JJohnson

I jumped a Safire 129 for a bit. My openings on it were great. Straight propack, no rolling the nose, tail not wrapped like lunch at a Mexican restaurant, slider pulled out. I would say my openings were brisk, never spanking, usually on heading and no more than 600 feet from throw out to being comfortable in the saddle. I liked the canopy and it's performance pretty well. I had some problems with Icarus, however and have gone to a Cobalt 120. I'm not knocking the Safire, I enjoyed mine with a solid 90% satisfaction. MHO JJ

Mucho congratulations mi amigo. Buenos nachos and taco bellgrande as well on a job excellently accompliced. Maybe in about another 500 jumps I'll consider getting my instructor rating. JJ

I've spent about an hour and half or so in Orlando's tunnel and about an hour in the Las Vegas one. The Orlando tunnel is much better. However for freeflying the tunnel is not easy. If you are tall and slender, you can probably get a sit or evena stand up. The airspeed is just not limitless like real freefall. However it definetly teaches control. You will get tired of bouncing into the walls and learn to use small movements. JJ

Well, I have yet to make it out to SDC. I'd be up to meeting out there, but at this late point in time we are probably better off sticking with Hinckley. At last count we may be as big as a 15 way, which should not be all that hard to put together......in a few attempts. We're jumping an Otter, so we can launch a decent chunk out the door. If the base can stay together, it's just a matter of the rest finding their slots before break-off. The fun is in the trying.....it's not like we win any prizes. JJ

Correction, the largest python is the Reticulated Python. This beautiful creature is argueably the largest of the constrictor family, perhaps second only to the Anaconda. I raised snakes as a kid, Retics being the primary/favorite. Chromeboy, if you are serious and want to talk let me know. There are lots of tricks that make having a snake as a pet really rewarding and lots of things to avoid. For one, never feed live mice to a snake. Always pre-kill. Gloves are not required, but wash the mice/rat smell off your hands before handling the snake. Be prepared to handle the snake at least an hour a day......... My largest Retic was about 17 feet long before I sold him. JJ

Yeah, but you are getting out of the Army....that's like getting out of the Boy Scouts. It's not like you were a Marine or anything. :) JJ

Any higher performance canopy is going to be in the same ballpark if lightly loaded. A Sabre2 and a Safire should not quite be in the category as a fully elliptical canopy. Stiletto is a full, Crossfire is a full. I've jumped both and I'm demoing a Cobalt now. I liked the Cobalt enough to buy it. I would not put the Cobalt in the same category as a semi-elliptical........It's performance it higher than that. MHO

Okay, as of right now, Mr. Weather dude says the best day we are gonna get is Saturday. Of course this is the Greater Chicagoland area, so I would not really depend on the weather prediction any more than 30 minutes in advance. The real question is how am I gonna recognize any of you people? Are we gonna have a flag or banner to congregate around? Any ideas? I'm easy to find....just look for the best-looking guy around...........I'll be close by him to scam on the chicks he throws away. JJ

Dan, this one is aimed primarily at you. The ad in the latest Skydiving says the Cobalt is the superior alternative to the Sabre2, Hornet or Safire. I would have thought performance wise it was more akin to the truly ellipticals like the Stilleto, Crossfire and others.....not the lightly ellipitcals or tapered. Comments? JJ

I kinda agree with you. I sold my Safire and now have my order in for a Cobalt. Icarus did not live up to half of what they promised, took a long time to not solve an issue. They tried damn hard, I'll give them credit where it was due. But they did lose my business. JJ

I've been in the Arava the day it arrived at CSD. Due to the curvature of the fuselage, the bar is actually pretty deep in the plane compared to the edge of the floor. Launching chunks outta that door is gonna take some getting used to. The door is not as wide as an Otter either. But as far as the climb to altitude, tons of room....a regular party ship. It would be awesome if they could put a sliding door as a tailgate on it. Then it would be the ultimate jump ship. JJ

I stand corrected, I had forgotten the optional extra insurance..... JJ

I got an idea!! Throw your ex out of a plane witha rig attached to him....after he gets down, ask him if he wants to try it without the rig. When he says no, then I guess he will think that skydiving is a lot more safe than just jumping out of an airplane!! JJ

How many posts do I have to make before I'm no longer a newbie??? JJ

I travel a great deal for my job and I spend much of my time in airports. I was even supposed to be on my way to Mexico on 9/11. Whenever possible I bring my rig, on the chance I might be able to sneak a few jumps in, wherever I may be. I have had my fair share of run ins with airport officials concerning my rig and this is what I have come up with: Rule number one: Do not argue with anyone that first gives you grief. They probably have no clue what they are talking about. Ask to speak with someone in charge....nicely. 1) Do not bother with any counter people and do not check your rig in as baggage, even inside a suitcase. Airlines will not pay you what it is worth if it is lost or damaged. 2) Do not try to bring a hook knife on board anymore. 3) The only person who can tell you that your rig cannot be on board is the captain of that flight. (this is supposedly FAA regulations and has been supported by any airport people I have ever talked to.) 4) Security can harrass you all they wish, simply request that the floor boss come to security. The person in charge is aware of FAA regulations and knows the real deal. 5) Cypress and AAD's are legal to have. Airtec will send you a card, which shows what the AAD loks like under X-ray and explain what it is. 6) According to the various airport people I have talked to, the cannister or cartridge they are reffering to is a compressed gas thing....I don't know what they are looking for, but the real knowledgeable people know the Cypress is fine. I have been stopped by the check in people who have told me my rig must be checked baggage and will not pass through security........I then proceed to ask them kindly for an exit row seat, and proceed through security. They can alert security, but cannot force you to check the rig. I have been stopped at security and the results have been anywhere from a polite question or two to getting the person in charge involved. But as it has been told to me, by that person in charge at Chicago Ohare, United terminal.....only the captain of the flight can say no to your rig. Again this is only my experience and what has been told to me. In probably 20 encounters, before and after 9/11 I can honestly say the airport people have been more than fair and understanding so long as I treated them the same and did not make an ass out of myself. (whcih comes naturally to me) I have explained that I am a skydiver and after checking my rig and alitimeter and audible and such......they have let me pass everytime......long hair, Tevas, shorts closing pin neclace, earring, sunglasses, black leather jacket and vulgar skydiving t-shirt and all. The worse I have had to do is ask for someone in charge..politely of course...something like, " Excuse me Mr. Security dude, no hard feelings but I think you are a monkey and I'd like to talk to your boss. I'm aware you have a job to do, but I think you are incorrect on your interpretaion of the rules. So with all do respect please get on that walkie-talkie thing of yours....yes you must press the button before talking...." MHO JJ

I'm really in this time. Sorry for not showing at SDI last time. Let's hope the weather cooperates with us. I don't see how anyone got loads up this weekend...cold, windy and rainy. Skydiving in this shit is about as much fun as masturbating with a handful of broken glass..........not that I know what that is like. As for the record, we should go for the slot perfect. It's only a 12 way. If we put it together correctly, take it slow...no problem. Most of my jumps are RW, up until I went over to the darkside a year ago. I'll gladly aid in the organizing part. I'm sure we will have more than enough cameras in the air to record this event. See you all there. JJ

Feel free to correct me, but I belive the subject of the thread was comparing toggle hooks to riser hooks, or at least attempting to use these techniques to build up speed in a swoop. A 90 degree toggle turn hardly qualifies as what I thought these people were talking about. Those that added their insights were quite instructive and seeing as how many lower time jumpers are coming to the website we are bound to have many repeating subjects. If you don't want to read.....don't. JJ

I've always enjoyed Skydive Lake Elsinore in the South part of the state and Byron up North. JJ

I did some research a few years ago, about 15 on piss tests. It is amazing how much information people give you when you ask the right way. A lab that actually did the testing for the local Marine base told me that in reality pot is only detectable for about week to two weeks after smoking, unless the usage is heavy or chronic. Cocaine for about 72 hours. JJ

Extremely widespread???Oh America is the home of vice and wrong doing now is it???? Don't believe everything you see on Jerry Springer. Next I assume you are going to tell me that your country has no gays, religous conflicts or crime in general either. JJ

I'm sure there are many skydivers that use questionable or illegal substances. Personally I quit drinking and druggin 12 years ago and the police and general population like me a lot more now! However, from a business stand point, a DZ runs the risk of John Q. Law steping into their shit for skydivers using drugs, while beer is legal. DZ's hardly need a bad image any more than what they have already. But from a personal view, to each his own. So long as it does not interfere with the safety of that jumper or those around them, who cares. JJ

Milo, My first canopy off student status was a Triathalon 150, and at the time it was cool. but it is a 7 cell and you are only going to get so much performance out of it. It packs nice, super stable, and you can sink it real nice. If you under load a Triathalon it will snivel on opening and your flare will not be awesome, but it will be good. My next canopy was the Silhouette 135. My exit weight is about 170 to 180. This canopy was a definite step up. Real crisp turns, nice flare and it packs real easy. I still got this canopy and use it in my second rig. It's got about 250 jumps on it and has held up very well. JJ

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! I"M BLIND!!!!!!!!!! I'M DEAF!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH THE PAIN!!!!!!!!!!! Jesus H.Christ that hurt! Don't ever do that again, I'd rather jump with a bedsheet as a main than see/hear that. I guess anybody can get famous in Japan, which is where I hear he is popular. Of course the French loved Jerry Lewis...so there is no counting for taste. JJ

From the 200ish foot student F111 canopy to my own gear was a Triathalon 150. The jump was huge and not to be trifled with. I made plenty of errors, fortunately none that cost me more than embarasment, laundry detergent and some bruises. Like you I am a fairly conservative pilot. I put a few hundred jumps on the Triathalon before I went to something semi-elliptical. My choice was a Silhouette 135. (billed as a tapered canopy. Very lightly elliptical) Again the jump was enough to give me all new respect for the chute. I still own the canopy and use it in my second rig for camera work. I can still fly it on the edge enough to scare myself. After another few hundred jumps betweena Safire 129 (lightly elliptical) and Crossfire 119 I am looking at going to either the Cobalt or Vengeance, size to be determined after a dozen or more demo jumps on them. Do not be in a hurry to jump down in size, plus go to an elliptical. You are asking for trouble, and I am not in anyway knocking your skills. All it takes is one mistake and you will find these parachutes a Hell of lot less forgiving than what you got now. Moderation is a good idea here. MHO JJ

How about posting the canopy and size they were jumping? JJ