liloz

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  1.   I started an organization called Veterans Skydive For Life in May of 2018.  There is an article from the start of the idea back in 2016.  There is a link to that article at the bottom of this post.  I am looking for the support of Skydivers and Drop Zones.  The goal of the group is to prevent future Veteran Suicides.  When I went on the ride in 2016 Veteran Suicide was at 22 per day currently it is at 20 per day.  That is over 7000 men and women that chose to take their own life.  One of the goals of the organization is to reach 20,000 people on Facebook asking them to like and follow the page.  If you can check out the page and if you like what we are doing please like and follow the page.  Share it with as many others as possible and ask them to do the same.  We are currently at 1660 followers so we have a long way to go.  
      We have shirts for sale and the money will be used to put on a skydive event at different drop zones where we take and introduce local Veterans to their local drop zone and hopefully take them skydiving.  The goal is to give them something to think about other than suicide and the problems they are trying to deal with.  I have no doubt this works as I have had two people reach out and tell me how they have not thought about suicide since I introduced them to their drop zone.  
      I have visited 93 drop zones in only four years of skydiving.  My plan is to put every drop zone I have visited and is interested in hosting an event into a hat and we will pick at least one DZ every year to have our event.  If money is available we will do more than one.  
      If you have any questions if you are interested in ordering one of our shirts please email me Jim Osterman at [email protected] I am happy to answer any questions you may have and sell you one of our amazing shirts hoodies.  Hope to have other items in the near future.  
      I know this forum is for people we have lost in the sport this group is to prevent losing as many as we can through the sport.  I hope it is ok to be posted in here.  Here is a link to our Facebook page.  You can also google Jim Osterman Veteran Life and you can get a bunch of links to articles written about the group.  Thank you for your support and hope to see you all following the page soon.
    https://www.facebook.com/One8884574838/

     

     

     


  2. So just over a year ago I started this thread. I am leaving on a 2 month trip across the country to visit some military friends meet some new Veterans and to of course skydive at as many DZ's as possible.
    I have been skydiving my ass off and I have learned so much. I just read all of the comments posted on this issue again today. I worked with two different S&TA's at my DZ as well as every camera flyer that came through the drop zone to get their opinion. I knew I wanted to fly a camera on my trip as I will probably never get a chance to jump these places again. I jumped my camera last week at the DZ I have been calling home for almost 200 jumps. I wanted to make sure I had as many local jumps as possible before getting on the road.
    I went with a side mount on my right side. I modified a countour cookie mount. I purchased a helmet that has a cutaway system. I did as much research as possible to make me flying a camera as safe as I possibly can. I full understand that NO mount/camera is snag free. I feel I have made this set up as snag free as possible. I do not like the top mounts at all and the side mount just works really well with my camera.
    I have made only six jumps with the camera (weather sucks) with the camera. What I really like is I honestly forget that I have the camera on. I know most people turn camera off after opening. I have been walking back to the hanger and remember that I have it. I hope that I can maintain that. I don't ever (at this time) want to fly the camera. My #1 goal has been and always will be being able to jump tomorrow.
    I had a lot of help not only from everyone is this thread but everyone at my drop zone Skydive Wissota. I showed my mount to people for the past few months. I have taken their suggestions and changed the mount several times based on their thoughts and ideas. I really appreciate all the thoughts from them as well as everyone that responded in the thread. Just wanted to post an update. THANKS

  3. The trip is about visiting my Veteran friends. NC and TN are both on my list of states to jump in. I lived in VA when I was in the service. If I can ride motorcycle I can probably jump out of a plane as well. Perhaps I will take you up on your offer when I make it down that way. Thanks

  4. I have already mapped out my entire trip. I was at my home DZ and talking about the trip and mentioned one of the DZ's I planned to visit. The conversation escalated how bad this place was to jump at. So I thought what better way to get great information than asking the people that have jumped at these places.
    I want to make this trip as positive as I possibly can. I know it will not be perfect, but that might be what makes it even better. Looking forward to hearing what and what DZ's people will suggest for me.

  5. I am planning a motorcycle trip this summer to visit some military brothers and work on getting as many of them into skydiving as I can. Looking for some input from the experienced. Going to post the states that I will be visiting looking for input on drops zones you would recommend and ones you would advise I should avoid. If you have any suggestions the best way to plan the trip would appreciate that as well. (Is there an APP for that?) I have no time frame for the most part. I will be gone at least one month up to two months. What ever it takes to get the trip done and visit friends.
    Starting in Fairchild Wi, down to IL, IN, MI, OH, PA, NJ, NY, CT, MA, NH, RI, DE, VA, NC, SC, TN, KY, MO, IA, and finish off in MN. If you have ideas of routes to take places I REALLY need to visit or I should add a state or remove a state please let me know. Oh Ya I want to drive through Canada from Michigan if I can. Looking at jumping at Niagara Skydive.
    Looking for any HELPFUL suggestions (Del) have already had my fair share of smart ass suggestions. Thank you in advance for you input and if anyone has a month to two months off this summer you are more then welcome to come along.

  6. How many jumps in total? 103

    How many at that particular DZ? 92

    What kind of (clear) goggles were you using? Bonehead Rev Opened

    Exit altitude? 7000’

    Deployment altitude? 3200’

    Weather conditions during the night, any moon? Mostly clear Almost a full moon (Ideal conditions)

    Were your lights set up in any way where they could blend you during the jump? Blind me? No

    What were you doing during freefall? I turned 90 found the lake we jump near, turned 90 again, which had me pointing toward DZ

    How much time went from you last seeing the DZ and your exit? I looked out the aircraft with my JM prior to exit

    Any reasons why you didn't check the landmarks that were shown to you inside the plane once in freefall/under canopy? I believed I was looking at landmarks. I also made a jump prior to dark and an experienced jumper pointed out several landmarks for me.

    Did you look out and tried to find the DZ by yourself prior (like 5 seconds) to exit? I looked at many landmarks on the way up. I believed I had the DZ picked out, but possible I did not.

    You had your cell phone with you, didn't you? I did have my cell phone with me, but after landing in the water it was no longer working. I also carried a strobe light and this is how the plane ID’ed my location. I turned the strobe light on as it flew overhead.

    For such cloud jumps, do you know where the aircraft really is, and what heading? I did understand our direction on jump run.

    Did you maintain knowledge of your own heading using the aircraft / sun / cloud features? I thought as I turned 90 twice I was pointed in the direction of the DZ. I was told my light was seen during free fall but never seen once I was under canopy. I wish I had more lights on my person. The thought is I had an off heading opening which pointed me 180 away from the DZ. I felt I was still heading toward the DZ. Inexperience for sure!

    Was the correct ground feature spotted? I thought I could make out the DZ. We had the two cars pointed at our peas (landing area) and one light on the clubhouse.

    Our briefing was solid. We had 18 jumpers (some twice) and I was the only person that did not make it back to the DZ. We also had a debrief and many issues were addressed to make sure it is easier to ID the DZ. I was at 2200’ under canopy and I believed I knew were I was. At about 2000’ I believed I should be next to one of my landmarks. I realized I was not in the right place and I prepared for an off site landing. I started looking for my outs. My biggest worry was power lines because I did not know exactly were I was.

    I posted this wondering if anyone else had issues with the different shades. The answers provided have been fantastic and for sure going to help me. I did the night jumps as required for my “D” license. I am not sure that I will be doing them again in the future other than to complete my “D” license. We had two other jumpers that have around the same number of jumps as I do. So I want to make sure everyone knows this was not an issue with my DZ or the briefing we received or the weather clouds winds etc… This problem was with me and I want to figure out what happened. I want to know if I have problem with my eyes after my surgery. Did I just not understand what was explained in the briefing? The issue that happened is on me and not anyone else and I understand that. I want to correct the issue as that is the most important thing.

    Thanks to everyone that have written in and expressed their thoughts. If you have any other questions let me know. I want to make sure that I learn from this experience so it never happens again.

  7. I recently participated in night jump operations and it did not go all that well for me. I am looking for some experience input on my story to see if I can figure out what happened and if I can fix the issue and attempt a night jump in the future. I will be as detailed as possible but short.
    Our DZ was lighted by two cars pointing at each at the center of standard landing area. We had a briefing prior as required. On the way to altitude my JM and another jumper pointed out landmarks around the DZ. Prior to exiting the aircraft my JM pointed to the two cars and confirmed I could ID them. I confirmed that I did see them.
    When I exited I was told by people on the ground could see my light, but once I deployed my light was never seen again. Once under canopy I believed I was pointed toward the drop zone so I continued that direction. As I am looking down I could make out several lights I thought I had the DZ ID'ed found out I did not at about 2200'. It was at this point I realized that I was not at the DZ and I was uncertain exactly were I was. I remember training and I was looking for lighter shaded ground for an open field. As I flew I made out a dark area that I believed to be trees. I also ID'ed an area that was lighter that I believed was the field I was looking for.
    The skydive ended as I went through the top of several trees hitting my shins. As I cleared the trees I looked down and now realized I was going to either land on an island ladened with downed trees and lots of rocks or in the river. I am accomplished swimmer and chose the river which thankfully was the right choice. My pride was the thing hurt the worse which I am fine with.
    So now that is the basic of the story. If you want or need more information please ask I will be happy to answer any questions meant to help me figure this out. I have a few questions I hope can get answered with the help and experience of fellow skydivers.
    I thought I was landing in an open field looking at an area that was lighter in color. I am looking at this from a medical point of view. Has anyone else had a similar issue? I had Lasik surgery 12 years ago. I am not sure if that did anything to change my night vision.
    I am not silly enough to think I may have just screwed up. It is possible that I did just screw the pooch but I need to know. I have friends that are color blind and they see one color but it is actually another color. I am wondering if when I saw the light shaded area I was actually looking at dark shaded area.
    I have asked a pilot if we can go up in the plane again one night. I thought if we can get up to altitude I could look out and tell her what I see. If I see one thing and she points out something different then I would know I have an issue with my eyes and that an be fixed. If I can pick out trees fields etc. correctly then I know I screwed the pooch on my night jump and I need more training before I attempt again.
    Please give me any positive and negative feedback. Please ask me any questions that you may have. I just want to make sure if and when I do another night jump it ends back at the DZ. Thank you in advance for all your help and comments.

  8. Quote

    Well first want to thank everyone for their opinions on the question posted. I did not think it would cause so much controversy and I apologize for that. I think those of you that sent photos.
    I want to be PERFECTLY clear. I am not worried about jumping with my camera anytime soon. I was just curious if anyone was jumping this camera and what they thought of the video that it takes. The scuba diving video is second to NONE including go pro in my opinion. I have side mount that came with my helmet and I modified it to hold the Sony. But again I have NO plans of trying to jump this early. I am not really counting down to the day I hit 200 so I can jump it. In fact I am a big fan of jumping with a person that has a camera that is focused on me. I have learned so much from watching videos of me. I do want to jump my camera one day but not a huge hurry for that day to come. My #1 goal has been and always will be to go home to come back and jump tomorrow.
    I want to thank everyone again for the comments. I received a private message as well on this post. The one comment that stood out the most from this message was I am probably two years away from making 200 jumps. (I hope not :+) In the next two years the cameras and the safety of jumping these cameras will change a dozen more times. The more I think about it makes me realize how true this probably is. I will NOT jump a camera if I am going to worry that it may not allow me to come back tomorrow to jump. I have way to much to live for to have a camera change that.
    Blue Skies all!


  9. I am looking forward to jumping with my own camera one day and looking for some thoughts help ideas. I own a Sony HDR-AS 100V and I purchased it for scuba diving and not skydiving. It seems it will take some great skydiving video as well. Wondering if anyone out there is jumping with this camera. If you are what type of mounts to you have and what are you thoughts about those mounts. If you have any videos would really like to see those as well. If you have any photos of your mounts that would be greatly appreciated as well. Happy to read any information you have about safe camera flying. Thanks, Jim

  10. I have a copy of Packing Made Simple now. I had trouble with the download, but the guy I purchased it from got it figured out. It is a little different than what I have been shown at my DZ, but the difference is minor. I think I have it, now it is just being able to do it over and over again until I am sure I have it. That has been my biggest trouble is I am shown different ways than it is weeks later that I get to do it again. Winter hours are tough on my work schedule. I will get through this with all the help I have been receiving. It is amazing the support I have received. I thank everyone that has replied and has helped me out. Always looking forward to my next jump.

  11. Thank you so very much the manual is great. The video I have seen before but the music just throws it off for me. I enjoy the music, but it makes it hard concentrate on the video.
    I do still have a VHS. In fact if you would like the VHS put on DVD I have the equipment to do that. I would greatly appreciate the video. If you would like it on DVD just let me know. Thank you again for all the help. Thanks, Jim

  12. Excellent! The start of my jumping has been difficult to say the least. I started at one DZ and took their AFF course and passed, but moved to another DZ to finish my "A" license. I learned NO ground skills at the first DZ and my second DZ believes I should have already mastered the packing skill. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Not sure how I would get the scan but my email is: [email protected]
    Again thank you very much for your response. Jim

  13. Yes I believe it is. ALL student rigs are flat packed. I just joined this DZ after I finished my AFF at another DZ long story. I downloaded the "Packing Made Simple" app but all I got was a black screen. No video at all. I have not heard back from anyone as of yet. I was hoping someone on here would have a copy they were willing to sell. or give to a new jumper.

  14. Excellent will check it out. But I have to learn to flat pack as I am using a student rig yet and they have to be flat packed. That has been part of my problem one person packs this way the next guy packs a different way. I need "Flat Pack" and get that down and than I can try others. Thanks for the link.

  15. I am new to the sport and having a difficult time with my packing skills. I am looking for a video specifically "Flat Packing" to help me with this. I only get to the DZ about once a month with the winter hours of the DZ and my job. I just completed my 13th jump and need to get my packing mastered as soon as possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated. If anyone has a copy of "Packing Made Simple" and would like to sell it please let me know. Also if you have seen the video is it worth the purchase to a new jumper? Thanks, Jim