hillson

I was thinking more of along the lines of intra-group separation...even if everything is planned well (pull altitudes, you stay on this side of the runway, I'll stay on that side of the runway etc) it can get a little sporty. Start throwing out some larger formation groups and it can get interesting. Not bad and quite manageable...but it keeps you on your toes.

You'll want to look at Part 91 which has a section that deals with dropping objects (other than Part 105 meat bombs) from aircraft. Even though the US Govt is generally as dumb as a bag of assholes they've managed to figure out that we can drop shit - and jump with it - from planes without a problem. You'll likely find the same set of circumstances anywhere in the developed world where there is a half-competent aviation authority.

Heres a PDF if "TK's Accuracy Semiar" http://www.skyfestboogie.com/images/stories/wingtips/TKAccuracy.pdf

If you see a man dressed all in black trying to kill you on final...don't panic as it is just your shadow. Usually. Lol. Follow the recs and make your first one a hop and pop; hopefully Davis requires it. Personal opinion: don't waste your first night jump humming it down. I've seen a lot of folks try to get that first one over as quickly as possible. Take a few seconds to watch the lit plane fly away and then dump. There is nothing like flying your wing alone in the darkness. Enjoy the view. A lot of people hate them for legit reasons such as landings and anxiety with canopy traffic etc. become one of the crazy people that think they're the best skydives. :)

That was for the OP...I was just lazy and hit reply to the last post. :)

Lessee if I can figure out how to post pictures from the phone. This is on a Talon FX. Skytie doesn't fit either. The "tie" part of it came from Rigging Innovations as did the modification instructions. There is a hook and pile loop on the back that secures it through the sewn webbing. Rock solid... Haven't had to resecure it in 500+ jumps. The alternative with the skytie is that you'd have to whip stitch it to the loop. Same setup as the Curv but the loop is built into the container on that one. I think it is Type 12 as the "tie" part and the securing Velcro is wider than thr skytie. Skytie applications are thinner. But don't quote me...this was a while ago and I could be making shit up...

Very std for pretty much any online etc purchases in the US. In *theory* it proves that you physically have the card as the number isn't captured on the swipe. I can't think of an online transaction (in particular) that I've made in years that doesn't require it...many paper applications require it too. No biggie. Separate from the PIN number for Pin and Chip or US style cards. Don't know if Euro cards even have them. In any event, no big deal.

Never had a problem with polarized glasses and the Viso II.

Orlando

Personal story? Sorry to hear. Mine just smells like a jock strap, which may or may not be Ok to you but isn't OK for me. Your helmet smells like balls?

Bad wx recently? Sounds like FL. Yup...Zhills. I'm not going to add to the remarks prior to your Cat A but seek out the instructors - particularly when the wx is shit. Avoid the "bar school." My repack is due in month or two. If you still think jumping for you and neither of us has had to use Plan B by then...if we can make the schedule work I'll let you put on the rig and pull the handles in the loft. If you have your A license. If still a student...will check with the staff as my equip is a bit different (soft reserve handle vs d ring). I'm there most weekends so just ask around. Except this one as I'm *suffering* on a business trip to Germany.

So...who thought it was a good idea (or talked him into it) to put a unlicensed 20 jump hero on a sunset cross country?

One of the local disgruntleds near Skydive Cape Cod I'd wager.

That whole site is some serious nerd porn. Good for the Vikings.

Incorrect. Belly to earth it is ~840 ft. Other attitudes such as back to earth etc is can be as high as ~1040. Similar to Cypres in that regard though the Vigil is ~100 feet higher across the board. Changing to student mode isn't the optimal solution as the activation speed is slower and there is the possibility of setting it off under canopy depending on the situation. RTFM

Try calling Deland to see when (and if) they're running their Skyvan. Or follow them on FB...they usually announce it.

DZOs et al can add further restrictions if they see fit. By my guess the B license requirement some for heli or balloon (particularly balloon) jumps is due to the fact that there is a greater chance of landing off the DZ. A B license, as the theory goes, has some demonstrable canopy control and accuracy requirements that would better prepare a jumper for an off landing. Just my guess. Seems reasonable at any rate.

I used a sim last year at SOFIC. Big money...had VR goggles, a hanging harness that swung from belly to deployed,proper set toggles, cutaway sim. The works. The engine driving the software was decent enough I guess. The lack of the physical dimension was real limiting. Somewhat useful if you could load a decent terrain model for "hard to get to" areas I suppose. Fun game but ultimately cheaper to just gear guys up and throw them out of a plane.

I'd give them a call. The W14 is one of the odd ones where they just list one size of main where 95% of their other rigs list a range (2 sizes on the larger rigs, it seems). They'll be happy to help...sizing combinations are a pretty common question - especially at Wings, it seems, due the way they tend to list their sizing. I'd also try to avoid being clever with the reserve sizing with a pdr. If you want to go bigger ask them about a size larger optimum. Ask.

doesn't usairnet.com do the same thing, but easier to read without all the fiddlefaddle of a slider? if someone could combine the super-easy fat arrow / speed / temp stuff from usairnet.com (graphically) and the awesome balloonists' forecast data from www.ryancarlton.com that would be most excellent. especially if i can call awos and get the macro info and then pull up the discrete data, graphically, on the iphone for the winds every 100 feet or so...better mousetrap.

Internet skydivers are as bad as internet lawyers. ISTM that the DZO is conducting an approved aviation activity onto a federally funded airport with a working operating agreement with the airport management / owners...don't seem to be any overarching Part 105 problems. Planes go up, people jump out, parachute thingy opens, people land. Seems no denial of legal activities to me. Oh, you mean sport jumping? Lemme get out my book and see where we have an access issue. Hmmm...can't find one. There are a million reasons why sport jumping is disallowed. Here are just a few in no particular order: Maybe there are some difficult to manage landing conditions that are not suitable for novice skydivers Maybe the city is uncomfortable with the notion of skydiving generally but agreed to allow "professional" skydiving to occur without having to deal with a bunch of asshole (#5497) meatbomb sport jumpers on the property. Maybe the DZO just wants to run a tandem business and keep himself, a pilot and a few full-time professional skydivers gainfully employed. The reality is that it is probably some varied combination of the above weighted towards "you can skydive here, yes, but only tandems" by the city. Perhaps there is a silent grand plan by the small business owner to demonstrate that tandems are good for the airport and the city (and his working small business) and, perhaps, approach the city at a later date with limited sport operations under likely heavy restrictions. There is a lot to be said for harmony in the local community when it comes to skydiving. Particularly when there is no real access issue per say but more of "I don't even live in the state and I found something on the internet that pisses me off." Airport owners and operators do have a role to play and it is slightly larger than: I took a few federal pennies therefore any doofus with a parachute must be allowed to do whatever he wants over my airport. Not that there aren't 20+ other year round DZs in FL...which is where many of the TDM-only folks go to hang out with other skydivers when they're not busy making money.

This. End of March thru April and the last week of Sept through the first week of Nov are the absolute best times to be in Florida. If you don't mind the tent save your money for the bar and jumping.

No. Yes. It is the side of beef hanging under the strings that determines whether a canopy is accurate or not. Don't confuse familiarity with 7 or 9 cells with "more accurate"

I have two and they are set to the same altitudes. They're generally synced fairly well but there can be a little variance...nothing large enough to get excited about. Mine are set to 2, 3, 4.5, I think. I move the top, depending, but never the bottom two. I found staggering the altitudes to be annoying and not worth it - particularly for the type of skydiving I do...based on your setup, it seems, you'd be looking at a new beep every 2-3 seconds for 2K feet...4 beeps is a lot for breakoff, turn, track and pull, in my opinion.

They run angle camps at Sebastian every once and a while with some pretty shit-hot fliers coaching. That being said the experience level is generally significantly greater than yours, currently. At a minimum you could give them a ring and see what general experience they're looking for, participants have etc. might give you a jumping off point to build your skill base.