danornan

Betty and crew, Best of luck and congratulations on the new facility. I know I must still have a few dollars on the manifest so I'm going to try to make it there for the grand re-opening.... Looking forward to it. Dano

They only cost $2.00 and can be ordered on line with no charge for postage. Simply go to: http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/product.asp?Item=MICS Dano

In the Incidents Forum, I mentioned something that I have attached to my motorcycle helmet for safety contact information. I have been contacted several times off line for information on the vinyl pocket that attachés to the outside of your skydiving helmet that contained WHO TO CONTACT and MEDICAL information. Here it is: The Medical Information Carrier System (MICS for short) is a plastic pouch that adheres to the outside of your helmet, along with a two-sided information form that you fill out with medical information. The form contains space for emergency contact information, brief medical history, and other data that emergency personnel might need. http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/product.asp?Item=MICS I've ordered 10 and will order more to give away at Z-Hills as soon as they come in. They are $2.00 each. Since I just found out that I won the Super Bowl pool last night I'll buy these for whoever wants one at Z-Hills..... size is 2" X 1" and stick on... Dano

Things that have not happen, happen all the time! You can either go with the logical and compiled facts or listen to anecdotal information. The facts say that overall, you are safer with an RSL than not. Thinking otherwise is simply denial except in very few circumstances like a camera on your helmet. Dano

There are several good reasons to not jump with and RSL; shooting pictures or some other highly specialized type of skydiving, but, if you want to go with the odds, you every buy a lottery ticket or gamble occasionally, have it and keep it hooked up. There are way too many reasons to have it than not. You are in denial to not use one. Dano

Got nothing to do with the weather - It's all the candy this time of the year.... Sugar destroys the immune system! From Halloween through Christmas.... Candy all over the place. Dano

WOW ! There sure is a lot of grey in that picture...... Can't wait till I'm old enough.... CONGRATULATION ..... Dano

What a shame! It seems like I've been getting the magazine since my first jump and really looked forward to the articles and pictures. Just about the only place to get the latest information or quell the local rummer. Mike did a super job and the many of large pictures were clipped out for display. Hate to think it won't be coming next month. Mike, thanks for all that you did to keep us current of events and happenings..... The articles always addressed timely matters and I really loved the pictures. Dano

LT Congratulations on the 48-Way..... In a couple of years when "we" are shooting for a SOS 100-way, I'll be old enough! Good luck on the 60-way and watch out for all of that flaking rust.... Dano

I just got back from Z-Hills and heard that they did a 48-Way! Congratulations old farts...... Dano

You can buy be a beer and then I'll accept your apology....... maybe even jump with you! Dano

Call the DZ and get with Phantom. He can pick you up at the airport... (813) 783-9399 or 800-888-JUMP. Dano

Do Not Stop In Z-Hills, unless you plan to stay for a while. Most have such a good time they never leave..... Dano

I ride ( now with 37,000 miles) a K1200LT that weighs about 850 pounds wet and if not parked correctly and in gear, it can fall down. Been riding for more than 35 years and yes, they do fall over on their own. It can happen and I know of ones that have! Unless it is parked on the center stand and unless it is out of the wind and unless it is on level ground etc etc etc,,,, it can happen... Don't just assume someone pushed it over. Dano

Maybe it just fell over - Wouldn't be the first time! Ready FIRE - Aim........ Dano

Front page of the St. Petersburg Times this morning ... Debs, you are missed by so many friends and relatives.... http://www.tampabay.com/ Pictures of her last jump... with friends. Dano

Not really. I did observe, however, P3 teaches the importance of tracking teams (which automatically reduces many kinds of tracking problems), so they are already more focussed on that than the cookiecutter 20-way camps I had been to for a long time. As well as other tracking aspects than other bigway camps I had gone to. I observed that video debrief attention to tracking teams at the Texas Winter Bigway camp was good, but that only covers the 180 degree turn, tracking team formation, and first few seconds of a track, and only in the videos that allowed such debrief. It hasn't been until I went to P3 for the first time in May 2008, that I learned the concept of the 'tracking team'... I'm not saying there isn't room for improvement though. It may be that there hasn't been a massive wake-up call lately such as this freefall collison fatality after a bigway breakoff. No kidding -- I imagine they ARE going to focus on these little details a lot more now with this fatality. Hopefully! I have been on several big way formations in the past year and a lot of time and attention is spent on break-off. Numerous walk throughs on the dirt dive; I.E., first wave leave at 6,000 track to X, second wave leave at 5,500, track to X. A lot of time is spent and numerous dirt dives in practice. THIS is not being ignored nor is it taken lightly. I generally have more clean air on a 100-way then a local walk up 20-way! Dano

TK, That's why I'm not allowed to stay after the sun sets! Dano

21 skydivers participated in Joe's ash dive yesterday at sunset at Z-Hills, organized by Scotty Carbone. The jump took place at sunset with friends and family. Dano

Kevin, You were a pleasure to dock on, (and use as a target) when you FINALLY figured out where you were supposed to be! Fun floating uh! What HE said as far as organizers and plane captains. Amazing how you can take 100-ways for granted! What a blast....... DanO Dano

Naaaaaaa Mark, I left out the exclamation point! It's an individual thing and I'm for personal freedom. I've been riding since I was 16 and simply prefer a full face helmet. It is a lot quieter, saves my hearing, allows me to listen to music while riding. As far as safety, The jury is still out. Sliding on the pavement is definitely safer with a helmet, but it too can contribute to injury with weight on the head. Helmet and skydiving, definitely quieter and a little safer...... back to a personal thing...... Dano

Sort of like jumping out of an airplane! Dano

From out in the thin air, waiting to dock, watching all of the radial being crossed, I'm surprised that there were not more collisions! Too many people were not flying straight in and there were too many cross-overs and cross-unders...... Basic stuff. Formation was one that has been done numerous times and everyone knew where they were supposed to be weeks ahead of time. The organizers did a super job weeks before the jump, there was lots of time to make a change if you were not comfortable in your slot and there was no excuse to not perform. Dano

Having just gotten back from the POPS record attempt in Perris last week and reading through this thread, I agree with all that you have said. I would like to include another skill that has been hinted at but not exploited and that is to stay in your radial as much as possible and especially in the RED ZONE. I was out in the thin air and unfortunately, watched far too many unnecessary collisions. None would have occurred if the radial lines were followed. Dano

Be sure to tell the company that you are interviewing with to not contact present employer. They will understand and that is normal. As soon as the company you are leaving learns that you are looking they will plan to replace you. That too is normal. Keep quiet until the new job is secure. Basic job quest 101. Dano