Baksteen

I think we're talking about something different here. If i unerstand correctlly a telemeter is a kind of stopwatch. I mean the large, heavy binoculars which are mounted on even heavier steel tripods. The jury used these to judge style-competitions in the era that cameras were few and far between. (in Dutch: Stijl-kijker) "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

- Sentinels - Canopies with holes cut in them are a good thing - Blast handles - Chute-assis suits - Competitions are judged through binoculars instead of outside camera - Style and accuracy are the only players in town - reefing lines Oh, and to make myself perfectly clear, I know most of the above from descriptions, anecdotes and old pictures.

These guys found an alternative use for their glow-in-the-dark condoms, even before finishing their buissness "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

..as if the average skydiver thinks any further than their next jump.

So the US remains the only country to have successfully landed probes on the surface of Mars. Russia - zero in 4 attempts* ESA - zero in 2 attempts Japan - zero in 1 attempt US - 9 in 10 attempts ** * one Russian Lander communicated for 14 seconds before failing. ** We still have a rover that landed in 2003 working, so that is 20+ years of working craft on the surface. Sheesh... Next thing you tell me you believe the "moon landing" was genuine too. (kidding) "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Didn't know instructors were qualified to give ADD checks.....good to know we can now all skip the psychiatrist!!! That's why the 4- and 8-year checks on a cypres are no longer mandatory on the newest models. Putting some Ritalin in the control unit will do the job just as well as Airtec's testing and evaluation would do. Kidding aside: ADD = Automatic Deployment Device, the pre-legislative term for AAD (Automatic Activation Device "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

So Hillary was Trumped.. Tsk, tsk... Good luck with that. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Welll... evh, Ijskonijn and myself are all from the same DZ and the topic was originally about me trying to find pictures of seatbelt configurations in different jump planes, but specifically the 182. So the argument that the discussion has gone off-topic does have some validity. That said, there are several nice systems posted already. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

This thread is inspired by my seeing my very first Spectra reserve ripcord last weekend. Searching for this stuff just finds a bunch of old threads. 1) What are the pros and cons of a steel cable versus a spectra cable? Who would benefit and who would not? 2) What are the pros and cons of a D-ring steel reserve handle versus a reserve pillow? Who would benefit and who would not? 3) While we're at it, what are the pros and cons of a (soft) D-ring cutaway versus a cutaway pillow? Who would benefit and who would not? "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Wow, that's pretty neat! "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I usually point out that I don't jump because of the risks, but in spite of them. Skydiving is (or should be) all about risk management and reducing the existing risks to levels suitable to your experience and currency. In the beginning your instructors will do that for you, as you progress you'll learn to do this for yourself. Scratching off a load just before a weather hold / jump limit is announced is a good example of this learning process. All this loses some in translation though..

I did.

Yes, the 'seatbelts'-series of articles was very welcome. It is very convenient that Anette is practically handing us all the necessary research on a silver platter, just as we are starting to look into the seatbelt issue. But I imagined that a 182 is a different animal than bigger planes. Also, we use two different ways of loading: SL-students are positioned "around the strong point", while freefallers are positioned so that they have the most room (see the rather amateurish attachment). It would seem to me that only one Hooker seatbelt configuration would be necessary for both methods. Whether those could use the existing "factory" attachment points I do not know. The only thing I'd wory about is the seatbelt somehow entangling with the static line, which is attached in the middle of the aircraft. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I would like to have a few pictures of seatbelts for jumpers to compare. 1) Can someone post a picture of seatbelts, as installed in Rook's planes? I was very impressed with the convenience of these, but unfortunately forgot to take a picture. 2) Could people post pictures of the seatbelt system in the 182 at their DZ and tell me why these are convenient - or not? Thanks in advance! "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Thank you, Anette. Excellent article!

Interesting. Is this dual RSL-related, or Racer-specific? "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Except when you have a downplane. Then you immediately cut it the f*ck away... You have no time to mess around disconnecting stuff. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

You do know that muslims believe in Jesus Christ too, right? "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I'm still not clear: You obviously care about the DZ, or you'd simply have left. Posting on here will not change things. So step up and change them. Should you not feel qualified to organise a skills camp for lowtimers yourself, approach someone who is. But someone has to get the ball rolling - other people aren't taking responsibility (or don't care)... so that leaves YOU. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

While I'm waiting for my popcorn to heat, I'll add that I've jumped several times in the US. No USPA-membership was required. I merely had to prove that I was a member of the KNVvL (the Dutch organisation). The same thing would be true if a foreign jumper wanted to jump in The Netherlands. A valid USPA/BPA/etc. membership would suffice. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

That's my point: One must invest in a basic population of (in this case) funjumpers before you can expect to improve the skill level by hosting the expert camps. Perhaps organise several low-level camps every season, with one medium to high-level camp at the end of the year so that jumpers have something to work towards. And by no means this should/has to be limited to Freeflying. I'm sure the belly fliers / CReW dogs / acuuracy jumpers / Wingsuiters at your DZ feel the same. Band together with some of them and start organising. Don't forget the beginning students either. Jump with them at their level and cultivate interest for your discipline of choice. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Excellent article! Perhaps a review of popular skydiver seatbelts would be a nice follow up. Any system might be better than none at all, but some are definitely better suited to a given plane's configuration and type than others (straddle benches, side benches, no benches...).

General reply to the thread: If you feel you have learnt all that the DZ has to offer, by all means go and increase your skills elsewhere - everyone does that at some point. The problem in this cunsumer-oriented culture is that not enough people actually return with their newfound skills as a teacher to increase said skills at home. As for there being few fun jumper oriented events: band together with your fun jumping friends and organise something. It doesn't have to be very expensive with load organisers, special planes etc. Start small, and invite your jumping buddies from other DZ's. At my DZ we used to have a 'precision scrambled' in which an experienced jumper was teamed up with a newbie. The pair that could land closest to the target (cumulative score) would win a very modest prize, such as a free beer. Just a simple example, I'm sure you can think up something of your own. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

We are taught American English in school. On a side note, many Dutch people have a lot of difficulty with the pronounciation of 'th' 'r' and 'ch', among other things. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

I'm just not into spiritual stuff. No offence meant.