chuckakers

That's nothing new. The Nova had a minimum wing loading because it was unstable in turbulance without enough weight hanging from it. I loaded mine 2.3:1 and never had a problem. Of course the Nova was eventually grounded by the manufacturer after several low altitude collapses. Oops. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Actually YOU don't get it. I never repsonded to your simple "expressed thoughts". I was commenting on what I saw - nothing more, nothing less. A bit too serious, dude. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

That's crap, dude. Don't get me talkin' about early hook turners - Excaliburs, Novas, and biffin' off the ground. A lot of people took lot of chances and paid a big price to develop the knowledge you sucked from the early swooper's hind teet. How 'bout you put your ego in check and get over yourself. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Dave, if the video wasn't representative of the swoop skills of Russian pilots, he should aim his anger at the guy that put the edit together. What I saw was a collection of botched swoops. I don't really care where they happened. Comedy for all, malice toward none, ya know? On a technical note, that video shows people on extremely high performance wings flying well outside their abilities. That should be addressed. By the way, nice job on the swoop comp. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

BBBBBWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

there are a few, yes. however, i think a more relevant question is: "is there anyone on this forum who is capable of reading AND comprehending the info before posting their reply?". Judging by some posts (yours respectfully included) i tend to think that the answer is "no". Panty Wad Alert! Damn, dude - back off. I read the post, I clicked the link, I watched the video, and I made a comment. BFD. Go jump, would ya? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Wow, that's some great sh*t. Is their anyone in that country that swoop? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

That could have been bad, at least according to the fundamentals. Can't say I've ever come close to that. I have always stuck with the easy 24 hour rule. That way I feel sure I'm good to go no matter how many dives I've made or how deep I've gone. Might want to see a doc anyway. If I'm not mistaken, symptoms of the bends can appear well after the fact. Not sure if there's anything they can do besides have you take a trip to the chamber, though. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

I never suggested banning oberver rides. I believe in fewer regulations on the sport, not more. I suggested that giving observer rides is not worth the risk they create for the drop zone and the sport. For the record, I believe the decision whether or not to do them should be the DZO's. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

That's not true either (except when required by the jump door STC such as 182s). The legal issue with observers in many jump planes is the lack of a seat. Skydivers are allowed to sit on the floor. No (legal) issues with no rig in the right seat of an otter or the jumpseat of a CASA, for example. Dave Ah yes, that's it. My bad. I believe the in-flight door (not "no door") requirement has to do with wearing a rig. So my observation stands even when my memory didn't. Had the FAR been followed, she wouldn't have been in the plane. Just say no to observers. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

When I gear up an observer they get a "ride briefing" that far surpasses anything that is given to Tandem Students. I don't just put a rig on them and say have fun with a pat them on the back. I pull them away from family and friends, tell them what to expect, teach them how to arch and exit if need be, how to pull, how to land, what to do if landing in the ocean (hawaii dz), what to do if landing in trees, I REITERATE the importance of NOT walking into the prop more than once and if I am not able to babysit them I make sure that somebody is taking care of guiding them INTO the airplane and making sure the somebody is there waiting to guide them from the door of the airplane back to the packing deck. Not only that but when we get to the airplane I point out the prop and make sure that they see it and know not to walk anywhere near it, even if it is not spinning yet. They always laugh like it's a joke or something but at least I know they are aware. Your very words tell me why we shouldn't take observers. When they laugh at your warning about the prop, it shows how little they know about their environment and the lack of seriousness they place about being near an operarting aircraft. The Hawaii reference is another red flag. And if you are operating a plane with an in-flight door, the FAA forbids all but those onboard for the purpose of making a skydive from being on the plane, pilot excepted, of course. She was obviously unsupervised and there is absolutely NO excuse for this. Whuffos don't know any better! They should, it IS after all a fairly obvious hazard! But they don't. How does someone who is truly and fully being supervised walk into the prop? They don't. Yes, I understand that shit happens. It happened today and an 18 girl lost her arm and that sux! Until a witness proves that she was 100% fully supervised and had a death wish which made her pull away and run into the prop well... then I stand by my post. You are right about one thing. Shit happens. And when it does, I hope you're happy with the 24 bucks or whatever you got for the ride. I don't see anything wrong with observer rides but I feel they should be treated like a first time solo jumper because really that is what it is, just without the jump. I think that observer rides are extremely rewarding for some people and it is nice that they have an opportunity to witness skydiving first hand. Not so. Solo first-time students spend time working around and on the aircraft, with actual practice AVOIDING the prop. They are required to answer verbal and written questions about prop avoidance, further drilling it in. Even then we don't trust them and supervise their movements near the bird. unfortunately that is true for almost all skydiving accidents. Also not true. We (meaning most of us) have learned about AAD's, helmets, RSL's, and and an assortment of other things taught to us through the failure of others. Nobody wanted an AAD until Tommy went it. After that they couln't keep the damn things in stock. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Good grief. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

And what would that information be? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

I assume you mean that the group ahead of you will "shift" at a different rate depending on the speed of the upper winds. Not true. The group ahead of you will only "shift" at a different rate if there is a difference in the wind speed at the aircraft's altitude and the group's altitude. And it would have to be one heck of a difference for you to see it with the eye. Since it takes about 10 seconds to fall the first 1000 feet, and since having a major difference in wind speed over a 1000 foot altitude change is quite rare (especially at altitude), your theory appears to have a few holes in it. The really bad part about crap like this is that it will get someone hurt someday. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Tell 'em they're wrong and that it's actually closer to 50 degrees. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

That's a great idea, Wendy. Not sure how much it would do to deter bulletproof types, but maybe it would save someone. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Oh yes. Let's watch Hannity on Fox News. And put politics aside.

Wow. That's hard. God's speed to all of you. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

You go, homie! Now go learn, learn, learn!! Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Skydive Houston. One Twin Otter. 8 am: Tandem customers coming through the door; 60+ scheduled for the day. 8:30 am: 4-way scrambles briefing. 10 teams. 5 rounds. Fundraiser for an injured TI (vibes for Dave). 9:30 am: Twin Otter on the ground with unknown electrical problem. Troubleshooting begins. 10:30 am: Caravan from Skydive San Marcos confirmed and on the way. Thank SDSM!!! 11 am: Mechanic says not today on the Otter. 11:30 am: DZO holds meeting with Scramblers: "Guys, we committed to you that we would run a scrambles today. Therefore we are rescheduling all of today's tandems. Caravan load 1, 20 minute call." 12 noon: Scrambles load 1 lifts off. Good call, Todd. Keep it up. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

I don't even understand what you mean my that. And how bout that thread????????? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

And you will of course provide the source for these "screen captures"? And Bill, no one can figure our why you refuse to address this thread: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3637172;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed; C'mon now. As outspoken as you are, can we not get your take on the video linked from that thread? You have ignored numerous requests to do so, even though you chime in on nearly every other post. Hmmmmm. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

And yet you don't provide any contrary evidence. Hmmm. And you STILL haven't replied to this thread: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3637172;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed; What's up with that? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

The thing I like most about the libs is their tolerant nature. Sheople of the media. Takes all kinds. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Funniest statement of the day. Care to verify anything Fox News has reported that wasn't true? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX