thomas_crowe

Michelle, Kristi, and Skymama; thanks!! Keith; I look forward to it! Tom Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

FFMedic; I think that it is great that you challenge yourself and evaluate things in a methodical and very logical way. That being said one of the best taglines I have seen on this board says to the effect; the biggest danger lies in breaking a safety rule and getting away with it. (that's not an exact quote, but I think that I got the spirit of the prose across). I feel that a lot of the advice dispensed on this board has to be evaluated as applying to the broadest range of people possible! That's why we see things like minimum jump limits for attempting new things. Those evaluations are not based on you or your skills, but on most people and their skills. IMO if you want to get truly personal advice, you go to your local dz. Experienced jumpers that know you, and know your skills, and can have a more realistic conversation about *you* doing xyz (adding a camera, attempting sitflying or head down, etc). Your local instructors and the S&TA at your dropzone are fabulous resources, that are most likely willing to sit down and talk about what you want to do (especially if you buy em a beer for it) Best of luck to you, blue skies, and be safe Tom Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

I'm planning on flying into Thomaston, GA on Sunday 02AUG2009; and was wondering if anyone here is going to be jumping there? (Especially belly flyers). I normally jump out at the Farm in Rockmart, but am wanting to try a new place. I'm a belly flyer with ~110 jumps. Some 4-way and a few 8-12 way jumps. Not a great jumper, but not completely inept either. Always looking to learn something new! oh, and I fall fast! Think greased homesick refrigerator. I have always had a tough time at new places, and am hoping to at least get introduced to 1 or 2 people on here that are going to be out there to make things a bit easier for me. (it sucks be painfully shy ) Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

Saturday, a 6+ hour flight back home from Oregon that puts me back in Atlanta after 4:00pm; so no time for much jumping then. Sunday, hopefully going to fly over to Skydive Atlanta (SDA) in Thomaston, GA for a few jumps. Never jumped there, so not quite sure what to expect. Being painfully shy always makes going to a new dropzone frightful experience. Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

I just noticed your username 'oracle' - any special significance there? I'm finishing up a 10g RAC implementation with Grid Control and Oracle Secure Backup. you'd be surprised at the number of IT people in skydiving. Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

most larger dropzones (from my limited experience, mind you) will have some kind of indicator or Beer Light. The other thing that I have seen done is basically a beer line, so you can drink but not around anyone actively jumping. The best thing to do (and this goes for most things) is ask your instructor - they will surely know what the policies are and will most likely help get you introduced to some of the other jumpers. Congrats on going for AFF, it's an awesome ride :-) Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

Awesome, Awesome place. I'll be out there tomorrow, stop by and introduce yourself if you get the chance. PS: Ask Andy to tell you what it was like to jump way back when. When parachutes were made from animal hides. :-) Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

Add me to the list, and damn am I going to be glad to be back "home"!!! Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

I'm leaving the Richland, WA area this weekend and driving to Salt Lake City to pick up my dad. Then starting the long road trip back to Atlanta with my camper. I'm hoping to bounce from dropzone to dropzone along the way. It is going to be a very leasurely pace, and not necessarily a direct route. So with all of that said. What dropzones are on the "must visit" list between Salt Lake City and Atlanta? Thanks for your suggestions, I'll post some of the plethora of photos that I am sure to take along the way. Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

What OS are you running? Are any other firewire devices recognized on the computer? Just to make sure you are going firewire to firewire from the camcorder to the computer and not firewire to USB (which is available and would require a driver). Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

The Army does spread them out using Depots, but they aren't too much larger than a shipping container, there are just a lot of them there. here is a link to the Army Depot near Umatilla, OR (happens to be where I am working at right now) Each of the rectangles in the picture is a storage container, so the "Depot" is made up of hundreds of these storage units, and not a massive warehouse. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=hermiston,+or&ie=UTF8&ll=45.853823,-119.435034&spn=0.012644,0.024462&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

That is easy to say, but the TSA can easily require you to open both the main and reserve, they can require you to take the canopies out of the d-bag also. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Generally, carrying a copy of the TSA's own published policies clear up any confusion with the local TSA personnel http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1147.shtm To quote "If security officers need to further search your bag, they will make every effort search it without out opening the chute. If a chute is opened, you can assist. Security officers will search the chute away from the checkpoint so that they have enough space for the search and for you to repack your the rig." So sure they could in theory make you open your main, but the reserve, in my opinion, is much less likely. After all it has a tamper evident seal showing that it was sealed by an FAA certificated rigger, and hasn't been opened since. Of course TSA has their fair share of a$$holes that just want to give someone a hard time because they can, but in my experience those are the exception and not the rule. But YMMV depending on where you are travelling. Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

I've had good luck flying with my rig so far. I generally carry just my rig, and have found that it usually fits in the overhead, even on the smaller regional jet type planes. If not in the overhead I ask the flight attendant if they can put it in their closet (just make sure they don't try to get it out for you). Once I explain what it is, I have never had one refuse to put it in their closet for me. I don't carry it in a gear bag because they will try to make you "valet" check it, and there's no way I'm checking a several thousand dollar rig to baggage handlers to throw around or leave out in the rain, they can have my laptop before they get my rig. Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

Can you post "the list" of dropzones that you visit. I will be making a similar trip (only in reverse, Oregon to Georgia) in June and was thinking of doing the same thing, just drive from DZ to DZ. Good luck on your trip, Hope you have nothing but great weather. Tom Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

Thanks to everyone that replied!! I won't make it there this weekend, but quite possibly next weekend. Looking forward to jumping a new place and making new friends. Tom Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

I have heard there is a dropzone in Richland, WA but I can't find it in dz.com or uspa's dropzone directories. Does anyone know if there really is a DZ there, and if so what is it like? I'm a newbie out here for work (for about 10 weeks) and if there is a dz in Richland, or some other place close by it would be awesome to get a few jumps in!

Yes more quarters, bring more quarters. Maybe I can leave this boogie with more money than I came with too! Though I seriously doubt it, since this time I should actually get to jump. Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek

If no one cares about a band, why don't we rent one of those large blow up movie screens and a projector. We can play bad skydiving movies all night...

Count me in, maybe I'll actually get to jump this time after making the 3 hour drive! Thomas Crowe, NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic Red Hat Linux Geek