LawnDart21

Every swooper finds themselves "in the corner" at some point during their swoop progression and the quickest way to way to get out of the corner (read as ABORT) the turn/plain out, is to try and stab out of it with your toggles by flaring, ie, flare out of the deep turn. If you do a hook with risers and need to bail, you have a full flare to hopefully get you out of the corner. If you do a toggle hook and find yourself deep in the corner, you have already used 1/2 of your flare by inducing the turn with your toggle. You have already shut down that side of the canopy, hence you have only 1/2 as much flare to hopefully pop you out of the corner before. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

If you lose a toggle and unstow the other brake to full flight, the canopy will fly straight. The full flight setting (where the toggle attaches to the line) on control lines is designed so that when the toggle stops at the guide ring, their is enough line above the ring so as not cause any tail deflection. If you see tail deflection on any canopy in full flight then the steering lines are too short. (there are some exceptions to this, such as a person with short arms that has their steering lines shorten to assist them to get a better flare, in full flight their tails may show some uniform deflection on each side) -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

I have to admit I got a good laugh from Skyride's website for the Massachusetts Skydiving Center and the New Hampshire Skydiving center. Both ficticious DZs in the Southern New England area. From a personal stand point I agree that this type of marketing is misleading and does not promote our sport in an ethical or professional manner, but at the same time, I can also see it's core business plan (third party brokering) as a legitimate business practice. Third party brokering exists in all aspects of our economy, whether its limousines, concert tickets, I mean we go to Expedia to buy airline tickets, yet Expedia doesnt own an airline. I'm not defending skyride by any means, just saying that this type of third party brokering venture exists in all walks of life, and in some cases it actually is worth the higher premium paid on goods and services. (Like getting better seats to a concert because one ticket dealer has a better selection, despite the higher price). There have been some legitimate copy right infringements that some people have mentioned. Using pictures without consent, etc. That is wrong, that I don't agree with. Brokering tandem jumps isn't unethical, being dishonest and misleading on the phone and in advertising, thats the unethical part. My question is, is it possible for Skyride to continue to do business but in an ethical capacity? If they cared about the sport, they could actually be in a position to help the sport by acting more ethically and find a way to work with all USPA dropzones, instead of pitting them against each other. Just my .02 -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

I always get nervous when I see jumpers with older gear back out of the door to float. Main pin flaps bouncing around in the air, possibly loose BOC spandex. I say the less wind the better on the container at that presentation into the wind. Pro: Cut But then again I also love doing hop n pops without a cut and seeing the canopy inflate behind me instead of above me. Pro: No Cut I guess I'm flip flopping. Maybe I should run for president? -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Congratulations! Tandem skydiving is the most rewarding discipline of our sport in my humble opinion. All I'll say is that when things go bad (which is rare) they go bad QUICKLY. It amazes me how fast a "swimmer" is able to screw up a good exit....lol. Be confident in yourself, and be decisive. If you see a problem starting, fix it. The longer the problem exists, the more time it has to build up momemtum and get worse. Be safe, be proactive and have fun! -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

I keep it simple, if you are lurking my tandem you either: A) Have the letters AFF on your USPA license. B) Are my videographer C) Are my wife D) Have more jumps than me or E) I've seen you naked. (Females only) Gotta keep a level head in all this, after all, skydiving is still supposed to be fun right?

I can't accurately get my point across right now (I'm more tired than I thought) so I deleted the post. It's been a long day, & my brain is fried.....lol. I'll try to put it in a more clear post tomorrow. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Just venting. I've read that line a bunch of times regarding High Performance turns and admittedly, the more I read it, the more I am convinced that it's just B.S. Yes, spending time with your canopy "up high" can help give you a "feel" for how it flies and flares, but it does very little in terms of learning the flight envelope of the canopy, because we, the pilots lack an ACCURATE ground reference at 5000ft. Atlimeters aren't precise and practicing a 270 hook at 5000 ft does nothing to prepare you for doing one on landing. At 5000ft 10 or 20 ft difference in starting your turn cannot be percieved and means nothing, 10 to 20 foot difference (too low) on a HP turn to land can ruin your day. Practing up high does not prepare you for HP turns. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

As I do radio from time to time, I see very good landings, quite often actually, from students with the rehearsed "flare, flare, flare, flare, flare" landing tecnique. Good canopies (student or otherwise) will land just fine without "staging" a flare. To teach a student anything other than a straight flare is not necessary and just asking for trouble. If a student or even licensed jumper, cannot stand up a landing with a "student style" straight flare, then they have no need or reason to learn staged flares. If you can't walk, there is no sense in trying to run. Side note, if you want to see alot of good canopy control, Dirt Water Dirt from Pier Media is like 60 minutes of great landing footage, good flares and bad flares. As the tape says, it isnt a training video, but it clearly shows the differnet types of flares that people are using. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

You misread my post. Where I agree with you: Ridiculing a jumper for deciding to stay on the ground is not appropriate. Where I disagree with you: Ridiculing a jumper for deciding to jump in dangerous conditions, I think is very, very appropriate. I actual think its our responsibility to each other to do it. Why? Becuase it just might actually stop a jumper from making a jump that they probably shouldn't make. Hence, my response "Nobody femured in by sitting on the ground" was aimed at your statement that both forms of ridicule were inappropriate. My answer to you was/is, that I disagree, ridiculing a jumper for deciding to jump in high/questionable winds is a very appropriate thing, becuase if my ridicule keeps that person on the ground, they will be less likely to get hurt because....(drum roll please).............nobody breaks a femur sitting on the ground..............and that was the message in my last post. Don't be so quick to judge me based on two lines of text. I've been "getting it" since jump #1. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

When is the last time a jumper broke a femur from sitting out a load? If ridicule keeps a jumper from jumping that shouldn't be in the air in the first place, then I think it very appropriate. Personal choice eh? It's not a question of whether one could jump, it's sometimes a question of whether a one should jump. Last point, then I'll leave this alone, lest I get the thread locked. Skydiving is not a sprint, it is a marathon, it's been said a zillion times, old timers got to be old timers for a reason, they paced themselves. This sport has a very small margin for error and a HUGE potential price to pay for errors in judgement, even minor ones, even "just that once" can be enough to ruin your day. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

In reply to: "we knew what we were getting in to when we got in to it....yet we still, stupidly, decided to do it." I'm curious at 80 jumps, how you knew what you were getting into? I'm assuming you must have been there and done that before so to speak, so you knew what to expect. At 80 jumps. Why is it on those high wind, questionable jumping condition days, you see jumpers with 1000s of jumps sitting on the ground and you see 50-300 jump jumpers boarding the plane? Next time you find yourself in that position, take a look around the DZ, if the grey haired jumpers are playing cards instead of jumping, maybe you should be to. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Absolutely %100 confident the very first time I boarded a plane with a paying tandem passenger, that there was nothing that could happen up there that I couldn't handle. I wouldn't have boarded the plane if I felt anything else. Being responsible for someone elses life is a huge responsibility, and while I have and always will accept the fact that things can happen beyond my control, or I may even make a mistake, I have always boarded the plane believing there isn't anything I can't handle up there. If I didn't believe that in my heart, I wouldn't do tandems. Too much to risk, too much to lose. Now as for being an expert....lol The only thing I feel that I have become an "expert" in, is becoming an "expert learner". Its what I love about our sport and the people in it, I have approx 700 tandems in the last two years, yet I am still learning and improving from the people I work and fly with every weekend. I am still learning to fly "smarter" and continue to be amazed at all the things out there still waiting to be learned. I think all TMs here will agree that we have the greatest job on (and above) earth. It's a HUGE responsibility, but for me it has been and always will be worth it. If the day ever comes that I don't feel %100 confident that I will bring my passenger back in one piece, I'll sadly hang up my drogue and grab a lawn chair and root the rest of you all on! -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

"your not, your a goddamn human lawndart" - I resemble that remark....above 4000ft........lol My (quickie) philosophy on this type of situation: 1) Get your S&TA and DZO involved to ground him or her. Period. Jumpers with that few jumps and that cavalier attitude simply don't deserve to be in the air. 2) Make it clear to the person who sold him or her the small canopy that you and all of your friends will no longer patronize them for gear and you will spread the word to others. 3) Don't waste your time or energy with someone that won't listen. Like going for your hackey, try once, try twice, no luck? Then go silver, leave it (and them alone). If enough people ignore them, refuse to be in the air with them, they will eventually get the point. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

That video was a riot. My favorite part is when you see the plane is making a banking turn, and keeps turning and turning and turning and then "Hey, where'd Jeff go?".........lol Good stuff. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Because I got a NEW JOB!!! The upside: A "SHOW ME THE MONEY" sized increase in salary (= more jump money!) &&&&&& due to the relocation to southern NH, I will be working only 15 miles from the DZ (as opposed to 60 miles at the moment), which means WEEK DAY SUNSET LOADS!! The downside: working "Billable Hours", which means I can't surf DZ.COM all day anymore at work like I do now.... I'll be back someday.......

I agree with the pocket slider, it will make a difference. Also, as mentioned roll the tail like a Bob Marley sized joint. I put 400 jumps on a Sabre 150, and the tight tail roll does help. You can also roll the nose in a propack, but (to me) it was too much effort and time. Good luck! "I was 6'3" before I jumped my Sabre, now I'm only 5'11" " -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

I say go the WFFC. You are a skydiver, and this is your boogie as much as it is anyone elses. There is so much to do on the ground (as mentioned above) that you will still have a great time. Most important though, is its a chance to meet all the cool people that jump from around the world, some of the friends you make there are gonna be friends for life. I showed up last year with a nagging shoulder injury and made one jump the first day I was there. My should said it wanted to stay on the ground after that, so I spent the next three days just hanging out with my friends, having a great time. I ended the week with only 10 jumps, where as the last time I was there I made 40 jumps, and I had just as much fun each time. Go to the WFFC!!!!!! -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Whats happening Jeff, how's it going this summer? I'll see you at the 100-way! -Tom Noonan -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

I spoke to the DZO at Newport a year or so ago, and he said basically that fun jumpers were welcome, its just that they are a single cessna DZ, and the tandems take priority, which I think makes sense. they are a seasonal DZ and the tandem dollars are what keeps them in business. He said I could jump there if I wanted, but that I might have to wait for a slot to free up. I decided to spend the day at the ABC "sight seeing" instead. Hopefully someday I'll get that jump in, it looks to be a great view from up there. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

There are three great DZs around the Boston area. Skydive Pepperell is about 45-60 minutes north of Boston (www.skyjump.com), and Jumptown is in Orange, MA about 60 minutes west of Boston (www.jumptown.com) and Skydive New England is located in Lebanon, ME about 75 minutes north east of Boston (www.ugojump.com). You can't go wrong with any of these DZs, all great places, and all have great people and great staff on hand. They all have RW and freeflying going on and each one has a different (great) view of New England under canopy. Hope that helps! -Tom -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Howdy Darrin, Bring it up to Pep this weekend (before 1pm on Sat) or anytime Sunday and I will package it for you. Later, -T -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

A person flying a canopy can (turn) move in 360 degrees, and slow their decent rate as well. (A crosswind/downwind landing would be better than a collision.) The person on the ground is at 0ft AGL and will remain at 0ft AGL, that is a constant. My point is simply this. The landing canopy has the majority if not all of the ability to prevent this from happening. Despite it being a landed jumpers responsibility to observe other canopies, I know (for my dropzone atleast), I could land, and walk back to my hangar blindfolded without fear of getting hit. Why? because the canopy pilots I jump with have their heads on a swivel and at 50ft, 100ft, 200ft, 300ft, etc, are looking for potentail obstacles to avoid and planning/preparing to fly around them, to remove them from thier landing pattern. Is that true of everyone's landing technique? Of course the answer is NO, but SHOULD BE. This is a terrible acciident and I wish both a speedy recovery, lets just not let the obvious escape us in an effort to be non-judgemental, in that while we are all responsible for our own safety it is the LANDING canopy's responsibility to avoid the LANDED canopy. Any arguement to the contrary, or pawning off of responsibility to the LANDED canopy is simply absurd. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

Almost forgot, we (tandems) usually land before fun jumpers, and if the fun jumpers are coming down as we are leaving the field, I have my student and myself take a knee to the ground and stay put looking up at the canopies until everyone is on the ground. Now if a canopy STILL flew into us at that point, and we were forced to move out of its way, then I would say, yes, someone that bad at canopy flying shouldnt be in the air. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.

"and while the canopy flier should be spacing away from those on the ground, he has more limited range of motions." - please explain. -- My other ride is a RESERVE.