weekendwonder

Tin Cup Blues, Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Coffee hardtop or convertible? Blues, Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

"Do I look like a mechanic? I mostly get paid to hurt people." Blues, Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

"I love the smell of napalm in the morning" Robert Duvall - Apocolypse Now "Badges? We doan need no badges... I doan have to show you no steekin badges" Blues Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

She ain't perfect, but consider the alternatives.. Blues, Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Maybe if they had handed out a few more guns... If ignorance is bliss, these folks are the happiest gang around. Blues, Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

When people find out what I do for fun, they inevitably say something like "Oh I couldn't do that, I'm afraid of heights" or "What in the world made you want to?" or the inevitable "I would never jump out of a perfectly good airplane." Usually, however, that is followed up with "What's it like?" Stock answer: "Like nothing you've ever experienced before or will experience again." and leave it at that. I don't try to convince them that they should do it or even try to talk them into finding out for themselves. Skydiving is something you want to do (and you have to WANT to do that first jump) or you don't, but if they show an interest, I offer to set them up with a good tandem/jump master, and to meet them at the DZ for moral support if they do decide to go. Had a couple of takers over the years, but not many. Taking that first dive requires a huge "leap of faith" (pun intended) that most folks don't (or won't) make. To each their own. Blues, Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

I think out of my 1st jump (AFF) class of 12 or so, I'm the only one who hung with it. Don't think my experience to be atypical, so I vote 1-2, max. Blues, Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Is that with or without the field pack, weapon and other gear? Blues, Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Yep, saw it yesterday. To paraphrase: "I was 90 seconds into a 12,000 ft night jump. You know... GO time..." Hmmmmm.... If you're 90 seconds into a 12,000 ft jump without having some silk out, it's not "GO" time, it's "Someone get a shovel and bury this mess that was me" time. Almost as good as the 5 minute freefall scene in Point Break. Blues, Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

750(+/-):2 (plus one I probably should've chopped but landed safely) Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Point taken and it's certainly a choice we each make. As I said, I'm not adverse to hiring a packer, but as a routine practice, it's not for me. Just believe that packing yourself helps you to learn about and reinforces your understanding of that piece of cloth and mass of strings upon which your life depends. Think that would be useful, particularly to someone starting out in the sport. And to the point of the original thread, I'm happy to help out someone who is trying to learn to pack for themselves without $ changing hands. Blues, Bob P. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

I guess packing proficiency isn't required for release from student status anymore? That's how I learned to first flat pack. Learned to pro pack from my rigger/equipment broker when I bought my first ZP canopy. That was part of the service. Not to rant, but with the proliferation of "for hire packers" (and yes, I've used them at boogies when jumping hard all day), it seems that a lot of newer jumpers don't feel the need to spend the time required to learn their equipment for themselves. Kind of sad... Bob P. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

What she said... We each have two pull altitudes: 1) The minimum altitude dictated as a "hard floor" based on your individual license/rating 2) The altitude where you are most comfortable dealing with the possibility of a mal. As long as 2) isn't lower than 1), it's your choice. Me? I'm something of a creature of habit, and try not to introduce unnecessary variables into the equation, regardless of temperature, if I don't have to. Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Just one; it was a reserve ride. Actually, the AAD on some student gear I was jumping fired for some unknown reason (no, I wasn't low) at about the same time I hit the ripcord on Jump #8 (about 10 years ago) Pull, look up... yep, good solid square overhead... Wait a freakin' minute... What is THAT slowly inflating out to the side? Crap... cut awaaaaaaaayyyyyy! One other thing I learned. Don't flare on landing. Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Same song, second verse.... If he hasn't mastered all aspects of flying the larger Hornet, why would he want to downsize and up the wingload? Will it be more responsive? Sure, but he doesn't appear to be able to handle the more responsive aspects ("played with risers") of his Hornet as it is. He should stick with the larger canopy until he can comfortably (and confidently) fly it in all aspects first before going to the Vengence. My 2 cents... Blues... Bob P Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Break off altitude is whatever you feel most comfortable with, consistent with your license/rating and any restrictions due to group size. If someone tells you that your "break off is too high", you should find other folks who think the way you do. Stick to your guns. Blues, Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Oooohhhh... 'twas true, that was a dicey grip on my part there, but understandable considering how badly I got hosed on the exit. haven't had to "belly up to the formation" like that in a looooonnnggg time (which is what it took to get back up to it). Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Whew! Then he wasn't talking about me... Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

I'd be interested, as well. Or maybe you should just post it here so you don't have to deal with keeping track of who wants it? Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Just back from Perris for the 2003 POPs World Record attempts. Unfortunately, we weren't successful in breaking the existing record after getting so close on several dives, but a great time was had by all who participated. Many thanks to Carey Peck, the plane captains, Perris Skydive, and the countless others who worked so hard to make it a great weekend. Wait'll next year... Blue skies, Bob P. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Thanks to all for the good info on traveling with a rig. I'm heading out today for Perris for the POPs W/R attempts. Gathered all the referenced docs together (USPA letter, TSA letter, airline policy info) and will take it with me through the carryon checkpoint. We'll see how it goes. Blues... Bob Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

The "'da Base" shirts were dropped off at the mailing place on Friday May 23, after 5 pm, so they probably didn't hit the delivery stream until the Tuesday after Memorial Day. Have heard from a couple of folks that they got theirs late last week/early this week, so they should be arriving shortly for the rest. Do know that I haven't had any "returned/undeliverables" yet, so keep your fingers crossed. BTW: What's this "Newbie" designation? Don't think it exactly describes me, does it? Bob P. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

By all means, continue to get your gear checked by another jumper before every jump. You never know when, no matter what ratings/experience you have, you'll miss something or misroute a strap. We're human and humans make mistakes. The trick is to do what you can to keep them from being fatal. Gear checks are one of the small things that you can do that can have a HUGE payoff. Don't worry about what others do. There's been more than one occasion where I've seen someone else getting a gear check that reminds me that I should do the same, so you can be a great example for others to follow. Bob P. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Texas POPs "da Base" t-shirts are in. I'll try to get them out to you (who ordered and PAID) by end of week. They turned out great, if I say so myself! Blue skies, Bob P. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.