Ron

I have been reading this for a while... If a person is a risk to himself....Then he is a risk to me as well. An accident happened in Lake Wales not to long ago where one guy turned into another at 100 feet....They both died. A reckless person has the ability to end my life while ending theirs. Another thing to look at is with each person who dies, we get closer to having another body impose rules on us (FAA, local legislation ect). This sport is as free as it is because we regulate ourselves.... If a person is a danger... Educate him If he does not listen... Ground him, and educate him If he still does not listen... Banish him. I would rather he die on someone elses DZ. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You can go out HAHO and move farther (unless there is a kicking wind). The aerodynamics of the thing would be shot with even a simple basic combat load.....a much smaller type of load than SF would use. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I only know of the testing ZHills did a few years ago. The R side JM has a handle that can release the BOC along one edge. The PC then falls out, and launches pretty good. It hits the wind from between the students legs. I have seen a lot of video that was taken during testing, and I am confident in the system. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

General rule of thumb.... I got this From Brian Germain (Big Air) and I like it. Your wingloading should directly relate to your jumps. 100 jumps? 1.1 200 1.2 300 1.3 400 1.4 500 1.5 600 1.6 (get the idea, or do I hafta keep going?) While there can be no "rule" for each person, it is a great guide. Canopy instruction can allow you to skip levels, but if you follow this plan you have a good chance of staying in one piece. "You can always jump something smaller, if you live through the canopy you have now." Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Its very normal... It will go away, and sometimes come back. With 2,500 jumps every once in a while I am sitting on the plane and think "What the hell are you doing?" I just think about the emergency procedures and go for it.. Have fun, relax and practice your Emergency procedures. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The FAA does not have an age limit... The USPA does, its 16 with parental consent, 18 without. As long as the DZO is not a group member, and he does not mind taking the extra risk that could go with a child accident. You can jump. Charlie had 80 tandems with Mike at age 8-9. He did his 500th at 11. Ron Mike owns the plane, and the DZ. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have 6 rides on a PD113.... I love it. I used to have Dive loops on my reserve risers. I could get a good hook out of it. (put on by the factory so don't ask) My new rig does not have them.....RWS kinda laughed at me when I asked. I have landed straight in, and once DEEP in brakes to keep from hitting a large group of trees. I have a 1.6 wingload on it... It does everything I ask of it and more.... Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You have a swoopaholic like chuck at your DZ....ask him. Get advice from the instructors at the DZ. Talk to Tony Thacker...last time I checked, he owned the DZ, was the S&TA, and owned a gear store....He also is very skilled with a canopy himself.... Ask the people around you what they think. I don't know you (as most people on this forum) so how can I tell how you fly? Ask the people who see you land, ask them to watch you. My only real thought is....If you have to ask, it might be good not to do it. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Bill, I am not so sure that the 1.9 will surf more than the 1.7. If I recall it is close to the same distance, but just faster. I know no one pays attention to the labels, but I did say that at 1.9 it will still fly,and be safe, but I did also say that it was my opinion. In my opinion, a Stiletto is best flown below a 1.7....More like 1.5. I base this on my experiance, with both wingloadings. Just putting info out based on my observations....I never said it was law, or correct for that matter. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I do a 180 either left or right most of the time. However I also do at least once a weekend...trafic permitting, and I am not team training. 270's left and right, And as it was called years ago a "Super Sonic Dig" 90 left then 270 right or 90 r, 270 l. Just to stay in practice. I also work on flying straight in and landing in the peas. (I just requalified for my PRO on my V96). I have a Velocity 96 at 1.9, a ST107 at 1.7, and a Sabre 107 at 1.7. Over 2,500 jumps total. 600ish on a ST120 over 1000 on a ST107 around 120 on the V96 400 or so on an Star Trac I/Sharpchutter. The rest on all kinds of stuff from Raven II to Extreme 69's Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Oh my god.....someone does listen. I am amazed, and I am pleased that you are experianced enough to know that.... I think I am gonna cry. Ron Canopy NAZI #3..... Look I got a number!!!! "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I disagree. A 1.9 loaded Stiletto is very flyable.....but it does not perform as well as it did at 1.6. I would not recomend anything over a 1.6...for a Stiletto, and I think that 1.4-1.5 is the best range. I have 600 jumps on a 1.4 loaded ST., and 1000 on a 1.7 loaded ST. And PD's website has 181.9 pounds listed as MAX for a 107. Thats a 1.7 wingload. Infact ALL Stilettos are listed as 1.7 as MAX. If you want to load higher than that get a Vengence, or Velocity....I have a Velocity I load at 1.9. It is a much better canopy at that wingload than a Stiletto. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

What other sport is a World Champion going to be living in a trailer on a DZ? It is part of the sport....With out big sponsorship, it will never happen. Big sponsorship will most likley never catch on due to most people on the street think we are all mad and cannot relate to us. Even Bubba can pretend he is in the Daytona 500 from stop light to stop light. "What wins on Sunday, sells on Monday" a car sellers saying... It does not relate to Skydiving, and the skydiving industry is maxed out giving away sponsorship. Think about the volume of product that moves....thousands of cars sell everyday.....I think Sunpath has made a total of 15,000 rigs. Hell, that many Cars sell every WEEK. Also, some people need cars....no one needs to skydive. Please don't write 100 replys saying you NEED to skydive....you may really WANT to but it is not a need. If you think it is...you need to go back to Economics 101. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

4NB out of Sebastion. I think a 11.6 in 98 in OPEN. Syncronicity won the World Meet with a 15.7 This years team is already very close to that level, and they have only 40 jumps. VMAX a 15 AVG team any day of the week. The Female Norgie team did a 14+. I know there are more, but I am at "Work" Ron The French have a team this year. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

First time I saw knee flying was several years ago.....There was an artical in Parachutist about ti from Dale Stewart I think..... The first time I saw it in person was in the Bragg tunnel with the Knights. Kurt was doing it, and I thought it was very cool. Now I do it all the time in the skyVenture tunnel when I am coaching and waiting for the next student. It is a lot of fun, although I have not done it in freefall yet....to busy training. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

1. don't care as long as this years nationals does not happen again. I like to know how I stand. before I go to bed. 2. Good idea. But don't let it take to long. 3. For the Nationals yes...but not IPC. I still think the womens thing is stupid and degrades women, but if it has to exist they should have to have women video people. I talked to McEachern, and quote: "A female videographer of the same caliber may not be available".....So now females can't be as good as men in video? this subject kills me. 4. They have an offical practive day Quade, but most teams dont use it and the judges sit around all day with nothing to do....This says if you want to use them you have to tell them. That way if there is nothing to do the judges can go home. 5. I agree with this, if you want to play all female then you should not be allowed to play on the mixed teams either...again, I think Female 4way is stupid as hell. Were is womens LIB???? 6. Yeah let them jump. 7. I like this, it adds to the event....Jump them in reverse order for the last 2 jumps. 8. I hate this rule. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yes Hillard.....I forgot. He died in an Airplane crash at Sun N Fun in Lakeland,FL. what 4 years ago? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Freddy Jones Band "In a day dream" Sounds almost like it was written for skydiving. "I'm already in...In a daydream" "No one around...Just me and the sky" I like the band, and it really fits Tandems. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You have to understand that most of these DZ's that do this have been around for a long time. Back in the 70's-80's a lot more people burned in (as opposed to hooking in now). Crater tours are a throw back to then....And like I said they don't happen much anymore. But I will tell you that if you have ever seen one, that place on earth will always appear different to you. It is a way of paying respect, and a way to remind you of the risks, and your own mortality. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

It is morbid, and not all DZ's do this....In fact few did. And very few still do this. But it is important to remember that this sport can kill you, and this did a very good job of bringing that point up. To many times DZ's dance around the fact that this is a high risk sport. It's not dangerous, but it does carry a higher risk of death. I am not saying that the old "Blue Skies,Black Death" way of skydiving is better, or we should go back, but it is very important that we don't think of this sport as "safe". I know to many people who really don't act like this sport can kill. They throw around sayings like "Blue Skies, Black Death", "Get in or Go in" ect...and a lot have never seen death at a DZ. (I hope they never do, and I hope they don't lose a friend. But be in the sport long enough, and it WILL HAPPEN.) They want to pretend that people don't die...These people should be shown. Its not about morbid curiosity...its about a wake up call. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I was always told the first batton pass was 1957 at Ft.Bragg, NC. I think it was Snyder and Stewart. And I have also heard that it was done first in France...But no one knew about it until the Ft.Bragg jump. Anyone? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Long ago at Z=hills they (I hear) used to pour plaster of paris in the craters. At a lot of DZ's I have been to I have been taken on the "crater tour". It was almost part of the check in. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well the Excall I jumped was old, and in relation to my Stiletto it had high toggle and riser inputs. It did have a short toggle range...It droped me on my ass when it stalled once. But like I said it was old, and had a lot of jumps on it. One more thing.... If you look at JC's progression, He did advance quickly for the time. But the canopies he was jumping are still high performance today (yes they are not cutting edge, but still High Performance). The top end of canopies has increased, and the knowledge has increased as well. But the individual jumper still has to learn all the things that JC needed to learn back then today. Take notice that he did a lot of stepping down 190,170,150 then a Stiletto 150 (same size,different wing) then downsized. He took a step by step progression. That is what gave him his skill to be one of the best. I would have to guess that if he had gone from Sabre 190 to Stiletto 97 in 500 jumps he would not be as good as he is today....I bet he learned tons on each size and type of canopy before he moved on. I don't have a problem with people jumping high performance canopies.....I just would like to see a step progression. Get a Xbraced canopy...but spend some time under a Stiletto,Cobalt...ect first. Go from size to size, not from a 190 to a 97. Each size of canopy can teach you loads. Don't rush it, and risk never learning what you need to know. And increasing your risk of death/big pain. You are all adults, and signed a waiver....but I hate to see people broken because they let ego, not skill pick the canopy. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Heres another question... I have a Pro Dytter... It works great, but after I land it starts making these quiet beeping noises???? I think it is just the batterys, but I have never heard of one doing this before... Anyone? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Dave is right, but I think you are asking for how. While I don't think it is possible to coach over the internet..... There are more ways to turn than I care to talk about. The "cool" way to do it changes every year. It used to be that you would bend your spine and that would turn you....it works. But what is "cool" now is to dip, and layover your leg, while pushing the Air with your arms.... If you are even upper and lower body, you will spin in place.... You really need to talk to someone in person. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334