dreamsville

All I'd add is: 1) AAD activates also in reponse to travel at a minimum speed (I believe 78mph) through a specified altitude (does that mean it wouldn't fire on a wingsuit jump?). While they could check this for themselves, mentioning it in the letter may leave them with more peace about the device if they imagine it to be accidentally not turned off. 2) I'd leave them with "Sincerely", rather than "Very truly yours". That may be a more appropriate level of familiarity. Harry 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

They were cool to me and jumped with us when they came to practice at SDC. Glad to see them do so well at 4- and 8-way so far. There are a number of teams, but GKs may be the closest thing our country has to skydiving ambassadors. Harry 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 do video at various times and I have bruises from time to time on an arm or wrist, even though I can't remember what happened. I'm beginning to think it's from the seat belt rails or climb-out, and it just gets swamped by more important thoughts. Harry 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 came. I never had the chance to see who was around from DZ.com, but your face was familiar from this weekend. Lots more cars and trailers than usual. Harry 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

But being a groupie can be fun. 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 hate to admit that I have: On cloudy/windy days you go to the drop zone anyway and bitch about the weather. You analyze every flag you see in terms of it's too windy/not too windy to jump. It's a dark sky with low clouds and you're thinking "Hop -n- Pops!". You know to the tenth of a mile how far it is from your driveway to the drop zone's driveway. 83.6 (Mobil station Ottawa, Il. to my downtown garage space in Chicago, honest!) You walk everywhere watching the sky. (well, just about) You can't mention the word "first" in casual conversation, at work, or ever in reference to yourself. (it now crosses my mind a bunch) You plan your vacations around skydiving boogies. (it's happened) On a full moon night, you look up and think "Night jumps!" You have no idea what is happening on the weekends in your town. You wonder what whuffos _DO_ with themselves on gorgeous summer weekends You can't imagine how anyone can go on vacation without a parachute. (if you have a rig, yes, I honestly would and have taken it everywhere where jumps could be possible) You love the smell of 'Jet A' in the morning! So, that's 12 honest ones on my list. Anyone else, HONESTLY?? 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

If flying late in the day I will get a beer and stare out the plane window for a long time, fanticizing about a high jump over the desert with mountains in the distance. I will land somewhere near a bar/grill in a pre-determined area, have some beers, and then go to bed and dream about doing it all over again. Sorry, this was actually a dream within a dream. I got lost in it. Harry 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

Religion and its symbols are misused by some for coercive means. This does not detract from its value as a creed worth following. People follow a faith on their own accord by the actions and examples of others, but seldom by those who only preach a strict creed of what takes to be saved, else damnation follows. The word for this might be didactic (some say "Bible Bashing"). Having said that, I find that I pray before bed each night and in thanks for the many blessings, one of the greatest of which is the Earth and Sky that we share in this sport. As I get older, I pray less for myself than for others who are in a jam. I also admit that I might fall asleep without a prayer sometimes after that extra beer. Harry 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

Quote: Or, an even better thing to do, talk them into coming out to do tandems, make your whuffo friends skydiving friends. It might be helpful to suggest this while they are all drinking. I think I have hit a brick wall with those who have not yet jumped. Except for a close friend from Grosse Pointe, Mich. this summer, everyone else is pretty much still refusing to toss their ass out of a plane, unlike sensible people like us who anticipate an aircraft emergency and leave long before it may ever develop. Harry 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

How often do you get a load to go to 20k? I'd do that once every week or two (since I wouldn't spend $36 on very jump)! It'd be cool to have the option. Harry 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

Yeah. Also, on the market end, number of dropzones nearby and the cost of living in the area relative to other locations may slightly affect the price as well. Harry 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

Plus The Ranch rocks anyhow. That's one of the attractions for visiting my brother in Greenwich, Conn. Too bad the ride can end up being at least 1.5 hours when the Tappan Zee Bridge is jammed. Harry 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

Quote -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- you can get $15 if you buy in January. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Funny, yes. But, that rate is locked in for the rest of the year for any other blocks you buy. That's the attraction. Harry 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

The spot rate (just show up) is $20 at the 3 DZ's a lot of us in Chicago use (I don't know about East Troy, Wis. or Millenium in Kankakee). However, package rates run from $15 to $17 / jump (buy 100 jumps at a time) depending upon when you buy. Quite a few of us jump so much we can't afford not to go on package. From time to time the DZ's around here also run specials by the weekend or for showing up for load one. You need to check the respective Web sites. Harry 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, where's the response? Do you have a link? 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

Maybe doing nothing is better than stirring things up, but sometimes I am reminded that people have varying agendas. Although some items in the article may be open to question, the theme resembles things that have occured in The "Peoples'" Republic of Berkeley in the past. When some of these people have to go out and live life in the real world they may find out things about life that include examples such as: 1) "In God We Trust" is probably on the currency because there is a groundswell of opinion to leave it on there, no groundswell to remove it, or some combination of the two. 2) Not everyone is politically correct. 3) There are no insurance policies against being offended. 4) Many patriotic civilians and military service people have helped these whiners in some way at some time, whether or not they deserved it (I actually don't think some people will ever learn or believe this). ... and so on ... God Bless America, Harry 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

The "deep flaw" is a much more unsettling scenario. It's almost impossible to detect under most circumstances. The same applies to commercial aicraft, autos, etc. Prayers as well? Harry 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

Obviously this bothers me, having jumped this plane on many occasions. It also makes me so sad to see the poor plane sitting there like a lame animal, having given so many of us so much pleasure. Fix it, inspect it, and make it fly again. I also miss the old look. I wish we could "unpaint" it. Harry 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

In five more years it'll be ten years for me. Aside from the "long view", I hope to still love the sport as I do now. Sometimes I worry about a feeling gradually evolving (lack of challenge, experiences, change of viewpoint for whatever reason) to make the sport seem old, wishing for the joy and enthusiasm I feel now and not being able to get it back. Although I don't feel now that the joy will fade, I am inspired by those who keep the feeling and pray I always will. Harry 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 done 4-way scrambles with Ed Ganley and later jumped with him at his DZ at Connellsville (PSC) in Fayette County, Pa. He is selling the DZ and I am sorry if it also means he will be leaving the sport. He and his partner were cool to me and are assets to skydiving. Harry 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

In my reply to Phreezone I did not mean to denigrate the value of the gifts given us by those of long experience who help us along as we learn (well-known orgainzers, instructors, DZOs at Perris, Skydive Chicago, Sebastian, SD America, Zhills, Hinckley, etc. - my experience). I think some of the negative thoughts have to do with those who have years of experience AND talk about being a "real" skydiver, and who are perceived to have an "attitude" (for whatever reason they have this attitude). Your response gives the sense of humility and great caring about the sport. My thanks to you and others whose gifts I sometimes think of when I've done a truly good skydive, free-fly or RW. At about 1200 jumps and 5 years, I still consider myself moderately experienced. The more I learn, the more I know there is so much more to learn yet. Hope to jump with you some day (Perris?). Harry 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

425 jumps and 3 years? Enuf! If you enjoy the sport and have people who will jump with you, who cares what they say about the 10 year business and being a real jumper. Don't worry about what some of these people say. The sport doesn't exist for their sake alone. Harry 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

Well shut up!?! That's how much they charge out there? At first I thought it might have been a little bit about "up jumpers" and where they were trained/hook turns/etc. Now I know it's all about dough. Harry PS It's good to see people at least trying it though. Fatheaded as they may become after one jump without intent to do more. 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

Shawunga, and all that rot! To maggot and the rest. Voted, it's at 50% for Gibbons. Harry, back at Skydive Chicago. 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

Sebastian area Florida. Harry 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