SkymonkeyONE

No shit. I can think of no reason why someone would do that. I wonder if someone did that because they were getting snapped on opening and were trying to alleviate some of the snatch force. Not too smart, that's for sure.

Yes, tongue out means "legs out" and is typically used on an old Level 4 skydive just after you exit with an unruly student intent of taking you on a Missouri Boat Ride.

I would think that it would easier to confuse "legs out" w/ the one finger pull signal (one finger vs. two fingers). I use a tap to thier altimeter or look at my altitmeter to get the student to check altitude. Hook Likewise, I tap either wrist to get them to wake the hell up and look at their alti. I don't have any problems with the universal "one finger pointed in any direction" signal. I am very cognizant of using my whole hand to point out things on the ground, in the air, etc, and am careful to use the whole hand for the "OK, now do a flip or barrel roll" signal. I think this all comes down to instructor proficiency.\ Chuck

BWAHAHA! Good one, Derek! Didn't anyone say they were swoop lords, now did they? My favorite GK botched swoop of all time was at last years PSN when John Hoover piled into the pond directly in front of the judges stand. The 4-way guys were there as guest judges and they were attempting a synchronized pond swoop on their stiletto 120's (Gasp!). Anyway, John piled in, but was a good sport about it. Another one was about a decade ago when one of the younger 8-way guys, Darren Schuster was coming over the DZ flipped up onto his slider. When he went to unflip, he caught a foot in his front riser and spiralled in upside down into a mudhole behind the outer hanger; NICE, but I digress. I feel like a complete thread hijacker now.

That was the GK tandem team at Lost Prarie. Still, it's all about rolling around on the ground at a boogie.

RUN for your life! Oh never mind, I had HER running for her life. Hooty HOOOO! Chuck

I have done a LOT of CRW with a Vector 2, since it was all I had at the time. The only time the reserve flap became an issue was during fast-ish rotations. Chuck

Errr....Isn't Dove married?

I have been to plenty of dropzones that -will not- do two passes if they think the spot is OK. Fortunately, Raeford is not such a place. What is the protocol at SDC? Is it a one-pass only DZ? I have only allowed myself to get hosed by a team one time and I made them buy a case of beer (GK 8-way team in 1991). While it may be a team's job to do well in a meet, it is NOT their right to hose the rest of the paying customers; especially students. All that being said, I would have hit the buttons for a go around if I were the original poster. Chuck

Boston Market here sucks completely. Too bad, I really like the items they serve; they just fuck it up in prep. As far as one-pot meals goes, I am a complete Schwans fan. The dude rolls up in a truck, drops off your chow, then you stick it in the freezer till it's time to eat. I think the very-longest any of their products requires in an oven or on the stove is 23 minutes. Anyway, my favorite Schwans food is the "chicken rigatoni(sic?) alfredo". It cooks in 16 minutes and is awesome. Chuck

I believe Dan was probably talking about sewing tollerances. The most perfectly cut pieces of fabric in the world will not do you a bit of good if you have seams that are a half inch off in some places and right on the edge of the fabric in others.

there are occasionally some suits for sale on the actual BirdMan site: www.bird-man.com. You can also find some on the BASE board.

Raeford Parachute Center, NC for me, Slotperfect, Seamonkey, Coconut Monkey, TonyT, and a host of others. 1 Otter, 1 Super Otter, 1 CASA 212, 2 C-182's, 1 Twin Bonanza (which we don't fly anymore, but DO put christmas lights on over christmas holiday)

I have no idea where my original response got to, so I will reiterate: First, the Golden Knights do not have "their own wind tunnel". True, the best wind tunnel on the planet is at Fort Bragg, but it belongs to the JFK Special Warfare Center and School and was constructed solely for the purpose of training military freefall parachutists. This, because the one we previously had to use at Wright Patterson AFB sucked completely. The time that the GK's get to use the tunnel is when regularly scheduled special operations units or the MFF school are not in there; typically from 0530 until about 0730 in the morning on day's when they can talk Mike Sweeny into coming in that early. Since Mike is a GK alumni, he makes concessions for them on a semi-regular basis. Second: people don't just "walk on" to the GK competition teams. With VERY few exceptions, every competitor spent his time out on the road as a demonstrator. Raw RW talent is not all that it takes to get onto the team; just ask Ron Hill (now back on Frost, in Florida after a shitty three years in the "regular" army). He rolled the dice several times and did not get selected. Unfortunate; he is a good skydiver. While there is probably not a nicer skydiving job in the USA, it is certainly not as glamourous as some would have you believe. Anybody out there think a buck sergeant in the army makes good cash? Better think again. As far as teams with better deals, consider the way the French team does it (or at least they way they did it back when I competed in 4-way in the early 90's). The French government fully subsidizes that team. Anyone with the talent to try out for vacant slots is welcome. They make exactly what they did before they made the team, for the entire duration of their stay. For example, if I were a mechanical engineer making say $70K a year, when I made the team the French government would pay me that amount until I left. How's that for nice? This on top of all your gear and training jumps. The Russian team was made up entirely of military guys last time I cared to check. They are also fully subsidized by their government. Not sure if that has changed, but once again, I know it used to be that way. So, you see, the GK team does not have it nearly as good as some teams do. Consider this: our guys still pay for gear to go to the world meet. They are not allowed to accept equipment as "gifts" from sponsors, so they all end up paying for it, albeit at a much reduced price. GK competitors and demonstrators are two different animals. Each section has a very different mission, but both do very good at achieving their designated goals. I am married to a six-year veteran of the Golden Knights. She was a member of the cadre when Derek (hook) went to tryouts. I understand the anymosity; I went in 1990, made every one of the 100 skydives (back when the program was only one month long), finished the program, but didn't get my jacket because SF branch didn't want to release two guys. I was one ANGRY motherfucker for a long time after that, but eventually got over it. Tryouts is simply a game designed to weed out unbecoming attitudes and train you in basic demonstrator skills. OK, I am done rambling for a bit. Just let me close with this: Five-time 8-way world champion Paul Rafferty is one of my best friends, as is newly crowned 4-way champion Chris Talbert. These monkeys still get out and skydive on weekends for shits and grins and are TOTALLY approachable. I went to tryouts with Joe Trinko, Cary Mills, Tim Wagner, J.K. Davis; all ended up on the 8-way team. I never saw attitude out of any of them, ever.

Stacy is very flexible. I have seen photographic evidence. Chuckie

Lovely days.... My first rig was a blue Mini System with a R/W/B Papillon. My dad still has that rig in his basement loft and it, as well as a PC he still has, get jumped a few times a year by young guys who have never jumped a round. Here at the GB club, we have a pristine MC-4 (military version the PC) with only like five jumps on it now. Scott Sheck did like an 8.4 second hit and rock at the POPs nationals last month using it on the dummy load. Chuck

Welcome aboard. Smart business is to read through every single thread in this wingsuit forum, then start asking more-educated questions once that knowledge sinks in. There is a very good thread in here about different types of dives you can do that are fantastic pre-birdman preps. Chuck Blue BM-I

I have had two people pass out under canopy on me, but both one of them "woke up" prior to landing. Both were overweight, both complained that the legstraps were too tight when they got under canopy, but neither could manage to scoot the straps farther under their thighs of the old-style vector passenger harness and subsequently passed out. One in a turn, and one in level flight. I landed both safely and they were both fine as soon as I got the harness off of them. The one that landed passed out was not a big deal at all, since there was a breeze. I stood up the landing in the peas, then let the lady sort of fall back in my lap, lowering her down to the ground.

I load my primary main (75 sq ft) at 2.23 without weights. I load the main currently in my other sport rig at 2.44 (69.5 sq ft) without weights. I load my duty rig at 0.53 (375 square feet) without a rucksack. I load my demo rig (StarTrac 1 260) at 0.67. Chuck

Actually, there are a ton of swoopers still using trips. Hell, I still have a set on one of my rigs. One of the best tangible benefits I loved them for was the increased "feel" during canopy flight. It's hard to explain, but I felt more "accurate" with them. They also lower toggle pressure. Chuck

Dude, my "large" main is a 75 (not counting my StarTrac 1 demo rig) . My roommate jumps the 85 now.

I turn 39 on September 14th. No, I don't look or act it. Chuck

Just a note on general boogie etiquette: stay on the DZ and support the beer/food vendors on the premesis. This is what we pay entrance fees for and it's also the best way to meet new friends.

I know that Wendy was at the dropzone now known as "the skydiving place" (formerly the AirRanch) in Parkton, NC last week or so. I turned her onto it after she got shined at CSS. She was injured up there, healed, bought an RV (to be like ME, LOL!), went to the tunnel in florida several times, and then got back up in the air. That girl is a mess. Chuck

Nobody that I know completes their flare with the rear risers. Everyone transitions from rears to toggles as they approach stall speed. Chuck