davelepka

Typically buiying new for a first rig is not a great idea. The container will have to be sized to fit large canopies, close to the size youare jumping as a student/renter. Within 100 or 200 jumps you'll most likely be jumping canopies a few sizes smaller than that (as your experience builds) and your container will be too large for them. Additionally, you stand a better chance of beating the shit out of a rig as a newbie, and it's a shame to do that to a brand new container. If you are going to buy new, find a dealer to work with (even if it's over the phone) or consult your DZO regrarding the options and how to set up your rig.

If you watch the video, when the guy gets really far back, you see the horizon disappear from the frame, as if the pilot had to push the nose over to keep the plane flying. Shifting weight that far back can and will effect the CG, and can easily cause a stall of the pilot is not ready or informed. Never, ever do anything of that sort without asking the pilot, and understanding the cause and effect of your actions. Here's the other thing - if the DZO or AC owner saw you climbing on a Caravan like that on the ground, there's a good chance you're about to get your ass kicked. AC are not built to be a jungle gym, and it's not hard to damage the skins by stepping in the wrong place.

According to mapquest, it's 83 miles from LAX to Perris, with a travel time of 1 hr 25 min. Figure the round trip at 160 mi., and over three hours including time to find you at LAX, and I don't think $100 is that bad.

It's funny how fun jumpers who wait to get out after the tandems are always up to no good.

That sounds like idiocy in the parking lot to me. I doubt the driver has any idea he did anything wrong, and most likely wouldn't understand the note. The big problem is when they walk out of the store sooner than you thought, and catch you leaving the note, or see you leave the note and get into your car. I don't know if you watch the news, but teenagers are crazy. Especially if they look like thugs(regardless of race), I'd steer well clear.

I would suggest you open the phone book, locate a real pizza place and go there.

Yes. 100% ethical. It is reasonable for a DZO expect to be paid for his time and efforts in locating and purchasing gear for a student. This DZO went one step further, and instead of marking up a rig to create his profit, he asked the seller to take the hit, and insulated the student from the mark-up. The DZO could have easily purchased the rig for the asking price, and had the student pay extra to cover the mark-up. Do I think it's reasonable for the DZO to ask the seller to discount the rig so he can make a profit. No way. What the buyer intends to do with the rig after the sale is of no consequence to the seller (safety concerns aside). The seller recieves no benefit based on dealing with a DZO, or the fact that the rig is being re-sold to another party, and should not be expected to take a loss because of it.

It's called Puro-Cafe or Cafiza, it's a powdered espresso machine cleaner. Look for it online, or if you happen to know anyone in the coffee business, maybe someone who lives nearby, you could see if they could provide you with a spoonfull.

That fucker was so lucky. When he was lane splitting (driving inbetween the lanes) he kept weaving in and out of holes in traffic. Anyone who lane splits knows that a hole in traffic is a bad thing, because it allows cars to change lanes and cross your path. You're way better off when the cars are packed in there, and they have no place to go.

Silhouette 190 sounds like a good place to start

That was my quote you're responding to, and yeah, if it meant that he would be off drugs, I'd rather have a son that doesn't speak to me. My concern is for his life, not mine. His health, his emotional development, his chances for personal and professional success, these are the things that I want to protect. Like I said earlier, this is a tough situation, and there may not be a 'happy' solution. Sometimes you have to make the tough choices, and do what you know is right in the long term.

I don't. I think the tests will let his parents know that he's not going to stop, and they can take further action. I'd rather have a drug free son who thinks I don't trust him, than a drug addict son who thinks I'm great. This isn't a nice and friendly situation, and there may not be a nice and friendly solution.

Sure he only got caught once, but how long had he been smoking when he got caught? Maybe it had been a while. Maybe he made up his mind that he liked it. I've got a buddy who's a union carpenter and he gets tested all the time, but it doesn't bother him a bit. You know why? He doesn't smoke. People who don't smoke don't mind drug tests. The test is the only way to know for sure. I'm sure that at some point the OP told his kid not to do drugs. He didn't listen then, so why would he listen now? Teachers and anit-drug programs tell kids that drugs will ruin your life, make you lose your friends and even kill you, but that doesn't stop kids. What makes you think that losing your car for a few months or getting grounded would be a deterrent? Test the kid every month for a few months. If it works out, give him a 'random' in a few months, and call it a day. It a very short term consequence for a potentially very long term problem.

It's easy - random and frequent drug tests. Some might say this is too extreme, but in all fairness you never did this until HE made it a problem. Despite all the statistics, and all the 'experts' telling you that most teens will expeiment with drugs, you did not institute a drug testing policy. If he is upset about the policy, then he only had himsefl to blame. Let's face it, if you're not around observing his day-to-day behavoirs, and it's clear that mom isn't keeping a close enough eye on the kid, than testing is the only way. Sure, you may have smoked in your day, and I know you can look at your old friends and see that some of them came out of it OK, and others didn't. Maybe they moved on to other drugs, or maybe satyed with weed and just didn't live up to their potential. It's a crap shoot as to who will be OK and whi won't, and not a gamble I'd want to take with my kids. And as previously mentioned, the weed is crazy strong these days. When was a teen I had a terrible relationship with m father, who I thought was too controlling. As it turns out, he was trying to watch out for me, and son enough I grew up and came to see this. So in the end, it was 5 or 6 tough years where we butted heads, but since then, we have had a great relationship. I guess there is the chance that a son will never come to see the good intentions of his father, but I would rather have my son be an adult who's only problem is that he doesn't like his father. If he has is health, a good education, and can start a family of his own, then I did my job. Good luck either way. I've got a few more years, nut my son will be there soon. Not long after that, my daughter will start dating. It's going to be a rough decade for me.

Here's the problem everyone is having - the rigs are all built wrong. That's right, I said it. Not too long ago (maybe 10 or 12 years), tiny rigs hit the market, and the race to jump a small rig was on. The problem was that all the manufacturers took all size off the bottom of the container. The length of the yoke, and top of the rig remained up by the shoulders, but the bottom kept creeping up higher and higher. When I ordered my Infinity, I had them add a few inches to the yoke, and it makes all the difference in the world. My rig sits noticeably lower on my bacj than others, and in addition to making the hackey very easy to reach, it's extra comfortable to lean against in the plane. I only have 500 or 600 jumps on the rig, so I have no plans to replace it anytime soon, but I know that when I do, I won't buy anything without an extended yoke. For the record, I think Wings makes a 'tall' size rig with a longer container and a standard yoke, also a good choice.

As previously mentioned, your description of the AFF program at your home DZ closely matches the programs used at most DZs in the US. In regards to the number of instructors, most DZs will use two instructors through level 3, with some extending that to level 4. I do not know of any DZ that uses two instructors on level 5 or higher. Seeing as this incident took place on either a level 5 or 6 (it's not clear to me), there would have only been one instructor at any DZ.

I wonder what percentage of jumpers have gotten speeding tickets on the way to the DZ? I'm guessing it's pretty high. I got one my second year of jumping. I was within ten minutes of the DZ, and I saw a Cessna flying around. While I was trying to figure out if it was one of the DZ planes, the occupants of the plane were busy clocking my speed, and calling the tropper on the side of the road 1/2 mile ahead telling him to pull me over for speeding. That was the first of probably 5 or 6 tickets I've gotten on the way to the DZ.

You're going to need to put more than 100 or 200 jumps on a canopy if you expect to progress. If you do jump a Katana, keep in mind that it's a much different animal than a Stiletto. There's a lot of merit to what others have said about currency. I'm sure you feel confident and all, but do you really think that making 100-ish jumps per season in a place where you only jump 6 or 7 months per year is enough for you to keep looking for faster/smaller canopies? There's a limit to everything. I jumped a Velo 90 for a season, and realized that it was beyind the limit for what I was doing, and I upsized two sizes to a 103, and I couldn't be happier. Before that I put 1000's of jumps on Stiletto 107's. The 97 was always available, and eventually they came out with the 89, but I found the 107 was the size for me. Jumpers sometimes forget that the progression has to stop somewhere. As a student, and then a newbie, you are working your way down in canopy size to a more 'sporting' level, but a some point you have to look at your skills, the type of jumping you do, and what your future in skydiving looks like. The donwsizing has to end somewhere, and considering the performance of the top end of the market, not everyone will make it to the top, nor should they.

That was dumb. Be tough, you're going to need it.

What I said was 'fastest turning', as in 'no canopy can smack you into the ground faster after a low panic turn than a Stiletto'. Also, what business do you have with 145 jumps picking the lesser of any evils? You should be looking for a canopy that is far from evil, but thanks for giving me another way to make my point.

You know the $1000 only gets you through AFF. After that jumps still cost $20-ish each, plus equipment rental. Buying a rig will be at least $2000, plus another $1000 for jumpsuit/helmet/altimeter/goggles/etc. With a baby on the way and low on funds, this might not be the best time to start jumping.

In this case, it was blocking his clear view of his toggles. Of course, that means that it's also blocking a portion of his view at all times, which is also bad. Lastly, a ringsight has proven to be a snag hazzard, and there are alternatives without the risk. In this case, they were preventing a clear view of his toggles. Of course, that means they were also blocking a portion of his view at all times, which is also bad. Lastly, dark goggles prevent other jumpers from seeing where you are looking, and to some degree the expression you have on your face. In a tandem with video scenario, the TM and camera flyer are able to communicate through hand gestures, and facial expressions (including looking in a certain direction, or at a certain area of the rig). Dark goggles limit this communication.

Billvon beat me to it. His reply was correct.

Dark goggles - stupid Ringsight - stupid Jumping a rig you know nothing about - stupid Jumping that rig on a paid jump - unprofessional Tossing the 180 with the brakes stowed on a canopy you're doing a demo on - dumbest of all This is a canopy you have one maybe two jumps on, and you're going to swoop it with the brakes stowed? This was a long spot, so I'm guessing you didn't burn the altitude to throw a few practice 180s with the brakes stowed. But right next to the ground, you went ahead and did it (most likely for the first time). On top of that, you say you flared with the toggles, which were still attaced to the risers. What happends when one of them releases in the middle of your swoop? I would highly reccomend you take another look at your priorities in terms what gear you jump, when you jump it, and most importantly, what you do with it. You were lucky to avoid an injury on this jump.

Well, with 145 jumps you bought one of the fastest turning canopies ever made, so that's strike one against keeping yourself out of danger. If you find yourself low, and needing to make a turn to avoid another canopy or obstacle, grit your teeth and get tough, you're going to need it. And for the record, the internet advice you ignore is the advice that encourages you to be less safe than you first thought. Advice that tells you you may not be safe enough should be seriously considered, regardless of the source.