Samurai136

Uh.... I see you're jumping a Lotus. There's not a lot you can do to make it open faster. Airlocks tend to take a little longer to completely inflate. 1. Don't chase students below the hard deck. They have an AAD. You are only putting yourself at risk by chasing them. 2. If you are 'low' go straight to your reserve. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

$3000 to $3500 is reasonable. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

My esoteric cogitations sunstantiate my status in the top echelon of the intelligentsia for this region of the galaxy. Which is the raison d'etre of "Speakers Corner". Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Where's the option for: "Don't care. I own a Cypres2 or Vigil"? Seriously, Airtec GmbH is incredibly conservative when it comes to maintenance standards for cypres1. If cypres1 maintenance is to too much of a 'problem', buy some newer technology. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Check your PM for contact information. I bought one a few years ago. They are a little pricey but I think it's worth it. Most tools make it easier to close a rig but they sit occupy both hands while the pin is pulled and re-inserted, flap by flap. The terminator allows you to maintain tension on the loop and have both hands free to dress the container with the temp pin removed. In addition, its great for pre-stretching AAD loops to a specific length. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

There's a few hitches I see in this argument against a longer repack cycle. Assumes that U.S. Skydivers do follow 120 day repack cycle/ inspection. Naturally, because it is the law and everyone follows the law. On the other hand we assert that U.S. Skydivers do not follow reccomended monthly gear maintenance. If people aren't taking care of their gear, it may be possible they are pencil whipping their reserves, as well. In which case, we already live in a world where a harness/ container/ reserve may only see a rigger every 240 days. This presents a big hole in the argument that a 120 day repack cycle catches all the maintenance problems that users neglect. On the other hand, there may be a connection between the two behaviors. People neglect their gear because there is a 120 day repack cycle. Perhaps if there was a 180-240-360 day repack cycle people would, in response, take better care of their gear. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Where's the "A hole is a hole." option? Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

The real explanation is that the Triathlon sucks. It has nothing to do with it being a seven cell. The Spectre is a great canopy (7-cell). I have jumped them both.

Never blame the freeflyers. They are my friends. I'm not too worried about break off. I can generally out track most people on my radial away from a formation. The ones I can't beat aren't a problem... Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

You will want to avoid all of the following states at all costs: Nebraska Delaware Oklahoma Arkansas Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

I think you're taking "resposibility" to an absurd level. Your claim that "at the end of the day the tandem instructor is responsible for his students life, no one else." is totally unreasonable. Doctors (surgeons) who believe they are responsibible for their patient's life are said to have a "god complex" and in the medical community are considered a liablity By your reasoning, If there is a complete powerplant failure in the aircraft below 1000' AGL and the plane goes in, the Instructor is 100% responsible. The instructor's responsibility is to make the best decisions possible, in the interests of safety for the student, given the present facts available. Skydiving is dangerous. Known and unknown risks are involved in every jump. Resposibility is shared by all parties involved in a skydive, including the student. If you take your claim seriously, as a responsible instructor, you would refuse to take anyone on a tandem skydive. Considering that you are dependent on, at minimum, a pilot and an A&P having done their job to allow you to do yours. As far as the topic at hand is concerned, I think the two bozos making intensional contact with the drogue should have their ratings pulled by the USPA and equipment manufacturer. I don't care how skilled they are, that's just an unnecessary risk that can get really bad, fast. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

What was the draw for the round? For the Hammer build from a random either mirror image build is correct. For the inter, one build will have the point of the hammer turning right-270 and the tail turning left-270. The mirror build will have the point turning left-270 and tail turning right-270. If tail doesn't recognize which image is built (they always start with cat grips)their turn could be incorrect, a bust. Were there any separation busts? Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

How many freeflyers (total hangers/stingers) do you have on your hybrid jumps? An equal balance of 4&4 is a good mix. Your description makes it sound like there are 8+ freeflyers below and ahead of you throwing PC's. I've never had a problem with standard big-way tracking rules on a hybrid dive. Break-off altitude; turn 180 and track to pull altitude. By limiting the size of the hybrid jump you've also limited the number of possible people below belly flyers during track off. If you get a good group of 8 together who are pulling off some good formations you can try some other interesting things... like turning pieces with orbiting stingers. The temptation is to allow "anyone" to join in on the skydive. Hybrid skydives are really the same as big-way freefly jumps. The same rules apply. Corking is really bad. Be certain of the skill level of the people you are jumping with. Stingers dock with minimal (zero) momentum and do not load grips. Organize (dirt dive) the skydive. This allows everyone to know what the plan is, where their slot is, and keeps it from being less of a "zoo" skydive. Have fun but have a plan and stay safe. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

What kind of options do you have on the Booties? They look really loose. Try puting on your rig, tightening the legstraps, bend your leg to 90 degrees and point your toe. If the material in the booties doesn't "inflate", they are too big. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Karma police, Arrest this girl! Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

I've always thought Vegan Pet food was a bit bizzarre. http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/petfood-comm.html The opening line off the web page "A normally carnivorous companion animal or "pet" can be converted to a vegetarian or vegan diet." WHY? Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Dips will improve your strength. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ridgely8.htm You don't have to goto the gym. Some DZ's have their own gym equipment or... Red Bull sponsors drop off these really nice aluminum, circular, bar height tables. Put two of them close to each other and challenge some friends; see who can do the most dips. Timing of the flare may also be an issue. If you have been able to get good landings you have the strength. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

It doesn't say anything about femur rates. Injuries could be anything from muscle strain, sprained wrist/ankle, getting kneed in the face or rib turning points, fractured vertebrae from hard openings and busted femurs. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

USPA member survey: 991 injuries reported for 2004 http://www.uspa.org/about/images/memsurvey04.pdf Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Consult the FAA regulation FAR 105.17: http://www.flightsimaviation.com/data/FARS/part_105-17.html If less than 10,000 ft MSL (above sea level); 3 miles visiblity and dropping either 500 ft Below the clouds or 1000ft above the clouds with 2000 ft horizontal separation from clouds. If more than 10,000 ft MSL; 5 miles visiblity and dropping 1,000 ft above or below clouds with 1 mile separation. Depending on the weather conditions a ground observer may be unable to see the hole the skydivers are descending through and it would appear that a FAR has been broken when in fact it has not. Depth perception is an imperfect sense. The "makings" of a good storm could in fact be a thunderstorm that's ten miles away or a hundred miles away. If the winds are looking jumpable and the pilot is willing to fly, there's no harm in going up to have a look at the conditions.

Yeah, the only trigger I could Identify was a switch from Camel Turkish Gold to Marlboro Reds. Quit smoking Reds and migraines went away...

Good Job saving your ass! Where's my beer? According to your profile you load your reserve at 0.84:1. Rear risers will flatten your glide path. But it won't change the fact that at your lighter wing loading (which is good) you don't have much penetration into the wind. Any strong uppers, headwind, will tend to prevent you from getting back to the DZ. This problem exists at every wingloading, it just takes a stronger headwind as you increase your wingloading. I opt to stay on the ground on windy days. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Nope. Look at the web site: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ It's leading cause of death for all ages 3 to 35, not the more restrictive category of "drivers". Although "not skydiving" is a good way to avoid a skydiving fatality, "not driving" does not eliminate the risk of fatality in a motor vehicle accident. The NHTSA's figures also include passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists killed by motor vehicles. Point being, the perception of risks involved in "driving" and the reality are vastly different. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death under age 35. But somehow the general public believes skydiving is more dangerous and accepts driving as a necessary risk. Granted, motor vehicles are the modern accepted mode of transist; but accepting the risk as 'necessary' doesn't change the fact that it is the leading cause of death. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

Go to your physician and talk to them about your occular migraines. They can give you stuff like "Imitrex" or other drugs. The first occular I got, I went to the eye doctor (thought it might be a detatched retina or something). He told me my eye was fine and to address it with my physician. Imitrex has reduced the duration of my occular migraines from 3 hours of weird vision to 20-45 minutes. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken

I'm thinking if you opened a paypal acct you could collect the funds for the sponsored tour. Ken "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken