crutch

Well we have gotten off of the subject by getting into the jumpsuit/no jumpsuit question and including camera flyers. How do you prevent unstable exits? I will tell you what I do. One, get the student as relaxed as possible in the plane. This means you may actually have to carry on a conversation with them on something that has nothing to do with skydiving. It also means you have to exume some confidence in the plane on the ride up. Jokes that work on one person, may just scare the next, you have to be flexiable. Second, get them into a postion on exit, while you are still in the door, on the step etc. that if they do nothing, you can handle the body position. On some planes this is more difficult than others, talk to experienced tandem masters and try some different things. And lastly, relax, have fun! You being tense doesn't help at all. The more relaxed you are the better body postion the pair of you will be through the skydive. Throw your arms and legs out, some people say something like the x-man, I don't know, but it works. Sidespins happen, I have been in several of them, they are no fun. One of them, I did all of the published methods to stop it, ended up just throwing the drogue, luckily we were drogue side up. Jumpsuits are not the solution, I don't think, hell all of my sidespins I was wearing a baggy one. Have yet to have one on a non-jumpsuit skydive. Develop a style, routine, whatever you want to call it, that works and stick to it. blue skies, art

Happy birthday Chuck, things are all downhill in your forties! blue skies, art

But, I bet there were tandem masters that you perferred to video because they were concerned about helping the videographer do his job easy/better. I also have done video for many years and still do, but I pick and choose who I wish to work with. It is very frustrating trying to put out a product when the other half of the team doesn't help, especially when they have the attitude that camera is your job the student is mine. Although this is true, working together creates a much better atomsphere and product in the end. The one where the camera person doesn't run into the tandem! But won't if also be nice if you adjusted a little also so the the camera flyer didn't have to work so hard and could get better shots? blue skies, art

I am going to start something here, and some of you are going to have a problem with it. If you need a baggy suit to take someone comfortably, you need to rethink your chosen preofession. When someone comes and pays the kinda money that we are charging to do a tandem, we need to work as a team to make it happen. that means the camera person and the tandem master need to work together. If you need to wear a baggy suit to be comfortable (especially with someone under 150 lbs.), you just put a much bigger load on the other half of the team. If you can't hold the drogue a little to help when you have a 100 lb passenger, you aren't helping your partner at all. It all goes along with little things such as facing the sun. Wearing clothes that doesn't put undue strees on the camera flyer (we need to dress for the success of the product). It takes a team to produce a excellent product, be a team player. I am not saying we need to take added risks, what I am saying is that if you aren't good enough to do this simple little things, maybe you should being doing something else. blue skies, art

As do I, maybe that is why I have 3300 tandems and no reserve rides? blue skies, art

A seven-foot tall Jaguar mascot! blue skies, art

I have already told my wife and daughters they are not allowed at the DZ after dark beginning Oct 4 (I believe that is the date of his return). I have heard some people asking for some appletini's though. The planes were flown out for Frances, but were back for this weekend. Not many experienced people were out though. We are jumping into the stadium Sunday, of course yours truly is carrying Jaxson in and Ronnie is jumping a 30' x 60' American Flag in, it is pretty impressive. Look for us on TV. Oh, by the way, did anyone happen to record Jeff and I on TV two weeks ago? blue skies, art

My Sigma is three years old now, been relined once, after about 650 jumps. I have had one tension knot in the front right line group, but I was able to "pop" it loose before my decision altitude. I do know that when packing them, if one is not careful it is easy to "bunch and twist" the lines up a bit, I really believe this is what causes the tension knots. I pack 99% of the the tandems I jump, I do think this adds to the fact I haven't had a cut-away yet. blue skies, art

Bobby, one day you will have to explain the numbering system here, but I got ten in between the thunderstorms. I wish I had a camera on for the last one on Saturday. One of those nice tall puffy clouds we get her was right over the DZ. Got to fly around the edges of it then through a canyon in the middle of it, just touching the edges with my wingtip, very inspiring! Of course I was flying my colors! blue skies, art

This is the longest I have gone without a jump since I retired, working on two weeks. Even looks like tomorrow may end up being a wash. If this keeps up, I am going to take up BASE jumping. blue skies, art

After this next hurricane rolls through, we are due for about six months of nothing but blue skies! blue skies, art

What about us 42 year-olds? blue skies, art

Someone has too much time on her hands! blue skies, art

We are jumping in Palatka! blue skies, art

Bet you aren't missing these hurricanes one bit, huh bob! blue skies, art

Chuck is right with no personal relationships between students and instructors..period. Now, after that, we try our best to honor student requests as far as instructors go. The more relaxed and comfortable, the better the learning curve. Forcing an instructor on someone because they are free at the moment, doesn't do anyone any good. On top of all of that, doesn't it give one incentive to improve your instructor skills if your students aren't allowed to request you. blue skies, art

We hope you can make Chuck. We are developing a few Birdmen here now also. There are three of us making regular flights, abet mine are with a classic. Anyhow, I think we should have a few for maybe a flock or two during the weekend. blue skies, art

***I don't get it. *** Yeah right! blue skies, art

Many, my alltime favorite though was the Seminole fan I took one time (I am a diehard Gator). As I was hooking him up in the plane for some reason the topic of football came up. When hearing I was a Gator a long slew of curse words started emitting from his mouth, basically saying Gators were the lowest form of life. There was a running bet amongst our tandem masters on number of stand-up landings in a row. One more and I was going to take the pot. Well for some reason as we landed, we landed in the water-filled ditch alongside the landing area with me riding him like a horse. I politely said," guess you shouldn't have been jumping with a Gator." blue skies, art

Very busy, until this week I was averaging about 15 tandems a week (packing for myself of course). The hurricanes and typical afternoon thunderstorms have been playing havoc with the schedule. All the planes are being flown out in anticipation of Frances. Hope to see you down here for the wwekend, take care swoop! blue skies, art

If he would ever just own up to the fact he bet on baseball, sincerly, not just to get into the Hall of Fame. I am all for him being voted in, but he just won't admit it. blue skies, art

The joys of not having a skydiving spouse. My first wife (who also use to jump) thought I would give it all up after my son was born. Well, that is why the marriage didn't last. My present wife (who also jumps) doesn't jump anywhere near as much as she use to, but she is also very understanding of my skydiving. Hell, we worked it out so I was able to retire early and just skydive now! So, as for your dilema, restrict his golf as much as he restricts your skydiving, don't play the sex trick, it gets real ugly then. Need to get him in the air also, that or, maybe it is time to find a new husband. blue skies, art

Skydive Palatka is holding their annual Hog Flop Boogie November 5-7 this year. The CASA is going to be there again, with live music, food and beer on Saturday night. C'mon down and spend the weekend with us! Good vibes and a great party! blue skies, art

This is what actually got me started with a wingsuit, watching Tammy buzz by while I was doing tandems. The tandem students love it, especially when they are easy to pick out and watch go off in the distance. As far a safety goes, there has to be some definite communication between the TM and the WS. But, I am all for the buzz jobs. blue skies, art

The eyes. blue skies, art