FastRon

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Everything posted by FastRon

  1. FastRon
    When I was younger and not very bright (same condition now, only older) I used to ride my motorcycle at (well) over 100 miles per hour for say 30 minutes at a time (or until fuel ran out.) Most of us did not have full face helmets, and I know for sure I can not hold my breath that long. I know you can breathe at speed if you relax. The wind tunnel sounds like a good de-sensitizer to me too.
  2. FastRon
    Ah- FWIW Not all skate board helmets are created equal- In the day, I used one as it was physically lighter than my Bell MC helmet- During my one mal- the reserve deployment flipped it right off- they found it near my main, in the school bus parking lot- apparently falls at about the same speed as a cut-away StratoStar...
  3. FastRon
    Around here- operating aircraft noise is exempted from the noise ordinances. Beware though- folks that have moved next to established (like 40+ years) shooting ranges have been able to close them for "noise". Depends on the local political climate more than 'logical' arguments.
  4. FastRon
    FWIW- ask someone in law enforcement about the frequency of appearance of stolen property on certain 'auction'(?) sites. It may give you pause or at least some insight towards some "too good to be true" type offers.
  5. FastRon
    Seems odd to hear of the ban on round canopies. Once upon a time, squares were not really taken to terminal and tended to malfunction 1/3 or more of the time- only die-hard accuracy people were leaping with them. Squares were 'risky' compared to various rounds like PC's, Starlites, Piglets etc- some of which had their own issues. To save money I heard that guys were packing their own reserves, when jumping squares because they mal'ed so often. No one then would dream of jumping a square reserve w/ a mal rate of 30+%!
  6. FastRon
    Gal named Kathy from B.C. in the 70's- Don't think she was over 5-0 tall, but I know she was light enough to get stuck in a thermal under a ParaCommander one day. Zero to plus descent rate at about 100 feet. Eventually hooked out of it.
  7. FastRon
    Just try to relax. As a trainer at my workplace- I alwasys tell new people, you can't learn it all right away, but you can learn enough to be safe and have fun too. Look at the other posts here- all are welcoming you FNG or not. Just pay attention, keep asking questions, and keep your focus.
  8. FastRon
    How about "well, what if?"
  9. FastRon
    Geez- thats a lot of hardware. You are going to love all the attention from TSA-
  10. FastRon
    Yep- My apologies for offering a another frame of reference. Arguing/sniping? is usually less than constructive, but what do I know?
  11. FastRon
    From the bleachers- Amen Nigel. and FWIW- when we stop being 'students', with nothing left to learn, shouldn't we move on to the next 'best' thing? Not being trite or dogmatic, just saying...
  12. FastRon
    In reply to the fast car analogy- so true. Ask your car insurance agent re: certain cars- There are cars that get stacked within 100 miles or purchase on a regular basis.
  13. FastRon
    Been there. Like a Cessna (according to my pilot friends) belly to earth with solid arch is positive stable. (An F16 or a reverse arch is not) Bring your arms back, arch hard, spot the horizon, get symmetric, and you're there. Worked for me anyhow.
  14. FastRon

    Wearing lead

    FastRon replied to dancy's topic in Relative Work

    Best deal on shot I know- Consider visiting a trap range for "reclaimed" lead shot. Some pellets get a little deformed but ought to work fine. Last time I bought some for boat ballast, it was well under half the cost of unfired.
  15. FastRon
    Geez that's low. I used to think the smoke jumpers at 800 were awful low. One of my partners, a fromer Army Ranger jumped into the airport at night when they went after Noriega- He learned afterwards- jump run was at about 350', at about cruising speed, from the C130. Said with the gear he had he was not in the air very long... and landing separation was 'good'... any Rangers out there to confirm?
  16. FastRon
    Not jumping now due artificial knee. I'm 60. In my job I have occasion to drive very quickly in an urban environment (lights and siren). I think quickly enough. I will admit to lack of patience with knuckleheads like the instructor making that comment. He(she) can select their students by age as they like and we (over 50?) people can prefer to associate with folks who don't show us their ugly arse too.
  17. FastRon
    Like most everywhere- I bet USPA's responses are now going to be damage control, spin, assigning blame or ? The issue will be- Will they stop the madness now?
  18. FastRon
    Note that USPA is visting the traps that other national organizations fall into, It is happening in waterskiing, the NRA, the AKC, US Government- you name it- out of touch with the members/tax payers it is supposed to protect and serve. What's the best way to compell them to pay attention?
  19. FastRon
    Yep- wasn't my intention at all. Thanks.
  20. FastRon
    Perspective? 3500 ft.= 10 seconds of free fall or at least it used to? Good to see a few remember the Piglets, Starlites and maybe some other canopies that opened 'smartly'...
  21. FastRon
    "TSA" is an airline company acronym for "Thousands Standing Around". I note they allow BIC lighters but seize refillable torch types. Annoying a TSA officer is a Federal felony or something. Many rules/criteria are said to be secret/undocumented or whatever, so the surprises can just keep coming.
  22. FastRon
    Maybe look at several sport's cultures for similarities? Tournament waterskiers, hang gliders, white water kayaking, and others. I can assure you all develop a 'culture' of their own, and methods and vocabulary to communicate with one another that are unique to the sports. Beer seems a common theme (or lubricant, or analgesic...) I have noted that "IPA" seems to mean the same in several sports dialects.
  23. FastRon
    I am planning a return to the sport after 31 years. I guess it's a matter of perspective. We had sort of reliable AOD's, but they were not in common use except for students, and not yet really adapted to piggyback rigs. We had mechanical altimeters, but they were not mandatory. Like a lot of sports, I think safety issues can be addressed with technology, but a safe attitude is better if well ensconced between your ears. My car airbags will likely work but it's better to avoid the collision and not need them, I'd say.
  24. FastRon
    Spring 1973. Used 28' and 32' rounds with double L mods. Couple of the 'experienced' club members had PC's or Paps. Bought a PC of my own the following year. (About 25 jumps I think). We heard about squares but were told you couldn't/shouldn't take them to terminal. There were some other less well known chutes around, but all I recall now were the T-bow,, a Delta II and a thing called a Paradactyl. Strange looking thing that wouldn't slow down at all.
  25. FastRon
    Made one jump on one. Weighed 190 in skivvies then... D-bag, hand-deployed Wonderhog of a 'friend' Very "solid" landing, thankfully it was soft mud... Flew like my Strato Star but did not really flare much More a diagonal impact.