bdenny20

Always wanted to. Then this cute chick B license holder started working where I do. That's all it took to finally get me to start.

I'm flying down to Orlando in a week via Frontier Airlines for Jumpcation. It seems when people ask about whether or not they would be allowed take their rigs onboard as carry on, the general consensus was that the airlines did not have a problem with it.

Frontier seems to explicitly state that rigs with an AAD installed can only be checked. It goes without saying that that is not the preferable route. Does anyone have first hand experience flying with Frontier?

Ha!

Thanks for all the replies. I think we're on the same page now. Like I said, he's a engineer in the Chemistry department, not physics. But he fancied himself savvy in the area therefore questioned the whole idea. But we're straight now.

Thanks for the responses!

I got just what I hoped for, I knew there had to be some smart types floating around here.

I directed my brother to this thread, all seems to be understood now.

In case anyone was curious, I uploaded said video after I created the thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhw8bOPy6Vk

Just shows me taking off like a rocket, and when we got closer that was all her. Left the belly and took a more streamlined approach to catch up.

The good news is that since that video was taken, I spent a few more weekends up at the Ranch and specifically sought out small jumpers who wanted to belly with me. By the end of those weekends, I was getting considerably better. Not perfect, but better. The second I took my focus off my body position though, I lost it and lost them in the process. I will be working in the tunnel a little bit on Long Island after I get back from Florida.

Thanks again!

Hi.

So I went up to my folks' place for Christmas. This is the first time my entire family has been together since I picked up skydiving. While I was talking to my brother about it, I mentioned that because I'm a larger and heavier guy, I've been having a little trouble flying with other people because...well, most of you fuckers are small and I have some difficulty slowing down.

Now, real quick. He comes from an scientific background. Chemistry, but that path included lots of courses from other areas of focus, including physics. He immediately goes off saying how that shouldn't be a problem, gravity effects everyone the same, fall rates should be equal, yadda yadda yadda you know the type.

I'm not from a scientific background, let's put it at that. I like flying airplanes and as of recent, jumping out of them. I wasn't able to convince him...so I pulled up a video of a recent jump with me an one other small chick. It shows us docked in a two way belly, and as soon as we separate, I take off like a rock.

He's perplexed. I know of the concepts of air resistance and how I'm still new and my form isn't spot on, but I'm not smart enough to come up with an educated response....How do I explain to non-skydivers that us fattys have a hard time keeping up with lighter peeps?

You and I are in the same boat! I got out a year ago and picked up skydiving as a means to try and reintegrate with people. I'm an inch taller and the same weight. Unfortunately, I'm in a seasonal area and I won't be able to continue practicing until Spring...

Minus points for the man bun

I wanna jump my frog gear now too, but im sure some grizzly ol gunny will come out of the wood work and chew my ass out real good!

Aviation Digital Data Service.

It's what I use for weather inquiries when flying. METARs, TAFs, wind aloft, cloud coverage, radar, it's a one stop shop.

You mentioned forecasts, so check it out their TAF section.

https://www.aviationweather.gov/adds/tafs

Now...I'm new to the sport to begin with, not too much experience with full face helmets, and none in cold weather, but I ski a lot. I spit in my goggles to prevent them from fogging up on the slopes. Don't know if that trick crosses over or not.

Thought this was going to be about how you are new and that you know people.

Wendy. It's the same one. It was a long night...I saw the website URL, which was skydivect.com, and it was all over. But I like how that place sounds, only 3 hours away...hell, I go further than that when I want to go skiing.

And I'd LOVE to take a vacation at some point and go somewhere warm. It all depends on my work and school schedule. I work my ass off to support expensive hobbies, and go to school like a boss because I already know I don't want to be doing it for 4 years. I'm already 5 years older than the average senior there.

I have some family in Cali. Maybe I should pay them a visit over the winter...and accidentally get lost and spend the day in Perris. Who knows!

Yep. I see that, and it is how I looked up websites to see if they are open in the winter, most of which do not specify.

After a little creative Googling, I found Skydive Connecticut. Only a few hours away with some limited winter operations. That may be my ticket.

Seen posts around here inquiring over dropzones that are open in the winter. Seems some folk around here assume everyone closes up around October, so when the somewhat sarcastic remarks show up to point out that a majority of the DZ's south of Nebraska are open, the OP looks silly.

I will be a little more specific. What's the nearest DZ that anyone can think of to southern NY. I'm not particularly concerned about how far I have to drive, I'm just curious how far I would have to drive to get somewhere in case I start getting cabin fever sometime in January.

Be it Pennsylvania or Maryland, I don't care. The websites I've visited don't specify. I'm an overnights guy, so I COULD make phone calls in the AM, but that would severely impede on my precious sleep time. Whatcha got.

When I fly, I use my Samsung tablet for various in-flight navigation related purposes. The GPS that comes default isn't as accurate as I need it to be, especially when it comes to altitude.

I bought a Dual GPS150, which is a small box like thingy that amplifies the GPS receiving capabilities of the tablet and makes it far more reliable and precise.

I would think something like this would be beneficial in this capacity as well..

DougH

Hold on, be right back, want to get some popcorn before Michael Jackson gets it all.

You called it.

This thread has been invaluable, as I'm sure one day I will have the same thoughts and will be prompted to make a similar thread. At that point, I will pretend I am the OP here since the responses will be the same.

Recycling threads like a b0$$.

Can we get ice cream after this?

I did a search on the forum for couch surfing, the latest one is years old.

Have any of y'all reached out to peeps that are close to distant DZ's for a place to crash when you want to branch out and go somewhere new?

I'd be open to host anyone who would want to jump in Long Island...the Ranch is also within reasonable driving distance. The thought just occurred to me as I was making a list of all the neat places I want to go to.

Okie dokie, while I got you here.

Since I got some time to kill before Icarus opens up again tomorrow, and I'm working the overnight with nothing going on, let's touch on container options.

I'm having a hard time differentiating items that should be needed vs. purely luxury items.

I'm sure I will have this container for a long time to come, but getting the right combinations of options to maintain an attractive resell value is probably a good idea.

Here is the link to Wings' options page. I quickly get carried away, then next thing you know I have another $1200 in options added on.

http://skydivewings.com/order/pricing-and-options/




(Thanks by the way for the support so far, it's highly appreciated.)

I knew about Icarus, I talked to the lady at Chuting Star, and she didn't understand why it's an ironic name for a parachute company.

The only reason I went with Jump Shack is that they answered their phone promptly while Icarus ran me through loops on their automated phone system and I didn't get to talk to a real person.

I'll give it a shot again tomorrow.

Yeah, your math is spot on, not sure where I got my numbers. I weighed myself today, I'm at 210. I figure with a larger rig would come in around 35lbs, so 245lbs is accurate.

Jump Shack doesn't have a veteran discount, they're making an exception for me because I asked so nicely. I don't want to overstay that courtesy by waiting all winter to see how my body weight fluctuates. I should probably go with the 236.

I already changed up the container, Wings is giving me a very good deal, and they're lifetime veteran support, that is something I value.

I stand corrected, it is fully elliptical.

Here's the link to the Firebolt.

http://www.jumpshack.com/webcatalog/default.asp?ProductID=FB218&SectionID=CANOPY&CategoryID=10

According to these guys, it's a semi-elliptical that is suitable for beginners at a lower loading, where I'm at it'd be around 1.07. I get that a retailer could exaggerate certain points to make a sale, but just saying.

I looked up reviews here at dropzone, and they were all overwhelmingly positive.

I'm all giddy!
Rigging Innovations said they'd hook me up with a 25% discount, looking at a Talon FS T7 container from them.

Jumpshack said they'd hook me up with 15% off on their canopies, so I'm looking at a Firebolt 218 and a PR-218 from them.

They also are giving me a Virgil for $1150. Nice!

How can I check the compatibility of the containers and canopies? On RI's website, the volume chart for the T7 only mentions the Sabre 2 230 and the Pilot 210. The PR-218 is listed, but I'm not sure about the main.

Thanks!

Ironically, I am in the market for a motorcycle as well. I traded in my Jeep after a few months of driving nearly 50 miles everyday to and from work. It was great for the past 5 years when it only left base once or twice a week. My new Civic is great on gas, but boring as all get out.

Back on topic though, I'm getting the vibe guys, don't think for a second I'm not. In fact, I was having the same concessions myself, and hid them only skin deep.

The good news is that I'm done until May. So I have plenty of time to not only work on my weight, (Not just for skydiving, but because I look damn fine when I'm in shape and the recent civilian lifestyle has been cruel) but also to perhaps work on a safer plan!

Thanks for the replies!

Let's see if I can get these in order:

I wish I had more direct supervision with my instructors... Unfortunately with the student and A-C DZ being far away from the hangar and the fact that it's always busy with tandems, I don't think I've had any landings supervised by an instructor. This was something I tried to get used to as AFF. There are some shortcomings with their program, but I tried to supplement the training as much as I could with studying on my own.

Thanks so much for the military discount information!! A number of those require proof of active service, but there are a few there that ask for proof of any service. Those I could probably make use of, I'm out on an honorable discharge these days.

Don't worry, I have no plan on doing anything too dumb. The Navigator 200 is as far as I'm willing to stretch right now. According to PD, at my weight...I should be at a skill level somewhere between intermediate and expert to fly that thing. I credit my ability to still be breathing today to flying carefully and by not attempting any crazy maneuvers. (I fly real boring like, in fact...the only reason I went down from the 240 was that I was having an incredibly hard time packing the damn thing.)

I may as well buy the main canopy last then. At least that way I have wiggle room at the end of winter and can buy a canopy that fits the weight I end up at.