diablopilot

There are several "rules" for down sizing, but what you've pointed out is one of them for sure! ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

If they did, they wouldn't have been being "careful" now would they? ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

I'm glad someone gets it! ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

And I did seriously regret my lack of tact in that moment. I could have handled that better, but I learned from it.

Link to a micro burst. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Good point. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Aw, shucks. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

The what? ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

It's been suggested that maybe, just maybe, I might be lacking in the "tact" department. Has anyone else noticed this? ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Tap it from the back. Problem solved. That'll be $5. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

What kind of recumbent is that? ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

My penis is still bigger. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Chris, in this thread just over a year ago, you were irritated with people giving you grief about jumping a 135@40 jumps, now you're somewhat wondering the same thing about you jumping a 105 @ around 150 jumps. With an exit weight (If I recall correctly) of around 130lbs, is your S&TA is OK with you jumping a high performance 105 canopy? Moving from the Manta 288 down to a 135 Spectre in about a year isn't anywhere near as aggressive as going from the 135 Spectre to a 105 Cobalt, even though you're a very lightweight guy. God, what I'd give to weigh 115 again. Bingo. It's your history that has people suggesting that you're risking too much. I see you breaking an ankle on that canopy. I hope not, but I fear that's what it's gonna be. Some of my opinion is based on what I've seen in 10 years, some from working with students, and some because I broke my own ankle at twice your jumps because I was "better than the average". By allowing someone to convince you that the COMP cobalt is right for you they have allowed you to break just about every rule of downsizing. You skipped at least one size. You went from a 7 cell to a 9 cell. You went to an elliptical planform of a smaller size. At some point you'll be caught in a tight situation without the skill to handle it, and that's where you're gonna get hurt. At some point too soon you'll think you have it down, and decide to spice things up, and that's where you'll get hurt. None of this is new, and there are plenty of examples of other's who "were better than the rest" who sadly and painfully learned they were wrong. So keep on keeping on if your DZ and instructors are willing to let you risk it, but don't come here acting surprised when people question or criticize you. That boat won't float here. Edit to add that my post was directed more as a reply to Chris than DSE. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

When you have a premature opening and the camera flyer is underneath the tandem pair what do you think is going to happen? When the tandem has a premature opening and the camera flyer is underneath what do you think will happen? Now in both scenarios, what happens if you are not under the pair, but 5 feet off to one side? Do we really have to have another fatality to emphasize the "danger areas" of tandems? ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

As stated many times before flying directly below the tandem pair is extremely unsafe. Stop doing it. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Makes me think "WTF is billvon doing wasting his time and talent on bikes!" ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. Abraham Lincoln ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Where do you think I wanna fly to!?! ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

I'm learning to fly. See that 172 doing doughnuts in the sky? That's me!

I AM living the dream. Everyday. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

In my book yes. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

And people often gave me grief when I would remind them to check their pockets were empty again. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

You do know that there is a largish population that thinks your crazy, suicidal, or just plain nuts for jumping from an airplane in the first place? Leave those of us that don't want to jump AAD's alone. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

You're letting people put coins in your slot and giving them something in return? ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.