dreamsville

J.E., I agree. The fear diminishes and/or you control it. You dare to call it a drug (we just pretend we need it, really we can stop any time)! | 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'm slightly nervous on every jump, although I know it diminishes with the frequency of jumps during the day. | 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

From the point of view of now, not necessarily when I started jumping: 1) Friends 2) Aircraft 2) Amenities | 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:/ In a no-wind situation, the preferred landing direction is south, since the landing area opens up wider when approaching from the north, | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I know that's what we do, but I'm not totally convinced of it's wisdom. Landing south tends to bring the canopies landing in the "hot dog" area through the narrowest portion at between 50 and 100ft altitude. Landing north would have them all on the ground by the time they reached the narrowest part. But, what do I know? ------------------ end quotes John, although it's true that the landing area opens up, as I said, towards the south, there is some wisdom for staying clear and turning sooner (north to south) to avoid the hot dog area. In busier times, your point is well taken. | 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

Exit order may not necessarily determine landing order. Most significant is probably not only wing-loadings but the fact that some jumpers may spiral to land sooner. While we frown upon that right over the main landing area, it's OK to pick an open area away from other jumpers, spiral down, and then enter the main pattern afterwards. It happens a lot and is safe when done correctly. As far as SDC landing direction, we determine it by wind and then agree upon it and announce it before loading and again in the plane. We try to follow the earier landings but prefer people to follow the plan unless conditions prevent it. Choose a remote area if uncomfortable or unsure. If multiple aircraft are up, as last weekend, manifest will announce it as well. This is helpful when there is little wind. In a no-wind situation, the preferred landing direction is south, since the landing area opens up wider when approaching from the north, | 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 night jumps for the thrill and beauty. I did 2 2-ways with a friend on the same night and we mostly watched the river and the moon and lights below. I love them, but they're so long after beerthirty and the weather doesn't always cooperate. | 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 prefer to jump without weights if the fall rate of the jump will allow it. Since I'm thin, I therefore began with a tighter suit. Then, if being in the base or general fall rate requires it, I wear anywhere from 6 pounds for most dives to 12 pounds on really fast ones or chasing a tandem with a big JM and student. I usually free-fly now, and it's a bit of a relief not to wear the weights on those dives. | 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 was beautiful. I have never heard that melody put to the 23rd Psalm before. I wonder where she got 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

Saturday was an example of a high pull (about 8 grand) for a couple of us. We first talk to the pilot before take-off. If he says OK, we check for traffic and follow that plan. Of course, it's not just other air traffic, it's the pilot of the plane from which you jumped that could run into you. It has happened when the pilot wasn't aware of the plan. | 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

Although sad, I think yesterday was also one of my most proud and "belonging" moments as a skydiver, seeing the sense of community and how wholesome it was. I would like to think as time goes by, this sense of community will help carry us on and stay with us. I'm searching for another way to say it but this is the best I can do for now. Here's to The Fellowship of the Firmament that is us. | 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 am still angling to jump a balloon since I have not yet had the privilege. However, it sounds like the same principle as jumping a tailgate aircraft: right out the door there is little or no relative wind, so any movement other than falling off will happen without the damping effect of the wind cushion. If you twist or flip slightly, that's where you'll end up when the wind hits, and a funnel can result. | 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

Congrats! No tandem and an AFF! | 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 will help. PM me for where the $20 is to be sent. Maybe we can prevent others from going the way of my friend Roger. | 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 love the term sky birthday. I has a nice personal ring to it. Mine was 2pm Sunday August 10th, 1997 at the old airport at Skydive Chicago. My goal is to be able to fly half-way respectably in R/W, sit, and head-down. OK in R/W and sit, and slowly getting there in head-down. All this helps so I can skydive with my friends who do different things and meet new people. I have about 1450 jumps, and have been lucky enough to do about 400 a year for the last couple of years (am not an instructor). God and employment willing, this will continue and I will further my goals. The more I jump, the more I realize there will always be something to learn. Knowing the people in this sport has been a privilege. | 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

Two points for non-skydivers (I am trying to be kind, as Roger might have done, by not using the "W" word): 1) The driving analogy may help some people to understand. You can tailgate another driver at a high rate of spead and do reckless things. In so doing, you can increase your risk of dying every bit as much as something like happened at SDC. On the other hand, you can pick another lane and stay away. We regulate ourselves over the LZ every weekend, so if you are watchful and follow the rules of the sky/road, you stand an acceptable chance of dying old and in bed (we have implicitly made that risk choice already). The DZ tries to get people to follow safety rules. However, when someone climbs in a car and goes, the drivers' ed guy usually isn't there with him. 2) Someone asked me Monday if SDC would continue to operate. To me, it was at first a peculiar question, since I knew the answer. After a brief pause, my answer was a frank: Especially now. For all the reasons that the rest of you that also think highly of Roger and this sport have given. | 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

ULead Media Studio Pro 7 handles 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 heard someone had done this to an IP5 so they could have an external switch in the absence of a LANC port. Anyone know about this? Thanks in advance. | 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 misstated. Although I have taken physics, the nuances escaped me in the heat of the moment (no pun intended). | 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, it's true, that's the professor (maybe that should be his DZ.com handle instead) in the pics at our DZ above the level of the plane's floor AFTER EXIT. Secondly, considerable license with drama and physics was taken in Cutaway. Having everyone dive out in the same direction, in many kinds of formations, works but is not always efficient or always the safest for the objective. I think the biggest example of "license" in the movie was when we see the two prime characters sitting on the tailgate with NO RIGS ON in flight. No real jumper would try a dumbass thing like that without some kind of belt or rig on. | 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 jumped a Sabre 170 until about jump 750 for about a 1.1 loading including the rig. I then got a Stilleto 135 for a 1.4 loading, and have a second rig with a Stilleto 150 as the main. All this stuff was bought from friends at the DZ, with the exception of the 2 AADs and a new PD reserve to go with the 135. In the case of the 135, it was owned by the organizer whose jumps I funneled at about jump 60 (we still jump together from time to time), and the 150 J1 container was owned by my AFP instructor during the time when I was lucky to do a 90 degree turn without potato-chipping (still jump with him, too). So, I may be considered by some to be conservative. I don't do many ambitious swoop moves, but I'm in one peice and we have a great time in the sky together. So, bring it on all you hot shots! | 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

On soft reserve handles: I purchased a rig that had one, and then some months later proceeded to have a spinning mal, after having done the handle checks (part of the check of 3) on this jump as well. I have analyzed why it spun up and what may have caused it, but that's off topic. That yellow handle wasn't where it was supposed to be (it was visible and not tucked under on the plane) as I was cutting away, and wasn't further up the lift web where I would have expected it in the centrifugal force of a spin. The lift web felt OK as I was putting the rig on, BTW. I messed with the lift web with considerable emotion and the handle reappeared and I smartly pulled it. Landed softly in somewhat hostile farmer's field, as the spot left something to be desired. Now, obviously this doesn't happen to everyone with a soft reserve handle. If it did, people wouldn't use them. I only know that on previous cutaways, all with a D ring, the handle was ALWAYS visible, yet not sticking away from the jump suit in a snag-prone fashion. I can only say that for me, that rig now has a D-ring reserve handle on it. That's my experience. It's up to others to use what suits them. | 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

Thanks for mentioning the student gear aspect and freeflying. As flame retardant, let me first say the the gear I've seen varies from DZ to DZ. However, at a couple of places I have asked newer jumpers with student gear if they were planning to sit-fly, partially for exit order and partially as a result of looking at their rig. In a couple of cases I advised that they flat-fly the jump, since in one case there was a marginal-looking Velcro main flap and in another a main cover that had trouble staying closed. I suggested that this rig may not be the best to jump, period. More recently, the place I jump has stuff that is in better shape to allow the user to free-fly if desired. In a nutshell, some of this older gear needs attention. Just be watchful. | 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 try to tip most of the time for pack jobs, particularly packers I know. It works out close to $1 per pack job, depending. I know it is hard work and it's a service in the same sense that waiters and others are a service. Not only that, but those I know are good people and 'm sure could use the extra $. | 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 hadn't thought of this 'til now. Suppose Jesse has a wingload of 1.2, the regulated limit for his jump numbers, say 200. Over the summer he, for whatever reason, gains 50 lbs, placing him outside of his safety limit of 1.2. Being still well under 500 jumps (let's say he isn't even at 300 yet), is the rig he bought grandfathered in for him? | 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. One should avoid letting up on the toggles once he/she has begun to flare. On higher performance canopies with tighter toggle range you can end up on your face with that move. Ride out the surf and resist the urge to stab the toggles when there's still a bunch of horizontal speed (not directed at anyone who has more experience than me). | 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