chrismgtis

That whole point might make sense if I said anything about canopy skills or such. Point is, someone with tunnel time will wipe the floor with you in free fall without vast vast experience over their tunnel time + actual free fall time. And it IS very cost effective when it comes to how much you learn over what you could learn in the air. In the first 10 minutes in the tunnel, so much more made sense and started to click that I was still trying to figure out in almost 100 jumps. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

You have go to be kidding me. Have you ever been in a wind tunnel? 30 minutes of my tunnel time could easily equal 100 of your free falls. I could easily have learned much more. You could have 500 jumps and I could spend an hour in the tunnel and still possibly be a better faller than you. Tunnels are very price effective. For the price you are paying, compared to spending the same amount of money on skydives, you will in fact, with no doubt whatsoever learn far far more and gain much more expertise. So if you're a serious skydiver not out there to just fall and land, the tunnel is a valuable tool. You could either spend $12,000 making 500 jumps or you could spend less than $5000 and achieve a much better learning curve. There are way too many advantages in the tunnel. A coach right there. Plenty of others watching that may be able to provide critique to your tunnel time. 1 1/2 - 2 minute sessions where you can make comments with your coach before you get back in. Video that doesn't cost you $4800/hour, but is instead free which provides valuable material for critique. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

In two years you will be able to do it. You will be 18 and can make your own choice and will also have way more places to do it. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Well now that you're not being told to flare, remember not to look straight down. It's a lot like driving, you want to look so far ahead of you. It will take practice to get the timing right. I had a lot of a crazy landings. I only started to finally get the hang of being more consistent around 40+ jumps.

Are you on radio? I don't know if they do this at all drop zones, but at ours we are put on radio through AFF and given instructions under canopy. The instructors can tell you when to flare this way and it makes it a lot easier to start learning where to flare as a new jumper with no previous experience doing so. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

The funny thing is I've become pretty experienced with dealing with line twists. Nothing like that though. All of mine were pretty stable. Good video. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I probably didn't stretch enough. I'm not sure though, because a few days after the first time in the tunnel I raised an arm up, felt a pain that wasn't there before and now it feels like a tendon or something in my shoulder is messed up. It's been like that for about a week or two. So I don't know if that is related or not. I flew in the tunnel with it like that. It only hurts when I raise the arm to a certain position. Not very painful, just mostly annoying. I was worried that I would have a hard time with the toggles when I jumped afterwards, but I didn't even notice the pain then. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

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

I'm feeling that a little bit after putting 30 minutes in the tunnel, in and out every two minutes. Part way through the tunnel a strip up my arm went numb and part of my thumb. It's been like 4 days and my thumb is still a little numb in the same spot. Odd. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

You guys should read the comments on some of these news sites that people left. It is pathetic how so many whuffos look at skydivers and base jumpers as complete suicidal morons. Pisses me off. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Here is the 3-way video. I edited it up real quick. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T3ssxSj4ic Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

You want it? I can upload it to YouTube or something if you like. You know, you guys could have bumped your head or something in the tunnel when you were doing all that head down. You know so I wouldn't have looked like such an amateur around you guys. j/k Tell you what, I'll try to go in soon and edit your vids and upload it to youtube or I can burn you a dvd if you're around the dz sometime. I just need to finish editing one from the other week for Louis. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Hey, I was trying to be patriotic and different, but Bevsuit messed up the colors on the arms. Now I just look like a super hero. Next time I'll just go with a dark jumpsuit like everyone else. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

We actually did work on that. When Louis and I sat down to talk about what we would work on we had a list of 15 things down. Range of motion was one. I have not participated in any real RW ever, outside of when I was in AFF and the occasional jump with a coach to work on something or a jump with a friend (and this was not very often). I would say that 80% of my jumps are easily solos or jumps where I didn't work on much of anything or at least didn't learn much (as far as RW - I'm constantly working on canopy and accuracy skills). The idea was always to stay with the person when I did do it, and there was a few occasions I worked with an experienced jumper to figure something out. I just stayed away from RW most of the time cause I enjoy jumping alone and working on canopy and landing skills. You do know I'm in the red right? I think I'm doing good for the number of jumps and lack of RW I have, but I also cut out the less perfect parts of the video. Or were you looking at the guy in the black jump suit? Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Google Video is an alternative. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Here is a video from this past weekend. I put in 30 minutes (and 10 minutes the week before). Thanks to Louis French for coaching. I've learned some bad habits in the air over the course of the last year and a half. I spread my arms too far out. I also learned to turn by raising a foot instead of dipping a knee. When you're training they teach you to use your shoulders to turn and that just never felt right to me. Combining the knee movement with that made a whole lot more sense and felt much better. Another thing that is that when I turn and look my body naturally wants to twist at the waist towards what I'm looking at. That is a hard natural habit to get away from. Especially when the other person is way out of your peripheral vision. The tunnel is a hell of a tool. I improved a lot in those 40 minutes. I can't imagine how much better I would be with a few hours in there. http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=2243671776785143409&hl=en If you any of you tunnel guys have some tips, tip away. Post your videos if you have them. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Well, this kind of poll doesn't really make sense, because you're asking what 3 hours of tunnel time will get you by just being in the tunnel. It won't take you through some kind of skill progression like there is an order that we do these things in. It just depends on what you concentrate on your time in the tunnel. Working on belly flying skills won't get you anywhere as far as sit flying. It just depends on how much time you spend sit flying in the tunnel.

You will get it. I don't think most people show themselves as naturals during AFF. Just redo the dive if you have. You will eventually work it out. You would be surprised how one dive can go so terrible with all you're unintentional turns and flips and the next goes very well. Most importantly, talk to the instructor and anyone else at the DZ that is willing. Also, it's always a possibility if you don't mind the cost to get video with your next dive so you and your instructor both can see what is going on and explain it even better. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

And we actually thought we were cool in high school because of the clothes we wore or because we played boring sports like football or tennis. I've often wished I was a skydiver in high school. No one would have had nothing on me. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

And you realize how bad you suck. I bet most people learn the most during that first 10-60 minutes in the tunnel. You can so easily fix the major problems in that amount of time. After that is probably where the real learning comes in - really learning something rather than fixing current problems. It makes you feel like you're in AFF all over again. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Gah. These lucky kids! I have a son on the way in May. Muahahahaha. *Cultivates evil plans to turn his son into a skydiver and tunnel flyer* Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

It wouldn't make sense for a student, at least in AFF or making coached jumps to use a full face. Your instructor needs to be able to see your face. It might even make sense to restrict full face helmets to those with 25+ jumps or such. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Awesome! Thanks. Good idea. I wasn't sure the server would be in an area where it was easily accessible to do that. Or if you guys would allow it. I could understand if anyone didn't want me to do that for fear of an infection. Did I meet you this past weekend? I didn't really catch anyones name. I'm not sure who you are. I guess I'll just ask for Matt. I ordered an external drive and tried to make sure I got one that Vista would have drivers for to make it a lot easier. I prefer not to have to install any drivers on the computers up there if possible. Hopefully that is how it works out. If they haven't been deleted yet, can you keep the files from Saturday so we can get a copy of our tunnel videos this weekend? We should be there. I'm just not 100% sure yet. I'm waiting on word from Louis. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7176185.stm "Blu-ray supporters are touting the decision by Warner Bros to shift allegiance as a tipping point." Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Really its just crack versus coke. I guess the idea is that for a less than one minute free fall you pay about $24, depending on the drop zone and for one minute in the tunnel you pay about $18, depending on the tunnel. In that aspect, it's cheaper. It's just that it's pointless to spend one minute in the tunnel and they don't let you buy one minute slots. One minute would be just enough to piss you off. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan