Aviatrr

Even better.....get a job where they require lots of experience and training....but do it by just BS'ing your way in...then just kick back, rake in the dough, and let the co-pilot do all the work that you don't know how(or what) to do! Uh....just a suggestion...not that I've tried it or anything! Mike

So........you have to refill it every few days? Sounds like a hassle to me...just go with the mega-keg! Wow....good to know....if I leave home for 3 months and 29 days, I can still drink it all before it gets that "not so fresh feeling"... Mike

QuoteSorry. It's not really something most of us are ready for, and alot of us are not even qualified for it yet.Quote Sorry, I should have stated the "qualifications"(which I think are total bullshit, BTW) for such a thing....but I really disagree with the "not ready" comment. If you are "not ready" for a cutaway, you should not be skydiving. You really have the odds stacked in your favor when you are doing an intentional cutaway - you have TWO reserves, and you KNOW what's coming(whether you pack a mal or just plan on cutting away from a "good" canopy). The way I look at it, personally....if somebody can't handle an intentional cutaway, chances are they can't handle an unplanned cutaway. I guess I was lucky I got that out of the way on jump #1 - I never had any doubt after that as to whether I could handle it properly or not. Mike

Since there will be such a large turnout it seems, is anybody interested in jumping an intentional cutaway rig? I'd like to try to get RWS to bring theirs down, or see if they will let me borrow it to take down. If not, I'm pretty sure Jump Shack has one they loan out. We would need a rigger to re-pack the reserve each time...well, depending on the rig. Strong has a rig with 2 mains and a reserve(all on the back), but I think RWS uses a modified sport rig with a belly mounted reserve(for the last chance). Maybe we can get a rigger that will be attending to help out with that. Mike

A couple weeks ago, Mick said he thought that the Otter would be around in mid October....didn't ask about the Skyvan, though. Mike

I have caught misrouted/open chest straps, cutaway/reserve pillows tucked under the harness, PC's halfway out of the BOC pouch, etc. several times. I couldn't care less what people think when I question their gear if I feel it's a safety issue....or if I'm just not sure. Most appreciate it, some don't. I get people telling me my chest strap is misrouted fairly often, because of the way I route the excess strap. I am always happy to show 'em how it's routed, and that it won't come loose....it just doesn't LOOK normal compared to the way most people thread their straps. Mike

What happened to your suit? How'd it get damaged? Mike

I'm planning on it, but it's looking like the weather may not be cooperating with me tomorrow. The forecast for Sunday looks decent, though. I'll drop in when I get there and see if you can go out and play! Mike

I'm about 10 minutes from MCO...when you find out for sure, and have an idea when you'll be arriving/leaving, let me know....I should, at the very least, be able to get you down to Sebastian - but I couldn't say for sure about the return until I know when. Mike

Ahh, so you've got the full 4 years ahead of you? Or did you start with some college credit already? I considered Riddle back in '93, but at that time you couldn't even start flying until in your Junior year....so I went elsewhere, got all ratings and a 2 year degree(plus 20 more credits) in 23 months..then finished the 4 year while instructing and flying freight. All in all, I must say...I'm happy with my career choice...I hope you enjoy it as well. Mike

Have you been to any of the local DZ's yet? Check out Deland...there are lots of people there that live in Daytona. I'll be out there tomorrow, and then probably spend the rest of the weekend in Sebastian(a bit longer of a drive for you, but not horribly long). I spent 2 years in Daytona, now in Orlando....I have to say, I like Daytona much better than Cincy!

...and I'm a nylon crack addict. Went out to Deland today, and did a BM jump with Ray. Absolutely-freaking-awsome! I was completely amazed with the distance we covered. We exited about 1/4 mile upwind of the airport, flew upwind for a few seconds, 90 left turn to fly crosswind for about 15 seconds, then turned downwind....and ended up about 1/2 mile the other side of the airport(the runway we flew along is 6,000ft long, so we must have covered a good 2 miles overall). Needless to say, I was damn impressed(and giggling like a school girl after I got under canopy). I only got to make one other jump today before the weather moved in....but I did buy a used Classic I suit from Skydive Deland($250, and it fits great!)...and then went over to Birdman to be measured for a new S3. I figure by the time the S3 is done, I will easily have 50+ flights on the Classic. I look forward to flying with many of you over the holidays in Eloy! Hopefully 4-6 weeks will be enough time to dial in the S3 enough to hang with the rest of you flyin 'em. Mike edit: For those of you considering trying a BM suit.....Asaf at BM told me that with my experience, I could just read the manual and then go fly a suit. I'm sure they would've given me a quick ground lesson when I picked the suit up at their shop, but I didn't think it was a good idea for me to go that route when there are several BMI's at Deland. I highly recommend getting instruction before/on your first flight.

Hmmm....chicks in skimpy clothing and no underwear.....is there a marathon in my area soon?! Mike

Cool....same wing loading here....THE CHASE IS ON! Mike

If the insurance ends, so will my membership. Hopefully the DZ's will start dropping their "Group Membership", or at least not REQUIRE membership to jump there. I can't see USPA going away, though....they are the only "certifying" agency for Instructors and Coaches, right? I wonder if the FAA will step in and make these FAA certificates if the USPA can't maintain the control(of instructor requirements/certification) they have up until this point...? Mike

It took you 2.5 hours to go 12 miles?! Damn, that's SLOW! You're car must be in REALLY bad shape! Mike

Ray Dutch(rdutch on the list) is a BM instructor, and could bring down some suits I'm sure. Mike

So what's to keep the reserve PC from fouling on a partially freed main(still hung up somewhere, such as a line trapped in a grommet)? I have not yet gotten to see the skyhook, so I'm not sure exactly how it works. Mike

Exactly. Feel that the pin is in the same orientation it was when you packed it(if not, it's an indication it's been pushed around - get somebody else to take a look at it), and that the closing loop is near the head of the pin. I do this all the time. I have seen people ask for a pin check, and have somebody open the flap, move the bridle out of the way, check the pin, close the flap, and leave bridle sticking out from underneath the flap. That's a premature deployment waiting to happen - especially when freeflying. If it's not somebody I trust immensely(and I am 100% sure they know my model rig and will do it the way I want it done), I'll do it myself. Mike

You can make ANY canopy open hard if you don't pack it right. The original Sabre was not tolerant of any packing errors, however slight(at least, mine wasn't). The Sabre2 has given me nothing but great openings. The only time I ever had an even remotely hard opening(and I would only call it brisk) was when I deployed immediately after going to my belly from a sit. Mike

A freebag landed less than 2 feet away from me about 30 seconds after landing. I was dead center of the landing area. The freebag was mine. My main landed less than 20 feet away. I never questioned that pilots spotting ability again. Mike

I'm definitely getting it. Jari summed it up pretty well today when we were talking about it.....he said it's the ONLY cutaway he's ever had to use on the suit, due to bad line twists. Mike

I'll be there for the 1st, but have to work the 2nd. Then again, I'm kinda feeling a little under the weather on Nov 2nd.... Mike

Wow....all these people with opening issues...I guess they must have quite a few canopies with line trim problems. My Sabre2 is an early serial number(118), and I have had absolutely no problems with it. I load it at 1.5, so that may have something to do with it...but I can only imagine it affecting the end cell closure and slider issues, not the off heading openings. I have had a couple of 90 or 180 off heading openings.....but it's usually because I forgot to take the half line twist out that I create when flipping the canopy over during a psycho pack.. Mike

What kind of rig/canopies? When will it be here? If you have it by this weekend, look for me at Sebastian....maroon and black Mirage G3(says Mike on the left mudflap), matching freefly suit, and possibly a BM suit. Blue/purple Sabre2 main....light blue reserve(hopefully nobody will see it though!).. Mike