chuckakers

maybe some reading glasses for you... >>Yes, some of the jumpers that were on the load are older than dirt and probably have plenty of jumps on conventional stuff, but others must not have, since the article mentions that the gear was built before some on the load were born.

Just read in the November Skydiving Mag an article by Nancy LaRiviere about a group of jumpers at Deland that rigged up some gutter gear and did an 8-way. As all but the newbies know, this gear operates much differently from today's gear. Every handle is in a different location, the main canopy release is a clumsy, 2-handed operation, and many of the reserves are hand deployed (yes, youngsters, hand deployed). Add to that the fact that the rig itself fits and feels nothing like modern gear, has a main canopy that opens, flies, lands, an even malfunctions differently, and flies in freefall nothing at all like our snug little lunchboxes. Nowhere in the article does it mention any of the jumpers making solo jumps on these rigs before attempting RW. Yes, some of the jumpers that were on the load are older than dirt and probably have plenty of jumps on conventional stuff, but others must not have, since the article mentions that the gear was built before some on the load were born. The article also doesn't mention anyone receiving training, reviewing, or practicing emergency procedures. I have to assume (which in itself, may be a mistake) that the folks who needed training got some. So what's my point? I question doing an 8-way (or any RW, for that matter) on the first jump on such different gear. I have retired from instructing, otherwise the word "question" would be "condemn". The list of dead skydivers who got that way while jumping unfamiliar gear is long and very well documented, and some were highly experienced. I also would have liked to have seen something in the story about training on the gear. There are plenty of new jumpers that read Skydiving, and with no mention of training, it would very easy for them to think none was done (which again, I assume was conducted, at least for the first-timers). Finally, I saw nothing in the story about test jumps being conducted on the gear before being "fun jumped". Since the gear had to be "prepared" and some had to be "repaired" (quotes from the author), I think a test jump by someone familiar with and trained on the rigs would have been a better choice. I learned and have taught that any significant change in gear should be followed by a solo familiarization jump. I still do that. Am I out of touch on this one? Chuck Edit - added clarification to title. Please use more descriptive titles to give readers an idea what your post is about. Thanks. ~ Craig

Call Mike Mullins. Jumpers at my DZ (Skydive USA) set a Texas altitude record in 1997 from Mike's plane by jumping from 30,700 ft AGL. He has everything you need. Chuck Akers

Mike Mullins King Air, that is. I organized for the Aggie's Over Texas Memorial Boogie this past weekend, and Mike and company were on hand. Fast as ever. Some cool people came along, too. Thanks y'all. Chuck Akers

Just heard - Trent Alkek of Natl Champs Spaceland Anomaly will be organizing and coaching at the Mike Mullins King Air Boogie this weekend at Skydive Aggieland. Boogie details in the events section. For the belly flyers - I'll be organizing fun jumps! Chuck Akers

nah, can't get rid of me that easy.

Howdy, y'all - Chuck Akers here. I'm still around, still hoppin', and I'm lookin' for some folks that wanna knock out some RW and fun-ways at the Mullins Boogie coming up in TEXAS. Here's the deal. The boogie is Friday thru Sunday, October 12 - 14 at Skydive Aggieland in Bryan, TX. I'll be on hand starting Friday afternoon. I'll be organizing RW for all experience levels, SCR's, hoop dives, etc. Fun jumps, good vibes, no attitudes. Come join us for a Texas style Mullins boogie!! Call or e-mail with questions or commitments. See you there! Chuck Akers 832-630-1213 chuckakers@comcast.net

For everyone, especially former Skydive USA jumpers - Heather Price Stephens gave birth to a beautiful baby boy - Zane Edward Stephens, 8 lbs., 4 oz., 20 1/4 inches - on September 7, 2007 at 3:59pm in Grapevine, Texas (a burb of Ft. Worth). Many Texas jumpers know Heather from the old Skydive Spaceland at Houston Gulf Airport (when she was just a kid) and Skydive USA in Wharton, TX - her family's DZ - where she managed manifest beginning at the ripe old age of 14. You can check out photos at www.zanestephens.com You can say hi to Heather at skychic_cc@yahoo.com. Blue Skies, Gramps

When in doubt, picture yourself in a hospital bed with tubes and needles stuck in you on your way to a slow, painful death. There, that should take care of it. Chuck 25 year smoker, quit March 13th, 2000

and you expected better?

With nothing more than sore feet, slight whiplash and a headache Then how in the FUCK do people have time to walk around a take this guy's picture when he is hanging by his head/neck?! He is not supporting his body weight at all...don't ya think one of those jokers should mayb help him? At first I thought this was a joke...but there's an ambulance and a police car in the background. I just still don't get this. some of you guys are just too easy.

Very rare but does happen. Big Steve Hobbs was found half way up his reserve lines after it bag locked. Another former Texas jumper bounced after he blew a bunch of lines on his overloaded reserve. And then there was the guy that got hit by a bus crossing the street. He should have hailed a cab. Chuck

And you're willing to take the chance? In an other-than-stable deployment (more likely after whacking a highly loaded canopy gone wild), a reserve component, be it p/c, bridle, lines, or even the bag, could (and has) caught on just about everything. I'm not sure why anyone would want to add to that possibility. The chance of a snag may not be very great, but it may be very final. Chuck

Not sure if I get it. Does this thing stow the slider or just lock it in a collapsed mode?

I knew someone would bring this up. I use a very small amount of velcro that requires only minimal force to separate, the same way I did before anyone else was stowing sliders. But I like the way you're thinking. Chuck

I've always collapsed my slider and stuck it under my chin. I tried that for a while years ago - until the day my slider inflated in front of my face just as I started to flare. That was pre-collapsable sliders.

It's also a hook with which to snag a deploying reserve pilot chute. Yeah, that's a handy thing to have... Hi John - I had that thought too.

That was my first thought. How does it work? Does he just stuff the slider fabric under the bungee? Seems a bit clunky at first glance. I've stowed mine for years using a small velcro tab on my jumpsuit collar. I designed it to wrap around the slider and then mate back to another spot of velcro. Does the bungee design have advantages? Chuck

On the cover of the latest Parachutist, the jumper in the orange jumpsuit at the 6 o'clock position in the chunk has something attached to his rig. It looks like some bungee cord with a plastic ball on it. Chuck

Hey Hoosiers, I'm heading from Houston to "Start Skydiving" in Lebanon, OH to jump with my kid August 4 - 5. Would love to see and get in the air with anyone from my original home DZ - Parachutes & Associates in Frankfurt, IN. - Denny Green excluded. First round on me. Chuck Akers

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Here's a shot of my lovely bride exiting the swimming leg on tri #2 - a sprint near Houston. I don't know how you guys do this stuff. I get tired just carrying her luggage! This is what she calls skydiving retirement. Chuck

Either you have a compulsive obsessive disorder about brushing your dog....or she's ugly. Jus' kiddin' - I think she's cute. I do suggest getting her a sweater though...maybe even a parka.

Yes, she was hired to sing, but pea-pit Nancy just couldn't keep her mind off the upcoming DZ party.

"It appears the cast of "My Name is Earl" has arrived for the winter film festival".