Scrumpot

Is Lara no longer working for USPA then? coitus non circum - Moab Stone

I think there is already a wind-tunnel forum thread somewhere, on this very subject. At least I think I've seen it. Maybe you want to check in there? coitus non circum - Moab Stone

Also, coming off of the wind-line, affects drift patterns and compresses (potentially) opening separation differences. Meaning, that any perceived gain in "giving more distance availability" is offset by also needing to extend longer, the jumprun (to increase opening separation) as a trade off. What are you looking for? Economic gains (or balance) or practical ones? Chances are, that when you are tipping the scale towards one, you are equally as well, just taking away (or trading off against) the other. coitus non circum - Moab Stone

Much more to this, than just that. All depends on several variables, as well as even just relative preference and desires. Also, layout of the DZ, landing area and surrounding terrain, topography, etc. Other VARIABLES such as what uppers, versus mid-levels, versus ground winds are doing too, ALL must be considered, and come into play, if one wants to truly consider the most efficient jump run / flight ops. No one single pat answer to this exists. Throw in now too, if you want off-set jumpruns, etc. On & on. Everythng just depends on the particular specific situation and layout, then the outcome it is you are looking for and desire. My advice? - Get with your DZO and pilot at your location directly, and talk about it / figure it out. No one single "answer" exists for this. coitus non circum - Moab Stone

Would a small dalb of epoxy (or similar) over that, interfere with its function? Would seem a reasonable solution to alleviate the snag hazard I can now see - that seems to have. coitus non circum - Moab Stone

Picture(s) might also be helpful here. coitus non circum - Moab Stone

That just gave me some very sad visuals, indeed. coitus non circum - Moab Stone

We try to organize at LEAST 2 BBM Star Crest dedicated jump plan / events per season, for jumpers to participate in at Delmarva Check out our past NEWS as well as upcoming EVENTS schedule, FFI. With enough interest, I'd be happy to start this year's at least 2 DMV SCR/SCS organized jump attempts (and BBMSC education sessions) even during the MAX Boogie June 26-28, so visiting/traveling/boogie-ing jumpers can be welcome to take part too! I agree, BBMSC jumps can be both a blast, and truly rewarding all at the same time, and are very worthwhile events & accomplishments for nearly any jumper to add to their repetoire progression, accordingly! Challenge Accepted! Blue Skies, -Grant coitus non circum - Moab Stone

Careful what you ask for. Have you ever seen "Skydivers (either individual or as a community) Commentary" before on such sites. I have. Keep pricking the giant with our needles as such, and sooner or later, you're sure to draw his attention (and no doubt ire). Like I say - careful what you ask for with such, is all. coitus non circum - Moab Stone

I love your guys' enthusiasm! - Good luck!!

Same here. Which is why my rig always stays with me personally as carry-on. Each time, EVERY time. No exceptions. Just my .02. Cheers! -Grant coitus non circum - Moab Stone

Man Michael, you have no sense of humor at all, do you? Oh well. coitus non circum - Moab Stone

Ha! - Michael, there's no way you can tell me (and I'd believe it) that, even as a "noob" (that you're not still now? ) - that even with that "confidence" you now note, that you did not check EVERYTHING, probably twice, or even 3-4 times before you jumped it! Heck - I know your personality a heck of a lot better than that not having even yet met you - just corresponding on here! LOL. Sorry. I just could not resist getting that out. ...Is it '09 season YET? Blue Skies! -Grant coitus non circum - Moab Stone

P.S. - just another "bump" to Mike's thread, in sincere recognition of what, with his Jump-Buddy program, he is clearly doing, and contributing to the community! Rock-on MM & for as the thread title says: putting YOUR MONEY, WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS, and PAYING IT FORWARD, back into the community. Kudo's for stepping up, and standing behind, your commitment - and your new program!! Blues, -Grant coitus non circum - Moab Stone

^^^^ - Thread kill-joy! Hey Jan - maybe we can take the topic of who can sign-off on student's A-Prof card, and who can't and why (or why not) to another thread, and have a discussion on it there, if you feel it is really (still) needed? I'll be happy to participate in your other thread, if you'd like to start one. Leave this one open to all the accolades and recognition of Mike Mullin's precedent-setting, paradigm-shifting new program, that it deserves! Blue Skies, -Grant coitus non circum - Moab Stone

I know folks who instead ship theirs out, direct to the DZ. Douglas' suggestion to call the DZ 1st, is probably in any case, the best advice of all. Along with helping to discern whether or not to ship versus carry your own, versus potentially rent gear - they'll probably advise the OP as to the advisability of coming and planning to jump there, even at all. coitus non circum - Moab Stone

Isn't there also still a DZ as well on Kauai? The last time I was there (3-4 years ago now), while I was waiting on a helo charter at Lihue (airport), I was stunned to see folks with rigs heading towards a clearly jump-plane 206. So, I broke away from my group and went over to strike up a conversation, and found - that at the time, they were merely very fresh start-up, and not yet "public" ...but intended to be. As can be imagined for one of the smaller islands of HI, they were obviously a primarily tourist/tandem operation. However, they did say that they WOULD entertain experienced jumpers, with their own gear, if they had an open slot. However, here's the rub - one jump was pretty much an entire day excursion, because the LZ was clear across the almost exact OPPOSITE side of the island. They would double the adventure as a mountains and interior waterfalls site-seing flight/tour, topped off with a jump onto the opposite side of the island, and a 2 (or so, IIRC) hour van drive back to the airport. The pluses to this were the fairly wide open landing area afforded them on the other side of the island, and much lesser winds (etc.) concerns. The downside(s) of course - are the whole logistics, really, to just make 1 (maybe 2 I think - might be possible) jump in a day. Anyhow - just wondering if anyone happens to know if those guys are still there - and at least as an option to the Oahu / Dillingham Field ops? Don't they actually even do AFF out of Skydive HI (Dillingham)? I'm too lazy to look it up, but I at least thought they did. FWIW. coitus non circum - Moab Stone

As I stated - some DZO's clearly, just do a better job of their publicizing and PR! That section which you quote - is an option, for those students (or novices) who wish to choose the services of the DZ School. However, it is NOT applicable to anyone within, or utilizing the RWConcepts program. The 2 jumps in particular (out of as noted, a total of 17 minimum), which I think are being depicted as "requiring (rated - which I am) coaches" are the A-lic check-dive, and the "low-pass" H&P. For whatever their reasons - some students do wish to choose one of their earlier AFF JM's to do that for them, which is THEIR OPTION, and when they do - you are right, this is their disclosed charge for doing that. For the record, whenever I still with them, personally (or with any of our RWConcepts staff - be they coach or higher rated or not) do either of these jumps - the ONLY "fee" any novice will ever pay is strictly just their own slot (standard jump ticket price only). Obviously if they are renting gear, that is another matter entirely - and I have no even (direct) knowledge of that. Again - I absolutely applaud you for your program! And, for so clearly, directly and succinctly outlining and publicizing it!! No, I too, am certainly not looking to get into any sort of pissing match over who has done what more, or longer or whatever. Clearly Mike - YOU would "win" against me anyway, in any related category, hands down. So, will I "give you a little break for some advertising hype aimed at giving potential students an incentive to get their license." ? - Absolutely! Have at it!! Again - I'm not looking to take away ANYTHING from your program in any way at all! No intent to "hijack". Simply educate (some) who seem to think this (or granted - merely "similar" --- how's that?) has never ever existed somehow out there, anywhere, before. For the record - again - we do the same at Delmarva. That's all. You're right though - Our DZO has not been so good about making that probably (upon our website and/or elsewhere) IMHO either - as clear, as he probably could. You use the word guarantee as well. - Something we also do not do (or use). I don't guarantee it (or anything, actually). Only that it is and option. Ditto. Thank you. Blue Skies! -Grant coitus non circum - Moab Stone

it was! ...Skydive Delmarva's (and yes, in writing - as has been published on our website, as well as local / on-DZ available materials) program has been active and available, in place now, for over 4 seasons. Some DZO's apparently, just do a better job of "PR" with their programs than others, and/or receive higher profile / recognition when they do it is all. Not taking anything away from this program at all. In fact I encourage and am applauding it! Way to go, Mike! Just pointing it out is all. I find it interesting all the chatter of how people will now (or say they will) go out of their way to patronize / support this DZ as a result. I applaud that too! Mike - if you find that people's endorsements here as such, can be proven further quantifiable or substantiated with your program - on a personal note, I'd like to ask you to share that with me. Although I can attest to some actual direct retention correlation results - having un (directly) related up-jumpers come out of the woodwork and say they would in turn also p\go out of their way to patronize you over another DZ - I'm afraid I've not (yet) seen that substantiated. Of course though at Delmarva - - we've only got a slow Twin Otter (and a 182), as compared as well to someone else's extremely fast, King Air! Again all... Just FWIW. Maybe I can hope to see more of you-all too, at Delmarva this season as well? If you do come out, please - make sure you introduce yourselves. As otherwise, up until now - I've still it seems somehow, apparently been missing you! Sounds like a great program Mike. Congratulations, and best of wishes and luck with yours. My (proverbial) hat, is off to you. Blue Skies, -Grant coitus non circum - Moab Stone

RWConcepts (see my sig line) has been an ABSOLUTELY FREE - no charge to anybody EVER (and no monetary recompense to the "coaching staff" involved either ) Service of Skydive Delmarva, since 2004. RWConcepts We will each, individually, work with any just "off AFF" (or whatever their student progression program), and sheppard their way through their proficiency card - to their A. Never any charge at all. The only part "unprecedented" that I can possibly see here is that they appear (supposedly) assigned directly to only ONE individual coach, who will exclusively work with that student - exclusively. We do not do that. Nor do I see that for every situation either, necessarily being a true benefit. For instance - what happens if that Coach is not available on-hand for any individual stidents potential (even weekday jump possibility) schedule? Does that mean that the novice/student cannot jump, because their "assigned" coach may not be available? Just another perspective and thought / observation. But to state this is entirely unprecedented is clearly mistaken. Several of us have seen the need to "step up to the plate" for these novices, since the new ISP went into place back when - what '02/'03 or '04 was it? - And developed ABSOLUTELY NO CHARGE to the "student" programs, in an effort to promote student / "up-jumper" progression/retention. FWIW. I do salute the DZ in any case, for making this an (apparently) "official" program, and both promoting/endorsing it accordingly!

Man, that zoom lense makes you look like you're already really low, even when you're clearly just out the door! Also looks like you had some difficulty getting the slider to decend all the way down the lines? I've just looked at the attached stills, and not the vid. Did they ever make it all the way down? Some interesting stuff here, at least. Blues, -Grant coitus non circum - Moab Stone

P.S. - Well posted, and appropriately thought provoking. IMHO. You have done honor, to your lost friend. I hope this helps others, as I know, and can see clearly, you intend. coitus non circum - Moab Stone

Been where you're at. As you say, already all too often. Has made me think long and hard, and make several personal direction decisions over the years. I hope you can find peace, as well as peace and comfort in, the decisions that as a result, are right for you. I am sorry for your loss. BSBD, -Grant coitus non circum - Moab Stone

I can only imagine, and am looking forward to it from the other side of that equation spectrum now this season, as my 18 year old son starts his AFF this spring with me!

Ahh, Boston - my old hometown, stomping grounds, and yes - place where I learned how to drive. For those of you who do not know - he is not kidding here. Putting on one's turn-signal is indeed instead - signal / notice to "cut me off quick", before I actually do try to move over!! I used to drive visitors through the old central artery, way before the big dig, on 93 - where all the multiple merges were just after crossing the Tobin (heading from the northsore to the south) down through Haymarket, and just before the South Station tunnel etc. The absolute RULE (enforced by contact) most definitely was "cut- or BE-cut. It was "etiquette". It was EXPECTED. And except for the occasional tourists (easy enough to spot) - the system worked just fine. You must be absolutely gumming up the works there now, if yer actually putting your signal on at any time, other than sitting at a stop sign. And I don't know if I'd do that up there, even then! You are braver than I young man. Blues, -Grant coitus non circum - Moab Stone