Ron

Nope should be talked about..... But I'm canopy Nazi #3. So you knew I would say that. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I disagree here. If a rigger makes a mistake...It should be public. I don't want that rigger packing for me, and I should be allowed that info. As for the rest of this....Well an incident report is a tool to learn how someone died....It's serious. We should take an FAA approach to accidents...total disclosure. I think they take "accident" a little to far, but they don't cover anything up. As for cypres fire...yep talk about them....Bad landings yep again talk about them. If they are your friend and they screwed up...talk about it.. One of my best friends fucked up and bounced...I told people "He fucked up...he didn't stop the skydive. I miss him that fucking idiot. What an asshole!" And then I cried like hell at his funeral. But he still messed up....And I called it like I saw it. For the record it I do something stupid and die....Let me be the first to say (some one cut and paste this to the incident forum from me for me.) "What an idiot!!! was this guy brain dead? What was he thinking?" If you, or someone you care about does something stupid...and it can be learned from....sorry for your loss, but let it be known that it was a stupid mistake. I get real sick off "An AAD would have saved this person"....yep, and in most cases so would have pulling the fucking reserve. It's a persons mind ,not a electric box that is what makes skydiving safe or unsafe. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I don't know that, but I am sure they are, and have heard plenty of good things about the canopy, and the service. However.....A smaller pilot chute is NOT a good answer for hard openings. A container requires a certain amount of fource to open the container...A smaller pilot chute could cause problems with the snatch fource needed to open and pull the bag to line stretch. So, it's a bad idea. Go with the size PC that the CONTAINER maker says....Its part of the container...not the main. I have also only had maybe 5 hard openings on my Stiletto....ever out of maybe 2000 jumps on them. In fact I don't know anyone that has complained about a Stiletto opening hard. So thats why I went Stiletto...I find PD products to be much more consistant than any other parachute maker out there. I have jumped other canopies...and will continue to due so, but everytime I am looking to BUY a canopy...PD has always won. PD does tons of research, and testing....and it shows. I am looking forward to Brians new canopy, and Aerodynes new line... Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well geeze sorry!!! Well if you like I'll put you in a random only 4way this weekend with out a single vert....If fact you might be better at verts than some people...VRW get it? Steve J, myself, Box and you....I bet your brain gets fried. Just like Pip, you and Berry would waste me on a FF jump. I also never said you didn't know how to Flat fly...you have an AFF ticket..That speaks volumes.... And not starting anything, but did you take the course twice? If so was it due to not being current in flat? I know you can skydive, but did flat currency play a part? I only ask this due to it if it was a case of flat currency it could be used to state that if you want to do AFF later, it might be wise to do more flat jumps now. I agree, and never said other wise. Nope, but I do wish they would TRY RW it before they decide its boring. And I do wish they stay safe, and learn enough RW to stay alive. I also wish that they REALLY learn to sit before going headdown. Yep, I agree. I was even thinking of doing some sit this weekend. Its been a while, and with 2500 flat jumps I just might have enough flat skills to stay safe. (P.S. The smiley face is a hint that that was a joke!) Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Or it could just be that your "Hospital Trip" is gonna happen next weekend. I really hope not, but if you fly a canopy that is above your skill level...the chances that you will mess up increase greatly. If you get a canopy that is larger than your ego, and really learn to fly it, before you step down. you greatly increase your chances of never going to the hospital. You can always jump something smaller if you live through the canopy you have now. Why downsize quickly....its not a race Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have jumped both... I picked the Stiletto. I heard all kinds of good things about the Cobalt.. I was looking to replace my Stiletto, so I put about 20-25 jumps on a 105 Cobalt. It did fly very nice, but the openings slammed me. No matter what I did the openings slammed me. The manufactorer recomended I get a TINY pilot chute.....Ah no, not going to happen. Talk to any container maker....There is a reason that they give you the size pilot chute that they do. So MY PERSONAL experiance is that the Stiletto is better. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well I dont respect people that make me "do what they do just because they did it". A 2 day course will not teach you how to teach anymore than an A license should let you teach a FJC. I would rather have an experianced teacher teaching, than the best skydiver in the world who can't explain how to do it. there is very little danger of me WANTING to work at your DZ if thats the kind of attitude you take. Ah you took a BIC right???? Very little useful information was there.... Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Hey Cliff.....Its called a joke. A way to impart humor into a conversation. How about the reverse where FF guys are saying that RW was boring??? I bet that you could take me on a VRW jump that I would be way over my head....But I also bet I could put you in a flat jump that would leave you in the dust....Just a different specialty. I am impressed with GOOD FF....I however I think people are getting into it with out enough basic skydiving skills. Vertical speed differances kill...be it the ground, a person, a canopy...ect....VRW requires a lot of skill (I never said it didn't) and a very good ability to keep an eye on everything. A lot of 200 jump jumpers don't have it. But like I said listen to Missy... What do I know I only do boring 4way? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well, I would think that a Professor could teach skydiving. Even if it is not a "performance" sport. The idea of teaching is to relay knowlege to another.... A Professor can do that. I think that anyone that knows how to teach. Can teach as long as they understand the subject matter. Teaching is teaching. But the USPA does not see it that way...I have had several buddies of mine that are good jumpers, and professional instructors try to get the BIC waived....USPA said "nope". Seems stupid, but then you get to...."What qualifies?" So I understand it....You should be allowed to test out of some of the ratings though.... Oh well Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well All I am going to say is.... Listen to the people who have experiance. Missy Nelson just wrote that flat RW skill is needed. She has 3500 jumps and is GOOD at Freeflying (and cute). And you have people telling you that it is not needed...And some of these people have all of 200 jumps. Who do you think I would take advice from? Who should you listen to? Also just regular RW is not hard. Good RW is hard. And if most flat dives went like most VRW dives....we would call them zoos and vow never to do that again. But if it is your bag, have fun....but remember that it is the flat stuff that gets you away and saves your life. It would be a good idea to have the basics dawn before you get crazy....And if you ever want to be AFF or Tandem the Flat flying you do now will pay off. But what do I know? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yes, if an RW dive went like a freefly dive...we would call it a zoo and try like hell never to do it again. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I know the feeling....I tought martial arts for several years and I had to do a BIC AFTER I had a JM for 7 years. However, I understand the desire to have people know how to teach before you send them to the world to do it. But USPA should let you skip it if you have prior teaching exp. Anyway the BIC is gone now right? Replace by coach? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I work for FedEx....for 11 years... FedEx does not have Xray machines. We do have Customs and Drug sniffing dogs, but not Xrays. We also can open packages that we feel we need to. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Not a bad idea, a lot of teams use it. But you will find that if you can exit together with the proper timing, and presentation, most exits launch close to the same. However, some people "cheat" the exit a little. Meker launch can quickly turn into: Meker Donut Snowflake Adder Buddies Bipole Cat 360 Cat Zig marq Sidebody can turn into: Unipod Monopod Murphy Hook Bundy Crank Catacord ECT.... A Diamond is easy to launch and can be: Diamond Open accordian Buddies Ect.... A good way to start, but try the other exits...some are just as easy. Unipod is easy, Bow is easy..ect...Try them Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Once the fall rate is matched (by the feathers adding lead, or the Bricks loosing weight, or getting a bigger suit). Then it will not matter who is where. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well no, I don't do big ways anymore....I did the Javelin 110, and got invited to the 300 way. But I don't like big ways..I do 4way.... But when I do a large formation still (which is rare) I still look out the window when they open the door. Do I spot from the back? No, but I know about where I am and I trust the person who is spotting MY group, and my group only. I don't trust the guy who spotted the first group out if I am in another group. He is spotting for his group. If a guy in my group looks out and says its ok to go, I go. I just don't lemming out the door after the first group. So maybe I should have said each group should check the spot....But in my case most people mant me to check it since I was on a Demo team in the Army, and they really teach spotting. But BS aside....EACH JUMPER IS RESPNSABLE FOR HIS OWN SAFTEY!!!! This means looking out the door and making sure you can land on the DZ. The safest place to land...Is on target. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well if the program says 3,500 feet, then put them out at 3,500 feet. What is the reason for a low solo? 5 grand is not low. So yes....hold up the pattern, and the traffic. Do what is required. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

DZO does not want his full otter to be at 3500 feet when it can still be going to altitude... this is the real world. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

thats the same thing I have seen....however pilots don't like to stop climbing with an otter load at 3500 feet....on the last 3 "low" solos I have seen, they were all 5-6 grand. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

10-12 feet....It will not reach the tail. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

yeah at some places as "low" as 6,000 feet!!!! A very large differance from 3200. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Don't try to "encourage" people to do something they don't want to do....Just because you feel safe does not make it safe for everyone. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Each person is resposable for their own saftey.... If I am 1st out and the light comes on...I check the spot. If I am in the second group....I check the spot. Third....I check the spot Fourth....I check the spot... See a pattern here? If I don't like the spot..I go around. If I am first, and give the best spot I can for my group and the whole Aircraft, and the last groups land out...They should have checked the spot. I am not going to land my group out so the last group will land on....I will land on, and they should check the spot. The big problem here is people don't know HOW to spot....They THINK they do....To many times it is just a "green light go!" mentality... I always have, and always will check my exit point. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

OK....I don't get out unless I am happy with the spot. I am responsable for my saftey, and the safety of my group. If I don't like what I see....I don't go. If you are yelling at me to go, I will happily let you by. One time at Perris I was first out of (some tail gate aircraft, I don't remember which one). I had maybe 300 jumps at the time, most at a Cessna DZ. The green light came on, I looked down, and saw nothing. Not an Airport, nothing....I started to look forward, and the Airport was WAY off in the distance. I was not going to go. The others in the plane started to yell at me to go. I turned and told them no, that we were not ever close to the DZ. They continued to bitch and belly ache. I looked again, still not close enough. They started to yell at me. Now I had only 300ish jumps, and it was my first one at Perris. They all started to really scream at me to go. I looked down, still not close enough. They told me that I would go now, or they would ground me for being an idiot. I still didn't go. They really started to yell at me now. I looked down, and I thought I could make it back now, so my group left. We still landed off, and so did the next group. I waited like 15 seconds extra, and still missed the dz. I went up to the loudest mouthed asshole on the plane and told him the spot was fucked, and I will not get out again if I don't like it. I also told him that I would be happy to go see the S&TA, with him, and if the S&TA told sided with him, I would take the short drive to Elsinore. The safest place to land is on target. Now that I have said this...I recomend looking out the damn door on the ride up (this was a tail gate, do it was difficult). This lets you check drift at different altitudes, and know where you are at all times in relation to the DZ. I don't get suprized by the green light. And I know what the uppers are doing, becasue I have been watching them... All of this is a fault of people not learning to spot an Aircraft. I have probley 500 accuracy jumps, and over 100 live demos. I know how to spot, the green light does not know how to spot. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

And to add when you increase the G's on the wing, you increase the stall speed of the wing. Add in the fact that you are in a turn and some of your lift will have to be used to turn (Horizontal component of lift is what causes a turn). Your stall speed will again increase. Not something you want to do until you are very good at canopy flight. When in the groove, I can carve a little over 90 degrees. But that is on a canopy I have over 1000 jumps on, and over 2500 total. At 200 jumps on my Velocity I am just starting to carve it a little. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334