. Santo Domingo is a straight shot out the front gate of the base with the middle of downtown being about ten to 15 (traffic dependant) minutes by car. If you are staying downtown, make sure it's at one of the big hotel/casino's on "the Malecon". That's the road that runs along the shoreline downtown; it's beautiful and there are some VERY upscale digs for people accustomed to that. Chuck

Well, the "real" answer to the problems associated with both HAHO and the limited feasibility of carrying any amount of load with a wingsuit is the new parapente/skydiving hybrid canopy that is being developed. There was a thread in the Gear and Rigging forum some time ago which actually showed a photo of it. Anyway, the canopy in question has a MUCH farther glide than a standard skydiving canopy, just like a parapente canopy. Problem with those very efficient wings is that you couldn't rig them for a "skydiving" deployment without fear of blowing them up. This, apparently, has been resolved by the company producing the canopy I am talking about. The photo shown in the thread I am talking about actually shows a BASE jumper sailing around under it after a successful cliff jump, apparently trying to catch thermals in order to get back to his original launch point; fantastic. The discussion which followed talked about the fact that if the canopy could be built in a size to support a combat equipped jumper at the optimum wingload, then there would never again be the need to expose troops to the extreme conditions at 35,000 under canopy. One could travel the exact same distance from 12,000 feet of canopy flight. Still, you would be under canopy about the same amount of time, so if exposure to ground surveillance was an issue, then maybe it wouldn't be much of a help. Back to another issue: It takes quite a bit of strength to maintain an effectively inflated wing in a BirdMan suit when you are carrying any sort of load; a piggy-back rider for example. With a load, your rate of descent is also decreased. True, you can still go a VERY long way with a person on your back, but I am not sure how much of a load one could carry. A "three day pack" like we are issued for short CSAR-type missons would sit easilly on top of the back of the leg wing and I have already designed and applied a method of attaching twin 53's and the rest of a military 02 system in an aerodynamic fashion to a wingsuit jumper. We had Jari completely rigged and ready for a "longest freefall" record at Quincy a year and a half ago, but couldn't get the requisite FAA approval. Bottom line here is that I would be plenty comfortable just jumping an 02 system and a three-day pack up to about 75 pounds with a wingsuit, but I don't think I would want to be jumping my big ruck. You just don't have any way of keeping the thing from washing around (can't step through the straps with a leg wing) without affixing some sort of alternate tie-down to the backs of your leg wing. This, of course, assuming you are flying your ruck out back. You would totally ruin the aerodynamics of the suit if you flew your ruck up front. Chuck

Whatever it is, I like it.

Well, you simply don't have the problems of line-overs unless you are PRO packing your tandems anyway. In my opinion it is pure vanity to PRO pack anything bigger than about 150 square feet. Hey, I'll take that 90 degree out-of-the bag initial opening anytime over the longer pack times and line-over possibility of PRO packing. I get a good laugh out of the crazy hooks and stuff packers use just to wrassle a tandem into a coccoon. I roll pack every tandem and every single student or demo main I have ever touched in the past (at least) 15 years. No problems whatsoever and MUCH faster packjobs. Chuck

We have used BOC-only as the primary teaching system at the Green Beret Parachute Activity for a couple of years now for both SL and AFF. As Derek said, there is no "re-learning" now since you start on the rig you will finish the course and continue skydiving with. At Raeford, we have been using BOC-only student Javelins (and older Vector 2's with the same mods) with the reserve-side BOC release since Tony and Kate bought out the school last year. The system works very good, but I have seen a better handle location on some spring-loaded rigs where the handle, made of bridle material, is velcro'd to the left main closing flap and over to the left main riser cover juncture. This makes it so you don't have to "switch hands" away from the legstrap in order to pull, instead being able to pull from the reserve side with your left hand; nice. Chuck

On the contrary, my brother! I have had some fantastic times in the Dominican Republic and have spent an awfull lot of time on the base where they hold the boogie. The last time I was there was in 1998. They hold the boogie during the "Dias de Independencia" and technically, the skydiving is free. What you pay the person who advertises yearly is entirely his fee. There are some outstanding beaches less than 20 minutes in a slow car from the base which are generally covered in European tourists. Yes, it's a third-world country, but I don't think I have ever been to a place where so many people carried cell phones. Prices are dirt cheap on everything one would want to buy, plus there are some very high-class hotels downtown if you can't hang with the austerity of the Special Forces barracks where they lodge most participants. Hey, I don't have ANY problem with free lodging, plus I never complained about the chow I was fed when I was working as an instructor in the Dominican Military Academy just outside the gate of San Isidro. While not a good choice for a "panty waist", it's an outstanding time for the adventurer/skydiver on a budget. It must also be noted that there are US Airforce "milk runs" into Santo Domingo and San Isidro Air Base every week which US military ID card holders can get on for free from most major MAC terminals. Bottom line here is that I have personally reaped the benefit of MANY free skydives in the DR and really like the country. There are some really, really neat places to party in Santo Domingo and at the beaches. Anyone who makes it must absolutely take a trip into town for a night of partying at "La Guacara Taina". Chuck

I am the monkey and YOU are a flunky! Two weeks until meltdown. Chuck

Russel, I have jumped both the canopies you mentioned, so I can tell you that if it is a choice between them, I would definitely spring for the Sigma. The toggle pressure is much lighter, and the bottom-end lift is much better. Chuck

Alabama Style: -"does she have all her teeth?" -"does she have boobs the way we like them?" -"Yes!Q, One on the left and one on the right!" -"Damn, Boy! At least you brought home a white girl this time! (a joke) Chuckie

My rig (with CYPRES) weighs 16.3 pounds. Chuck

OH! Now it's turning into a MORMON thread!? (LDS= latter day saints). No, I am not a gay, black, mormon. Chuck

No, I start with my hands on the outside of the risers, palms in, thumbs up. Chuck

Actually, Rob, so long as you are doing it in a manner that replicates pond swooping, then it's something you may want to keep in practice if you ever want to compete. I am not sure, but it sounds like Dave stuck his front leg, not the one he was dragging behind him. Is that right, Dave?

I have flown with one foot out with no problem. I was jumping my GTi, which is slightly looser than my SkyFlyer, out of the otter with Bobby. When I hopped left out of the plane, my right foot just scooted back out of the bootie. Anyway, while I was flying a bit "caddywompus", I was able to maintain a straight course with a bit of effort. Likewise, I have been able to fly to pull altitude with an arm zipper blown completely out. Chuck

I grab mine, palms in, up as high as possible. I then kind of pull outward initially, then roll my shoulders forward and lay on my chest strap. This, in effect, makes it so I end up with my palms facing out with my thumbs looped around the risers. All I do to transition is roll my wrists out and "un-flip" my thumbs, thus transitioning straight to toggles. Chuck

You can absolutely rear riser a Stiletto and get great results. Three of eight members of the GK 8-way team rear-riser every landing, as do several guys on the tandem team. They all jump between 107 and 120 Stilettos. Chuck

My dad's parents and other members of his extended family were from Opp. There and a little crossroads called Blue's Old Stand. My great grandfather ran with the James Gang and that is where he ran and hid out and started a still. Chuck

I was born in the former Lee County Hospital in Opelika, Alabama. Technically, my dad's 500 acre ranch is behind and in between Auburn and Opelika, but it's an Opelika address. Everyone in my family for the past three generations other than myself is an Auburn graduate. Chuck

No, STI is a civilian contractor. Their planes get used mostly in Florida. We have three military-owned CASA 212's here, plus The Raeford Express CASA 212 (Tango Foxtrot).

Para Gear may still carry the set.

Don't forget the line-set for my 75, brother!