dreamsville

I was scared as well, and I got through it by gutting it out. There were times on AFP that I wasn't sure I could make it. Jumps 6-8 of AFP were the hardest, and I had to repeat a couple of times. However, Paul Wold, Kirk Smith, and Doris Pfister helped me through these particular units by giving me great attention and coaching. I still have qualms in the back of my mind once in a while, but most of the time is just joy. Take the suggestions about the tandem or the relaxation coach jump (the tandem might be better if you're really nervous). Go on from there with what your heart tells you. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I dreamt of flying ultralite-like things or flying myself as a kid, usually over my own neighborhood. Once I started jumping, I would sometimes find myself dreaming of flying with no rig, and then gently doing a stand-up landing between the buildings in the city. My first thought when I awoke was a longing to be able to do that, but then also a feeling of gladness that skydiving afforded me the next best thing. So why Dreamsville as a handle? With the last paragraph as background, there was an old easy listening tune from the 70's I ran across a few months ago, sung by Henry Mancini's vocal group (passed away late 90's I think). Part of it said: "We can see the rest of the world below us From our pink cloud There's no boundary to this magic land As we go exploring hand in hand In dreamy Dreamsville" That's one view of skydiving. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I still maintain a non-resident golf membership out in Grosse Pointe. Why?? So I have a place to hang out with friends and family when I visit when people who are committed whuffos (I don't play when back in Chicago cause of the magnetic field coming from the drop zone). However, the point I am trying to make is that if I play golf, those people know that they are really special to me because otherwise the jump urge in my brain is like a ticking time bomb that will send me off to the nearest DZ if at all possible. I have used visits over there to try to convince others to jump, without overdoing it and being told to shut up or to change the subject, or get the bypass in the conversation that pretends you did not even mention skydiving. To date: one friend finally jumped at Skydive Harbor Springs, and another member has done static line but won't go back to jumping. Mom would have jumped but back muscles won't allow it. As you all know, it's tough out there to recruit friends or family, but some have better luck than others. One of the biggest thrills is when one takes you up on it! | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

To Eric: he's programmed now. Hold on to your wallet! | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Of my friends who are skydivers, one has a nine-year-old who mountain-bikes with his dad. Just the other weekend, I asked little Cody if he wanted to skydive when he was old enough. He smiled and said yes. He has been to the DZ a number of times and done observer rides a bunch. Another buddy has a daughter in college with 200+ jumps (he has 2200), and they've got his wife outnumbered. Some days we all skydive/pack together while she is elsewhere waiting for the last jump/beer (but they are good about getting home). Another one jumps with us, and politely insists when she gets home that, since she is interested in their hobbies, the husband and kids can watch just one of her videos from the day's jumping. After watching the one required video, the family scatters (whuffos, hmmphm). | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Pound the stowed pilot chute down hard after it's in the pouch to limit the lumps that may snag it on the way out, if you're not used to it. The PC should also be rolled in a neat tube-like shape to limit lumps in the pouch. Of course, if you're free flying and even if you are not, a "tuck flap" that hides the bridle between the pouch and the flaps is one more piece of insurance for BOC. A tight BOC is actually good, since for free-flying an old, loose one could allow the PC into the wind stream at a most inconvenient, high speed moment. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

You had a second hand-out from the jump-run seminar on 4/5. Do you have an electronic copy of that and, if so, would you mind posting it here? | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

It leaves you more time to find a beer at the end of the day while the packer does that last one. That is mostly the only time I don't pack mine. The packers I use are reliable, jump, and have riggers tickets as well. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I assume the weather in France is more reliable than in the UK? Transportation-wise, do you have a choice? You live on the Isle of Jersey? I have known only one family from there that goes to North Palm Beach, Fl. in the winter. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I guess you just forget it and show up. The definition of a proxy is to allow someone or something to act in your stead. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Very true the last post. Most mid-air incidents that I have heard about in free flying are due to vertical closure speeds rather than horizontal (including a buddy that died this way). That doesn't mean that you can't get hurt just as easily by a collision from the side, just that "corking" or diving hard from right above someone seem to be the most common cause of serious problems. It's easier to manage risk if all the players are at the same relative altitude, and that's one of the toughest things to learn in skydiving anyway. Once you can keep the same relative altitude consistently with your partner(s), you just need to have patience on the approach. It works. This stuff challenges us all. But, don't let the challenge steal the joy with friends or the beauty of the sky. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I don't think I've seen that one. What was on it? | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I hope Palm Beach Xtreme comes back (Dave Cole, Willie, Sam). Also, I guess that Cross Keys is looking at doing something with the former Skydive America PB, but has made no decision. With the fantastic view and the great times I have had over there (my parents in PB during winter), I'd like to have a DZ in Pahokee again! | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I'd like to vent, as long as we're on the topic, about sliders with a velcro thing that you have to remove from itself, wrap around the slider, and re-anchor. When I first started, my Saber 170 had one of these things, and for a while I didn't stow it 'cause I didn't like the added distraction of messing with it. In any case, it was never as easy as using the pull tabs that a lot of sliders now have. The only thing about them is you have to watch for bent tabs (they get a "memory") and potential rips in the slider stow channels. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I have a question for anyone considering skydiving as a career who now has another day job. I don't have SkyBytch's perspective, but: Would you enjoy it as much if you had it as your full-time job? I'm not on the job when I jump. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Is there anything of which I should be aware? The connection attempt fails after about a minute or two to www.dropzone.com/chat. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Did the people at Snohomish stay in the Parachutes over Palm Springs business (which would make it 15 minutes from where my uncle and aunt are at La Quinta, Calif.), or did they close or sell it? | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Yes. The FreeflyTrainingCenter.com at Sebastian does. During the season they also do Freefly Thursdays at The Tunnel. This time of year Dave Brown and the others begin to travel around to other DZs to coach and organize (see Skydiving mag to find out if they're coming your way), but if you contact the FFTC someone will get back to you and let you know when the next times are that they have Tunnel time available. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Do you have special codecs that somehow were not available from video editing or related software vendor? I'd rather check with the original software vendor or pay a small amount to avoid spyware or other crap like that. On the other hand, I find that if I install the editor software and then make a movie, not all of those codecs will automatically be included with Media Player or some other playback software that your viewing audience might use to see your stuff. Is that your issue? | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I guess skydivers are always trying to figure out new excuses to post a thread or a poll, knowing that others are just looking for something to answer. Don't we have anything better to do? I live a little over an hour from 2 turbine DZs and 1.5 hrs from the third one, where I usually go. There is a fourth DZ with a caravan also 1.5 hours away. When I know more about my upcoming work situation I may buy or rent a trailer at the DZ as some friends have done (water, shower, electricity, WI-FI internet available). | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

We have enough bad press about this sport, even during times of good safety records. I have to be honest and admit that I'm not crazy about hunting down such a video. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Phree, I have been unable to connect to the dz.com chat address. I think I tried it once with the Black Ice firewall turned off, but I will try again. It looks like it wants to talk on port 7000. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I have never jumped a Saber2, but it sounds like the packing is similar to a Stilleto. I do not roll the nose on a Stilleto. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

My, but that's scary. Canopy whizzing by in the dark during free-fall. Did the night jump organizer: 1) Make sure that the alti had a small snap light securely taped to the altimeter so the low end was visible and that the person could read it and that it was properly set? If so, was the jumper mistrustful at maybe not being able to see the 8,9,10 grand markings, if this meant they were covered by the light/tape? 2) Suggest that people hide their lights and avoid looking at other bright lights/objects on the ride up to minimize night-blindness? Just guesses, but these are 2 possible causes of your friend's problem, unless he bacame scared and panicked. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Glad you are feeling better. I had a hard opening once (not too serious) and asked some questions. One cause could be too little line between the risers and the bag, causing the bag to not release properly. I have to admit, I did not get an answer adequate from the rigger so I would understand exactly how that would impair the staging of the slider movement relative to line stretch, unless it would cause the stows to break and the slider to ride down the lines before the canopy could get out. What (to me) is at top of the list is keeping the slider alll the way up and quartered. Without wrapping too much of the tail around the lines (to avoid excess center-tail wear), try to put one or two tight little rolls of the tail around the slider grommets near the lines. Make sure this stays in place when you let out the air and do your S-folds (I Pro-Pack). The object is simply to keep the slider in place until line stretch pulls it down. I don't know what everyone else does, but I have not been slammed at any time that I made sure of these things. If the thing gets messed up on the way into the bag and you're not sure, redo it. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143