jimjumper

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Everything posted by jimjumper

  1. jimjumper
    +1! You can tell the 3 types of staff jumpers by what they work out when they stand up. The "Neck rub" Cameraman's salute, the "Back Stretch" Tandem Salute, and the "Arm Spin/Shoulder Roll" of the AFFI. One day they realize that the fun has gone out of what they do and that there are other ways to make a living. Hopefully, they just take a break and go back to making some casual fun jumps but a lot them just walk off into the sunset.
  2. jimjumper
    About '84 or '85, the Navy came out with an instruction encouraging skydiving by it's members. That's about the time the Golden Knights and the Leap Frogs were very popular. Prior to that you had to request permission which was almost always granted when you pointed out the injury rate comparisons between the command sponsored softball teams and jumping. We were constantly having injuries from softball putting guys on the sick, lame, and lazy list. Once that instruction came out, a number of MWR Facilities promoted skydiving. I jumped at MWR sponsored military clubs in Okinawa, Korea, and the PI but those clubs are long gone now.
  3. jimjumper
    The last ash dive I did we used a small sized freely tube and actually used all of the ashes. With the ashes packed in the middle it was a big package but once you let go of the upper end all the ashes blow out the top and it looks pretty spectacular from the ground. It also keeps the ashes out of the face and gear. The hardest part about ash dives is organizing who is on the load.
  4. jimjumper
    My last one was pretty easy. About 50 feet up in the power line that crossed over an empty field! I could see it from the DZ. The power company guy pulled it off without a scratch and didn't even have to shut the power off.
  5. jimjumper
    Geez, I've only been around 30 years and don't consider that a long time. My FJC Instructor still jumps! About 15 years ago I got into teaching and discovered I was pretty good at it. Lately, I've stopped teaching when quantity started taking priority over quality but I intend to keep jumping and (maybe?) teaching till I can't keep up any more. I've always tried to find the fun in jumping and find the fun in people. That philosophy has served me well and keeps the sport fresh. I'll probably never quit as long as I still see smiles in the air!
  6. jimjumper
    Had the chance to talk with his wife (at a baseball game, no less!). Nice Lady. I didn't know who she was till after talking to her during the Padres game we were watching and one of the box staff mentioned her name!
  7. jimjumper
    I got onto Facebook in 2002 to vote for my wife in a contest. I didn't log on again until 2013. It was just like I left it so I left again. By the way, she won in the voting and got to carry the Olympic Torch during the torch run to Salt Lake so I guess its worth the annoying e-mails.
  8. jimjumper
    Maybe he might have lived if they hadn't used a leverage tool to close the rig!
  9. jimjumper
    Land the 2 out steering only with the rear risers of the front canopy if a bi-plane or the outside rears of each canopy in a side by side. Cutaway as a last ditch effort in the event of a down plane. Leave the brakes stowed on both canopies. Stress that 2 outs are usually the result of pulling low, with the resultant AAD fire, and that pulling at the proper altitude greatly reduces the chance of a 2 out.
  10. jimjumper
    Their website says they are available in solid colors with a black harness.
  11. jimjumper
    Was outside waiting on the dog. I felt it roll by and it annoyed my wife inside. We live a little south of Hemet.
  12. jimjumper
    Jim was working 5 days a week at TACAIR in San Diego and then at his own place at Perris on the weekends. He wasn't getting enough business during the weekend to keep the place open and he had me doing most of the weekday jumps that showed up, so it made sense to close up and at least have weekends off.
  13. jimjumper
    Your right. I do know, but I like to poke at people that still think having a Class 3 is a FAA rule and not just USPA bureaucratic BS.
  14. jimjumper
    Could you site the FAR for that? There has been a lot of arguing about it on here as to whether or not the FAA has it as an actual requirement for TI's or if it's a USPA BSR.
  15. jimjumper
    I have a few jumps and a little time in the sport and last year I still bought beer on at least 6 occasions. When people chase your cut-away or help you out when your tired and in a hurry to go home or just because they deserve a bonus after a hot day it's the right thing to do. Remember, tomorrow you may need a favor, and what you do today might be remembered then! That being said, a thousand jumps isn't what it used to be when it comes to Skygod status (and No, I am not in that league either) so I say "beer" rules definitely still apply!
  16. jimjumper
    20/20 isn't required for a class 3 even now. Correctable to 20/40 in one eye is the level of standard for a class 3. Maybe USPA will finally!! take the hint and get rid of it for a Tandem rating.
  17. jimjumper
    The practice flare can clear problems but again, even if the canopy is visually perfect and flying as it should, a practice flair should still be performed as a test of the landing performance. In the event of some types of canopy problems flaring the parachute may clear those problems but that is not the specific purpose of the practice flare as part of a canopy control check. A canopy control check consisting of a left turn, right turn, and a full flare should be performed AFTER clearing any problems that flaring the canopy or pumping the brakes corrected.
  18. jimjumper
    Or a Wuestway?
  19. jimjumper
    That is incorrect. The practice flare may clear some canopy problems but it is performed to accurately assess whether the canopy is safe to land. A canopy control check consists of left turn, a right turn, and a flair. This should be done by the student on each jump prior to decision altitude. There may be canopy damage, steering line, or brake problems that may only be discovered by doing a canopy control check. There was a fatality a few years ago due to the jumper leaving the brakes stowed and flying the canopy using the rear risers. When he unstowed the brakes at a low altitude to set up his landing, he discovered one was jammed and he spiraled in.
  20. jimjumper
    Mjosparky will know for certain what the releases are but I think they are 1-shot capewells. I think they just need to be squeezed and pulled forward but I don't have my old issue of Poynters handy to tell for sure. In any event, with that kind of round canopy and a chest mount reserve she probably wouldn't have been taught how to cutaway anyway. The airplane used is a Howard and from the background hills possibly at Elsinore. Who knows about the water landing??
  21. jimjumper
    Or any topic.... Oh, like just now!
  22. jimjumper
    Me and another experienced jumper would drag out 2 novices in a four way, grip switch just slow enough to do 4 clear points and then send them off to buy beer in exchange for signatures on their Falcon form. Really made me look forward to sunset load!
  23. jimjumper
    There were a number of Eagle and Falcon awards. There was a Falcon (4 point 4 way), Double Falcon (8 point 4way), Eagle (2 point 8 way), Double Eagle (4 point 8 way), Silver Falcon (36 way or larger), and the Golden Eagle (64 way or larger). They used to put them on your membership cards. Looks like I got my Falcon thru Double Eagle in '87 at California City, and my Silver Falcon and Golden Eagle in '96 at Elsinore. I quit doing big ways when it became something you had to pay big money for.
  24. jimjumper
    It's probably a Golden Eagle number. If I recall, it was for being in a 65 way or larger formation. They dropped the Eagle awards a long time ago. I have GE #124.
  25. jimjumper
    I had my first logbook stolen. I'd trade all my logbooks since then to have it back! Nice that your back to jumpin' though!