danornan

You only say that because they agree with YOUR personal views. I guess you would claim that I am somehow not reasonable???? Of course! :-) So why not go with the overwhelming odds? There are a few reasons to not use an RSL like camera or crew, but these are the exceptions. I guess this is why I don't buy lottery tickets and rarely gamble. The odds just aren't in my favor. Dano

Wendy - A voice of reason! I just wish that more skydivers would listen to you and not to those who keep looking for the exception. You too Jeff - "Fuck getting stable, I'd rather kick out of reserve line twists than burn in!" Dano

Quote " ...if you're heads up, keep to your hard deck and perform your EP's in a timely manner, there is nothing wrong with giving yourself the best possible chance for a clean reserve deployment." reply] This is not a personal slam as I hear the same from many experienced skydivers: The problem with this philosophy is that EVERYONE thinks that THEY are exceptional, above normal and can deal with all emergencies. All kids are exceptional, all drivers are better than average..... etc... The reality is that most of us are average and normal. More skydivers die by not doing anything after a cutaway then die from bad body position when the reserve opens. Way too many are in denial ! Dano

Oh ! In that case it's OK to do what you did.... Dano

You didn't ask, but I'd suggest a search on this forum in reference to hypoxia. That can be a lot more serious than a sore throat or being tired. With the number of high altitude jumps you seem to be doing daily, a small 02 meter might be of benefit. You generally won't know there is a hypoxia problem until it is too late. Oh and Listerine seems to help me avoid sore throats on the 02 jumps. That and my own hose. No sharing..... Dano

At night, in the rain, a two-lane country road and you are driving 65! I question who is the moron.... Aside from animals on the road in the country, having limited vision and the fact that the road is wet, better face reality as it is and not as you want it to be! Not everyone drives the maximum speed limit in those conditions. Dano

Be careful with a complete rig in a tunnel. About 20 years ago I watch a guy fly out of an open air tunnel with gear that was supposed to be tethered and a cable broke. I think they were checking out the tunnel for a movie, the canopy deployed and he shot out like he was in a cannon. He went up about 75 feet before the canopy collapsed and he came down on a fuel storage tank. He almost died. Dano

Nice videos and thanks for sharing them. Now you know what is so special about Z-Hills and why everyone is made to feel so welcome. Dano

For those still in denial: This was posted today in the incident section - I know the situation is never the same, and many very experiences skydivers all have THEIR system, but more times than not, the outcome seems to be! Ironic that this too happned at Perris. From: Rick Horn Subject: 5000+ jumps, saved by RSL Date: 1997/00/03 I got saved by,a backup device (RSL) on Thursday. August 28th. I thought I’d relay the formation My background: 5000+ jumps, 107 cutaways, (No I don’t need to learn how to back, a lot of test jumps and films.) About 20 unplanned cutaways. 21 years jumping, AFF I/E, static Line I/E, Full time instructor at Perris, AFF Course Director for USPA. Equipment Background: Rig- Javelin, Articulated harness (Rings top and bottom), RSL and Cypres equipped. Soft Reserve pillow, Main, Stiletto 135. Reserve- PDI43R, I wear my leg straps and chest strap quite tight. The jump: A great APP Level 4, the student did well, I watched deployment on the student’s canopy, and hung around to give a thumbs up forte camera. This put everything happening a little lower than usual, so I threw the main out at about 2100, as opposed to the usual 2500 since I’ve gotten older and hopefully wiser. The main opened into a severe spin. There were no line twists, but I don’t know what caused the spin, as I could not see the left side of the canopy. After the usual playing around with It, I decided to get rid of it. My procedures are grab cutaway, grab reserve, pud cutaway, pull reserve. I went for the cutaway handle, and to my surprise, it was on the LEFT side of my chest I grabbed it, and reached for the reserve handle. It was somewhere under my left armpit I could only touch it with my thumb, and not grab it. My theory is that a combination of the severe spin and the articulated harness allowed the handles to move so far. I had also practiced hooking my thumb between the reserve pillow and the housing. I was unable to do it. I then pulled the cutaway handle, as I was not accomplishing anything in my attempt to find the reserve handle. After pulling the cutaway, I continued to search for the reserve pillow. I was unable to find it. I theorize that it tucked under the main lift web as the harness slid back into position That theory took a couple of days to figure out. Being honest, I have my sincere doubts that I would have found the handle within the 6 seconds of working time that I had left. My ML prevented me from knowing the answer. I have since modified my rig to include a standard ripcord on the reserve. This should also serve as a reminder that backup devices, whether they be ML or AAD can save your life, no matter what your experience. Please don’t make this into a debate thread, there have been enough. I just wanted to share the experience, so people could make informed decisions. Rick Horn D-6277 AFFI/E USPA APP Course Director Dano

Waiting to get "stable" after a cutaway, in my opinion, is a quick way to die! Seems like several people die every year with what appears to be this attitude. By the time you have checked your altitude, to see if you are at, what ever your hard deck is, you have most likely exceeded it and will, if you are very lucky, have a little bit of line stretch as you meet the ground! Your mind has slowed down but your body is still moving quite fast. How long does it take to determine your altitude and then act? How far have you traveled in this time? How long does it take for your reserve to slow you down? I don't really know the exact time and distance to these questions, but I do know that as soon as I cutaway, my reserve is open and working. Something is always better than nothing in this situation. Dano

Many people in denial, relying on anecdotal information and not willing to go with analytical data, the REAL odds. Just because something has happened to you, a friend or "someone heard" does not make it a logical fact. It appears that a good, well know skydiver recently died simply because she either did not have an RSL or it was disconnected. Some will split hairs and say she died because she failed to deploy her reserve, but if her container was equipped with an RSL, the odds are that at the low altitude she cut-away, her reserve would have come out. Does not guarantee that it will work, but something is better than nothing! As it was, NOTHING positive happened after she cut away, except that maybe a few more people will add or reconnect their RSL. Things that haven't happen, happen all the time. Choosing when to deploy your reserve, when you are ready, after a cut away, in most cases, is not a good back up plan. I have an RSL and have used it several times successfully, but that in it's self is not a good reason to have one. Just because someone had a bad experience with one is not a good reason to not have one. The ONLY good reason to have one is the 30 years of everyone's previous experience. The REAL numbers. Dano

Thanks - that's what i needed/// Dano

I have a friend who's sister lives in Austin and wants to make a tandem. I'm not familiar with the area or the drop zones. What's a good recommendation? Dano

Everyone is different and you'll need to experiment with different ones. If you "Google" foam ear plugs you'll see tons of um and I initially ordered several samplers with a variety of foam ear plugs to try. I then found the ones that worked best, FOR ME were called MAX and they claim to cancel out 33dbs. The company name id Howard Light and ordered a box of 100 at the time. I think they ended up costing less than .50 for a pair. I use them on my motorcycle too. Dano

I don't care what anyone says, I've always enjoyed the show. Almost interviewed for the first one in Miami! It is definitely edited to tell a story, and the first 6-8 or so characters are there for the drama that their personalities add. They get voted off and then the real show begins. Lots of different strategies and it's amazing how the maturity levels determine how people vote.... Anyway, I enjoy the escape for 45 minutes as I DO RECORD it to watch without commercials. The FED AGENT isn't going to last long... way too arrogant and belittling other. Dano

I've had tinnitus in my left ear for a long time and know how annoying it can be. Because of that, and not wanting it to get worse (it was caused by SCUBA diving and happened quite quickly) I generally wear foam earplugs whenever I'm around aircraft, especially sky vans, and always inside my full face helmet. I have an audible that I'm able to hear and I don't take them out for free fall. I can actually hear better in the airplane with the earplugs than without them. I'm amazed at what I can hear. The same in free fall as they cancel out most of the unwanted noise. Get the correct pair for you and you will lower your chances of tinnitus and actually hear better in the airplane and in free fall. Dano

I was taught, quite a few years ago, to flat pack. Just looking at everything on the ground makes sense and allows you to put it together in the way that it opens. Once you learn how, it can be done with your eyes closed. It is also a lot easier to see if something is wrong. Dano

Kevin, It seems with you, it's ALL or NOTHING! Isan't it possible to go in increments. Or are you 100% everything you propose? Ayn had some very good ideas and by your take, it is all for nothing because of 2 small examples. Who can live up to your standards? Dano

i have never understood that. the absolute worst part? the policy still exists. sound banking practices says "if you probably won't be able to pay back the loan, you don't get one." political practice ? "we want everyone to get a loan, so the govt will guarantee those improbable loans" the beauty of it ? turns out the govt has no money. it is all taxpayer money. when the home loan system starts collapsing, who jumps in ? the govt with more taxpayer money... so, i am paying my home loan. the home loan of a person who shouldn't have one, and the fat bonus of the banker who lent the money. anyone remember the last time ? the S&L scandal ? the practice continues. stay tuned for our next fiasco. It had to START someplace, and here is the beginning..... the rest is just the icing on the cake. They took bad loans, repackaged them and then sold the "new" money instruments as investments. A house of cards... Dano

It was not that complicated... Money was loaned to people who could not pay it back.... Pretty simple and then the snowball kept rolling.... I read that Canada did not have the same problem because they required people who were borrowing money to be able to pay it back. What an interesting concept. Dano

I was starting to feel strange! Been with my wife since the mid 70's and she really draws the line at me dating, so my figure would be at the very low end of 1-25..... Seems to work though..... Dano

Look further out and NOT at your feet. Dano

Aside from looking like a moron or prison inmates, sagging pants has helped to cut down on petty crimes like purse snatching and spur of the moment shoplifting. It’s just too difficult to grab the goods, hold up your pants and run. Sooooooooooooo scratch the garters. Except for the visual impact of sagging pants, it’s really not that bad! Dano

From my personal experience with L & B, I'll echo your comments and add that there are numerious skydiving manufactures that give great service. PD is another that really stands behind their gear. This is a very small community compaired to most sports and a bad reputation will spread quickly. Dano

Lucky guess after eliminating all of the other missing persons..... Dano