JamesNahikian

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Everything posted by JamesNahikian

  1. JamesNahikian
    That's what we do at my dropzone. We also mention any atypical planned deployment altitude to the others on our load, i.e., > 3.5 k, when 2.5k to 3.5k represents the norm. Since my custom is to make my sunset deployment at 14 - 16 k and enjoy the godseye view and canopy ride, I'm pretty familiar to our pilots on this matter. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  2. JamesNahikian
    If you're referring to Midway or O'Hare, they didn't trouble me, and I've flown with my gear through both airports during the past 60 days. (LAX and Denver too, for that matter.) D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  3. JamesNahikian
    Difficulty schmifficulty. I'd swear that photo is from my first AFP sitfly with Roger well too long ago. That's what instructors get paid for . D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  4. JamesNahikian
    Bag it, carry on the ensemble and remain polite. You will have little to fear, assuming you observe these simple three suggestions, though travel is never without some degree of risk. (yes, i've read the recent Parachutist complaint in regards to the recent and notorious TSA incident) D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  5. JamesNahikian
    Listening to John Lee Hooker "Walkin' The Boogie," watching the All Star game on mute and destroying my kidneys with Gold Coast Blend. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  6. JamesNahikian
    My NAIM audio gear. Once I got past the sickness in the stomach feeling, which lasted 3 years because I'm definitely not from a wealthy background, I purchased the same audio system Phil Collins has kept in his main UK home. I've never regretted doing this, but I also can't justify it except that I love music more than driving. Plus, I hang out with guys like Harry Sandler and Irv Azoff from time to time. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  7. JamesNahikian
    You _gotta_ have a Hurricane at Pat-O's. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  8. JamesNahikian
    I attribute some of the arm bruises I receive now and then to aggressively reaching for my risers during opening sequence. I'm guessing you have large biceps like I do, and there isn't much play between your biceps and the shoulder area of your harness, so you're getting pinched. You might try loosening your leg straps an inch or two so that you settle downwards more. I also get arm bruises from grips by other freefliers, but these leave a different pattern. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  9. JamesNahikian
    The best U.S. skydiving mentor ever was Roger Nelson. His persistent collaborators make up most of the next tier, and you would do well to seek them out, as they remain one of the finer elements of Roger's legacy. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  10. JamesNahikian
    And BV is screaming back at Kallend with a new BSR which purports to disable the backhoe under those circumstances. I can see it! Wish them all luck for better weather. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  11. JamesNahikian
    You overlooked Kallend. What's that guy doing? D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  12. JamesNahikian
    One, you have a military procurement system influencing an acquisition process. Two, a SkyRay possibly can accept a small turbine engine, extending range. A nylon wingsuit won't suffer turbine exhaust as well. Speculation on my part. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  13. JamesNahikian
    You would only argue that if the Chewbacca Defense is failing to win the jury over. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  14. JamesNahikian
    And they do it for sex, according to this article: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=4HP3GGBIPRB0YCRBAEOCFEY?type=scienceNews&storyID=3064008. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  15. JamesNahikian
    I was taught to keep my arms in front of my torso at all times while surfing the turf, with the possible exception of preplanned distance record attempts. I observe page 12 of the July 2003 Parachutist, lower left corner, displays a photograph of turf surfer whose arms are placed behind his torso. Where do you position your arms during landing, and why, assuming you believe this matters? D. James Nahikian Chicago
  16. JamesNahikian
    It was common practice before each jump to rotate the individual rings which help comprise the 3-ring release system. The rationale was this clears debris such as mud or pea gravel from the attached webbing and preserves the system's mechanical advantage. Spinning the rings also enables a jumper to survey his rings for damage. At the dropzone where I jump, we are taught not to rotate our 3-rings unless we experience an extraordinary event, such as slamming a riser in a car door or face planting ourselves in the peas, aside from performing routine maintenance inspections. Otherwise, spinning the 3-rings only serves to accelerate wear on the release system, since it involves rubbing metal across nylon. Industry people who have visited our dropzone have concurred in this view. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  17. JamesNahikian
    I'm guessing most people just "go for it". _____________________________________________________ I doubt whether a new BSR or additional canopy training requirement will change that attitude in a meaningful way. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  18. JamesNahikian

    USPA

    JamesNahikian replied to ChileRelleno's topic in The Bonfire

    I appreciate USPA, but would love to see them outsource the content and production of Parachutist to the folks at Skydiving Magazine. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  19. JamesNahikian
    The Declaration of Independence is the "SWEETEST" piece of paper that ever had a pen laid to it. _________________________________________________ I dunno, that Constitution-thingie's pretty SCHWEET. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  20. JamesNahikian
    See here: http://www.skydivechicago.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=533. "Tracking Contest Competitors will be judged on who can track the farthest. Competitors will be randomly put into groups of three. The trio will compete against each other and the winner will move onto the next round. Round two will consist of all the winners from round one. They will be randomly put into groups of three and the trio will compete against each other. The winner will move onto round three. This pattern will continue until the top three winners emerge. There will only be one class. Rules 1. Competitors must be under canopy by 4000 feet AGL. 2. Each group of three must decide amongst themselves who tracked the farthest and hence, gets to move onto the next round. Registration Competitors must register by Saturday morning at 10:00. The coast of Registration is $15 plus the coast of your jumps. The coast of registration goes to the prize pool." Hope to see you there. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  21. JamesNahikian
    Okay, what the heck is a "Rongovian?" A space creature Crazy Ivan battles with his lightsabre? An Armenian name I can't place? D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  22. JamesNahikian
    Polish would be a good one to know if you live in Chicago. More Poles live here than in Krakow, it's said, and the City closes for Casimir Pulaski Day. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  23. JamesNahikian
    Seems they like you too. From the SDC website: "On a personal note, I’d like to thank team Bad Fish from upstate New York for driving all the way here to meet the Sugar Gliderz! Chris and Fritz, you guys rock! Check Bad Fish out at BadFishFreefly.com." D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  24. JamesNahikian
    Likewise. Perhaps the moral thing is to seek the return of the money I have on account at the gear store I believe you refer to. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO
  25. JamesNahikian
    '...worth doing something about..." ______________________________________________________ Sure, we can do _something_ about it. Yet the situation will remain unaffected. Attack the real concerns if you actually want to solve the problem. D. James Nahikian CHICAGO