kcb203

I did exactly this progression over the last three years with a Javelin 3K. 188 ZPX for 68 jumps, then a Sabre2 170 for 280 jumps, then a Sabre2 150 for the last 40 jumps. I weigh 175 pounds.

Once you get your license, you'll be jumping at Orange anyway so might as well meet the instructors, coaches, and fellow Rotten Oranges while you're learning. I had the same question as you a year ago. I'm not sure if DC Skydiving Center has any fun jumpers.

The kierin is a track cycling event that starts with a motorcycle leading a pack of cyclists around the track at increasing speed until it pulls off for the final sprint: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wIuVrUxeW0

That was my first thought, 6000lbs cargo capacity is hard to do under 12,500. It sounds more like an ATR replacement. The 400 series Otter has a MTOW of 12,500 and an empty weight of 6881, for a capacity of 5619. Even the 50 year old 100 series Otter has a 5,716 capacity. I bet that with advances in materials over the last five decades, they can get a 6000 lb capacity in a 12,500 lb plane. Seems worth it to save on an extra pilot.

It it possible that the door is too big and couldn't be operated with an open-jump door configuration? Perhaps the door has some structural features when closed and can't simply be removed and replaced with a slide-up jump door.

How does it navigate back to the DZ and land?

I'm closing in on 100 jumps and curious if there's any benefit to getting a coach rating when I'm eligible. I've got a regular M-F 8-5 job that pays more than enough to pay for skydiving and I'm also busy with my kids activities (coaching soccer, etc.) I see myself jumping every other weekend except in winter with the occasional boogie thrown in, so don't see myself jumping more than 100-200 times per year. The main benefit I see is keeping up with safety protocols and also getting to know the new jumpers at the DZ. I wouldn't mind pitching in occasionally if the DZ is in a pinch, but when I jump, I'd rather be having fun rather than jumping to earn a few bucks or a free jump ticket. My DZ has instituted a beginner program this year where people with a few hundred jumps are organizing those just off their A license. I'd love to pay it forward when I'm in that spot, but don't think a coach rating is needed for that. Any thoughts?

I just got my A license at Orange earlier this year. Great, safety-focused training program, but not the cheapest.

During totality (if you're in the zone), you can photograph or look at the sun without a filter. This website has a lot of info. http://www.mreclipse.com/SEphoto/SEphoto.html You have to be in complete totality to not use a filter--either for your eyes or your camera. 99% doesn't cut it.

Skydive Orange is having their Big O boogie this weekend. It's about 90 minutes northwest of Richmond. I think you have to register in advance and it's almost sold out.

On jump #6 yesterday, I started to get a leg cramp about 5 minutes before exit. The plane was so crowded I couldn't really extend my leg to relieve it. I was considering not jumping, but it resolved itself and I had an uneventful jump. Have you ever chosen not to jump (other than clouds rolling in or something else that affected the entire load)? Why?

Hadn't thought of the rapid descent. I had my first one last week. We got up to 14K and couldn't find a hole in the clouds so took a rapid dive to 5.5K for hop and pops. I was a little surprised how quickly we descended. Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised because the plane usually beats me to the ground.

If an appearance on America's Got Talent is the precursor to Olympic recognition, we're going to have a lot of totally messed up events in the next Olympics. Fire breathing, sword swallowing, tolerating massive blows to the testicles, etc.

I'm a new jumper with a Pilot 188 ZPX at 1.06 loading. I bought the canopy used with 450 jumps but new HMA lines. The first few jumps, there was a lot of slack at the top and a weak flare. I had the rigger take off 2". It's still weak--I'm basically at my hips before it levels off, and there's not much below that for the final punch. And I can't stall it in toggles--even after the shortening. I can stall it if I grab the top of the toggle but not my normal hand position in the bottom of the loop.

By default, the Viso II+ does not detect short freefalls and put them in the log. I put it in student mode the other day for a series of hop and pops, and it recorded them just fine. I don't really need the data, but it's helpful to keep the jump numbers in the device aligned with those in my paper logbook. I can't find a downside to leaving it in student mode. Am I missing something?