BikerBabe

LOL...I was excited when they showed the Otter...I was like, "gee, that plane looks familiar!" Way to go, Skydive Arizona! I laughed at all the wussies who chose the burro. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Hey Arlo...I just want to say that you guys rock! We were out there this weekend, and the entire tunnel staff was awesome and made every effort to accomodate us moving our times around, providing us an empty team room, giving us free stuff... We'll definitely be back as a team...my two teammates had never been before and they had a blast. Flying in the tunnel is fun, but you guys make the experience. Thanks! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

oooh, there needs to be an "other" button... I love Fat Tire and Corona. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Hi everyone...here's a quick update about the Balloon Fiesta Boogie. First of all, tickets to 12,500 ft will be $18. There will also be a $10 boogie fee to help with food and beer. We'll be attempting to break the current New Mexico State record, which is 20. Yep, one Otter load should do it! We'll probably have a barbeque/party/cookout on Saturday after jumping is done. Also, I will be organizing caravans up to the Balloon Fiesta park on both Saturday evening and Sunday morning. On Saturday evening, they are having a balloon glow and fireworks show (at dusk, they inflate their balloons and light the burners....looks really cool). On Sunday morning early, they have a mass ascension, where about 1000 balloons lift off in two waves. Hope to see you there, since an Otter in these parts is a rare and beautiful thing! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

As much as I love the tunnel, I partially agree that 12 hours is probably a LOT for someone like you. For me, If I could afford 12 hours in the tunnel, I'd be the happiest skydiver on earth...but I compete in 4-way. The tunnel is really where you want to be if you want to do drills to improve your individual flying skills, since you can get in there and do 500 side slides if you want, and you won't feel like you've wasted your time, because you will improve. Plus, no worries about pulling, landing, cutting away, etc. Hire a coach, but not for 12 hours. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Yeah...what he said. Sometimes it's really hard to understand exactly where you'll end up at the close of a block unless you actually get together and walk the block or random. Maybe now that you have the dive pool in hand, you could ask around the DZ or hire a caoch for one weekend, just to show you what everything looks like. And don't worry, get a few training camps under your belt, and those formations will be like second nature. It just takes practice. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

I haven't got mine either...is there a big (like full page) ad in there for SkyVenture? If so, then I'm in there too. If not, oh, well, it's in Skydiving mag, anyway... Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Oh my holy hell! Tell me you guys don't actually find that attractive?!?! Please tell me that... Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

I will be there! Since my hubby broke both ankles motorcycle racing, our planned Christmas trip to Australia and New Zealand is off. I was mad at him, so I told him in no uncertain terms that we were going to the holiday boogie at Eloy instead. Yeah baby! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Oh, I know how you feel. Our DZ went without a plane for 8 or 9 months! It was sad. Very sad. Then one of our club members found a partner and bought us a 182. Don't worry, it will turn around! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Eclipse is located here in Albuquerque, and it is big news. I suppose I can ask someone, but my gut says probably not. You'd probably have to do major door mods, which would probably drive the total cost back up to normal jump plane range, anyway... Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

I actually witnessed this one: We're out at the DZ one day, and one of our staff members has a 5-yr old daughter. He also has a skydiving girlfriend who is a DJ on a local station. She takes his daugther into the studio with her to record a show. Here's how it went: DJ: I have my boyfriend's daughter in here, and she wants to say something on the radio. Girl: I love my mommy very much. DJ: I thought you were going to say something about your daddy? (this was the plan...) Girl: My daddy is very well fed.......(long pause).............the cats! DJ: What? (holding back laughter) Girl: He feeds the cats very well! Well, of course the radio at this point was blaring, so proud dad could let everyone hear his daughter on the radio...the screams of laughter from 20 skydivers could be heard on the airplane, I'm sure, drowning out the second part of his daughter's statement... We still tell him that he's looking very well-fed today! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Hey, you can call it a corporation...I ain't gonna argue. Heck, I work in the worst part of the AF for that...we ARE a corporation. We have to institute all that crap like TQM and "best practices" and ISO whatever just like all the contractors we work with. I work 9 to 5, in a cubicle, at a computer, with finacial records and engineering drawings. Take down the "Kirtland AIr Force Base" and replace it with "Boeing" or Lockheed", and I'd never know the difference... Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Woohoo...nothing like going all out when you wanna go fast! You need to get that baby out on a track. I'm sure some motorcycle shop or club has track days at Mid-Ohio or another close track. Fun fun fun! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

LOL...as an Air Force acquisition weenie, I'm in a unique position to comment here... Just because the airplane works, it's good, and it is the only thing in the inventory to fulfill the mission doesn't mean that the AF will keep it around. Witness the EF-111 and the SR-71. You would not believe the politics that go on in the acquisition arena...I bet it's worse than being in Congress. If half the stuff I saw wasn't classified, it would make a hell of a political intrigue novel. Or at least a damned fine 20/20 exposé. $200 hammers are nothing, folks. Not that my job is that exciting...more frustrating, really. Yes, the AF has been itching to retire the A-10 for years, but the Army won't let us. Good for the Army. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Oh, damn...I don't have cable...does someone who taped it have a vidcap card? I'm sure it's worth uploading! I'm sure Michele represented well! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

We may take you (him ) up on that offer...our TMs are overworked and they need a much-deserved break (even if only a little one). A little update: The fee for the boogie will be $10 per person, which will go toward food and beer. Hope y'all can make it out! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

not to sound snarky or anything, but maybe this is the type of case where honesty is the best policy? Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

mmmmm...Eva's...barbacoa burrito... I like that new Toltec Cafe, though -- yummy miso soup! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

After today...506. I got my 500th at Nationals and I was pied in the SDC VIP lounge by my teammates and good friends from Arizona. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Yep...that's what he did at our DZ...we convinced him to jump with us (dmddave and myself) while the tandem was getting ready. I think he actually tries to go for the smaller DZ's too, to help with publicity. It was really cool, and the DJ that came out loved it, too. Anyway, Jimmy, if you read this...thanks for being a great ambassador of the sport! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Oh, do come with the Otter! We'd love to have you! I'm working on my teammates to hop over here, too... We actually have some room to camp on the airport...there are also three cheap hotels about 2 miles away (same exit off the highway) if tenting isn't for you...it's starting to get chilly at night by that time. As far as I know, pets are cool, as long as they don't run on the taxiway! Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Hey, Ken! Yep, we have a team... I'm not sure of the prices yet...I will let you know. There will probably be a small boogie fee which will allow us to buy food/beer. Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

I know...I love those otters...and the one with the music kicks ass! Except the one time I got on there and the pilot was blasting..............classical. Now don't get me wrong, I love classical music, just not on the way to make a skydive! SDAZ is like my second home, so it will be like the merging of two DZs for me... Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

I hope this is OK to post here... Woohoo! We're bringing in an Otter the 12th and 13th of October. In order to celebrate our new home, new airplane, and new life, Skydive New Mexico is excited to announce our First Annual (we hope) Balloon Fiesta Boogie, taking place during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on 12-13 October 2002. We're bringing out an Otter from Skydive Arizona and it's going to be a great time! We'll also be doing a New Mexico State Record that weekend (our current unofficial record is 20, so we're going for 22!), as well as plenty of other fun jumps. We ma try to organize a trip up to the Balloon Fiesta one evening to see a balloon glow, as well. We're pleased to invite you to come to sunny New Mexico and jump with us! In early October it is cool in the mornings here, but usually gets up into the mid to high 60s during the day. The air is calm and clean, and if it's good for the balloonists, it's perfect for us! If you've been looking for an excuse to come see the Balloon Fiesta, here it is...you'll even get to skydive! An Otter is a rare thing in these parts, so don't miss this opportunity! More info coming soon on prices, where to stay, etc. If you have questions, PM me or send and email to skydivenewmexico@yahoo.com. Hope to see you there! Andi SNM Board Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!