Aviatrr

Intentional hook turns are a choice to be made by each jumper.. In my opinion, people should not preach to others regarding their choices.. Informing is one thing - but don't preach.. Most jumpers are 100% aware of the risks they are taking when making hook turns.. I don't criticize you for your choice regarding Cypres/RSL(or anything else for that matter), don't criticize my choice to hook turn(which I don't do, by the way).. I would love to see low turn fatalities/injuries eliminated just like everybody else.. If an individual chooses to hook, they are taking the risk.. Lets not try to start imposing all kinds of rules(no hook turns, all jumpers must use a Cypres, no wing loadings over 1.5, etc) that will make this sport less enjoyable.. Everybody has to take responsibility for their own actions - they are the one who will suffer the consequences. Mike

Why couldn't you jump today? I'm kinda wondering if tomorrow is gonna happen or not.. Forecast is for 20-30mph gusty winds tomorrow down in Sebastian.. Tried that once - never again.. I just got home from a week at work, with beautiful weather, only to have lousy weather here at home.. Figures.. Oh well, we'll see what happens.. Mike

Hey, somebody has got to pass gas on the way to altitude....it's a tradition.. Just blame it on the one guy(often seems to be a TM) that's sleeping.. Either that or the pilot.. "Hey, guys.. Ever notice how it STINKS on every load we're on?" "Yea, must be the pilot.." Oh, and if somebody puked on me....I'd toss their ass out.. If they don't get full altitude - that's their problem! The above average(way over 14) Mike

Grasshopper - I don't think you're going to find a round certified under TSO 23(c) - the most recent TSO.. I believe they are all 23(a) and (b).. Alan - you would probably know more about that specific subject - anything to add? My main point was that people knock certain reserves for nothing more than 'brand loyalty' or just the fact that they were always told that was the best.. I hear people knock the Tempo, the Raven, the PD, etc...but when asked why, they can't be specific.. It gives newbies the idea that everything is substandard compared to brand 'X'.. From what I have seen, the majority of experienced jumpers are more concerned with having a small, streamlined rig(to go along with their handkerchief special main) than having a reserve appropriate to their weight.. I recently watched a guy with a 200+lb exit weight land a PD126R(after chopping, I believe, a 79ft Extreme VX), and it was not a pretty sight.. His leg was the size of a watermelon about 10 minutes later - more than likely broken.. As far as overspeeding reserves.. Well, it happens, but it's not as if people intend to deploy their reserve head down.. Most reserves are certified to 130knots, which is about 150mph.. Most jumpers are not exceeding these speeds at pull time.. Quite a few are overloading the reserves, though, which I would assume lowers the max deployment speed at which the reserve will fail.. Mike

One of the common mistakes people make when psycho packing is not flipping the bundle the right way after bagging it.. After you flake the canopy, you then flip it over, creating a 180degree line twist.. After bagging the canopy(remember to put the bag on upside down, since the canopy is now upside down), flip it back the other way 180degrees.. Some people mistakenly flip it another 180, giving it a full line twist, then stow the lines. Also, be sure you leave 12-18" of line unstowed so that the bag can lift off your back a good bit before the lines begin to unstow. Mike

I see many people saying "don't buy anything but XXX brand reserve" or "don't buy a cheap reserve".. If you buy a reserve certified under TSO 23(c), you can't go wrong.. Don't overload the reserve(manufacturers max suspended weight limit), and you won't have a problem.. I guess many people assume "more expensive is better".. Well, not always the case.. Mike

Sorry to break it to ya Skreamer, but most pilots aren't going to be able to tell if the wind has shifted or increased/decreased in strength unless it's VERY dramatic and they are paying VERY close attention to drift angle and groundspeed(assuming they have a GPS to tell them groundspeed).. When you get the winds aloft at the DZ, it's just a forecast.. Often those are way off.. I have seen 100 knot winds at 15,000ft when only 40 knot winds were forecast.. The airplanes that I fly are equipped with multi-million dollar avionics to tell us things like the wind - most jump aircraft don't have anything but a GPS. Mike

Froggie Listen to your instructor.. Take all advice(including this) with a grain of salt.. Oh, and if your DZ doesn't do it normally(I'm sure XKeys does), DEMAND emergency procedure practice in a suspended harness.. Nothing like pulling that cutaway handle, dropping a good foot and getting slammed, and THEN seeing if you get distracted or remember to pull the next handle..

Well, none of those apply to me.. Mine sits in my gun safe when it's not at the DZ with me.. Hey, I've got the extra room in my safe, and who's gonna be able to get into it with anything short of a tank? Mike

Sorry Grasshopper, but you aren't going to 'outmaneuver' most aircraft.. That is, if you spot them in time.. Keep in mind, if you have a jet moving at you at 250 knots(the speed limit below 10,000ft) or as high as 380 knots(there is no speed limit above 10k) - you have about 16 seconds from the time you can identify them until impact. Do you look behind you every 8 seconds, giving you 8 to get out of the way? I feel safe under canopy down low, but up high I am extra vigilent.. Things happen fast.. I once flew within 100ft of a 4 way RW group.. I was climbing out of Houston, through 10,000ft.. I didn't know there was a DZ there, and the controllers never said a word.. We just saw 'em go zippin by.. We were doing 350 knots - about 405mph.. Mike

Being a pilot, I am allowed to jumpseat on most airlines for free.. To do this, I have to be in uniform.. When I jumpseat with my rig over my shoulder, I always hear people saying.. "Why does the pilot have a parachute?" My favorite? When I was on the cockpit jumpseat, because all the seats in the back were full.. The Captain was obviously somewhat familiar with rigs, because he asked.. "Hey, does that thing have one of those little explosive charges in it?" (referring to Cypres of course) When I replied Yes, he said "Hey, why don't you find room in one of the overhead bins in the back for it".. Mike

It kinda scares me that you guys all know so much about 4 BAAAAAAD movies.. I've seen 'em all once - that was once too many.. Mike

Your Hornet opens too slow when you psycho pack it? How long does it take? Mine opens in 600-700ft consistently. Psycho pack(what I normally use), PRO pack, or flat pack. PRO normally yields off heading openings, while the psycho gives me great on heading openings. I've only been whacked once - when I pulled in a track. It's kind of expected then. Mike

Something that I think should have some effect on your decision on whether or not to use an RSL, that nobody has mentioned so far, is your typical opening altitude. I normally pull at 2.5, sometimes lower. I believe that an RSL is helpful in my case. Realistically, I may not even KNOW I have a bad canopy until 1.5. If I cutaway at 1.2 or 1.3, I want that reserve out ASAP. If I'm pulling high, I will disconnect my RSL. If I pull at, say, 6k for some canopy play, I have a bit of altitude to burn getting stable. Not that I pull that high often, but occasionally.. Mike

I keep my hair really short. Cut it down to 1/4" or less every other week.. Low maintenance.. Mike

Ah, well...I sign most of my posts, just not that one.. Sometimes I forget - I'm not very bright, ya know? Mike

"Don't worry, it's VFR...We can jump"

For me, personally, anything that puts me in the saddle below 1400ft is a low pull. That's getting too close to NO MAN'S LAND for me. I don't want to be anywhere near the Cypres fire range. I normally pull at 2.5, in the saddle by 1.8. What a high pull is defined as depends on what I am doing, and who else is on the load. If I am going to pull anywhere over 3k, I let everybody know I am pulling 'high'. Of course, I don't consider it a 'high pull' when a student pulls at 5k. It depends on comfort level and experience. Mike

I think I've got everybody beat....I've got over 6,000 landings.. And those are just the ones with ME at the controls.. Scary thought, eh? Mike

I should be able to make it on Sunday. I work until Sat, so I probably won't get home until late Sat night. Who knows when I'll make it down Sun - maybe early morning, maybe around noon. Look for the black/maroon freefly suit with tye die(same colors) stripes, matching rig, and REALLY short hair.