chuckakers

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Everything posted by chuckakers

  1. chuckakers
    Mine works fine on my Voodoo. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  2. chuckakers
    This argument is ridiculous at its face. The question isn't whether its safe to perform a barrel roll while tracking for separation, it's whether it's necessary - which it's not. Unless you have a severe flexibility problem, you should be able to clear the air above you just fine by looking over both shoulders. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  3. chuckakers
    I think having students perform a practice pull in the first few seconds after exit would give them a lot more confidence when it comes time to do it for real at lower altitudes. A student can perform a hop n pop style exit and perform a practice touch, and still go on with FS work. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  4. chuckakers
    Interesting point. What would hurt to have students make a few "hop n pop" style exits and p/c touches at full altitude during progression jumps? Excuse my ignorance on the issue, as I haven't held a rating for a decade. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  5. chuckakers
    Good move. Not everyone needs to jump out of a plane. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  6. chuckakers
    Wow, bummer. Bob was a good friend of many years and a truly nice guy. BSBD, Bob! Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  7. chuckakers
    ...the media! http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/Holes-in-the-Safety-Net-of-Skydiving-165647186.html Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  8. chuckakers
    UP That is the difference here... Balloons are able to go up and land somewhere further off, skydivers and gliders don't have the ability to create any useful lift. That was a lot more concise than my reply. Thanks! Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  9. chuckakers
    The balloon pilot did not land on this particular property by accident. He CHOSE to land there. Given that, would you still say he has legal protection from trespass? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  10. chuckakers
    Why is that? why ? because the links have to be tested and approved by the reserve manufacturer don't they ? Some manufacturers do specify that the use of soft links of any kind is not approved with the use of their reserves. If the manufacturer says NO, who are we as users/riggers to say the contrary ? I am aware of all that. I thought your comment that soft links are "not always the good answer" was for a reason other than manufacturers requirements. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  11. chuckakers
    Yes, but the pilot chute sits on top of the canopy and can become part of an entanglement. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  12. chuckakers
    Why is that? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  13. chuckakers
    +1 Excellent post, Bill. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  14. chuckakers
    Funny, I've ground-crewed may balloons. Touchdown to drive-off never took more than 30 minutes - without hurrying - unless there was a long walk involved. Doesn't matter, though. If the pilot decides he needs to stay on the ground, that's the end of it. If McNasty doesn't like it, call the cops and let them explain things to him. Well, if you're willing to spend even a half-hour in the presence of an out of control land owner who gets more and more angry because you're not leaving as he demands, then have fun with it. Good luck. It's kind of funny how you berate others for their "bad attitude", and yet here you are advocating ignoring an angry land owner and just doing what you want anyway. I didn't advocate ignoring anyone. I'm advocating the pilot in command doing what's necessary in the interest of safety. Seems to me if the crew started packing up it would be a little tough for McNasty to say they weren't leaving. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  15. chuckakers
    I don't blame him. That wasn't my point. What I'm saying is that if taking off presented unacceptable risks, the pilot has the right to tell McNasty he simply isn't re-launching. At that point it would become a matter for the police to sort out if things escalated. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  16. chuckakers
    People dieing attempting dumb things is not bad? Please explain. "Dumb" is a relative term. Is auto racing dumb? How about golf? People die doing both. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  17. chuckakers
    That's not a quick process. It can take an hour to deflate, bundle and load the balloon, basket and burner in the back of a truck. If you have a McNasty going ballistic that whole time, it's going to be ugly. He may have weighed that scenario against the extra risk of hopping the fence to the next property, and decided it was worth it. Funny, I've ground-crewed may balloons. Touchdown to drive-off never took more than 30 minutes - without hurrying - unless there was a long walk involved. Doesn't matter, though. If the pilot decides he needs to stay on the ground, that's the end of it. If McNasty doesn't like it, call the cops and let them explain things to him. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  18. chuckakers
    Our point wasn't about the bigger picture, it was that the OP's post was nothing more than a self-centered rant. He wanted to make everything the property owner's fault when clearly none of it was. BTW, if a glider pilot routinely needs to land off designated strips, some remedial training is needed. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  19. chuckakers
    Overkill thread. I jump in Houston and I assure you, we sweat all over our gear here. Does it degrade it. Sure. Does it matter? Nope. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  20. chuckakers
    The balloon pilot isn't a small child and he landed on McNasty's property intentionally, my friend. Yes, please do carry on. You have a lot to learn about this country and our values. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  21. chuckakers
    You lack even a simple understanding of physics. 1100-1200 lbs of “people” quickly getting out of a balloon would make it “cork” up quickly. They did want to get out, but were specifically told not to do so by the pilot. My grasp of physics is just fine and so is my knowledge of balloons. I think you took my words too literally. I wasn't suggesting that anyone get out without announcing it, but if someone wants out there are procedures the pilot can execute to allow it safely. Besides, I wasn't talking about everyone getting out, just the ones you seemed so concerned about. I assure you, if the gondola was on the ground and the balloon pilot was about to put me or my loved ones in danger, we'd get out. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  22. chuckakers
    Guess you aren't getting it. Let's break it down. Property owner screaming and shouting because the pilot landed on his property without permission. That's his right. And how exactly did he threaten someone? Pilot apologetic. Good. He made a non-emergency landing on someone's property without permission. Pilot concerned about the safety of a re-launch. He could have refused for safety reasons and began packing up. Lots of activity and dangers in the second field. Pilot could have flown beyond that field to a safer one. Pilot demanded all passengers stay with balloon for re-launch. Bullshit. If a passenger wants out while the balloon is on the ground, just climb the hell out. You assume others wouldn't stand by while their wife and small child were put in danger. Funny, that's exactly what you did! Seems to me you had a lot of choices in this situation and just made ones you later regretted. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  23. chuckakers
    And I don't care to read a long-winded post either. How exactly would it have been not "so simple" for McNasty had someone been injured in the re-launch and landing? I think you need to lose the attitude, have some respect for property owners, and move on. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  24. chuckakers
    So you're upset that a land owner wanted you off of HIS property? And how exactly is HE the idiot? After all, it was YOU that was trespassing. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX
  25. chuckakers
    I already put the line in from the top, as UPT prescribes. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX