AfghanVet

Why not add: No wingsuit jumps? Not an expert. No sitflying? Not an expert. No pond swooping? Not an expert. No CRW jumps? Not an expert. All of those things are optional individual choices. The ability to stay safe in the sport requires water training, accuracy landing capabilities, and knowledge of BSR's and FARs. So those are mandatory to be called an "expert". They are fundamental things to know, regardless of what other specialties you participate in. As an engineer, you're probably considered an "expert" in only some fields of engineering, but not all of them. You might be knowledgeable about structural engineering, but not know anything about fluid dynamics. You could be an aeronautical engineer and know nothing about electrical engineering. You don't have to know everything about all specialties to be an expert. But you should be highly knowledgeable about a few things.

What kind of goggles were they? I've always had good results with Kroops goggles. That may solve the wind-in-the-eyes problem, but it also presents other issues, like restricted vision and impaired hearing. Search these forums for more discussion on that, and be aware of what you're getting into if you go that route.

JohnMitchell: That was some funny shit! In south Florida after the sugar cane is harvested, they burn the stubble and debris in the fields to clear it for the planting of the next crop. Some of those dried leaves float up into the air, like little hot air balloons, rising aloft under the lift of their own fire, drifting with the wind. And then you open your canopy over the drop zone and see red-hot glowing embers floating all around you...

With 750 jumps you should not have this misconception. Unless you're flying a wing suit, you lose about 1,000 feet every 5.5 seconds. Since your pull habits are based upon incorrect math, you need to re-calculate everything and re-think your procedures. 5 seconds takes you from 3k to 2.1 k. A full 10 seconds gets you to 1,250 feet! Don't do that.

It may not matter as far as strength goes, but it matters if it causes the leg strap to slip. If you have one leg strap slip down to the stop on opening, and the other holds as it should, you have an unbalanced harness with the weight distributed unevenly across the risers. And that probably gives a spinning canopy. It could be a cut-away situation if the jumper doesn't realize the leg strap has slipped and fixes it. And then when he gets under his reserve, he still has the same situation again... Fix it.

If you don't want to do a night jump, fine. But then you won't be called an expert. No 500 jumps? Not an expert. No water training? Not an expert. No accuracy landings? Not an expert. No formation skydives? Not an expert. No pass on the written exam? Not an expert. If you want to be called an "expert", you need to have experienced a wide range of skydiving accomplishments, and proven your performance. If you're unwilling to do that, then don't try and claim a title that you haven't earned.

Last posts were in 2012. Whatcha been doin' for the last three years?

I tear off "Do not remove" tags from my furniture.

And let's not forget Chicago: "44 Injured, 12 Killed In Chicago Shootings During Memorial Day Weekend" http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/05/26/12-killed-43-wounded-in-memorial-day-weekend-shootings/?_sm_au_=iMV0tr46QnF66lqM