Merkur

Sad news from my home DZ at Eisenach, Germany. 

Following a recent tandem incident, they closed temporarily and now have decided to stay closed permanently.

It is my personal understanding, that the accident is not the main reason but rather the final brick, that lead them to this decision.

Statement (in German) here: https://fallschirm-eisenach.de

 

Hi Jerome, 

downloading it right now :-)
Thank you again!

Hi Jerome, 

in the ConnectIQ store both of your apps (Responsive and accurate Altimeter (barometric); Altimeter and Variometer)  do not show the Epix2 as a compatible device. 

As it works so great with the Fenix 6, I am looking forward to using it on the Epic soon :-)

To all others here: The app works great! Using it since it's early days Jerome is very responsive in taking feedback and integrating it into updates.

This thread has been quiet for some time now.

Anyone able to update the list, especially in regards to sequential stuff; freely and wing suit?

blue skies Tom - you will be remembered by many!

There will be a memorial jump on April 21st.
Here is the link to the facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/531397167231658/

(updated for German FSN)
As I am pretty sure that some of the below are outdated, feel free to contribute/update!

DEFINITIONS:
FS-Formation Skydiving (RW) (N-National Record/+80% Residents)
FSW-Womens Formation Skydiving
FSM-Mens Formation Skydiving
VR-Vertical Formation Record
FSWR-Formation Skydiving World Record
FSS-Sequential Formation Record
VRWR-Vertical Formation World Record
VRW-Women's Vertical Record

COUNTRIES:
Australia FSN-112; FSW-47; VR-17; VRW-6
Austria FS-24; FSW-12;
Belgium FS-126; FSW-16;
Brazil FSN-82
Canada FSN-59; FSW-33
Czechoslovakia FS-???
Denmark FS-55
Finland FS-58
France FSW-100
Germany FSN-214; FSW-61
...Baden-Wurtemburg FS-47
...Bavaria FS-50
...Rheinland Pfalz FS-29
...Saarland FS-40
Ireland FSN-51; FSNW-13
Israel FS-??
Italy VR-16
Mexico FSN-31
Netherlands FS-72; FSW-25
New Zealand FS-??
Norway FSN-108
Poland FS-103
Puerto Rico (US) FS-??
Peru FSN-26
Russia FSN-165
Slovakia FS-215
Spain VR-28
Sweden FSN-107
Switzerland FS-84
Thailand FSWR-400 (2/08/06)
United Kingdom FSN-100; FSW-60
United States FS-300; FSW-181; VRWR-107; FSS-139
Venuezula FSN-32; FS-80

Thailand Largest Mass Jump-960 (2/11/06)

US STATES:
Alabama FS-40
Alaska FS-25; FSW-17
Arizona FS-300
California FSW-181; VRWR-53; FSM-123
Colorado
Connecticut FS-41; FSW-16
Florida FS-201; FSS-139
Georgia FS-64
Hawaii
Idaho FS-34
Iowa FS-60
Illinois WVWR-18; FS-259; VRWR-107; FSS-108
Indiana
Kansas FS-9
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts FS-81
Michigan FS-50
Minnesota
Mississippi FS-61
Missouri FS-25
Montana
Nevada FS-38
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota FS-16
Ohio FS-??
Oklahoma FS-100
Oregon VR-9;
Pennsylvania
South Carolina FS-200; FSW-19
Tennessee
Texas FS-150; VR-16; FSW-38; FSWS-38
Utah
Virginia FS-100
Washington FSW-25
Wisconsin

blue skies, M.

From the DZs you mentioned, I only know Skydive San Marcos. Not being able to comment on the others, this is a dropzone which I happily would suggest to anyone who wants to start jumping.
Generally - drive to all of them, talk to the People - especially the instructors - and make up your mind also based on the Impression they leave on you.

enjoy the ride!
M.

Yes,
that's the one.

M.

Walter died on Saturday, February 17, during a BASE jump from the Sas Prodoi mountain in Italy.
While BASE related, I'm posting this here as well as he was an avid wingsuit jumper as well.

BSBD,
M.

About 30+ (8countries) in 13 years, most of them in Germany and the US.

I'm thankful to have known you and you will be dearly missed. We can only envy the place where you're now, as it will be a better place from now on.
RIP Peanut.

The Memorial Website is still there:
http://www.crwdiva.org/taz-memorial/

3mpire

Second question:

A tip on using the oxygen system is to place the cannula loop over your head and run the loop behind your ears with the cannula placed into your nose. Put your helmet on and plan on skydiving with your cannula. Some people like to run the excess tubing down the arm of their jumpsuit so that they don’t have as much hose to deal with while skydiving. That will depend on the aircraft oxygen system and they are all set up differently.

Is the idea here that you have the cannula in your nose and the tube running down the inside of your jump suit's arm? That would leave the trailing tube free during free fall? Am I understanding that right?

That seems like it would be a bad idea... I wouldn't want a plastic tube attached to my nose loose during a jump waiting to get snagged and ripped out or entangled...

I try to describe the Setup as I am lacking a photo right now:
Starting from the photo mjosparky posted, imagine that you run the canula from under the chin along one of your arms under the jumpsuit. You cut them about 1-2 cm (about 1 Inch) after they "emerged" at your wrist.
This end will be connected to the tubes that are hanging from the aircrafts Oxygen System. To connect, you can use a bungee wher you stick the ends of both tubes in.
When it is time to exit, you disconnet and either stuff the extra Inch back in the jumpsuit or let it "hang out".
It doesn't really create a snagpoint.
Personnally, I try to leave it connected as long as possible. Depending on the length of the hose that stays in the aircraft, I even leave it connected when on a floater Position. On Exit it just disconnects itself. (and Yes, that could be irritating other Jumpers, so tell them about your plan).
I hope this made is clearer. If not send me a PM and I try to look up a photo of the Setup.

RIP!

RIP Ed.
I am happy to have jumped with you!!!
Blue skies forever,
Markus

Still wondering - who are the other 37?

Who's coming?

Who's joining?

Update:
I can offer a ride to the DZ on the 28th and one from the DZ to O'Hare on the 9th.
M.

Hi there,

anybody happen to go there in the above time frame?
I'm looking for a potential car-share and/or cabin share (if they are still available).

PM me if you're interested.

blue ones,
M.

Quote

.... You “prove” your skills when you do the jump. ....

I disagree on this one, if it's meant in a way that you are "evaluated" based on your performance during the first jump on a record-event.
IMO this will lead to more people signing up, who think they can do it and after jump 1 you have to "axe" up to 20% of the jumpers.

So for events aiming for records, I think some kind of evaluation of the currency of your flying skills should be done prior to the start.
Does this need to be a camp? - not necessarily, it can be - as you said - whatever the organizer thinks is appropriate.

Did update on Poland:

Quote

Ok everyone, time to update the records list again. Last update was 12/2008. POPS and Crew Records maintained by others and are not included in this list.

Thanks everyone.

DEFINITIONS:
FS-Formation Skydiving (RW) (N-National Record/+80% Residents)
FSW-Womens Formation Skydiving
FSM-Mens Formation Skydiving
VR-Vertical Formation Record
FSWR-Formation Skydiving World Record
FSS-Sequential Formation Record
VRWR-Vertical Formation World Record
VRW-Women's Vertical Record

COUNTRIES:
Australia FSN-112; FSW-47; VR-17; VRW-6
Austria FS-24; FSW-12;
Belgium FS-126; FSW-16;
Brazil FSN-82
Canada FSN-59; FSW-33
Czechoslovakia FS-???
Denmark FS-55
Finland FS-58
France FSW-100
Germany FSN-200; FSW-61
...Baden-Wurtemburg FS-47
...Bavaria FS-50
...Rheinland Pfalz FS-29
...Saarland FS-40
Ireland FSN-51; FSNW-13
Israel FS-??
Italy VR-16
Mexico FSN-31
Netherlands FS-72; FSW-25
New Zealand FS-??
Norway FSN-108
Poland FS-103
Puerto Rico (US) FS-??
Peru FSN-26
Russia FSN-165
Slovakia FS-215
Spain VR-28
Sweden FSN-107
Switzerland FS-84
Thailand FSWR-400 (2/08/06)
United Kingdom FSN-100; FSW-60
United States FS-300; FSW-181; VRWR-107; FSS-139
Venuezula FSN-32; FS-80

Thailand Largest Mass Jump-960 (2/11/06)

US STATES:
Alabama FS-40
Alaska FS-25; FSW-17
Arizona FS-300
California FSW-181; VRWR-53; FSM-123
Colorado
Connecticut FS-41; FSW-16
Florida FS-201; FSS-139
Georgia FS-64
Hawaii
Idaho FS-34
Iowa FS-60
Illinois WVWR-18; FS-259; VRWR-107; FSS-108
Indiana
Kansas FS-9
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts FS-81
Michigan FS-50
Minnesota
Mississippi FS-61
Missouri FS-25
Montana
Nevada FS-38
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota FS-16
Ohio FS-??
Oklahoma FS-100
Oregon VR-9;
Pennsylvania
South Carolina FS-200; FSW-19
Tennessee
Texas FS-150; VR-16; FSW-31
Utah
Virginia FS-100
Washington FSW-25
Wisconsin

Quote

Anyone who doesn't work for them have a review or opinion? No offense to IMGR2 or anyone else who works there (I'm sure you can understand the desire for a 3rd party review).

I'm thinking of starting the AFF pipeline through them, but the recent reviews here are a bit troubling.

Hi!
I do not work for them and I even don't live in the U.S. However, when I am in TX, SSM is one of the three DZs (beside Spaceland + Skydive Houston) that I try to visit on my trip. From my point of view, I can highly recommend SSM. It is a big and professional run DZ with all the advantages and disadvantages that come with this kind of operation.

Disadvantages:
Big = busy, meaning that you might have some longer waiting between jumps and then suddenly it's the mentioned 20min call
Having a lot of Tandems sometimes leads to a reduced number of fun jumpers, so that "the vibe" might be less than on a small country-club-like DZ (however, I would name the vibe at SSM great)
Advantages:
Having a business model of giving one-time jumpers the thrill of their life is highly dependent on your safety record as bad news about incidents immediately will have an impact on the number of your customers. So they have to be (and from my own experience they are) very safety conscious.
Being no club, upgrades in the facilities don't depend on "a working weekend" of the club members. SSM has upgraded their fleet and facilities in the last year and they are great.

Personally, I would do my AFF there, if I live in the area.
As a suggestion - go there and hang out with them on a weekend. If you like what you see, sign up.
Also you might search the forums, as I am pretty sure that you will find several discussions about pros and cons concerning big vs small dropzones.
Finally-wherever you choose to make your AFF, once you have your A-license, start visiting other DZ from time to time as this is fun and educating.

Blue ones,
M.

Blue skies, Ron!
Thanks for the jumps.
M.

I jump a Paratec RAGE, 107 sqft/WL 1.9 on all of my jumps (solo - 400way).

Why - because I trust it/it opens on heading independant from the packer/I am comfortabe flying it with the risers immediately upon opening.

And I am comfortable landing it also downwind/in
unknown territory after a bad spot (like a rice paddy in Thailand in the middle of nowhere).

Just think of the worst scenario you can imagine - the canopy you want to have in this situation is the right selection (also can apply to non-bigway jumps)

M.