Beerlight

Pronounced like "Red" or "Reed"? That's nice too! Plane...you gotta plane!!?!! I'm seriously considering a J-3 or a Champ next year. Prolly the Champ cause you can fly it solo from the front seat..... Pronounced like "Reed" Cool! Brian has a fith of a Cessna 182. Its a fun plane to fly

Pronounced like "Red" or "Reed"? That's nice too! Plane...you gotta plane!!?!! I'm seriously considering a J-3 or a Champ next year. Prolly the Champ cause you can fly it solo from the front seat.....

Ya'll did a great thing rescuing that poor lil guy! As for names: I like Yoke! or Yokie! That's my soon to be dogs name when we go adopt. I'll let ya have it too!! edit to add: I like "SideSlip" too......

Toothpaste. Not the gel kind. I "heard" it works, but never tried it myself.... good ruck...

BJ's down in Houston @ Spaceland for the 100 way comps for the last 3 days. BTW, they built at least 1 today. Twas a real beaut....... Spaceland has 5 Twotters running, one of which is Skydive Chicago's. I'm not sure who owns the ugly Twotter that was there!

Some good advice...I have let them get to me already. I've got an insurance company that's been around for years and have no problems with them at all. I'll probably start to get them involved to make sure the other person's insurance company (Progressive) doesn't take advantage of me. This stuff is a mess. You need to let your insurance company run with this. Some lady backed into my truck. My insurance company handled everything, including a rental etc..etc....

QuoteWith someone that has relatively zero issues with their ears, they may/may not "hear" sounds occasionally during ascent that can best be described as "popping and clicking". If you do hear sounds like I described, it would be "normal".Quote Add to my own. In normal skydiving ops, there's entirely no freakin way you'll "hear" popping/clicking. It's in my biz (a relatively quiet altitude chamber) where that can be discerned. Out

With someone that has relatively zero issues with their ears, they may/may not "hear" sounds occasionally during ascent that can best be described as "popping and clicking". If you do hear sounds like I described, it would be "normal". Someone without normal equalization of the middle ear space, you may/may not hear popping and/or clicking during ascent. I'll tell you this, if you go jump with the kind of congestion you described in your original post, you risk damage to your inner ear. We aren't just talking a perforated eardrum here (which could happen), but actual damage to you "inner ear". Sinuses are another issue and react to pressure change just like the middle ear and/or other cavities in the body that could hold trapped gas. Occluded spaces in the sinus cavity(s) can ruin your whole day and "may" have dire consequences. Please take all this info, use or not use.

no it's not normal for an individuals ears to "clog" on ascent. On occasion w/ mild seasonal congestion, yes. Totally occluded, no. Popping and clicking in the ears is normal. I am NOT an ENT nor a medical doctor of any kind. I am an Aerospace Physiology Instructor and a Certified Hyperbaric Technologist. I work in hypobaric/hyperbaric chamber operations for the last 25 years. Pilot, 3000 hrs. Former jump pilot for 10 years. And 6 measley jumps

Not to play devils advocate or anything, but that statement is nonsense. My ears clog multiple times on EVERY plane ride without fail and I jump successfully without many probs. Ears should clear automatically on ascent. I should have added "you prolly shouldn't be jumping at this time until you get an eval by a doctor".. But to your response, I said probably. Lots of people have issues with their ears. I think I said a jaw wiggle, etc. usually does the trick on ascent. For some (like the OP) with lots of congestion, then it's more of a problem. Read what I wrote why don't ya.

Posting flight schedules for our "Students in Space" program. About 40 college studs coming for us to entertain (that means scare!), and demonstrate their ability to not only fly in a hypobaric chamber to 25,000 feet but fly on our C-9 Zero G aircraft.

If your ears clog on ascent, you prolly shouldn't be jumping. But, let me explain. Air expands during ascent. Air in your intestines, your ears/sinuses, lungs and even your teeth on occasion. Google "Boyles Law". When the air in your "middle ear" expands during ascent, it vents thru your eustachian tube and escapes automatically, never a need other than maybe a jaw rock usually does the trick. "On occasion" a person blocks during ascent because they have tons of gunk (medical term I like) in their eustachian tube, thus preventing equalization. During descent, the reverse is true. Problem with descents are the eustachian tube doesn't like to let air back "in". Typically people have to overcome the restriction by some method. ie., the Valsalva or swallowing, rocking the jaw...etc. Let's say your in freefall, air pressure increasing but you can't valsalva because your eustachian tube is blocked with gunk. You try to perform a valsalva to force air into the middle ear cavity to "equalize" with the outside air pressure. But alas, you can't. Your eardrum gets pushed "inward". With that comes pain my friend. Sinuses are basically the same way. They hurt much much worse though! Damage to the extent of permanent hearing loss can occur from a bad ear or sinus block. p.s. Good luck.

Agree with everyone. See a doc prior. And I can tell you, the eardrum thickness has absolutely nothing to do with air pressure exchange and clearing your ears/sinuses. PPPlease, don't listen to whoever told you that..... Do not ever clear your ears on ascent (ie valsalva). It's used Only on descent.

Freebirds is good - but I like to spice up the variety every now and againa nd not go there. Rudy's doesn't even come close to thinking about getting close to even thinking about being anywhere close to C&J's BBQ. But that stuff is so good that it ends up putting me to sleep just after lunch. well then! and ah cough cough....YOU are in College Station p.s I'll have to try C&J's next time I PASS thru!

College Station? Then Freebirds of course! OR Rudy's Barbecue....

I reckon! I literally was in shock the other day when the pilot came up to me after my AFF 5/6 jumps and said "how did your jump go?" and we chatted about skydiving. How about introducing "yourself" to any pilots on the DZ??? They usually get quite busy......

you still working for your father n law? edit to add: That's a helluva raise, congrats!

And it's much appreciated I'm sure..... thanks!

Last I checked, most pilots enjoy a beer at the end of the day. And for those hard working people during the day, a Gatorade or energy drink is also very appreciated. Tip everyone else and their brother, but leave out the pilot... I'd luv to see how much jumping gets done without a pilot. Hmmmm..... But, it's typical.....

What about your pilot?!

Been there, done that! Cold ass water, and the Grist Mill puts on a fine spread. I'll take a cold Shiner with that please

I ran it thru the BBB. Shows legit. Did you sign up...?

Love em.....Had almost 2 dozen Friday night! Like Spence said, stir some horseradish into your cocktail sauce (I like lots), drag your oyster thru that, put it on a saltine, and chew away! Also, squeeze fresh lemon all over the oysters prior... You tried sushi?

Good story Bill... Yes, any form of decompression sickness is no fun. I've been "bent" 8 times going "to" altitude (chamber test). Never after a dive......