goose491

An orbit is a combination of two things, a drive directly towards the target, and a drive 90degrees to that. To orbit on purpose is to drive towards the target and constantly "miss" it, so to speak. Not clear as to wether fourspouts is Orbiting, rather then Spinning, wich would be a rotation about the longitudenal axis. This is hard to tell as a solo jumper. Either way, if you are solo, symmetry is going to be your best friend. Keep your eyes on the horizon (ONE spot on the horizon) and keep the body symmetrical throughout. Fourspouts, if you know it's an orbit and not a spin, then know that you are creating two imputs, forward and sideways. It might benefit you to consider them individually. IE focus on stopping forward motion and your "orbit" will become a "spin"... then focus on stopping the turn..... OR focus on stoping the turn and then you will be only moving forward, then stop the forward. I suggest stopping the forward motion first, ending up in a spin to correct, as that is easier to perceive/detect then forward/aft motion is on a solo headdown. I hope that makes sense. Nick My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

HeHeHeeee! My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

Go with a) Peel, Punch. Peel, Punch. I would suggest it imprudent to move your focus back and forth like in option b. I don't think you should count on it taking more effort and time locate and pull the handle. If you've decided to chop, you should already have both your handles located. Truly, only keeping in mind that there must be a "Peel" action on both sides would be necessary. disclaimer: I have not used the two pillow system. I jumped it a few times on borrowed gear, but not engaged it. My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

I think if you search yourself, you'll find that deep down, you do understand. Every jump is cool... but HD is the most natural flight position for the human body. When a whuffo dreams of flying, he/she is belly to earth... but travelling horizontally. In other words, we instinctively understand that if we are to fly, it will be headfirst, body streamlined with the wind. This is how we swim too. edited to say: That being said, I fully understand why we should be proficient sit/head up flyers before moving to HD. HD needs a safety position, that safety position is sit... Also, Sit flying ROCKS the HOUSE! My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

"head is pointing downwards" is a little wishy washy. "Headdown" is Headown, you'll know the difference when you nail it. And yes, you will need someone in the air with you to figure out what you're doing wrong. Nick My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

I like it! That was funny. More importantly, it touches on an important point: "At least non-smokers are still asking politely." This is one thing that isn't really considered IMO. My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

Mykel, again you presume too much. My statement was simple, if you can ascertain that the problem won't get worse, you can count on the same flight characteristics you got out of the wing during the controllability check. -Air Density does change with altitude yes. The difference will not be noticeable from 2500ft to the ground but even if it were, stall speed decreases as air density increases so it is a moot point, it works in our jumpers favor. -Positioning in the saddle is an input... not a flight characteristic. -Distractions while shouting at friends on the ground is an action which might cause an involuntary input... not a flight characteristic. I am not a "know it all". Your calling me one is just as unnecessary as your poor interpretation of my posts Anyway, the statement is not false. If you can ascertain that the actual, physical problem will not worsen, then you can count on the same flight characteristics you got during your controllability check. Nick My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

Yes, yes it is. a) Generally, the air density decreases with altitude. b) Stall speed will increase as the Air Density decreases. a + b = Stall speed will decrease as altitude decreases. A wing is capable of a slower speed before it stalls, the lower it is. Now, the difference between 2500ft and ground level is near negligible... but it is in your favor. My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

Blame auto spell-checks in email and word processing. We have become grammatical slackers because of them. My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

They had begged him to stay. During his short stay, they had become quite attached to him, attracted to his size and cool demeanor. He was tall and handsome, strong and slick. Why just yesterday they had voted unanimously that he should be their new leader. Alas, he had to depart. He would journey across the pond. They followed him as best they could to send him off proper. Sneaking kisses in where they could. As quickly as he had appeared in their small corner of the world, he was gone. Leaving in the air behind him, no more then a disturbance... and a great many of their guts and feathers. My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

1) Flipper 2) Spatula My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

HAHAHA! My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

As many have pointed out, why chop a canopy which is flying safely and is determined landable by the pilot? Answer? Because it might get worse lower to the ground. Truthfully, if you can determine that the problem won't get worse, then you know the flight characteristics are not going to change either. I.e. the right side won't stall when you flare if it didn't stall when you did some practice flares. I think Bill put is best really. The question isn't whether to chop a good canopy or not... but what to do when you question it? Me, I say: 1) determine if the canopy is flyable/landable via cotrollability check and then 2) ascertain what the nature of the problem is and if it's got the potential for getting worse. In your case, you have identified the knot as the problem and you have determined that it would not come undone on it's own. So you can count on the flight characteristics displayed during your controllability check and practice flares. My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

I'm not sure if you think that's what I was suggesting, but for the record, it was not. My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

I'd say job well done. You noticed the problem, did a controllability check, decided it was flyable/landable all before the hard deck (what's your harddeck btw?) You prepared for the landing and landed without major injury. Nice job, why cutaway a flyable/landable canopy? Well as one already pointed out, the one major concern is if the knot came undone at say 100ft and turned your compensation input into a screw-ya-into-tha-ground input , but only you have all the facts as far as that one is concerned. No regrets. Nick My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

Hello all, I remember there are quite a number of posters here that have pet Ferrets. I have a 7 year old silver mit named Jinx. I have recently moved to a much smaller place and as such, I am worried that the odor might actually become a problem. I, of course, am completely used to it but I have roommates now and since the place is smaller, well I'm just trying to be as courtious as can be. lol So I came across this product today. Has anyone ever tried this? Success? Gimmick? It's all natural so I can't imagine there being much of a problem but does anyone have any experience with it that they can share? Kind Regards, Nick p.s. I'll have to find a pic of the girl to show you

The water is going to have to be a bit deeper then on a waterslide if they're going to fill it with bubbles. Who says perfect? I say "Ker-Splash!!" ...

Now that is something I would love to see. Too bad they never got the saw going. That would be priceless! My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

Check myself? Listen here Mr. No name entered: I'm sorry if my post put a knot in your knickers, but the very first words of your very first post were: "In light of they most inappropriate post..." "most inapporpriate" is very different then: "inappropriate in my honnest oppinion" So anyway, I'm not going to get bent out of shape about it. But about your oppinions, declare them such off the get go. Here you have failed to do so. You have shaken your finger at others and chosen to change your tune to: "I'm not making them yours, or forcing them upon you in any way." after the fact, just because the majority doesn't agree with you. ('Defense' response to 'Attack' BTW) Nick There are worse things in life to get cranky about my friend. How about being saddened by the number of people that think nothing can happen to them? My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

My first reaction to your post was also that you'd have the strength to pull. That even if you HAD worked out hard enough that you did not have the required strength (not likely, since you seem able to type. lol), that the hormones involved would pick up more then enough slack. However, "Sure you'll be able to pull!"... is not exactly the advice I want to give a stranger on the net. An interesting question. Personally, I don't think my arms/shoulders/back/whatever would ever be so sore that I would not be able to pull, whithout also being sore enough that I would not be able to stand wearing a rig. You know what I mean? Basically, if it's just the pull you're worried about, you're probably alright. IMO, it takes more effort to pick the rig up and put it on. Nick My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

Mine is a Citizen. Kicks ASS! It's the Navihawk. (Oh, and I also have a Suunto) My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

Noice! I did a tandem about three weeks ago! It was my first too since I grew up in Static Line Land. Quite the experience eh? I thought I'd feel more tension from the harness then I did. You know, like I was "hanging" from the TM. I remember I tried some turns. That was a laugh, it's like turning a barge! lol. Anyway, glad you enjoyed it. My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

You seem to be declaring yourself an authority on ethics. Allow me to play the devils advocate a second. Granted: If the family of a deceased jumper does not want the video to be seen, it should not. Granted: If you yourself do not want to see it, you should not. Aside from the above, this is still for the most part, a free world. What makes you think you can use words such as "I was very surprised to see how many thought that it was a defendable action." ? I mean "Defendable" against what? You mean Defendable against your attack,.. your belief that it is wrong vs. their belief that it is not. It may be morbid, but it is not illegal. It may be dark, but it is not up to you to decide it "totally wrong". BTW, there is an awful lot of things on the internet that are not educational. Worth noting is the impact (pun intended) that such a clip is to have on the sport, when we are constantly fighting to maintain what little awareness the public has... But also, the impact (pun intended) that it would have on up and coming jumpers. You say "No educational value"... I do declare that I know of a few jumpers that need humbling as far as the "skydiving is safe" mentality goes. I noticed there was no option in your poll for someone who votes "Yes, even if it is not educational". LOL, don't get me wrong, I am not a ghoul, but I chime in now as I see someone declaring that this is wrong... when in fact it is not. Nick p.s. I voted "Yes, but only if there is something to learn (impact)" My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

Thats a bold statement. Does this mean that you know EVERYTHING about your gear? This about proper setup of the 3 ring release? One does not have to know EVERYTHING about their gear to skydive. Last I checked though, there was a pretty standard gear check which IS required to skydive... and it does include the 3 rings setup. If you can inspect it and say it's setup properly... how can you then turn around and say you don't know how to hook it up properly? Even trial and error would work in your favour if you know how to "inspect" it once it's done. It was Bold of him to say so... but not incorrect. If you can't assemble a 3 ring release... you should probably take up bowling. Nick My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

Granted I haven't seen any of your landings either but what I think is If you're not frappin' in, and your not "Stabbing" the breaks... then it's not "Too Late". My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!