JohnMitchell

This is why I pay my damn dues every year.

Sounds kinda like ours. Quiet wedding, loud skydiver party later. Best way to do it.

I was instructing an AFF student the other day, and told her that waving off before pulling is just like using your turn signal before you change lanes or turn. And then I said "Don't you dare tell me you don't use your turn signals." Just kinda slipped out.

Well, consider that it was Alabama. When they ask "Groom's family or bride's family?" the answer is usually "Both!" Easy to fit all the relatives under one tent when your family tree don't branch none. Apologies to Billy and all my other Southern friends, from a native born Texan. . .

I'm just a student of flight.

Did I give some bad advice there?

In fact, in 0-winds, they generally speaking don't. Glide Ratio being a function of aerodynamic parameters (L/D), at least as a first order approximation, is not affected by wing loading. Yes, you will fall faster, but covering the same path. Also yes, therefore when wind comes into play, your glide ration will be affected. Yep, notice I didn't mention "wing loading" as being a factor in the glide, or L/D, ratio. It's counter-intuitive to many, that a wing doesn't glide farther with less weight than more. I was trying to impart that the advice of many, that "highly loaded canopies glide farther", is not true.. It may be the big one is best; it may be the small one is best, but it's independent, for the most part, of wing loading. In fact, many of the cross-braced canopies optimized for swooping glide worse than most sport canopies. A big factor in that is the line trim. Counterintuitive like the fact that airplanes, including jump planes, climb faster when you shift the CG towards the rear limit. I cringe when I hear pilots say "Move up forward so the plane will climb better."

I bought beer not too long ago, a case of a dark wheat IPA. It sat there for a month. I think I was the only one drinking it each evening. Look way back in the back of the fridge. Sometimes you find a good one.

She'll be one of the prettiest brides ever.

Good point.

Smaller canopies don't necessarily have a better glide ratio than large ones. There are many factors on that, such as planform, airfoil design, and line trim, among others. Depends on where you are on a bad spot. Upwind of the target with the wind to your back? The big canopy will keep you up in the tailwind longer, helping you get back. Downwind of the target fighting a headwind? Yes, the higher forward speed of the smaller canopy should give you the advantage there. Talk to an instructor about the technique of using front risers when trying to get more penetration into the wind. And ask, after each off landing, why you landed off. If they keep saying "bad spot", discuss with them what you need to do to get a good spot.

Kapowsin is my home DZ. It's very kid and dog friendly, but no climbing walls or regularly scheduled barbecues. There is a fenced dog run and a play ground for the kids. We also have a Super Otter, Super Caravan, and Porter at your beck and call for making all the jumps you want. There's a bunkhouse minutes from the DZ. Also a Super 8 motel and shopping just down the road.

Same here.

Am I the only one reading this? As a student you should be getting some of, if not THE best spotting available. Something aint adding up here. At large, turbine DZs, long jump runs with multiple groups means only a few get the "ideal" spot. The others get out early or late of that spot. However, procedures should be adjusted so that NO ONE is consistently landing out. One solution is to make 2 or more passes at altitude.

Here you go! See? And some people still don't understand the importance of proper spelling.

I like Billy's idea of the rental tent.. Might be the best way to go. How formal is your wedding? You could always move it to a park gazebo, maybe? Here's wishing you and Matthew all the best, for the wedding and for the marriage.

My favorite is a Caravan with straddle benches. Easiest hookup there is. On the floor is another easy, no sit-on-the-lap hook up. In a Twin Otter with typical bench seats, you CAN turn sideways and have them sit on the bench between your legs for hookup, IF, IF you have enough room. I rarely have that luxury, so up on my lap the passenger goes, male, female, skinny, huge. . . . With up to 7-8 layers of clothing, it's hardly erotic. Usually I'm just getting squished.

Funny you mentioned that, but I've heard several women talk about being highly aroused on jump run, esp. on early jumps. The sensation of fear and anxiety are closely tied to sexual arousal. I guess that's why scary movies are so popular for dates and why some many skydiver guys marry way out of their league. No, you're not a bit creepy.

That was fun talking with you about your canopy flying. See you out there again.

Thanks for the input. There's nothing better than doing the real thing to build confidence, is there? I even teach my students how to check canopy when I do tandems. It's interesting, great way to show them, and quite a few go on to AFF.

So many variables go into making a good landing. Video and coaching are your best options. It doesn't have to be a big thing. Maybe just a friend videoing your landings and have a good instructor review them.

Thanks for the heads up. Too many great businesses in our sport for us to have to put up with a few bad ones.

Hey, sounds like a successful transition. Sorry we "gaze" sometimes. Although I try to be polite about it (yes, ladies, I know where your eyes are) it's very much hardwired into our brains to enjoy a woman passing by.

I know EXACTLY how you feel. Anymore I tend to shy away from the big bands and the huge venues for that very reason. Pearl Jam fought Ticketmaster . . . and lost. In this world of "first class and coach" sometimes getting "shite" seats for a livable price is what you may have to do to see some bands on a budget. Back when all the seats were same price I'd always wonder how some people got front row. I never did. (These were the days of standing in line at the box office). I'm lucky to like a few smaller bands that play more modest venues at reasonable prices. I believe my days of Arena Rock are over.