Hooknswoop

A jumper's speed is measured relative to the ground. Once the jumper cuts away, he begins to acclerate again. The reserve PC acclerates too, just not as fast, so the jumper acclerates away from the PC. Derek

I think he means a line attachment point pulled off the canopy because the force isn't 90-degrees to the bar-tack. Derek

Some want the achievement of being able to jump w/o an Instructor and that's all. Some find it difficult to transition from jumping w/ an Instructor to other jumpers for numerous reasons. It can be difficult when skydiving is so much a part of your life to think of ever leaving, but before skydiving you got along without it. I have found some other sports and other activities that have given me much more than skydiving ever did, without the investment in time or money. Derek

At 43 jumps, I thought the same as you and couldn't understand why someone with thousands of jumps and that could really fly would quit. Then I got a few thousand jumps. Jumping from planes is fun and cool, all the other crap can add up to make it simply not worth it. Derek

From what Ive seen of the Skyhook, no. The skyhook gets the reserve out of the freebag in the length of the reserve lines. There isn't time for the jumper to entangle with anything. That is a big difference over just launching the reserve pilot chute and the jumper having to accelerate to get the reserve out of the free bag, towing the piot chute for a bit. Derek

There are other things in life, skydiving isn't everything. Derek

From: http://www.mythbustersfanclub.com/html/boom_lift_catapult.html "AC vs. Windows Down Debate The Myth: You have more fuel efficiency if you have the AC on. The Experts: Bob Masterson (service manager Stan Tracy Ford) helps the guys bust this one by hooking the SUV up to a computer that measures air intake of the engine. Quotable/Memorable Moments: Jamie: It's getting pretty chilly in here! Glad I brough my jacket! I pity the poor cameraman who doesn't have one on! (Then the cameraman shivers!) The Action/Results: First Jamie drives fifteen laps around the track - five with the windows up and the AC off, five with the windows down and five with the windows up and the AC on full. The verdict, according to Bob Masterson, is that the car is more fuel efficient with the windows up and the AC on, due to the amount of drag that is created when the windows are down. But Adam and Jamie have another test to run. They load each car up with the same amount of people and stuff, and fill the tanks up. They want to do this like an "Average Joe" would do it. Adam has his bananas and his coffee, and Jamie has his famous 444 - the mixture of fruits, vegetables and grains that he says tastes like gazpacho. However, it is decided that this test is too dangerous, so they decide to put only five gallons of gas in each tank and run the test that way instead. The results surprise everyone! Jamie's car runs out of gas first! They decide that the computer model isn't really measuring fuel consumption, but air intake, and that it is based on ideal conditions. In the end, this myth is BUSTED!" So which is more fuel efficient? Are there any other 'studies' on it? Does it depend on the vehicle and temperature? Derek

At first, but you learn real quick. Shimano SPD pedals let you adjust how tight the pedal grabs the cleat. Start with them very loose. You'll pop out by accident every now and then. Soon, you won't even have to think about unclipping. If you crash, you unclip automatically. Not sure how, but I have tested this feature on some harsh singletrack in Durango. As you get used to the, tighten them up so you don't pop out accidently. They make riding MUCH more efficient. Derek

I watched some HALO guys that couldn't hit Laurenburg Airfield (very big) all day long. I bet I could out-spot any only-military JM any day of the week. Derek

I'm not too worried about the cold, just the roads. It can snow without warning and then I'm stuck. Plus the sand on the road. I have full leathers. I intend to ride the motorcycle and mountain bike as much as possible, even through the winter. I hope the gas price increase in temporary and the gas-saving measures continue even after the prices come back down. I think it is human nature for people to slowly forget and go back to burning gas as if it was free and limitless again. Derek

Double what you are paying and see if you complain. Even if we are lower, this much a price increase still sucks. This brings up the question, how do europeans deal with such high gas prices? What offsets the higher cost? Higher wages? Less driving? What? Derek

The Mythbusters tested that out and found that windows down without the A/C running was much more fuel efficient. Of course, speeds, vehicles, etc can all make a difference. I like the motorcycle idea, way ahead of you. Of course this winter may be an issue. Thanks for the tips, I'll put as many as I can into use. Derek

Cool! Congrats, let's go ride. Just in time for the higher gas prices. Think about replacing the helmet, as there is no way to know if the foam inside has been crushed from an impact. Derek

***Do you think getting experience on the 280 makes jumping a 170 more or less dangerous? Small problems magnify themselves on smaller canopies. Reaching with a hand and foot during the flare won't matter very much on a 280, but can injure you on a 170. The flare is very different, so 280 experience is no help on a 170. The 170 is faster, turns faster, loses a lot more altitude in a turn, etc. Derek

Instead of turning right off of 36 onto 104th, turn left (coming from Boulder). Then keep turning left until you can't. Derek

The larger size Javelins main flaps don't stay shut very well. Tightening the closing loop and packing the main wider and less tall may help. If not, a piece of Type-12 webbing sewn under the top flap for the main flap tuck tab to tuck into will keep it shut. Derek

A 280 to a 170 is WAY too big a jump in canopy performance. Derek

OK. How about Friday? Doesn't matter where to me. Derek

This Thursday. Derek

How about Thursday night? Derek

Let's do sushi. Phil- Check today's Post, the back of the sports section, article on a guy eating nothing but raw foods over a 2,400 mile hike. Derek

Just tell him my bike is faster, by the time he calms down enough to talk, it'll be time to pay the check and leave Derek

We leave for CA Sunday Derek

Are you refering to me? BTW- I agree with you. Derek

They know they are breaking the rules. They could very easily find out what the consequences are, but they don't care. Hmmmm. Simple, tell them to grow a backbone and quit acting as an Instructor before something bad happens. Derek