gemini

If you find a new model Otter, let me know! I would like to buy one!!! The Otter came in 3 models: the -100, -200 and -300. All 844 to 849 Otters were made between 1966-1988. Sierra Fox was previously owned by another jump plane leasing company and was in use at Pepperill. It is a fairly low-time jump plane with lots of life left in it. We would like to remodel the interior and update the cockpit, but can't get it home long enough to put it in the shop. Have fun with her, and tell Rabbitt that Jim said to "Bite me!" Blue skies, Jim

Got to see Amanduh's video of the fire dance this weekend at Spacey. Pretty impressive. Wonder how many little burns she gets? And why did the guy wave her off after they both ate fire? Blue skies, Jim

Ditto. I have 1,200 on mine without problems. First time I put it on I tightened the drawstring, slid the clasp into postion, and then tied the excess drawstring into several knots. Never touched it since. Blue skies, Jim

1) People who stop in doorways for any reason when you're trying to go in or out. 2) People who stop at the ends of escalators for any reason. Like what are you supposed to do? Jump over them? 3) People who forget something and keep the whole plane waiting while they run back for it. Bet this stops now that fuel is +$. 4) People with their right blinker on at a red light, but they won't turn right on red! Guess those cell conversations are really interesting. 5) Waiters who ask "How is everything?" just after you've taken your first bite. Do they hid out and watch or what? 6) People who let their kids run around in restaurants because they are "family restaurants". Just because your family is loud and misbehaving doesn't make it cute or entertaining for the rest of us. 7) People on the dole driving luxury autos and wearing designer clothes. 8) People who get in the grocery line while spouse and children are still shopping. AND 9) People who think because I sit in the gear store to help out I must get part of the profits. Hell, I'd just like to make minimum wage! Blue skies, Jim

Sounds like a normal, typical guy alright! Blue skies, Jim

Someone at Spacey replaced hers. When I asked her she just hooked the old past the stitching, pulled out a loop, cut the old, tied a new one she bought at a fabric shop in town to the old one, then pulled out and cut the other end and pulled the whole thing through. She didn't mention anything about cutting stiching or resewing anything. Blue skies, Jim

...and what did the man you love do and say while you were jumping up and down? Blue skies, Jim

Both Elsinore and Perris are top notch. They even cooperate with each other on big way jumps and stuff! Have fun. Blue skies, Jim

Relax, listen, relax, practice, relax, visualize the jump, relax, ask questions, relax...oh, and one more thing RELAX!

Seen it happen a lot. For example, there were two guys in high school that were real pricks. The little guy would hit women and generally treat everyone else like shit. If it was a guy he was mad at he would tell his friend the big guy to beat the other guy up. The big guy took great pleasure in thrashing people for no reason. Even got after me one time because the little guy was pissed over something I "did" to him. Years later in his 20's the little guy broke his neck on his mother's farm jumping his motorcycle and died on the way to a hospital in San Antonio when the ambulance engine blew up. Then the big guy who had become a loan officer for a very private bank here in Houston killed himself in his office one night after he was indicted for loan fraud. Blue skies, Jim

Nope not even close. In June of 1920 there was no Palestinian state and had never been one prior to that date. Arabs populations in the area now called Palestine did not start increasing until Israel after was formed in 1948. Some areas in "Palestine" were predominately Jewish, other predominately Christian, and others predominately Moslem, but there was no Palestinian state. Palestine was a geographic area like Siberia. Is there a Siberian state too? Blue skies, Jim

And where exactly were the actual borders of Palestine before Israel was created? Blue skies, Jim

There is no gigantic bank account for the US with trillions in it. There are thousands of accounts where various taxes, fees, penalties and payments from taxpayers are deposited. On the other side of the ledger, there are millions of checks and wire payments being disbused by every govt agency and office all over the world. Although it would be nice to think someone really reconciles all this to give an accurate financial picture of the US it is all smoke and mirrors with some expenses moved from year to year and some revenues accelerated. I know we are never in the ballpark on the govt estimates, but I would hope that we are at least in the same sport when the guesstimates are put together. Bottom line is there doesn't have to be any money in an account for the govt to write checks. It just keeps moving funds around, printing more money and issuing credit. Blue skies, Jim

Might not really help the healing process, but buy a "donut". It's a specially designed pad or cushion that will allow you to sit without putting pressure on the tailbone. Not to expensive. Blue skies, Jim

Definitely keep calling animal control if the dog is being mistreated. Make sure you get the officers name each time he comes out so he can testify as to the animals condition if necessary. Also keep all emails and try to record any conversations with her. She can sue and scream all she wants until you drop the evidence on the judges desk. Honestly, I wouldn't steal the dog because she will accuse you anyway and you will not have a valid defense if you were a participant in the "theft". You might find out how "valuable" little yippy, yappy is to her. Blue skies, Jim

That's a good tip. I try to touch my toes together when my legs are extended. Slightly turns the booties and leg grippers into the wind and forces my butt up. Roll the shoulders forward to cup extra air and bend slightly toward the earth from the waist. In a maximum track, you should feel slightly unstable with a bit of the potato chipping. The other thing that is very important is to turn from the formation correctly. A lot of people break grips and immediately go to a delta and track away. This may steepen the track when flat is better. I release grips and go to full superman as I turn. This slows the fall rate during the turn and when I begin to track I am slightly high to the formation, but on level with other trackers in my breakoff group. Suits make a big difference. I went to a suit that has inside leg grippers, tight sleeves and slightly tighter body. My best tracking fall rate is 93 now even with gators and front unzipped. In my old suit I could get 83 pretty consistently. Still need to practice a bit! Blue skies, Jim

Firefly makes the Anomaly team suits and Anomaly Team USA suits. Service has been great and changes and repairs if required were made without complaint or delay. AND the suits hold up to the 1000+ jumps per year Anomaly puts on them. Blue skies, Jim

Data is valid only for Otters still flying original wings and engines which are very few. -300 wings replaced most of the -100 and -200 wings and allowed the introduction of the -27 and the -34 engines to the Otter fleet. An Otter with -27 engines should get to altitude in 12-15 minutes allowing 3 loads per hour for the dz. An Otter with -34 engines should get to altitude in 12 minutes allowing 3 loads per hour for the dz. The difference between the -27 and -34 is pure horsepower. The -34 is derated to 650 hp from its full capacity of 1150 hp. What this means is this puppy can climb at full speed and power from take-off to drop altititude (since it is really only running at 50%+- power). For cost, maintenance, ease of operation and STOL capability the Otter is the best jump plane by far. Blue skies, Jim

Happy happy joy joy it's your day! Come out and see us sometime! Blue skies, Jim

Let's see: 1. Skyvan-fun to jump out of but has Garrett engines and is to damn noisy! It really hurts my ears sometimes. 2. Casa-run to jump out of, in fact the first plane I ever jumped out of, but takes two pilots and has Garrett engines. Slow to altitude with a full load. 3. Porter - no experience with one, but with door on wrong side..... 4. Cessna 182 to damn slow and limited to 4-ways. 5. Mullins King Air - great plane and pilot and extremely fast, but doesn't allow floating exits most of the time. Low overhead clearance, low wing, lots of turbulence. 6. Otter - can be fast, high tail, good climb to altitude with right engines, fairly quiet, economical to operate, can land on tiny, mud soaked runways! I'd say my overall favorite has to be an Otter, but what do I know....I'm biased!!! Blue skies, Jim

Yup! Blue skies, Jim

She was convicted of killing her husband and 2 KIDS! I'll give her life for killing the husband, but she deserved what she got for the kids! All appeals were consistently denied at all levels over an 18 year period. If you want to kill someone, don't do it in Texas. Blue skies, Jim

I always get confused when I fly over the Pacific and now I am really confused. I thought the international date line was further west and was only one day not a whole week! Blue skies, Jim

Burnaby is nice and usually has an Otter during the summer. Don't know when it leave the dz though. You can see 2 of the lakes and the steam from Niagra from altitude. Blue skies, Jim

Being precise and accurate goes a long way! PRECISION Friends working together! Friendship Education really matters! Learn and have fun Blue skies, Jim