mikefarmer

Mike McGowan's Greatest Hits, and the dude was supposedly really torn up, but lived. I'm pretty sure most reputable video guys wouldn't sell a vid of a fellow birdman going in. Emphasis on reputable... "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool."-Marlboro Man

I'm no low pull artist, contrary to my cute little quote below; but I do believe that the above statement could be made about skydiving in general. Jumping serves most of us no transportational purpose, it only exists for the "thrill" or "rush." It is also an individual sport, and while I would do nothing to wreck the sport for my fellow jumpers by acting in a silly manner, everyone makes his/her own decision about how safe they want to play it. I personally like to freefly (eek-the reserve might blow), shoot video (we have all heard deadly accounts of snags), and occasionally swoop my little canopy. Point being, before the "Mainstreaming" of skydiving, we were "Daredevils" who jumped for the thrill of the fear. Again DON'T BE STUPID and hurt yourself, but be careful about telling other jumpers what's best for them. I am not advocating pulling low, swooping, or anything except personal freedom!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!! "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool."-Marlboro Man

That's cool. I knew atheism couldn't possibly be as prevalent in the skydiving community as it seems to be sometimes! I always ask for forgiveness (a lot of it usually), guidance and protection before the 1st load of the day. (If you wonder if it works, track down my post on my only mal.) Every once in a while, if I'm feeling especially selfish and sentimental, I'll ask if God could possibly let Mom check out this jump. "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool."-Marlboro Man

If you are too low when you go to chop, your ass goes through your head. "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool."-Marlboro Man

Actually, I'm at a one-cessna DZ that offers AFF and/or IAD. We do about 70%/30% IAD to AFF. "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool."-Marlboro Man

Actually, the only "Total Mal" is a no-pull or container lock. Sometimes the PC in tow is referred to as a Total, but in reality a total is when NOTHING is out of the container. All other malfunctions are "Partial Mals." It's easy to confuse the terms "High Speed Mal" and "Total Mal," but they are very different. Sorry, guys, I'm feeling especially nitpicky tonight... "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool."-Marlboro Man

Guys, I hate to bust up the "F111" issue, but F111 with a very few jumps (reserves) has negligible porosity and should fly just like ZP. "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool."-Marlboro Man

608, and just keep getting wierder! "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool."-Marlboro Man

All I can say is......Sheeeeeeeiitttttttt! I've done about a million STUPID things. All I can think is that I have not served my purpose yet, because I should be dead! "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool."-Marlboro Man

1) What is the lowest you have intentionally exited an aircraft (i.e. no emergency, fallout etc)? 1100 2) What is the lowest you have gone WayLow intentionally (i.e. no loss of altitude awareness) ? 900 3) What is the most stupid/dangerous thing you have done in freefall? Paid no attention. 4) What is the closest you have come to killing yourself? See # 3 5) What gives you the biggest kick? Freaking out, and scaring the fuck out of people. You gotta get nvts! 6) How many times have you been grounded? 0 7) How long is the longest grounding 0 min.s 8) What do you get grounded for? Being drunk. 9) Any other comments………………….. DON'T DO STUPID SHIT. IF YOU DO YOU ARE STUPID. LIKE ME.. WOOHOO.......TIKI....TIKI "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool."-Marlboro Man

Uh, this is NOT a lawyer or shrink's office. Nor is it a conversation between spouses (usually, Pammi!). "Private" messages really have no expectation of privacy. I know I don't post anything (truth or otherwise ;)) that I do not want spread all over the world. "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool."-Marlboro Man

A) Clay is correct. B) Apoil is severely misinformed over WHO was killed in the Gulf "War" C) I am going to quit wasting my time on this thread and do something constructive. It's unbelievable how easy it is for the politically correct to make sheep out of everyone who wants to escape responsibility. I am the farthest thing from a racist. I will never attack another American of any race or religion. But patriotism takes over when foreigners wage war on my home, and they must pay, and have the fear put in them to stay away! "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool."-Marlboro Man

OK, I'll tell a tat story. This one starts like I would think many tattoo stories start...with booze. I had been considering a skydiving related tat for about a year (I already had a dead cow skull). Well, I was in Dallas doing a lot of drinking, when my whuffo buddies and I wandered into a tattoo shop. Now, normally a good tattoo artist will send you away if you are wasted. But, a bad one (along with most shops on Commerce Street on OU-Texas football weekend) will do whatever you can pay for while you sip a Jack and Coke. I hate to admit it, but I picked a stock design off the wall, the flaming ying-yang. I did change the white to sky blue. Then I told the guy to put "Blue Skies" on top, and "Black Death" on bottom. I have to give him credit, he asked me if I was sure I wanted him to write on me before he put the letters on. Needless to say, I was a little concerned when I woke up the next morning with my face stuck to my arm and saw "Death" showing under the sleeve of my T-shirt. I looks like a prison tat if I wear short sleeves. Anyway, I'm not ashamed of it, since it has good color, and the symbol and words actually mean something to ME, and go together quite well. My next one will actually commemorate one of my favorite skydives. I was under canopy when I saw a hawk, dead ahead, flying straight toward me. He was so close, I thought he would fly right through my sabre. As he passed right over my canopy, I stared at him, and he stares at me, and I swear our eyes met, and of course I felt a connection to him (sentimental old bastard I am), and I'm sure we both thought "WHAT THE FUCK?" at the same moment. Anyway, I want to immortalize that experience on my back soon. I have never felt so close to nature, or to aviation, as when I "communicated" with that bird. "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool."-Marlboro Man

Good luck! "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool."-Marlboro Man

Clay, I only hope you don't ever feel that "whump" feeling a d-bag makee when it floats off of your back while you're 220+ MPH and having the time of you're life. The only thing that saved MY neck from getting some hella punishment was the bag lock that the horseshoe had caused while I was clearing my PC. Anyway, even though you snicker at my homie's safety concerns, I hope you don't have to deal with it... Mike Mike's Sky World

Cool! I'm glad to know that! I just got a great deal on a Vengeance, but if I don't like it, it's right back to the Heatwave!!! Thanks! Mike Mike's Sky World

I am stuck in the middle. I want to jump A LOT, but I couldn't stand to be at the DZ all the time (I was full time for 2 summers, burn out!) I even completed the RW Tandem I Cert Course, then after I got married quit doing tandems just because I want to have FUN at the DZ, and tandems at my DZ can be one after another (which would b GREAT money.) I guess what I have observed is that people who LIVE skydiving are either highly motivated and hard-working, or, in the case of SOME competitors, what I have heard deemed trust fnd kids. Not judging, just repeating. I, myself, just decided to do the boring old 9 to 5 and go to school until I can figure out what business I want to try to run. Skydiving on the weekends of course! Mike Mike's Sky World

I've never heard THAT explanation before, however, youy DO want to Pull higher than normal (terminal or not) to fly your new canopy, get used to it, practice flaring, and check it out for problems, at least on the first few jumps!! I'm curious to see other responses to the line stretch thing though!! Mike Mike's Sky World

[redface] gee, I'm gonna have to agree with BOTTOM row, 8th f/left [/whatadumbass] Mike Mike's Sky World

Um, I must be a moron....where am I looking for the peach??? Flame away! Mike Mike's Sky World

I'm very possibly wrong, but it sounds like you are looking for a canopy that will treat you right on opening, be very forgiving of erroneous input or bad spots, and set you down softly. I'm guessing you asked about the parafoil because it looks to be the opposite of todays hot rod "super swoopers." That it is, BUT, as stated before, a hard core accuracy canopy like this is made for ACCURACY. Not soft openings or soft landings. I believe you will be happier with a nice, tame ZP Canopy loaded around 1 to 1 or so. There are many ZP's that will treat you the way you want to be treated (I think) if loaded very lightly. Off the top of my head come the Triathlon, Spectre, Icarus Omega, even the mean old Sabre is great if you slow down the openings if need be. Hell, you can also get a Manta or Skymaster w/ ZP topskin. Any of these canopies will land more softly than a Foil and offer very forgiving flight characteristics. Mike Mike's Sky World

That's probably a good question for your rigger!! Sounds a little frivolous to me. Mike Mike's Sky World

Now, I'm just a dumb Okie. And I'm noe exactly in the highest tax bracket, but I do like to drink. I happen to like a lot of the premium scotches and great microbrews that you wonderful bretheren speak of, but I am definitely not too good for a case of Bud, a Liter of Beam or Absolut (even Skyy), and a cheap bottle of Sake. Burned out on the Tequila years ago. Just my $.02. (Which is all I'd have left if I yupp'ed out w/impressive drinks everytime I wanted to tear it up!) Mike Mike's Sky World

Hmmm....that would have been 1996 I beleive. And Carbone would have been in drag at the time, correct? Mike Mike's Sky World

Holy shit, Kris! Thats the sweetest thing you've ever said to me, (If you don't count that time in the FrankenOtter after everyone was asleep, DOH!) In all seriousness, thanks Kris! As for anyone reading this, HE's LYING!!! I am one major Ass-hole! I mean c'mon, I got a rep to protect! Anyway, the torch has been passed to the next generation of JM at OSC. I couldn't feel more confident about the guys coming out of the last JCC! Kris, Larry you guys are the Shizzznit!! In other News: I am happy to report that Larry C. JM 01, has successfully earned TIKI FREAK # 2. The nature of the Tiki #'s is such that I cannot divulge how this honor was earned, but let's just say that it wasn't easy! (Let's also say that everyone involved is a FLAMING HETEROSEXUAL, not that I'm insecure or anything.) Peace out!! Mike Mike's Sky World