MotherGoose

Well, I apologize for diverting the thread for a moment there, back to the graph, I'll have to agree that with the advent of AAD's, Tandems, AFF etc., the sport has been made more accesible to the general public. Also, I'd draw the conclusion that with the ease and affordability of video camera's, the sport has been showcased more throughout the 90's and well into the present. More and more one time jumpers have video evidence of their brave escapades, and it probably inspires friends and family to jump. This sport is easy to get into up to an A license, but IMO it gets very difficult and pricey very fast, and that's where the numbers start to dwindle. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

But I just look up the USPA website : C License 3. Persons holding a USPA C license are able to exercise all privileges of a B-license holder, are eligible for the USPA Instructor rating (except USPA Tandem Instructor), participate in certain demonstration jumps, may ride as passenger on USPA Tandem Instructor training and rating renewal jumps, and must have-- a. met all current requirements for or hold a USPA B license b. completed 200 jumps, including accumulating at least 60 minutes of controlled freefall time c. landed within two meters of target center on 25 jumps d. aerial performance requirements, either: (1) during freefall, perform in sequence within 18 seconds-a backloop, front loop, left 360-degree turn, right 360-degree turn, right barrel roll and left barrel roll (2) completed at least two points on an 8-way or larger random skydive e. Passed a written exam conducted by a current USPA I/E, S&TA, or USPA Board member. Ok so it says met all requirements OR hold a B license, very interesting You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

I suppose this is only in the USPA? I did not know that. Not sure if it makes to much sense to me, but I'm sure there is a very good reason for it. A straight to C? Why even have a B ? You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

OK, so I did a bit of heavy drinking last night and I'm not "functioning" as well as I should be, so I'm pretty sure someone is going to make me look like a complete moron for asking this next question that probably has a very obvious answer, but ...... here goes ..... How can you issue more C licenses than B licences ?? Would you not need more B's than C's?? Please tell me Im not a big dumbass here ... You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

HMMMMMM .... 7 years ??? I thought that was a 2, I could be wrong. As for my profile, it shows a Sabre 190, but what it doesn't show is the other canopies that I have been playing with this summer including many jumps on a Crossfire 169 (VERY FUN!) I appreciate the concern, but I assure you I am not fast-tracking my canopy progression. One of my friends will give me their 170 for a bunch more jumps before I start flying the 150 full time. It wouldn't make sense to buy a 170 and then have to downsize again in a few months. I'm not a swooper, in fact I'm very conservative under canopy, and I am not making any of these decisions without the advice of senior jumpers and riggers. Back to the topic of the thread ..... I like the idea DSE has about buying one of these as a secondary rig. It seems to be a comfy reliable rig, but with the lack of availability on spare parts, you'd rather not jump it as often. Most are priced right for a backup rig. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Duly noted . . . Not to mention the resale value in a couple of years. So then....back to my perilous rig shopping.... You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Actually, I keep looking at every rig that is for sale with a 150 main for a 6ft 185lb person. Obviously I have no questions about Vectors, Mirages, Javelins, Wings, etc. Why would I, support is available. When I come across Reflex or Eclipse, I ask a question in the Gear forum to become more enlightened on equipment I know nothing about nor have never even seen. Money is not the only factor here. I would like to know from the jumping community what the general feelings are towards the Eclipse and if they went under because they were selling sub-standard gear. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

So shoot me if I'm not in the loop, when did Stunts Adventure Equipment cease operations, and more importantly, when did they start selling artistic cuisine on their website?? CLICK HERE So if I were to buy an Eclipse, who can I turn to for service?? PS ... tough competition out there or what? You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

"Financially-responsible Skydiver" ??? Isn't that an oxymoron ?? The real answer here, Ryan, is one that no one has really touched on . . . and that is CREDIT CARDS !!! LOTS AND LOTS OF CREDIT CARDS . . . MAXED TO THE NOSE!!! ... ok...ok that only works for so long, actually the solution is simple. There is one thing that EVERY dropzone is in need of. Something that requires a bit of hard work and dedication but is one of the most financially rewarding jobs on a dropzone. Learn to pack parachutes. All different kinds of canopies and different techniques. Get really good at it. Its the best investment you will make in your skydiving career. No matter where you travel to skydive, you can always pack on the side to pay for your fun jumps. When you are just starting out in the sport, its the single best way to pay for jumps. Later, as experience develops, camera flying, tandem, AFFI, etc., will be a much funner way to make some loot, but until then . . . TRUST ME . . . pack. Wherever there's a dropzone, there are jumpers looking for packers. That just my opinion, its worked well for me so far. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

So do you have any Reflex's kicking around that could be for sale ?? You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

But was freeflying on the agenda at the time ?? How do these puppies hold up to today's challenges of sit or head-down for instance? Do they require mods ? You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Damn liar !!! You'll get out if someone says go . . . alti check in the air!! (jump-whore) You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Oh I wouldn't worry about a beer shortage on that load. There were a few firsts, including my first 10 way . . . Let the flow !!!! As for memorable milestone jumps pfloyd, I'm pretty sure there are no hard and fast rules on what makes the cut. As long as it was a milestone for you. We totally thought that Chad wouldn't get his 500th until next year because of crappy weather for the last 2 months !! But then at the onset of this past weekend, we saw the weather would be favourable and it was our last weekend of the year at S.T.I., so we set the challenge. He needed 16 to make 500 and he actually pulled it off, in style I might add. It was very amazing to watch this guy jump-land-pack 15 times this weekend like clockwork. Not only was the 500th jump 10-way a milestone, but the 36 hour adventure to get there was a milestone in itself. **Just a sidenote here . . . if you don't think its tough to do 16 jumps in 2 days, you haven't jumped a Cessna 182 dropzone in late November. Trust me, it was an accomplishment. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

OH ... good to know. The DZ.COM GEAR pics threw me off then. It appears as though the regular reflex is an older design. Great, thanks. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Hey Folks, if you own a REFLEX system right now, are you pretty much shit out of luck for service or spare parts, etc. ?? Is this company completely off the map ? I came across this ad on in the classified's : REFLEX and I was wondering what the consensus is on owning a Reflex nowadays. Also, not sure if this rig is a reflex or an S-Class, I would imagine the latter is the preffered rig. Any info would be very helpful, thanks. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Well I'm not gonna say that it wasn't hard work, but it was well worth it. Getting you on 16 Cessna loads in two very short days was no small feat, especially since Friday, we only had the one plane!!! GASP! But you managed to get on all 8 loads on Friday by some small miracle. Then, to toot my own horn, I'd like to remind you that I woke up at 6:30am on Saturday to check the block heaters on the planes, and low and behold, the timers didn't kick in so I plugged them in manually. Imagine if the first load hadn't gotten off the ground just after 9am ??? We already cut it so close !!! It was an amazing weekend all around and a wicked way to cap off a great year. I could not have imagined a better weekend in late November !! Wait till you see the year end video . . . its a freaking masterpiece !! BLUE SKIES TO ALL . . . you should all learn something from this young fella . . . if you have skydiving dreams . . . go get 'em !! ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE . . . I love this sport. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

SEE HERE CSPA ONLINE PIMS PIM1 - Page 6 Section 2.5 I don't think this is up to date though. I could swear that they changed the A's to 2200ft no also. I could be wrong. Not sure if that's the latest revision. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Thanks for shitting in my cornflakes pal . . . Screw this, I'm taking Friday off to jump my ass off!! PS... the sky is falling and the apocalypse is upon us . . . blah...blah...blah... drink and jump, life's short...enjoy it. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

I know its bound to happen but I just have not been exposed to it that much. Of course packing fast is not the CAUSE of mals, but you must admit, that's its not helping the situation?? I'm with you guys, I recently explained to a student packer that parachute openings are a lot like the lottery. Mals are very random and at times, unexplainable. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

I think I'm starting to get the point ... general consensus : DON'T DYE YOUR CONTAINER. Loud and clear. I guess I'm just gonna have to live with this faded pink and baby blue number I got for a while longer. I'm sure it will be a hot seller in the classified's one day. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

well that's something that I would love to see in person. I've seen an 8 minute pack job from start to close and the guy was blazing !!! There were flames and lightning bolts shooting out of his ass. I did not completely like the speed at which the line sets were quartered and then how the roll was dropped and wrapped. That's where the mals happen. And to think that you could shave that down another few minutes?? I believe the word is LUCK. LUCKY that all the chutes have opened fine SO FAR. But let me make something perfectly clear here. That's just my opinion. I do not have nearly enough knowledge in the sport to push my opinion as prophecy. And a lot of my friends will say I'm full of shit too . . . so we're all good then. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

But the main concern is the selling feature, ie. the trade-in?? How smooth did that go ?? If canopy prices went up, did that change anything with this deal? Is the first main you get "used" or "new", and that goes for the downsize as well, is it "used" or "new". You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Interesting responses. Its amazing that in this day and age, there isn't a safe chemical or organic dye that would not harm fabric. Not even a natural food coloring ?? I liked the guy with the markers . . . lots of time on his hands. Permanent markers may be good for little things like piping, but to do the whole container ... thats special. You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

Let's say the container you have is sun-damaged or the colors are just not hip and trendy anymore, can anything be done about this?? Is there a clothing dye that is safe for containers ?? You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

http://www.zoodive.com/index.php?main_page=page_2 So basically I'm out shopping for a rig and I come across this ad on DZ.COM. Is this for real?? Are there any satisfied/dissatisfied customers of Zoodive?? It sound kinda too good to be true. Any opinions?? thanks You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.