TomWatson

Hmm. I can't think of any other reason why a legitimate seller would withhold a serial number from a potential buyer...

Already posted, with more info and a more descriptive title: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4690409#4690409

Kim looks kind of hot! http://www.timescall.com/portlet/article/html/imageDisplay.jsp?contentItemRelationshipId=6603721 Maybe she just needs a steamy affair with a skydiver to bring her around to our way of thinking. Volunteers?

Are these the version of goggles with air vents, or no air vents? I wear contacts, and use Kroops with no vents, and have no problems. Keep the elastic band snug. Actually, the only problem is fogging up in the plane before jump run. Once the door opens and you have air circulation, or outside in the high speed air, no fogging problems at all.

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Ah yes, but today's generations haven't learned to be prepared and self sufficient. All they know how to do is dial 9-1-1 on a phone and wait for someone else to come and save them.

Because it's required by FAR 65.111. § 65.111 Certificate required. (a) No person may pack, maintain, or alter any personnel-carrying parachute intended for emergency use in connection with civil aircraft of the United States (including the reserve parachute of a dual parachute system to be used for intentional parachute jumping) unless that person holds an appropriate current certificate and type rating issued under this subpart and complies with §§ 65.127 through 65.133. Note that part (a) applies only to reserve or emergency parachutes. (b) No person may pack any main parachute of a dual-parachute system to be used for intentional parachute jumping in connection with civil aircraft of the United States unless that person— (1) Has an appropriate current certificate issued under this subpart; (2) Is under the supervision of a current certificated parachute rigger; (3) Is the person making the next parachute jump with that parachute in accordance with § 105.43(a) of this chapter; or (4) Is the parachutist in command making the next parachute jump with that parachute in a tandem parachute operation conducted under § 105.45(b)(1) of this chapter. Part (b) applies to main parachutes, and (3) covers the person making the jump, whether they are a rigger or not. (c) No person may maintain or alter any main parachute of a dual-parachute system to be used for intentional parachute jumping in connection with civil aircraft of the United States unless that person— (1) Has an appropriate current certificate issued under this subpart; or (2) Is under the supervision of a current certificated parachute rigger And part (c) talks about "maintain or alter", but that doesn't seem to include making one from scratch. Maintain or alter implies that the parachute already exists from some other source. So those folks out there making their own parachutes, are they really violating the regs?

To Anvil & Turtle: I didn't say I had faith in our government to obey the laws we create for them to operate under. I was just pointing out what the law is, because some people seem to think that the BATF is allowed to have a centralized registry. They are not. If our government is not obeying the laws we give them to operate under, then it's up to us to hold them accountable for their misbehavior. And the NRA and other pro-gun organizations will sue to enforce those laws as intended. Seems like I heard a story years ago about the BATF trying to enter old dealer records into a database, and they got slapped down for that. So instead they just created some kind of index which makes it quicker and easier for them to find the paper records when they run a trace of a crime gun. The index doesn't contain the gun owner's personal info - it just tells them where to find the box of paper which does contain that info. They still have to start with the manufacturer records, follow that serial number to the dealer to whom it was sold, and from there to the dealer's form 4473's to find the retail purchaser. That's my understanding of the situation.

In the US the main parachute must be packed by the person making the jump, a rigger, or a person supervised by a rigger. Right? So it stands to reason that a non-rigger should be able to make his own main parachute too. And in fact some people have. As long as it's the main parachute, and not the reserve, I don't think that's any kind of violation.

I challenge you to figure out how to make a donation to the USPA Team Trust Fund or Airport Access Defense fund, using the online web site. http://www.uspa.org/ Hint: It used to be under the "Shop" button, I think, but no longer. It now seems to be under the "About USPA" button, which is illogical and not where you would expect it to be. Furthermore, when you click the "donate online" link there, all it does is take you back to the home page. If you can figure out how to make it work, please let me know...

Federal law explicitly prohibits federal law enforcement agencies from: (1) using dealers’ records of sales to establish a centralized system for the registration of firearms, firearm owners, or firearm transactions; or (2) requiring dealers’ records of sales to be recorded in, or transferred to a centralized facility. (18 U.S.C. § 926.) As a result, with very limited exceptions, records of firearm sales are not maintained at the federal level. As of 2004, approved purchaser information from background checks must be destroyed within 24 hours of the official NICS response to the dealer. http://smartgunlaws.org/maintaining-gun-sales-background-check-records-policy-summary/

Is there something in the regs that specifically says that parachute components can ONLY be sewn by licensed FAA riggers? Don't those factories which make all of our parachutes employ seamstresses who aren't riggers?

Two-second canopy ride. That's cuttin' it pretty darned close...

There is also a type of slider called a "split slider", that comes in two halves; one half on the left risers and one half on the right risers. You connect the two halves together by inserting the loops on one side, into the grommets on the other side, with a draw string. After opening, you just reach up and yank the draw string and the two halves separate. The canopy flattens out, you have visibility, there's no flapping noise. The only drawback is that it takes a minute or two to reconnect the two halves on every pack job.

Had to watch to 2:48 to find the pigeons, which they misspelled. But it wasn't time wasted. It was interesting that the birds took to flight moments before the missile hit - somehow they sensed that something bad was coming...

Ran across this 1966 copy of the Saturday Evening Post, featuring skydivers! Story: "The eerie thrills of skydiving" Photographs by Jerry Irwin and Jack Zehrt. What kind of rigs are those?

Doc Moore's web page: http://leg.mt.gov/css/Sessions/63rd/leg_info.asp?HouseID=1&SessionID=107&LAWSID=15262 (with contact info...)