SkymonkeyONE

"but this one goes to eleven." Spinal Tap

For those of you that read some or most of that stuff: The long-winded guy that spouted all the crap about making HALO jumps into "hot LZ's" in Viet Nam was completely full of shit. I have a complete listing of the history of military freefall in the Viet Nam era for anyone that might want to hear it. This guy wasn't one of the SIX guys that did it. I am also incredulous at the shit he was spouting about squares being developed specifically for SF and how they called them "paracommanders". What an idiot. Chuck Blue D-12501 2nd generation Special Forces guy and MFFJM (among other things).

You have heard correct. I don't sleep a lot; you can do that when you are dead. You never know what you might miss...LOL! Check out my dad's DZ website Edited by SkymonkeyONE on 7/9/01 12:44 PM.

Yep, Joe is a decent sort. We met and hung out at Perris during the swoop meet. Actually, there were quite a few of us there from the "southern mafia." I drove through Atlanta both ways this weekend on the way to Opelika. I was supposed to stop at Cedartown and drop one of my mains off to get a nose mod, but just didn't have the time. I will be back through next weekend but doubt I will have time to stop and bullshit. Too bad, because I really want to stop and screw around with Hans and the rest. Chuck

Personally, to me the only difference in the FX/Velocity and the VX is it's increased ground-hungriness. Yes, the very best swoopers in the world can get slightly longer swoops out of a VX, but there are still PLENTY of guys that smoke past VX guys under Velocities, FX's, Cobalts and the new Xaos. When the stars are aligned and your technique is dead-on, though, it is very hard to swoop farther than a properly piloted VX. Anyway, I don't think you said what your experience level was, so I can't say whether or not it's what you need to be jumping. chuck

Alas, the wait is over. After resisting the temptation to go post-happy and get past the "enthusiast" stage in a cheesy manner, I have finally reached the next plateau. Shots for my friends! Chuck

To me, they both fly about the same. I bought a VX instead of either of your choices. I figured if I was going to go tri-brace, I wanted the craziest one available. I kept that main about six months then sold it when I started jumping Cobalts. To me, you have to put too much effort into your approach to get the same performance I can get without trying on my Cobalt. There is very little room for error with any of those parachutes, but that doesn't mean that I don't still like them. I would love to have a VX-65 laying around just to play with once in a while. Chuck

Glad to have been of some assistance.

Agreed. A big pocket slider is the ONLY sure-fire way to prevent getting spanked. Do that mod and Psycho pack and you should be good to go. Sabres fly fine, but it is not worth the bodily pain to keep jumping a stock one that spanks you. I cannot jump video anymore because of Sabres and Monarchs. Chuck

I hadn't read that about the midflap, but it's a good idea. We all know that pretty much any rig you buy nowadays is plenty safe for most forms of skydiving. It all comes down to what appeals to you aesthetically and peer pressure, pure and simple. Most every container I can buy in the states can be had for about the same price, so then it just comes down to your own preference. Chuck

Still, there is nothing like a meat helmet to filter the smell of rank airplane farts. That, and they keep my tandem passenger's hair out of my face. Chuck

"I drip sweat and stick to my canopy! Ick!" Pammi, dripping sweat onto your parachute is the best way to get past that "too slippery to pack" stage on PD and Icarus zero-p. That, and salty people are fun to lick. LOL! Chuck

Hurry up and wait is definitely something we get our fair share of in this sport. don't feel bad if it's shitty out. No reason to ever quit doing what you did before you started jumping either; you just have to spread your time out a little more. Granted, you might lose your edge in some of the other things you did before, but that's what the skydiving bug does to people. "Hmm, I bet I could get $700 for my slalom ski!" Chuck

"The only problem with me dabbeling in freestyle is that there are VERY FEW people at my dz or the surrounding ones that practice that discipline." While probably true, I would not let that stop you from doing something that you think you might like. Buy some videos and just go for it. We have plenty of "followers" on DZ's; dare to be different. Have fun. Chuck

Not to be confused with Joe Bennett (also from Georgia), I guess.

It's the little things that get you. It pays to keep an eye out in all directions. Chuck

I check my gear repeatedly on every jump. I "took the short course" the first time I went to the MFF JM course, I was kicked out on the LAST day because I failed to inspect a piece of equipment on my jump buddy. Neither of us had touched our rigs from the time we doffed them to wait for the next plane, but the guy sitting next to my buddy (an Italian guy who barely spoke English) started taking the automatic opener off his rig! Not HIS rig, but my buddy's rig! After being told not to unrig the gear, the Italian guy just shoved it back in the pocket without re-snapping the keepers. I was an idiot not to do a complete gear check, so it's my own fault, but then again I had no reason to believe the gear would be in any different condition than when we took it off. It sucked being recycled (I had been a USPA "I" for over five years at the time), but it definitely taught me a lesson. I do not pay packers...period. I pack my own reserve. Not checking your gear is a poor reason to burn in. ALWAYS check your gear after leaving it unattended for any time. Chuck

I tell my students to lean a bit forward in the harness. I also tell them to keep one foot slightly in front of the other on landing, making sure to keep the knees bent. One thing you might want to do is practice jumping off the seat portion of a picnic table. That is about as hard as you should ever hit the ground if you flare at the correct altitude. Chuck

Will, did you make any jumps with Lyle Presse? That guy is a hoot. Chuck

That is not correct. Cazer pilot chutes require no sewing whatsoever. Now if you were buying a separate monkeyfist handle and going to attach it to an "other than monkeyfist" PC, then yes, you would have to do some sewing. MonkeyFist PC's are complete units and require no sewing. Chuck

Not like it isn't posted everywhere else too, but the Hornet would be a good choice. Contrary to what others would tell you also, a lightly loaded Cobalt would be OK. They truly do fly differently under different wingloads. You really do have a lot of choices. I would test jump a bunch of stuff and see what you like. Chuck

In my opinion the Atom looks like a Talon 2. I don't care much for the looks, but they are well built I guess. Chuck

I use tube stoes on all my rigs. The only time I use a regular rubber band is when I run out of tube stoes. I have not had a packing malfunction in my 20 years in the sport and have used tube stoes since they came on the market. Chuck

That is a fair description. What the original poster might have wanted to know, though, is how it relates to what we do. Therefore, I submit this: Say you and your friends are going to do some 4-way. You are not going to just jump out of the plane, all linked up, facing the earth. The relative wind, in that case, would hit the side of your formation and flip you under or over right away. To exit with stability out the door, one (or a group), must present his or her underbelly (assuming you are doing RW) to the wind, which in most cases is from the front of the aircraft. The points or maneuvers that you perform during this transition from forward flight to vertical descent are considered "on the hill". Chuck

"All I have to say is if you take the power lines. You'll only do it once!" Anyone who thinks this is a joke can write me personally and I will relate some of my experiences with you. I have witnessed at least five powerline hits, some with tragic consequences. Bottom line: take powerlines VERY seriously. Land downwind, on the concrete, on your face before you even consider hitting powerlines. Chuck