brucet7
-
Content
328 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Feedback
0%
Everything posted by brucet7
-
I have a chance to a helicopter jump the end of the month. I hadn't given it much thought, but I guess I will change my mind and give it a try. POPS #10623; SOS #1672
-
I remember how excited and proud I was to get mine. I have pictures, and a ppt of the event. Congrats! POPS #10623; SOS #1672
-
I am feeling guilty as it is 4.5 miles from my house to the DZ. I used Mapquest to try and find a longer route and got it up to 7.2, but that is the best I could do. POPS #10623; SOS #1672
-
weight bags for packing parachute
brucet7 replied to djta0707's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
As a new jumper with 29 jumps after yesterday, I accept the monicker of "ignorant" though "inexperienced" might be more applicable. Every pack I do I learn lots. I was told yesterday that I had the "ugliest" line stows they had ever seen. So we started over and my next set looked quite nice thank you. I suppose that one of these days being able to keep my contain from moving and my risers straight will come naturally, but right now just trying to remember all the steps in the right order, knowing how much roll to put on the nose (and I wasn't doing that right either and had to be corrected), making sure the folds are somewhat in order and getting those "S" folds down is about all I can handle. So call me ignorant, because I sure am. But less so today that Saturday. POPS #10623; SOS #1672 -
I consider a good plan as that from which one can deviate as necessity requires. Rarely in life do plans go as planned. My army buddy talks about battle plans. "A battle plan is only good until one first engages the enemy." POPS #10623; SOS #1672
-
My DZ has a free class once a month, Thursday evening. I took it twice as I was a little slow I guess and got too much advice from various people walking by after my AFF. POPS #10623; SOS #1672
-
Here in Western Washington we would take a little muggy and miserable if it meant we could jump. Rain, rain, clouds and rain. Bad even for Washington in June. POPS #10623; SOS #1672
-
The skipping work sure sounds familiar. In fact, if it wasn't raining and a cloud ceiling of about 600 ft, I think I would. Enjoy the ride. POPS #10623; SOS #1672
-
My jumping partner pulled 1000 too high. The instructor pointed to the camera man and he misread the point as "PULL." She apologized. It is a great video though as the other instructor gave a what in the world happened gesture. POPS #10623; SOS #1672
-
S/L to Freefall Status - Some Lessons Learned
brucet7 replied to Gato's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
"- There is a reason we are taught to pick a suitable landing target BEFORE WE ENTER THE PLANE." On one of my post AFF jumps I ended up across the taxiway in a flowerbed, between two little trees. I went home, downloaded an picture of the landing zone got a plastic protector and some dry erase markers. I look at the winds, watch the jumpers ahead of me, put an arrow showing wind direction on the map and draw a left and right turn landing. I have been close to target almost every time since then. I also mark the line of flight on the picture so I can have a reference to track perpendicular to it. Maybe someday I won't need it, but not to that point yet. POPS #10623; SOS #1672 -
I would love to be there to watch the adventure, but at 240 lb, I don't think you want me to volunteer.
-
My 2nd AFF jump: PLF + photos.
brucet7 replied to npgraphicdesign's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
On one of my late student jumps I had a close encounter with a couple of trees. I misjudged the wind and turned my downwind approach one to realize it was upwind, and strong, maybe too strong for my skills. I ceased to move forward, just straight down. The company next to the dropzone has a flag pole, which provides excellent windage next to their building. a couple of yards from that pole were to little trees in a decorative garden bed. I was desperate to miss the flag pole, I wanted to miss the tarmac which was on two sides, and found myself coming down right between those little trees. I had two lines tangle in the taller tree. One of the instructors on the load looked at me and said, "Smells a little piny in here, Bruce." Hopefully that is my last tree encounter (not to mention a LONG way away from that flag pole!) POPS #10623; SOS #1672 -
-
-
-
I am not sure what this reputation stuff is. If you have that reputation, then my friend and I must have a worse one. I took nine months to get my A license. Some was weather, some was a trip out of the country, some was money, some was I have a life, with grandkids to visit and obligations. I would say, go when life lets you, enjoy yourself, and go at the pace life allows. Another way to show your dedication (I did have this reputation) is to read and study the SIMs and the owner's manuals for the equipment you jump. When I went to the dropzone, my instructors knew I was studying and memorizing cloud clearance and equipment check information. Several coaches and instructors accused me of reading more of that stuff than they had. There is more to this than jumping out of an airplane. POPS #10623; SOS #1672
-
This beer thing brought a bit of challenge into my life this week. I do not drink. People in my life (not so much me) are concerned with the evil of alcohol. I got my A license yesterday. Knowing I was close I stopped and picked up a case for my instructors. Not everyone, including my wife, was not happy with me. Maybe I should have gone with the money. POPS #10623; SOS #1672
-
The most I have ever done is 3, driven more by money than time. Once I got my 20 in, the price went down enough to consider a few more. Yesterday I did 3 in 5 hours. Weather and not a lot of people to jump factored in. Thursday I waited for 2+hours and the weather never cleared. I got off student yesterday so I am not really any kind of expert. POPS #10623; SOS #1672
-
1) I don't know where the idea first started, maybe while in the Navy, flying in the glass nose of an SP-2H. The actual start was as a personal reward for loosing 70 lbs. 2) Like I had made a terrible mistake (and I still have a bit of that feeling just before the door opens even now). 3) I didn't feel like I was falling. Once I started my AFF, after 6 s/ls, my world was the five feet or so around me and my instructors. 4) "We Are the Champions of the World!" I felt it again yesterday as I nailed my Check Jump landing, knowing I had passed. 5) Listen to what you are told, read your SIMS, practice what you can on the ground, and think about what you are going to do, visualing it in your head before the door opens. And go to the bathroom before you get on the plane. POPS #10623; SOS #1672
-
Go to USPA.org and you can find an online version of the SIMs. It gives the answers, and you can review before you hit the dropzone. POPS #10623; SOS #1672
-
Well, it took a day longer than I had hoped, but I got my A today. My back loop was the best I have ever done.
-
Listen carefully and have fun. POPS #10623; SOS #1672
-
How many people think swooping is stupid or boring?
brucet7 replied to blagogada's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
My DZ has, what I understand, one of the best swoopers around. I sure enjoy watching him do his thing and cannot imagine myself ever doing it. After all, I am old. He is young. POPS #10623; SOS #1672 -
I am not exactly new to skydiving. I have been jumping for 9 months and been lurking here but not posted. Today I make jumps 23-25 and if I can pack my chute without assistance and nail my back loop (both challenges) I will get my "A" today. I am pretty excited and didn't sleep well and expect my morning work will drag.
-
I did my work toward my A license over a nine month period, two to three jumps a month (I am in Washington and we had six weeks off due to weather). That spread the cost over a longer period. In between jumps I would read my SIM, look for owner's manuals on canopies and containers. Each time I went to the DZ I was prepared and knew what I was doing. I was fortunate to pass each AFF course without repeating any, in part, because I was prepared. You don't HAVE to do this in two weekends. POPS #10623; SOS #1672
