chrismgtis

I can sure vouch for the "dead air". Soon as I let go of the helicopter, I flailed like some cartoon character for about two seconds (while yelling "Ahhhh shiiiiiiiiit" in my helmet). I thought we were at 5000 (I was looking at the helicopters instrument panel). But I may be wrong. I've noticed instrument panel and wrist altimeter are two different things. I think instrument panels have some kind of barometric pressure adjustment mechanism that makes them have to be adjusted sometimes? Dunno. Either way, I looked down and everything was pretty big. One of those "You should ride down" thoughts entered my mind. When that happens I usually think "The hell I will" and pretend I can fly. Would've if I hadn't overslept like an idiot. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Shh.... trying to get freebies... hehe Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Jumped the helicopter at Skyfest. OH MY GOD. THAT WAS AWESOME. I was going to jump the balloon, but I didn't make it back down to the DZ in time that morning. I've jumped the Otter, CASA, Cessna... all great, but the helicopter is now by far my favorite aircraft to jump. That is going down as probably the most amazing thing I've ever done in my life. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Well, that is a good point considering those damn spiders can pick it up off the page. I'll alter it a bit, but yea I don't care if any of you guys have it. I trust most of you. Hell, I trust all of you with my life all the time, whats an email address. Then again, some of you guys posting in the off topic groups are fecking WEIRDOS. Just don't go sending me any midget goat porn or anything, alright? Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

There are several pictures of me under parachute in there that I would love to have if you wouldn't mind giving me copies? Please email me if you don't care to do so, at chrisgrooms @ gmail. I'm the one with the purple/gray parachute here: http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/ThumbPage.aspx?e=3856256&s=50 Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Hell no you weren't. I felt like a whiny little bitch that just wanted to sneak into someones RV and cower into a ball of despair. Heat I can take, humidity just sucks. I'm glad I wasn't the only one that was miserable. Anyway, I wanted to post this on here. I found a newscast of the event on YouTube for anyone that hasn't seen it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWA-7dyBZew&eurl=http://chrisgrooms.net/myblog/2008/06/07/skyfest-2008-skydive-carolina/ BTW, James/SDC... can we get a helicopter on the weekends? I'll just jump THAT from now on. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Yea, but this is confusing. In Europe they are charged what $5-8 "USD" for gas? I've heard so many Europeans complain about this but I'm sure it's not as bad as they want us (Americans) to believe. I've never looked hard into this, but I am willing to bet people get paid better over there, plus in some places people get things like free health care or just really cheap health care, so it probably evens out? (Then again I would never trust a European to tell me the truth about this - as most I've met seem to be full of it). lol Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Hm, you might could contact Skydive Carolina and see if they can help you out. Surely a rigger is in the area somewhere. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

You know, instead of donating skydives, they need to start donating air conditioned rooms for us to stay in. Seriously. I didn't even try to get on a free load, but a room with AC. I would be all over that. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I've driven home every night (an hour drive). Thursday, Friday and will Saturday. It's either sleep in my car or a tent. No thanks, too hot.

You mean, that is what we're hoping will happen haha. Truth is, it doesn't always happen that way. lol They say that is the way you're supposed to land, but most skydivers I've ever seen covered 30 feet of ground while flying 6 inches over it and then landed with still enough forward momentum to end up running it out at least two more steps. Funny thing is it's usually the newer jumpers that land at closer to 0mph and the experienced ones that land with about 10mph left in their momentum. lol Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Not even one professional photographer will tell you to always use manual mode. A professional will tell you that there are many many situations that require you to use every other mode available, even Auto. And not necessarily just in situations where you need a quick shot and can't take the chance to not get a decent shot in manual. Guys, it's OK to use anything but manual. The difference is when you aren't happy with what the non-manual settings will do for you and want something better. It's not a crime. But I do agree that if you spend a lot of money for a camera and are shooting portraits of your family either you have way too much money and want to look trendy or you're being a bit ridiculous (or just got suckered by the Best Buy guy that convinced you it was the thing to do). Honestly, I don't really see a point in saying it's not right to only set for TV mode and let the camera do the work. That isn't my preference, because I enjoy learning everything I can, but if it works for them and camera flying is all they care to do with a camera they spent a lot of money for... what else could you possibly do in free fall anyway? In that situation that is what you have to rely on, if you're messing with anything else you are probably taking a risk of not getting any good shots at all and making the client pretty upset (and then having to issue a refund for something they didn't get). So, I guess most people don't want to take that risk. I don't really blame them. But my question is if their is even any other way to do it reliably? What mode do you shoot in when camera flying? I'm not sure I see how say for example one of the best photographers in the world, who has now become a skydiver and has 2000 skydives could out camera fly the non professional photographer. I could be wrong, but it just seems like that is a completely different world where not many ground skills will help you that much. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Crap. I thought you were going to ask what a high performance canopy was like. That would be a cool question. I've never really heard anything other than scary, dangerous and stupid with anything less than a couple thousand skydives. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I am not extreme at all. I have flown on my belly for 100 skydives. I pull at 4500 feet (because anything lower scares me). Hell, I hardly ever jump with people because even that scares me. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

You guys are flying right now? And with the CASA!? Nice. Thought it wasn't going to be here until Thursday. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Damn, this thread got big since last time I checked it. I want to make a Skyfest/Rodriguez video (for shits and giggles). So if any of you are camera flying and don't mind donating some of your "favorite" footage (after you video it of course) that would be down right awesome of you. (I can't camera fly yet, as I only have 100 jumps and no money to buy that cookie camera helmet), but I do have a camera so I'm going to get as much as I can on the ground this weekend. Pete mentioned being able to use the firewire cable to attach the cameras somehow so someone can record parts of their tape to my minidv. Not sure how that would work, but I'm going to bring a bunch of blank DVDs so we could always just burn the footage to that. If you do donate anything out of the awesomeness of your heart, first off you rock and I will put you in the credits at the end. Just in case you're wondering who I am. I wear a red jumpsuit with yellow sleeves. Yea, it was a bad color decision, shaduuupp. Just ask for Chris these guys know who I am. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

The one time I really remember going "Oh shittt" was ironically above a big blanket cloud formation. I couldn't see the ground and I got ground rush going towards the clouds. Then when I got through the sky opened up and I saw the ground. That was awesome. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I was saved by my AFF instructor when he pulled for me on my first AFF dive. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I'm just pissed about gasoline prices. Don't mind me. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Ah, I see. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

When I originally read this thread it sounded like some drop zones push students out on their first few AFF jumps, starting with one instructor instead of the usual two. Is that the case or did I just misunderstand? Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

You mean typical bullshit started by companies that can afford it because they overcharge customers by 5000% for something they have to use, just like oil companies. Then they never think about how it will effect 99% of the population. Just because they have deep pockets, they think everyone does. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

That's part of the AFF program that I assumed all USPA member drop zones "had" to follow. I guess they aren't as strict as I thought. What rules or guidelines does the USPA require that a drop zone follow for it to maintain USPA membership? Does anyone know? Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Yea, I definitely wasn't recommending it, just admitting that I did it. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan