rdufokker

That Lockheed jump was definitely not fake as I was on the load following the one you see. That was a world record "most people outside of an aircraft until Caiden put more out of his Tri-motor. The pilot of the Lockheed 10e was Dangerous Dan from Raeford. Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

Not sure if this goes here but, I have been jumping for 33 years now and know most skydiver personalities are bordering on extreme. I have been wearing clothes from a new manufacturer that seems to fit some of our loud styles. It is called LoudmouthGolf.com. I know its golf but take a look and see if it doesn't fit with skydiving style. Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

I find it interesting that a thread started by such purists would call the tread D.B. Cooper rather than Dan Cooper. Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

special on National Geographic right now noon. Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

God I miss Skydiving magazine, Why Truffer, Why? Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

What you should understand is that there is a relatively small amount of skydivers that post the majority of responses. It's the vocal minority. So don't take a forum group as a average sample of the skydiving community. Remember most of the posts you will get here are of the very very vocal. Just food for thought, I started jumping in the 70's when I was a teenager. There was a time when you could start static line when you were 16. Anyway, took 20 years off and came back about 1 year ago. Love my DZ, the people are better (or at least more sane) than I remember and jumping is fun again in a different way. Drama is what you make it. I choose to ignore alot more than I did 30some years ago. Bruno Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

What if you had one or two observers on board, the pilot wants to lighten the load so the airplane is more manageable and not struggling to maintain altitude. He tells jumpers to get out. Does someone stay with the observers who are wearing parachutes. They are just passengers on an aircraft, like every other passenger on every other airplane flying the skies that has a shut down engine. If you are a license holding jumper and the pilot asks you to jump, you jump. Everyone else is a passenger under the control of the pilot. Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

If you have ever ridden a motorcycle (street) you will realize that skydiving is a heck of a lot safer. Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

What type of runway? paved or grass. Beer cans cut in half filled with sand and oil set afire. Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

Dude you need to chill out, it sounds like you're getting ready to go "Chris Crocker" on us. First there are two different aspects of this record. The size of the formation in and of itself is no big deal because there is NO physical disadvantage to a gay skydiver over a straight (except maybe the wrist). What was noteworthy here was the organization of a multitude of levels of skydiving skills that all were of a minority group. I think it sometime hurts a group when they FORCE the separation from the overall group. It's like I'm a straight white male, I'll never be part of a special group so I can't be proud of some ??? accomplishment. I don't care who I jump with and I don't treat ANYONE different. Hell, there are women that can kick my ass skydiving,back in the 80's in Raeford there was a great Black skydiver, called himself Skykoon Wallace. When we did a big formation we didn't footnote it with 16 way with two women and one Black guy. Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

In the day, it used to be C-182's and on those winter days when you could only get 5000ft, you would take a 4 way off and turn 4 or 5 points and break at somewhere just above 2000ft track for a couple of seconds and pull. But those canopies did not snivel and opened in 300 to 400 feet. If you had anything that sniveled like the canopies of today you would chop it and still be under reserve by 800-1000ft. With today's canopies the snivel is normal but it also could get you in the mindset that "well it's a little bit of a long snivel but it will catch soon". I am amazed at how varied the opening DISTANCE is from one jump to another. Pull at the same altitude over and over and you get 400ft difference. So the short of it.....1982 Deland jumping stratostar routinely pull at 1500ft.....2009 Stiletto 120 pull at 3000ft + or - a couple. And straight to reserve if below 2000ft. Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

Could the DB Cooper thread in the History section be made into its own section. I tired of seeing new posts listed only to go to the History section and it's the same three guys posting to DB Cooper thread. Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

Thanks everyone, after reading and confirming what I read with others, I leaned how to slide in on my feet to take the weight off and then finish the flare. Wow what a difference. I was flaring too early before and riding across the ground about 6" above. Boy there is no way to flare hard enough for that last little drop in. So anyway, I seem to have a handle on it now, thanks for all the help. Bruno Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

Well after a sizeable layoff of jumping, I've gotten back into it. Canopies are the biggest change. I don't have any problem with flaring high or low, but I don't understand why I see some that take a Stiletto and flare it out sliding across the ground and then stop without having to run it out. I seem to flare right at ground level but after I finish the flare I still have forward speed and have to run like hell. Is it planting the feet and sliding that is sooo important or something else? BS Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

Let me see you try to fly in Thigh highs, stiletto heals and a bustiere.........second thought, I don't want to see that.... BS Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

+1, Was that the one where the twin carrying drugs crashed in Deland in the fog and the OV1 ran into it? Still got your shirt? Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

It's funny to think what everyone is accustomed to nowadays. Canopies that almost always get you back to the DZ, AFF, tip toe landings. Talk to someone that started on PC's and Static Line. Most of the time 90% of landings were in reverse and even more were PLF's, and after 5 static lines, the next hop and pops up through 15 sec delays were all mostly out of control spinning and tumbling. Ah, those were the good ol days. Burke Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

How about where to locate a DZ. You have to take into account airspace restrictions, proximity to sources of income, i.e. current skydivers, colleges, military bases. what type aircraft can the airport handle, i.e. runway length, fuel onsite. Facilities for jumpers, investment or current buildings. County or airport willingness to have you there. I'm sure there are several more factors that I haven't mentioned. Call a DZO. You could make this an actual proposal. Burke Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

Fabric type can have a big difference. Cotton vs Taffeta vs others. Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

This DB Cooper thread is the most adult ADD thread I've read. Can we go in any more tangents? I say end this thread and then start one that has a meaningful title, i.e. Covert Operations or Black ops or What's the best knife to gut someone with? Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

It's called having a little fun.....what are you 12? And to answer the Whuffo question. When I started in the 70's, it was defined as "Whuffo you jump out of a perfectly good plane? So basically a Whuffo, can't understand the concept or reasoning for skydiving. Once you GET IT, you are no longer a whuffo. BS, EFS Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

Ok Olympia, I think I'm speaking for most males here on DZ, your profile pics don't help us focus on skydiving!!!!! Then again maybe my pic doesn't either. BS Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

Hey Fuzzface!!!!! Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

I'm an old timer but would like to see a slightly updated emblem. Hell they changed the US Flag every time we added a state. Even California!!!!! BS Irony: "the History and Trivia section hijacked by the D.B. Cooper thread"

First of all you are taking a Spanky and Our Gang mentallity toward Clubs. This is not a day and age when we can have the USPA disolved and a Club put in its place. Hey here is an idea, start the USPA Haters Club. That sounds like a good name, you can be president. You also said that you want de-regulation. Are you SURE? Do YOU know all the implications of that move. Would we still be allowed to operate at Federally funded airports, would we still be allowed into class B airspace? I'm sure it sounds good right up until the FAA says "oh by the way, we are not going to allow xxx now". De-regulation doesn't necessarily mean we are left alone to do as we would like. Modifying the goals and structure of the current USPA should always be looked at, specially by the board. This organization should be dynamic not stagnant. What we should not do is start from scratch. One thing I would like to see is some type of Legislative committee, and be allowed to donate to a skydiving PAC. An area where we are fooling ourselves is thinking that working with the FAA will solve our problems. BS. What will help with problems is meeting with Sen's and Rep's on aviation subcommittees. Getting them to understand how sophisticated the sport is and how safety and efficiency is paramount with most all skydivers You say we are regulated into higher and higher operational costs. What Costs? A reserve pack every 180 days and USPA license. What else? As for your problem Slyde, have you asked for some type of mediation process with USPA ? Bruno