chrismgtis

She's not a fatty like some of us. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

What's wrong with working at Walmart? It's a job, isn't it? It's a job if you don't like skydiving, enjoy a one bedroom apartment, eating ramen noodles and no cable. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

For some reason have you gotten muscle memory that is making you do that? I occasionally jump the drop zone's 160 and it has a tube thingy instead of a hackey. I've never been able to tell the difference at pull time. I just grab it like it's no different than the hackey. The cork thing doesn't sound like a bad idea, but I'd ask a couple of riggers or something. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Their are plenty of people that purposely cut away for test purposes or whatever. I'm sure some of them have the records. And I know a guy with about 10,000 jumps an no cutaways. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Thanks for the info. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

FYI: Obama isn't exactly black. Someone needs to inform American, since America isn't smart enough to figure it out. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

When it comes to that, I always recommend going for easy vital parts of the body. The eyes as you said, the throat, the nuts and possibly try popping the ear drums if you can. The eyes are probably the easiest target, I guess. After all, it's not a fight resulting over an argument between buddies, it's a fight for your life. The hell with the assailants vital organs/senses. Props on the victim for making a smart move. It's what I'd do in that situation for sure. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

And a whole lot of talk about racism. It really gets old. This isn't 1960. I'm so tired of hearing comedians and politicians talk about how we have such a large problem with racism. As Chris Rock said, who are the biggest racists? White or black people. BLACK people. He said that. And black people aren't necessarily that much more racist than white people. It's just the NAACP and constant whining from them that gets old, when they have a bit of an advantage over non "minorities". Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

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

See that is a kick ass story if it's true. That's the kind of stories I wanted to hear in the thread I posted in General Skydiving. I need to print this out and show it to some of the guys on the DZ. This better not be fiction. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

At first I'm thinking, what the hell kind of thread? Then I see it and your avatar and I'm like, that's disturbing. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Hey my parents gave me the middle name Lynn and I'm male. It was in honor of an uncle that died before I was born, but was still a pita in the school. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

When you say "Mantis" do you mean that form of belly flight where your hands a bit out in front of your face, close together? As Louis French said, kind of like you have your hands on someones head in front of you? If that makes any sense. If so, yea I gotta work on that too next time I'm at the tunnel. I was still doing the whole AFF thing and my hands were far apart from each other and I have to admit it looks kind of retarded, especially when you go to dock and have to move your hands in. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Happened so fast when I cut away I don't think I had time to arch. I hesitated on the reserve pull after I cut away, but the RSL actually popped for me pretty quickly (there was about a 2 second lag between the cut away, hanging there and the the RSL releasing), after that I dropped and the reserve was out so quick I wasn't in free fall again for maybe 2 seconds. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism a few months ago. Prior to that for about two months I was experiencing a very increased heart rate and a few other symptoms (my heart rate was constantly around 110-120 and about 125 while resting). One being that I was shaky a lot. One time I really noticed this was when I tried to hold an AR15 and a pistol and tried to fire at a target. I had trouble aiming because I couldn't hold my hand still. Eventually I went to the emergency room when it got bad enough. I was wondering if any other skydivers have hyperthyroidism and if it affects skydiving at all. At times I get bad enough that my entire body shakes. It gets really bad in social situations. I'm always nervous around a lot of people, but it never effected me in that way until I started experiencing symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Another problem I started having, and at first I blamed this on my ex girlfriend because she jumped on my back one day. After that my knees hurt for a while and I could barely walk up stairs. Now I seem to have some issues doing anything that requires tension in my knees. It feels like my knees aren't very strong and I have a hard time lifting my self with them. This was never a problem before, because my legs and knees were the strongest part of my body. That's right on as far as what I've experienced. That site said insomnia is a symptom. I haven't been able to sleep either. I'll be awake ill 7am and not feel tired until I eventually just crash at 2pm and can't move. It's become a slight PITA. Nothing I can't deal with. The little issues it causes are just irritating. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

You could do a LOT. It's worth going. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I've jumped a Cessna twice for my two low altitude jumps. You're not alone. I hated it too. If I was asked to jump a Cessna, I'd do it no problem, but I don't like it. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

You guys are freakin me out. Guess I'll stop jumping with a watch from now on. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

As everyone is saying, 200 jumps+ before you start flying camera. Trust me man. I am aching myself to do this very thing, but I'm at 105 jumps right now. I even recently purchased an Optik camera helmet, but I wanted an open face anyway so I figured I could buy it now, use it later for camera. It sucks that you have to wait, but the recommendations aren't for nothing and personally...I'm thinking it's not only 200 jumps I've got to wait for, I have to be CURRENT at any time that I fly a camera. Whether I have 50 jumps with a camera, if I haven't jumped in 2 weeks... probably not a good idea? I'm thinking a Cessna makes this more true as opposed to an aircraft like the Otter's I've been jumping 90% of the time... mainly due to the more complicated exit. Your ability to fly camera and get the shots reliably is probably going to depend most if not all on your ability to fly yourself, adjust fall rate, etc... Most people get 50+ jumps and start sit flying. I'm not touching it. I can't do a 50 way and be confident I'll not screw it up, so what business do I have doing sit fly? If I'm thinking sit flying doesn't make sense... camera... probably not either. Oh by the way, I'll you, wind tunnels are a god send when it comes to things like this. If you want to eventually be a great camera flyer (ie., fly around a student 360 degrees while also keeping your eye on the student) then that's something you could learn in a tunnel. Tunnels are perfect for perfecting that sort of thing. Also, adding another point. I think someone made this point, but jumping into tandem camera work is a bad idea. I wouldn't even think about that myself unless I had a D license, at least 200 jumps with camera while flying reliably with other jumpers, etc. Once you do start flying camera, practice with another person and do it a lot. Then maybe graduate to filming four ways for people. I'm sure everyone would love to have you do this once your able. It's free video for them, if you let them get a copy and even if you don't, they can critique their dive after you land. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Be willing to ship your rig to a trustworthy rigger to have him inspect it. The guy I purchased from did that for me and I ended up buying it from him. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

The fear went away for me after about 7 to 10 jumps. I know in AFF it just seemed to get worse. At first it wasn't bad at all. By jump 6 or so I was like WTF am I doing? I guess I was just finally like why fear this when I'm going to do it no matter what. Not that I don't still get scared. I definitely do, but it's a very calm fear. I trust my gear and my abilities now. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I would take that ring off man, so you don't lose it. I've personally held a ring for a guy while he jumped. What is probably best is if you had something to put it in and kept that in your bag. You won't find many women that will let you do that. Most would rip your nuts off for that. So it's always like hmmm.... my nuts > my finger. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I wore something else for my FJC, but after I got covered in mud (it was very early in the spring and most of the LZ was still an inch under water), I started bringing shoes I was more comfortable getting filthy. I don't recall anyone saying anything about the metal hooks, but I had already become a dz.com whore by that point and had read about snag hazards on my own... Your death isn't just a tragedy to you and your family, it hurts us and our sport as a whole. Just sayin. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I've seen directly through his BS every single time he has spoken. Unfortunately, America is stupid and doesn't have the ability to exercise rational, common sense. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Yea you're right. I meant to say instructors. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan