Ron

Does that seat two? Can it be jumped? (I can't believe nobody asked already...) Two seat. Could it be jumped? Yes, but not legally. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yep a little LSA Amphibian. I basically wanted a jet ski that I didn't have to trailer! "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

New Toy, pick it up next week. Still have the Pitts... Can't sell that. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

If anything, it is saying 200 jumps is not enough. See if the argument is that 200 jumps is 'too much' to ask, then a guy that had a handful more having an issue actually strengthens the argument against his position. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yep, and I provided a first hand account with my admittance that the distraction almost killed me.... With video "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Here is one, the jumper is me. The camera was 100% responsible for me being stupid and pulling below 1,000 feet. https://youtu.be/zGUkvl8HpQk Details are in the description. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

It was a solo sport. You went to the DZ and pretty much only jumped by yourself or with a camera person. Kinda like Style and ACC. Very gear intensive. Like Wing suits Dangerous, more so than just about any other discipline. I'd compare it to Tandem jumping... Where the student/board is there to make things more difficult. Take wingsuits, yes gear intensive but you can fly with others. Wingsuits are less dangerous because you can fold them up. And I don't really think skysurf was ever really *big*. There were some big names, there was the XGames, but it was not like you could go to the DZ and see several skysurf folks. So take a small group, with a higher level of danger, remove the flash of the XGames, and you end up with something that does not last. For example, I have been jumping since the 90's and never really was interested in it. Never felt like buying a board just to see if I liked it.... Maybe if one had been laying around the DZ, I would have tried it, but I don't honestly think so, because people offered to bring one to the DZ fr me to try. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You are not going to find most of the IATA manual online. They are a commercial organization and sell the materials. In fact at the last meeting there was quite a bit of discussion on how to better lock the computer version down to not allow printing and why they do not have an "app". Also, I can tell you from experience that if you show up with photocopies of an official book, the TSA (here in the US) just assumes you got the information illegally. You will get more mileage using the companies website. For example here is Vigil http://www.vigil.aero/commercial-flight-information Here is Cypres https://www.cypres.aero/documents/travel-documents/ I would have the relevant information printed out. I just hand them a business card and that usually stops it. If you encounter issues, be polite and ask for a supervisor. Have TWO copies of all the required information but only show them ONE. I had a TSA agent "confiscate" my photo copy of the TSA manual allowing rigs to be carried, saying I was, "Not allowed to have it"... I pointed out I printed it from their website and he said that was impossible. Don't say things like it is sealed by a "Rigger". Say it was sealed by an "FAA certificated parachute maintenance technician." It is not an explosive charge, it is an electronic cutter. Start writing down names of all the agents, start writing down times and everything they say and do. Do not do it aggressively, just start making notes. If they ask why, tell them you need to document this in case it causes you to miss your plane. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You do your homework yet? And for a second weekend, you didn't show up to teach me how to skydive. Go do your homework or just man up and show up. Until then, you are just nothing but ego and hot air. You want to continue this BS, you can PM me. But unless you are PMing me to tell me you will be at the DZ to school me... I have no interest in your empty words. End of message. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You said for a STUDENT to read the SIM. A person with a 'C' or any license is not a STUDENT, hero. But good try, didn't work, but you tried! Still waiting for you to explain why a *student* should read section 7. And I bet you have still not done your homework. I waited at the DZ all weekend and you didn't show..... "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

There is plenty of reason to suspect they would not fall through the wing. Even grade A cotton is pretty damn tough and a person could step on fabric and not step through it... They might stretch the fabric, and stepping on a rib may cause damage to the rib, but I seriously doubt a person is going to fall through a wing. Reference: I have owned 3 fabric aircraft. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The BOD should give their reasons in detail BEFORE they raise the dues, not after. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I was at the DZ all weekend. And still waiting on you to explain why it is a safety issue if a student does not read section 7 of the SIM? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

If they are not going to hold the DZ to any standard, then what benefit is the program? Simply put, the GM program only serves as an advertisement for the DZ. And the USPA likes it because one of the "requirements" is that a GM will only allow a USPA member to jump there.... So the USPA can force individuals to become members just so the DZ can advertise with the USPA. So I ask... If the USPA is not going to hold the DZ at all accountable to any of the requirements... What good is the GM program to the INDIVIDUAL members that the USPA is supposed to represent. Remember, this is not an organization for DZ's. It is not supposed to be PIA. It is supposed to be an organization that represents the individual members.... So if they don't actually hold a GM to any standard.... What benefit is it to THE MEMBERS? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Reminds me of the joke punchline: "I lose money on every unit, but I make it up in VOLUME!" If they are doing OK at 30k people, and doing worse if we add 5K people... Then their business plan SUCKS. Also, in almost every industry you get discounts for more, not less. So if it costs "X" per unit to print and sell 30K magazines, it should cost the same or less to print and ship 5K more. Yes, the actual number will be bigger, but the UNIT cost should be the same or lower. So they are trying to claim that more members means we are spending more on shipping... Yeah, but they also brought in more money due to the memberships. So unless the USPA loses money on each member, the reason given is BS. For instructors. But I am certified OW/AD/MS/CAVE/Normoxic and Hypoxic Trimix and spend exactly ZERO per year to be a diver. Just to skydive at most places in the US I have to pay 55 a year. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have no problems with the BOD telling the membership why they want more money. It's like you are arguing with someone else over a topic only you know. The posts speak for themselves. I am done wasting my time since you don't seem interested in actually having a discussion, but trying to start some issue. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I don't expect you to take anything as gospel. Believe whatever you like. Yet you actually do based on your position. I fail to see why expecting the BOD to tell the membership, in a membership organization, why they want more money is a controversial position worthy of your ire. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well, "you don't think".... Maybe the USPA should actually tell us WHY they want to raise the membership instead of me just taking your "I don't think" as gospel? The USPA should publish the agenda for the BOD meetings in the magazine. Then they should publish the meeting notes in the magazine to include voting records. But you DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WANT HIGHER fees and that is the very point. You just "don't think" it has to do with the magazine, but you have no clue what it actually is for. I don't see the BOD telling the members of a membership organization why they want to raise the rates as a controversial position to take. And they should do it in an open way, not in some meeting note. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

1. I ran for SERD in a special election. 2. I have communicated with the BOD several times over many issues. 3. I have callled the HQ on numerous occasions and been invited to meet with them to assist in research. 4. I have a firm grasp on budgeting, to include how the travel reimbursement works. Already proven that your comments were false and without merit. Wrong AGAIN, how many more BS accusations are you gonna try to sell? How about they use the very tool they created to communicate to the memebership? The magazine! Fact is they are a member organization and they should, I don't know, communicate with the memebers. I now wait for you to make more BS unsubstantiated claims devoid of any evidence instead of discussion points. Currently you stand at two strikes, what fabrication or outright lie are you gonna try next? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Great make that option easy and don't bother trying to raise rates! Ipads != to a magazine... Nice try however. Also, Amazon is not a membership organization, they are a retailer. I am also entitled to representation, but it seems the USPA is more interested in being part of the PIA, than support basic individual members. The FACT is that before you raise rates on a MEMBERSHIP group you need to clearly state WHY you want to raise them, not just vote yourself more per diem with your buddies. They have failed to communicate WHY they need to raise rates... If they just had some method to communicate to the members, you know like a MAGAZINE? If they picked poorly, yep. If one of my magazines stopped showing up, I would be trowing away only half of the ones I don't read now! Think about how green that would be! Save the World!!!! The point still stands, the BOD should have to communicate why they want a dues increase for a membership organization... They, clearly, have not done that. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

This is the dumbest reason ever. Change the USPA name to US Skydiving Association. That solves that non-issue and is more representative of, you know, skydiving. Worst comparison ever. Flying in the tunnel is just as much skydiving as paragliding is skydiving. Why isn't the USPA trying to get paraglider's to join? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You do your homework yet and tell all those people that you think you know more than me about skydiving and students? I'll be in Clewiston this weekend.... Put your money where your ego is. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

This..... It is lazy and unless they can give a reason for it, I want to know why they need more money. Are they giving it away due to lawsuits? Are they providing sponsorship? Are they doing coke off of hookers in Vegas at the BOD meeting? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Bored? You are jumping out of a freaking airplane, headed straight at the ground and only through skill and a bit of luck will your first parachute work. I'd be much more worried about not dying than getting bored. And I'll make a bet that the vast majority of people telling you that you will get bored can't do everything that a 190 can do. Let me be the first to tell you that after 7.5K+ jumps, pro rating, CRW stacks from two ways to 16 way diamonds, and jumping canopies from rounds to 69xft canopies that I could still learn things from/on a 190. Unless the guy telling you that you will get bored is one of the top canopy pilots in the world.... They could most likely still learn something on a 190. Meh, everyone claims that. Would you like some phone numbers of people that were never going to stop jumping and now don't jump anymore? First rig, buy used for almost ALL components. Rig - Used. Main -Used. Reserve - New or used (brand and size is more important that new or used. AAD - New or used. Jump suit - Used if you can find on that fits, new if you can't. Helmet.... UH, I'd get new, just me. You will find better deals on rigs with all components... So a rig with a main and reserve and AAD will normally cost less than trying to piece them all together one at a time. My first rig, used. Made 370ish jumps on it and then bought a new one. If you make it to 300-500 jumps, you will know what brand you like, what colors you want, what size you want... Etc. Right now you can only go from others opinions. If you buy used, you can sell and not take a big hit. If you buy new.... Yeah, you will take a hit on value. Buy used, if you make 300-500 jumps, then look at where you are and what you want. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

OK, so you don't care if you get the magazine or not. Sounds like a non-issue then. His point was that sending two copies to the same place is waste. And I know why they do it, to increase circulation numbers. But it is waste, hard to claim we need more money when we waste money "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334