Doug_Davis

I have well over 200 jumps in the military. Helicopters accounted for half (which makes it funny that I cant now jump from a helicopter without a B or C license), night, water and handful of intentional tree (in big green gumby suits) landings. One into combat in Panama in 1989. Standard drop altitude depending on the airframe, DZ size and number of jumpers varied between 800 and 1250' during my career. My one combat jump was from 500' and didnt include a reserve. As RiggerRob said "hard deck" is 5-6 secs after you jump. By that time you should be looking up at a fully inflated canopy, or pulling the deployment handle on your chest mounted reserve.

Then I would suggest Lake Wales ($20 to 14k), great inviting, friendly, laid back attitude, and close to the tunnel in Orlando. Otherwise Skydive Chicago. Close to the tunnel in Chicago.

Well were it not for the date restrictions I would suggest the Work Stinks boogie at Start Skydiving.

Cant remember the exact time frame, but there was a guy in 1st Group (IIRC) when I was in that survived a HALO jump with a total/partial malfunction by sliding in on a hill, and another guy who survived when his main wrapped around him (investigators suspect it slowed his descent to like 80mph) by doing a PLF.

So what did you get? Confirmation he is at the DZ you think he is? Working? So what? Are the jumpers on this website going to volunteer as process servers for you? No? Then you still have to pay a local private investigator to serve as process server. Its not that expensive. Their is a fairly large firm, 20 mins away from his reported DZ that will do skip trace work for a flat $100. All you did was alert him you are still looking and have some idea as to where he might be, so he can now go crawl under some new rock to hide. Not sure that's what you wanted to accomplish.

Being someone who makes their livelihood in the water its always been a fear of mine. Friend of mine who owns a competing paddle sports shop in a neighboring town got the same amoeba in his eye a couple years ago. Luckily for him they got it soon and were able to both save his life and eyesight. They did have to do a cornea transplant though. Just FYI this isnt only lake water. This amoeba is in your tap water as well. There was a lady who died last year snorting unboiled tap water up her nose from a neti pot. For those who dont know neti pots are used to clean out your sinuses.

Cant be that expensive to pick up the phone and hire a local private investigator in that area versus airing your private affairs all over the internet. Just saying.

Cool. LOL You are still braver than I am then! I might do the catapult solo BASE jump from their one day, but no way I would a tandem.

I ain't never been there but that seems a little high of a rating for that stretch of the river, from what I've seen on videos.

http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100309031800/darkheresy/images/0/0c/Its_a_trap.jpg

Yes. Ive been paddling on and teaching on the New River for the last 6+ years.

Playing devil's advocate. Houses generally appreciate. Except after a bubble busts! LOL Some cars "if" they are considered collectable appreciate. Couches? Blenders? Your old high school baseball mitt? Not so much. Last I heard I dont think either of these situations (car/house) applied to skydiving equipment, no matter how much some sellers might wish it to be so. At the end of the day its just recreational sporting equipment, not a collectible piece of art. I find it funny people always say a brand new car loses 50% of its value the moment you drive it off the lot. But in skydiving we think stuff is now worth more? Maybe they are charging for breaking it in? LOL

So sitting around the DZ this weekend waiting for loads to build, we all started talking about bridge day and the fact they are offering tandems this year (no idea if they have in the past). Out of everyone there only one guy said he would be willing to do it (be a passenger), and none of the TI's said they would do it. What are your thoughts on being a passenger or being the TI? Just FYI, for those who havent been there, you are landing on 80 yard by 40 yard (approximately) parking lot next to a Class 5 river rapid. And if you hit the water remember your strapped to someone. Also given all the restrictions tandem manufacturers have in place are these guys using gear without authorization? Or are there tandem base rig manufacturers?

Im not wrong. From what he admitted as we continued to talk, and DougH also suggested, he probably just screwed up his two stage flare. But since we dont have video we cant know for sure, which is why and everyone else said "talk to your instructors". Its not rocket science.

You know you can get a completely brand new canopy for just $600 to 700 more? I think I got my new Storm 190 last month for just $1900 or so. It was a stock canopy from the end of 2013. As for the line set, you could have them ship it to your rigger and have him inspect it for you. Thats fairly standard practice.

Hillson, I know why it could be useful. I also know as you mentioned: And as was the case during my course we were jumping older F111 canopies and needed all the flare power we could get to land safely, so we didnt fly final on half brakes. Lastly the guy didnt land "off field". He didnt land in a back yard. He land as the OP himself noted, "wrong corner of the airfield." Thats it. As a student he doesnt need a page long soliloquy on the finer points of canopy piloting. As is most often the case, and as he himself admits, since he didnt fly final on a half-braked position, it was probably lack of an authoritative flare. And he can sort it out with his instructors.

On final? Never had an instructor tell me to do that. Also given that you have no info on your profile and this is your first post in 4 years of having this account.....whose sockpuppet profile is this really? What the fuck is wrong with you? At any rate, in the older SIM (as that is what I have downloaded): 5-1.F Landing Emergencies Under the Off Field Landing portion: Canopy control a. A braked approach and braked turns allow for the canopy to be flown at a slower forward speed and descent rate but may lengthen the approach glide. b. Altitude-conserving braked turns may be necessary to avoid an obstacle. c. A braked turn at a low altitude may not allow enough time for recovery to full flight in time for a landing flare, and a jumper may need to make a braked landing. d. Jumpers should practice braked turns and approaches often to prepare for this eventuality. Likewise, review Cat F. I dont know, Matt. What the fuck is wrong with you? Like I said never had an instructor tell me that, nor have I heard it in the 3+ canopy piloting courses I have taken. Flying quarter brakes during landing pattern, right up until turning onto final? Sure. Also that part you quoted? Was ONLY if he is doing a BRAKED TURN. He didnt mention doing one or needing to do one. But then again reading comprehension might not be your strong suit? Gotcha. Thanks for clarifying. Additional causes could have been... 1. Not having enough time after returning to full flight to come out of flight cycle and get a full flare. 2. You havent mentioned what kind of canopy you were jumping but if its F111 and older they sometimes dont flare as dramatically and you really have to bury the toggles. 3. You might simply have not flared quickly enough or to the right sweet spot or high enough for the first stage. Its kind of hard to say without video. Best thing is as you continue working with your instructors see about getting someone to film all your landings, as that is what tends to help me most. I still do it as often as I can, since I still fairly new as well.

On final? Never had an instructor tell me to do that. Also given that you have no info on your profile and this is your first post in 4 years of having this account.....whose sockpuppet profile is this really? I guess I should have been more precise and called it a "two-staged" flare. Yes they did teach this to bleed off some of the vertical speed prior to landing. I can see how bleeding off the speed can negate some of the vertical lift from flaring. A two-stage flare is not sitting in half-brakes on your final leg of your landing pattern. Its making a decisive movement generally done at system height off the ground to nearly arrest vertical descent so that you are now traveling horizontally across the ground, and then finishing the flare. And as you correctly guessed, yes thats why you didnt get any real flare on landing. You need to talk to your instructors about reviewing exactly what a two-stage flare is and how its performed.

Why were you at half brakes prior to flaring? Think. Did any instructor tell you to do that, or did you make that one up on your own? Now think about how being at half breaks affected your ability to flare effectively.

LOL +1 good catch!

Agreed. But one would think a little more thought should go into it than who is the most popular or who has the highest jump numbers. As this person isnt just a board member, but the President of the organization and presiding officer of all BOD and member meetings. So an additional background in finance, law or business management would be key to leading an organization and BOD with a national and international presence. Or you can just make it a dick measuring contest based on who has the highest jumper numbers.

As a newbie I dont know Jay or Sherry. Im just trying to figure out how one's jump numbers equate to knowing anything about board management of a national membership based nonprofit corporation?

Here's a crazy thought. Tell them to schedule the surgery for a different day.

I still can't figure out how that works. Rich: "Sherry, I'm resigning." Sherry: "I won't accept your resignation." Rich: "Ok, I quit." End of story Under Bylaws Article III, the resignation of any USPA Director's resignation shall be tendered to the BOD. (No provision for approval or rejection, either by the President or the BOD. Also no express provision for the resignation to necessarily need to be in writing.) Under Article IV, the resignation of any officer shall be tendered to the BOD and may be voted on by the BOD at any regular or special meeting. Unless what he was resigning was his cmmt chairmanship. In which case, Sherry, as President is the sole arbiter. Under the by-laws the President has all authority on appointing or removing cmmt chairs.

Well your risers and three ring are laying pretty much right over the top of them. If he had prominent collar bones and was in a slight head down position on opening, so that the majority of the shock happened in that area? Crazier shit has happened?