AndyMan

0:0:0 Came extreemely close on the first one, but when she fell over drunk I chose to pass. Man I hate it when that happens, I wasted the whole night hitting on this girl. _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

Packing Kathy in Z-Hills and WFFC offers this guarantee. She states the guarantee outfront, and charges an extra buck because of it. Kathy is awsome. A friend of mine had a maseusse show up at his tent at WFFC because Kathy packed him a hard opening. Ask you packer BEFORE you jump it if they guarantee their pack jobs. Most don't. Don't ask for a reserve repack unless they offer that guarantee. _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

That was quick. Thanks Chris. _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

I don't think I'm a PD biggot, I loved my Triathlon, and still can't pack my Stiletto. Aerodyne had excellend customer service, they took great care of me - even did free patches, AND gave me a Diablo while they fixed my Triathlon. Had Aerodyne had a high performance 9 cell I probably would've bought it. When I bought the Stiletto I demoed and considered canopies from every manufacturer, except for the Cobalt because I couldn't get Atair to ship me one. If you asked me objectively who the "best" manufacturer is, I'd probably answer with Big Air Sportz. Unfortunately they're also the most expensive. I do think the Performance Textiles fabric is better then Gelvenor, but I'd don't think this plays a part in how any of us will use a new canopy - I imagine most of us will get rid of it long before it reaches this point. I do believe that it affects resale value, though. ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

I think those numbers refer to a calculation of the total Research and Development + Production costs of a product divided by the number of people it saved. I don't think it's a judgement on the value of a life, simply the effeciency of a device measured by it's cost to produce vs the lives it saves. I was surprised the Cypres costs were so low. _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

A big thanks to Bill Booth for showing up and answering these questions. A second big thanks to Sangiro for creating this great community where we can have people like Bill show up and give these great answers. These forums are one of the best skydiving resources on the internet. It's great that the signal to noise ratio is so low. Bill, I hope we'll see more of you in the future. _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

Attractive females who sleep in the buff are thoroughly encouraged to share my tent. Jess? Sunshine? SkyBytch? SkyMama? Any takers? _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

Yeah, I'm guilty. I was secretly doing an ancient native wind dance while simultaneously blowing on voodoo dolls I made of you and SkyMedic. Who knew it would work? _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

I believe in the 180 day cycle, but I thought I'd offer these thoughs: It's not just leaving it in the sauna, it's also the back-seat or trunk of a hot car. How many people lock their rigs in the car at WFFC? Most, I think. What about in the north where we prety much stop jumping for 4 or 5 monthes. Does everyone really store their rig properly? If it's March and you want to jump, but because of a November cuttaway you don't need a repack, do you have the discipline to have one done anyway? What about student canopies and rental gear? Does the DZ rigger really know when a rig gets wet? Do you believe most DZ's will keep a 120 repack schedule if the requirement is 180? Here's a question: to what extent is cordura damp proof? If somebody slides in on their back in wet grass, could that dampness pearmeate the reserve? _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

It's more then just the ops that can have logs. The Chat runs over IRC, and people can use tools like MIRC or Trillian to connect instead of the Java based CHAT in the pub. I do this myself because I find the java chat client dificult to use. Anybody who uses their own IRC client could setup that client to generate logs. I don't see the logs as a big deal, actually. People who are in the room see what I type first hand, and I don't have a problem if somebody who wasn't there hears about it over a beer (WoW You shoulda heard what Andy did last week) , over an email, either paraphrased or quoted from a log. This is the second time in a few short weeks that has come up. I think people should just remember that the pub is not private. _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

I'm a bit hung over, so I'm trying valiantly to organize some coheisive thoughts. I can see how it sounded that way.... What I was trying to get at is my frustration at people who just don't bother to have at least their mains checked, either doing it yourself or having someone else do it. I don't put any trust in a jumper in the plane that I don't know. It might be you, it might be a 20 jump wonder who doesn't even know what a pin check is. I'd like to see SOME indication that they're at least concerned about the pin. A main pin check (at least) should be part of the two minute warning run gear check either done yourself or by the guy behind you, In my ever so humble opinion. Not that I disagree with either you or Bill, but there's too many people out there who don't seem to have good reasons for not doing it. I'm concerned that most (hell, practically all) jumpers aren't nearly as familiar with their gear as you are. Most jumpers won't recognize when they've knocked their main pin or not. I'm also concerned that many people seem have your attitute without having your level famliarity with their gear. The way that we pack jumpers into planes, it's just so easy to have the pin shift as you're sitting down, or whatever. I still believe that checking the pin of the guy in front of you is a good rule. Of course there are exceptions to every rule, but this makes a good starting point. One exception is you doing it yourself. Another is the instructor doing it for the student. _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

I didn't say I was just going to go do it, I said I think it should be standard procedure at the DZ. And yes, of course I'm not talking students - thats the instructors job. I'm also assuming common gear... _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

It is standard procedure at many Dropzones to check the pin of the guy in front of you. This is a good thing, and I wish it was done more frequently. When you get into that plane not you're just putting your own life at risk, you're also putting MY life at risk, and I don't give a rats ass if you're insecure about me checking your pin. WAY more skydivers have died from a premature opening in the plane then the guy checking your pin fucking it up. In fact, I'd challenge you to find an example of a fatality with this as the cause... The flipside is that we only have to look to Australia last year to a pilot who barely escaped with a bain-out rig after somebody didn't do a pin check and wripped the tail off a caravan. Pin checks should be mandatory. _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

Me and my tent will be flying down. _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

I'm more concerned with your answer this decade!

I've got 300 something jumps and am just starting to get into high performance landings. Some day I will be a swoop god. _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

Simple issue, really. Do you want to have fun at Eloy? _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

"on the internet, nobody knows you're a dog" - Bizarro. _Am (and yes, I found this entirely too realistic) ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

You guys are too funny. SkyMama, why don't you just get it over with and post them for the world to see?

300+ jumps, 700 posts.... _Am (wishing that was backwards....) ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

Lisa, do you have ANY idea how much of usenet history is encompased in this comment? This line was a common joke in usenet history about seven years ago, before the web was even invented. Either you just got seriously lucky, or your WAY more of a geek then I give you credit for... _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

Right. Sort of. The Aerodyne and PISA fabric will wear out quicker, and it's flight characteristics will be different when it's worn out. When they're new, there's no difference. I've never seen these services offered... Maybe the canopy manufacturer can have it done? I dunno. It is certainly not a common procedure. Most people ditch their canopy at this point. _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

Ok, I don't feel so bad anymore. The cool thing is I actually got some work done today! _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

Just ordered mine, too! _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

Was that Bill with his fly down? Interesting parties you have out there.... _Am ICQ: 5578907 MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com AIM: andrewdmetcalfe Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999