craichead

Does he have log 80 hours of freefall, or just put in 80 hours to charity skydiving events? I'm sure he has to pay for all his own jump tickets, too...so it wouldn't really be free jumping. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Seth, thanks for being the only one who answered my question. Very hazy, indeed! It looked a bit wet, too...hmm. To the rest of you, I agree that it's hokey...the funniest part was the reason they gave for the tandem: "Because during a covert operation, the tandem master is expendable. The agent is not, and that is why you are the passenger...the tandem master may get killed, and you must survive the jump and continue on you mission." Or something to that effect. It was really stupid reasoning to make them feel good about themselves. Which it did...so as AggieDave said, good for them... And actually, good for the skydiving community, too. There was one guy who was really nervous about going, and afterwards he was ecstatic...now he knows what the head instructor meant about "life before freefall and life after freefall. There's no going back." So ya know...good exposure about what us nutsos do.

Dunno if this has been posted, but AndyMan and I just saw the Spymaster episode where the candidates must make a tandem skydive in preparation for covert operations. Does anybody know where they jumped? Jumps were from a king air...looked like it might have been in the midwest somewhere. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

I got mine for $125...but that's because I bought a $100 "BoneBond" from Bonehead in November 2002. Six months later, the value of the BoneBond was $200, redeemable for any Bonehead merchandise. A great deal if you're willing to wait six months! _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

The chinstrap on my Gunner seems to come loose rather frequently, even with the little elastic ring around the strap that 's supposed to hold it in place. I check it a couple times before I exit. I'm planning to sew the excess nylon strap in place so that I don't have to bother with it all the time in the plane. Here's an earlier thread about the chinstrap coming loose: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=813171#813171 Otherwise, I love it...quiet, two internal audible pockets. The quick-release buckle is pretty neat. Very comfy.

Yah, we thought of that. I've been toying with that idea more and more now that I won't be getting a demo anytime soon. Maybe this weekend if the weather is nice. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

He didn't say I got wrong answers...just crappy answers. Don't take it the wrong way. He's being defensive because he's my husband. You're both looking out for my safety (actually, we all are...that's why I posted here), which is much appreciated. We're also looking for other knowledgeable opinions so that we can consider all other factors better. AndyMan is one of the more vociferous people on this site about people's being able to fly the crap out of their mains in all conditions before deciding to downsize. He's also a big supporter of the theory and practice that people should demo reserves and jump them in varying conditions...but that's a different thread. So...thanks to everyone for their input (more is always welcome). I've emailed PD to see if I can get a Silhouette 210 to demo. I'll also contact Aerodyne and Icarus. Thanks for the advice and suggestions, Bill! _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Some background: I got my A last season in October. The last canopy I jumped was the DZ's 5-6 year old student gear with thousands of jumps, a ZP 215, made by the Chute Shop (now known as Parachute Systems), wing loading 1:1. My landings were pretty good--I butt-slid most of them in but managed to stand up a few in 10-12 mph winds, too. This past weekend I did my currency jump after six months off. I jumped similar student gear, a ZP 215, but it wasn't the same one I jumped at the end of the season (that one was out for a reserve repack). My first landing was better than I thought it was going to be, having not jumped in 6 months. I flared just a little too high, and I slid it in. Winds were light and variable. On my second jump, the winds had picked up a little, about 7-8 mph. I came in, flared and when I touched down I rolled on my ankle and dropped to my knees. My husband got video of the landing, and he said that it looks like I "forgot" to run it out. Also, I probably could've pulled the toggles a little further because it looks like I didn't quite finish the flare. Now...I have a brand new Sabre2 190 packed in my own rig. I'm really itching to jump my own gear, but I don't want to rush into jumping it when I can't seem to land the 215. However, several other jumpers were saying that the student gear is so old and has so many jumps on it that it just doesn't perform or fly well and have the lift that I could take advantage of on my new 190. It's quite telling that when I lay it on the floor cocooned for packing, it deflates quickly and with very little effort. My husband and I asked two AFF instructors for advice. The first (my JM on a couple early AFF jumps) said that if I jump the 190, it's going to be a lot faster and from that I can get performance, but that I probably shouldn't jump it until I can land the 215. The second (my JM on later AFF jumps) said that yes, it will be faster, have more lift and more of a "staged" flare that I will have to learn, but it should be okay if I jump in slightly higher winds, say 12-15 mph. It would fly similarly to the 215 in light/no wind. Neither instructor has jumped the student gear. I've done a lot of the things on billvon's checklist...the scarier front/rear riser maneuvers I've only done up high. I would be loading the Sabre2 190 at 1.16. My original plan was to demo a Sabre2 210 to learn the flying characteristics of the Sabre2, but that size isn't available at the moment. I've put my name on a waiting list, hoping that I'd get it sooner than later. Haven't gotten it yet, so I'm jumping student gear. So here's the question (finally!)...should I continue to jump the old student 215 until I feel totally comfortable flying it, or should I try the new 190 in higher winds (12-15 mph) to see if I can learn on a canopy with better performance and lift? Will the stronger flare of the new Sabre2 help me out, or will the faster speed hurt? _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Yeah, Remi...I was wondering if there was a Canadian Province test. But then again, there are only 13 of 'em. Oh! And it would be..."Can you pass Grade 3?" _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

You are SO doing your naked jump at CSC. Andy and I want to point and laugh hysterically at you...in a loving way, of course. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Maybe that's the question to pass the fourth grade. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

D'oh! Did a search for it...didn't find. Sorry! _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Has anyone seen this? Or the Burger King ads associated with it? Truly bizarre... http://www.subservientchicken.com/ Snopes article about it: http://www.snopes.com/business/market/chicken.asp _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

http://www.rightwingeye.com/ _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

But you don't have to! Summerfest is the week before WFFC now. They overlap by 2 days, I think. Do both! _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

There are some good hints in a thread that kallend started about the Spring Expo. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Totally know the tunnel=crack feeling! After my first time in the tunnel last winter, I wanted to become a tunnel rat. Then AndyMan and I went just this past January and worked with Olaf, too. He kicks ass! Unfortunately, there were several times when I was literally kicking his ass and other parts of him when we were playing the "chase me around the tunnel and touch this point" game... _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

There wasn't a choice for "other"... Chicagoland Skydiving Center used to give a free jump ticket if you brought a tandem student, but it wasn't very cost-effective for the DZOs. They started a program where you buy a set of CSC business cards with your name printed on them ($20 for 500, I think). You give these cards out to all your friends, family, and any random whuffos who will listen to you talk about skydiving. It acts as a coupon. When redeemed, the person bringing it back gets a $10 discount off their first tandem/AFF jump and the person with their name on the card gets a $10 credit to their account. I've had a set of business cards for over a year...I should probably hand them out more often. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Funny...Andy and I still haven't left that stupid giddiness stage. You must hate us. Have we done our "Who's yer monkey?!" routine for you yet? _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

AndyMan and I bypassed the whole toothpaste tube thing...we use Mentadent, which comes in a dual chamber pump thingy. Baking soda on one side...peroxide in the other. It's like a McDonald's sammich! However, the problem that came up with that is that Andy got annoyed when I left the flip-top cap open, and the toothpaste would develop a crust... Okay, nevermind Chris...you won't be able to win that battle. Go with the double sinks and personal toothpaste tubes suggestion. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

A related discussion about Tevas started by bbarnhouse: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=994535 _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Congratulations, Chris! And Best Wishes to Wendybird! Glad to hear that you'll be joining the club. Yay, skydiver weddings! _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Lots of myths and stories like that, across cultures. That's the beauty of humanity...lots of differences, but so many of the stories we tell and create are the same. Look into "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" by Joseph Campbell. Kinda dry...but interesting stuff. "The Power of Myth" is a little more digestable. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

LOL! Well, you know...I especially enjoy watching R. Lee Ermey on Mail Call. He's a hottie. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

Oh yeah! I think AndyMan and I saw that on a History Channel program...there was a "History of Sex" marathon on for Valentine's Day. We didn't watch too much of it...we had better things to do. _Pm __ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)