klafollette

Was going to be in the neighborhood of Jasper TN next weekend. Have heard of Valley Skydiving, but found some posts on rec.skydiving that said they were closed. Anyone know? If they are open, anyone know what the scene is like there? Lift capacity, landing area, mood, facilities, cult initiation requirements? Heard the scenery is nice (geological, not femilogical)

Okay, it's been a while since college physics, but I believe the "gravity vector" is always the same, straight down towards the center of the earth. Doesn't matter if you are on a diving board, in bed, jumping out of a plane, or on the Space Shuttle. The acceleration force from gravity is always the same. The classic example is to take a rifle 10 feet off the ground, with the barrel parallel to the ground. Fire a bullet from the gun. At the exact moment the bullet leaves the barrel, drop another bullet from 10 feet off of the ground. Both bullets will hit the ground at exactly the same moment, though the one fired from the gun will be several hundred yards away (disregarding the curvature of the earth). The horizontal acceleration of the bullet does not change the rate at which it falls due to gravity. What can affect your acceleration from gravity is how you present to the horizontal wind generated from your horizontal speed across the ground, immediately after exit. If it is at an angle in which the horizontal wind bouncing off of your body deflects downward (angle of attack), it will give you a force that opposes the acceleration from gravity. That's "tracking back up the hill". Any resistance from friction against the air while gravity is pulling you downward (which determines your terminal velocity) is independent of the horizontal speed when you jump. That resistance from the air friction opposing the force of gravity in a downward direction will always be the same regardless of your horizontal speed. The force of the friction against the air will decrease horizontally, while increasing vertically as you ride down the hill. The friction remains the same, but the force it generates increases as your speed relative to the wind increased. The horizontal speed of the plane just changes how far forward you travel. If you jump out of a jet traveling 200mph, you will take longer to transition to vertical freefall, but the time it takes to accelerate to terminal velocity downward should take the same amount of time as a Otter doing 90mph. If you jump out of a plane in a tight ball, you should accelerate downward at exactly the same rate as you would jumping off a diving board, going over the hill in a roller coaster, whatever.. I have always wondered why you don't get the falling sensation from a plane. I think it might be due to the over stimulation of the nerves in the skin from the relative wind, and very loud noise probably mask the "falling" sensation. The only time I've experienced that sensation is by walking off the back of a CASA. That first second when you are not buffeted by wind, and just falling straight down gives me that same "elevator dropping" feeling, until I hit the wind.

Remember a time out jumping, had been a little stuffed up and sneezy all week but damnit I wasn't going to let a little runny nose keep me from Jumping. Was doing some sitflying when all of a sudden I couldn't see, the world was a blur. Thought I got hit by a bug or bird. Tried wiping my goggles clear but it just seemed to get worse. That's when I realized that the wind blowing up my nose had driven all the snot out, and covered my goggles. Went to my belly and got cleaned up enough to see. When I got down, I went to the can, looked in the mirror and.....well, remember the "hair gel" scene in "Something About Mary"?...nuff said. That's the funny one, now for the scary. A few years ago I jumped after just getting over a bad head-cold. In the middle of freefall I had a "popping" feeling in my head followed by a stabbing pain in my sinus. Felt like someone driving an icepick into my eye. Began to get dizzy. felt like I was spinning, but could see I wasn't. Immediately dumped and had a normal decent, though I had to really think about whether I was really turning or just my vestibular system playing games. That pain and vertigo lasted for 2-3 days. Luckily I didn't do any damage to my sinus or ears, but it could have been worse. Sudden pressure changes with colds, sinus congestion, or clogged eustachian tubes can cause vertigo and severe pain. That can make for some interesting jumps! Does that stop you from getting in the Twin Otter today?? It should.

Discovery Science Channel - Science Central show. 10pm CST. Segment on 300-way coming up.

I psycho-pack my Safire, and have a Mirage G3. Had some issues with off-heading openings until someone recommended pulling the center cell out in front. It worked. Before wrapping the tail, I pull a good portion of slider out the front, pull the center cell nose out. then tuck the side cells back (don't roll them). Seems to work.

I'm talking about Disability Insurance, not Death and Dismemberment. I'm looking for something that will ensure an income for a number of years if I become incapacitated, but still have all my fingers and toes.

Does anyone know who offers long-term disability insurance that will cover skydivers? I'm not skydiving for a living, just for fun. Checked with State Farm, who all my other insurance is with, and they won't write a policy if you skydive, not even if you exclude skydiving related disabilities. Any suggestions??

This day is particularly vivid in my mind. I had just dropped off my wife of 1 month, Patricia, at O'Hare for a trip out east. I got home and turned on the TV about 10 minutes after the first plane hit. It seemed so unreal and distant, it saddened and angered me, but didn't effect me directly. It seemed like a movie, then the second plane. Now it became fear, it just became personal. Was my wife in the air? I'm fearing the worst, when the phone rings. It's Pat, they're in the plane on the taxiway next to go. People on the plane are getting calls with news of what's happening and panic is starting to spread, the pilot is announcing to get ready for takeoff. She hangs up. Word is spreading of the Pentagon and that a highjacked jet is heading to Chicago. Pat calls me back very scared, there was a near mutiny on the plane as people tried to stop the plane. People were looking at each other wondering if a terrorist was among them. Just as the engines were spooling up, word came from the tower of the FAA shutdown. They are now sitting on a taxiway jam packed with planes. Everyone wanted off that plane now. Thankfully the flight attendants were nice enough to break out the drink carts. The bottom bin of tiny bottles was quickly emptied. Pat's cell phone battery is dying. Word now on the news that O'Hare is closed. Nobody in or out. I decide I have to get out there and try finding her. I was fearing gridlock on the highways, but it was strangely quiet. As I neared O'hare, I saw a bizarre sight. Not a plane in the sky. Growing up here, I always loved driving by O'hare, seeing the dozens of planes lined up to land, with a staircase of landing lights stretching to the horizon. Now there is nothing. A sea of planes on the ground lined the runway. I can't get into the terminal, so I circle around trying to figure out a way to find Pat. She's not answering her phone. Finally she calls me. She and another passenger got a cab out of the airport and we met up on the side of the road. We hug, kiss, and cry, then drive home and crawl into bed. The rest of the day was spent in shock of it all.

Here's an article on the helicopter accident http://www.news-gazette.com/story.cfm?Number=12077