JohnMitchell

Dunning Kreuger Effect is huge in our sport, and in life in general. Learn to recognize when you don't even know what you don't know. You'll live much longer.

You might want to get back in. The gear's never been better and the landings are much easier on the old bones. I had that same Wonderhog setup, except tapewells instead off 3 rings.

Have fun. Arch, smile, breathe, relax!

Ya just never know, we might be there. Looks like a blast.

My thoughts too. I remember many years ago a Skyhawk ran out of fuel and landed on I-15 south of SLC, UT. He went over a sign bridge, then immediately under an overpass! After a fuel truck filled the aircraft up, the pilot was too shaken to take off, and had to get a new pilot to fly the plane out!

Thanks for the reply. Interesting reasoning. I happen to disagree but I have half as many jumps as him and I'm not a bigway organizer. But I do feel that a good diving exit is not THAT hard to learn to do correctly, and I feel pointing in the right direction on exit is the first step in getting to the formation quickly. I think a lot of more experienced skydivers would agree with me on that.

Exactly. That would be more of a poised exit. You said Mr. 15K jumps didn't explain why. That makes me think he doesn't have a good reason. All the advice I dispense comes with the reasons why it's "good advice".

Pretty standard. Kapowsin is where my son did AFF and he's still alive.

I have a 150 main, a 190 reserve. When I use my reserve, I may be low or unconcious. A little more square footage can be a real nice thing sometimes.

Glad to see you getting some tunnel time too. One of the BEST training aids to make your early jumps much better. Be safe, have fun.

Hope you heal up quickly. Enjoy the freefall course. Once you get a bunch of halo jumps, it's easy to move into civilian sport jumping, if you want.

Absolutely great video. Should be required viewing for all jumpers.

Not bad, but I've been having to do a lot of tandems in Hawaii to make ends meet. Damn, that's a bit low. 2 out is bad, but my biggest fear these days is a low altitude canopy collision.

Ahhh, thanks. I see. Not that those damn flaps would stay shut in freefall anyway. Remember flying down to formations and watching all those pin cover flaps waving in the breeze at you?

Thanks for finding that. So it appears that flaring doesn't seem to help or hinder the landings, but they advise against it to save possible complications. I'll have to consider all this if I end up with 2-out. Hope I don't.

Thanks for finding that. Is there anything not on the internet anymore? I'm thinking of before the curve pin was invented. We stuck a bite of bridle through a bungee closing loop. My memory could be incorrect, too. It's been a few years. I guess, from a mechanical viewpoint, I can't see why running it out the bottom would cause any trouble. I never foresaw how a curve pin could pierce the bridle, that's for sure. Did you notice that it said, in event of a pilot chute in tow, to lay flat and stable, and just pull the reserve? Yes, we used to train to NOT cutaway from PICs. Now both methods are recognized, but I think most preach "cutaway first".

For me, the extra bulk has made a wear point on my main flap. Do you remember the old school Wonderhogs? I had one and I think the "alternate way" was standard with those, if I remember correctly.

That took me a second, like the wife who told her husband the 710 cap was loose in her car. Love it. Like -4 degrees looks like a guy on the toilet.

Yeah, I guess mine were intentional.

Release the brakes on the front canopy. Leave the brakes set on the back canopy. Steer the front canopy gently. Flare halfway for landing. I still wonder why so many sources say "don't flare a biplane". I've seen it done with a very good landing. Anyone with a definitive answer?

Now THAT'S a cutaway rig! I remember seeing cutaway demos at airshows when I was a kid. Cool as hell. I've never done an intentional but I do have 14-15 regular cutaways.

Yes, we teach "flare halfway." Thanks for the reply.

Many others have said this in the thread, but I'll repeat it. I've seen people chop at 1000' and do just fine, so I don't feel it's "too low". But I wouldn't make a habit of waiting that long. Once again, it's safety vs. survival.