Airman1270

I remember the date because I was a student at the time at Duanesburg, NY. Sat around all day long waiting for the wind to cease, then made my 6th static-line jump that evening. Best wishes to the friends of the victims. Cheers, Jon S.

Norm will be observing his 40th anniversary in the sport the weekend of September 6 & 7 at Skydive the Farm in Rockmart, GA. He is asking old friends & anyone else interested to come out for some time together and perhaps a jump or two. (Hopefully he'll bring along his Para Commander so we can do some round accuracy.) No RSVP necessary, just be there if you can. Cheers, Jon S.

Many of my DZ visits are drive-bys. Make a couple of jumps and head home. Sometimes I camp overnight, and have noticed that almost everybody disappears after dark. Last year I was in the hangar at the Farm packing as the last rays of sunlight receded in the west. The place was desolate. I remember the days when everyone would be milling around drinking and talking and packing. There was no caravan of cars heading out to find a place to eat, nor was there a corresponding caravan returning a few hours later. I had the place nearly to myself for the rest of the night. Could the half-dozen-plus camper trailers behind the hangar have something to do with this? A few years ago I drove all day and arrived at the Ranch late at night. After setting up camp I poured (another) large drink and headed to the campfire which was surrounded by a couple of dozen people. As I sat with them to unwind and enjoy the DZ experience it became apparent that this group consisted mostly of new people who were at the DZ to make first tandem jumps. There appeared to be few DZ "regulars" in the mix. It had been a few years, but I still had memories of the Ranch being a place where many people liked to party into the evening. What's happening? Or are we all just getting too old? Cheers, Jon S.

Same here, and I never had the chance to get to know him very well in the first place. Back in the spring I made my first visit to the Farm after several months off and his huge "I love life" smile was noticably missing. I don't know if this is the proper forum, but does anybody have any information as to what exactly happened? I never heard anything beyond the initial report back in December. Thanks, Jon S.

... If you go to the World Team website, you will find that AADs are mandatory for participation in their world record jumps. I think trying to build a 400 to 500 Way formation in freefall MIGHT be too dangerous without an AAD. Apparently the World Team's organizers think so... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - The reason for this might have to do with the fact that the people who organize such events spend much time immersed in a DZ culture in which AAD use is so commonplace that, in their circles, they do not interact with a significant number of jumpers who choose not to use these devices. In recent months I've read of two fatalities which might not have occurred had the victims NOT been wearing AAD's. One incident which comes to mind is the plane crash in Missouri. One of the victims was apparently making her way out the door when the AAD fired, entangling her reserve with the aircraft. AAD's are reliable but not perfect. At times they can misfire. When I'm floating in preparation for a group exit I don't want my reserve suddenly catching air and pulling me over the tail. Nor do I want the added expense and maintenance hassle involved. I can count on one hand how many times I've been in freefall under 2000' and I always knew where I was. Examples given here of DZ's that require AAD's include two Virginia locations. Funny, right near the Washington D.C. area and it's festering population of busybody totalitarian liberals who know what's best for everybody. Coincidence? Cheers, Jon S.

Oh no, I wasn't suggesting this would be a good idea. Just wondering whether it had been done. The image I have in my mind has to do with someone perhaps grabbing a pilot chute and dragging the mess "safely" behind, with little opportunity for entanglement. Of course, trying to maneuver toward the errant main while having a hand free to grab with would be difficult. And the comment about the closing speed illustrates yet another factor to consider. No, I won't be trying this anytime soon. Cheers, Jon

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ So far the examples cited as evidence that this may not be a good idea involve people snagging the cutaway main on their feet and thereafter becoming entangled. What about simply reaching out and grabbing a piece of the main with one's hand? It would seem that it would be easy enough to let go if it became a control problem. Anyone know of any examples of such a "save?" Cheers, Jon S.

You are narrow-minded. I am open-minded. You are calling for censorship. I am calling for freedom & choice. Furthermore, you continue to ignore the fact that secular-humanism not only IS a religious viewpoint, but one which has led to the murder of millions of people in the 20th century alone. Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany, China, Cuba, Cambodia, North Korea were/are among the more popular tourist destinations controlled by secularists. In addition, you think it should be a crime for me to refuse to submit my kids to that influence. The fact that an idea finds its basis in Judeo-Christian Scripture does not, in and of itself, mean that such an idea should automatically be withheld from the education experience. There is nothing wrong with students graduating from the system having learned to have some respect for what is not only a classic piece of literature, but is the very foundation of western civilization. You so caually dismiss "religious" ideas, yet I'm sure you'd be pretty upset if you entered into a business relationship with someone and he failed to treat you according to the standards of Scripture. You cannot identify a single problem that has ever been caused by someone putting Biblical principles into practice, yet you think the school system should censor the single most influential piece of literature ever written. Amazing. Jon

...The students should receive a secular education from the public schools.... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ AHA! This is the crux of the matter. You admit that the purpose of the school system is to indoctrinate young people into a religious world view that contradicts that of a large majority of their parents. (Both secular humanism and Judeo-Christian tradition are "religious" viewpoints. Please don't quibble about this.) You are wrong. This was never the intention of the Founders or of the people who created the public school system. Liberal judges have "interpreted" the current version into existence, but the original intent and practice of the schools (which included education regarding Biblical principles) never was unconstitutional. In short, you think the power of the state should be used to teach my kids what you believe, while at the same time you think it should be a crime to expose your kids to what I believe. You are a tyrant. You are the one who is imposing your narrow views. You are ramming your religious values down my kids' throats. You are the one who is prosyletizing, while I simple ask that both sides be presented. I am calling for fairness and choice. Meanwhile you think I should be dragged in front of a judge if I choose not to follow your advice. Hitler would proud. Cheers, Jon

...Unfortunately, if education were not mandatory there would be a lot of children in this country who never enter a classroom. If you think illiteracy and lack of critical thinking skills are a problem now, just imagine how much bigger the problem could get.... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Thanks everyone. The problem is that 1) The schools are pushing a curriculum of political ideology, rather than truly educating people, and 2) School officials see themselves as state officials who have the right to contradict parental authority. Notice what is not being taught. Kids are not learning economics. They are not learning a balanced understanding of American history. They are not being taught to appreciate the genius of the Founders and the system they created. They are not being taught to appreciate the good things about this country. Instead they are being taught to disregard the Founder's because they "owned slaves." I was in my 40's before I ever knew that some of these guys owned slaves. Today this is emphasized. Why? It's completely irrelevant. Why is so much classroom time being wasted on Black history? When was the last time anyone's life was ever affected by how much they knew about Harriet Tubman and the underground railroad? Not that there's anything wrong with knowing this stuff, but the current system is using this information as a tool to stir up racial animosity. Young black people are growing up in a colorblind world, only to be indoctrinated into believing that whitey hates them. They then build up hostility to whitey, who is surprised and confused to find out that he's being accused of harboring attitudes he never had. Why is so much classroom time being wasted on origin-of-life discussions? And why is the "teaching" so one-sided? It is possible to teach students the basic theories behind both sides of the debate in a single afternoon, then move on to more important matters while leaving it up to the students to decide whether to persue the matter on their own. It's not the school's role to pressure students into believing one side or the other. (If you want a laugh, watch the "open-minded," "logical," "free-thinkers" among us twist themselves into a pretzel as they try to explain why their for censorship and opposed to exposing kids to both sides of this subject.) Look at what's happening on college campuses. Recent high school graduates have been indoctrinated into shouting down conservative speakers. They have never been taught how to do critical thinking. Instead, they react emotionally to stereotypes. In Atlanta, a bunch of college students protested the selection of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as commencement speaker. Why? Because many years ago he had been accused of making rude comments to a co-worker. Never mind that the charges were unsubstantiated and politically motivated. These ignorant jerks have gone through high school and college, yet after spending all this time and money they are incapable of using a little common sense and appreciating the unique perspective a member of the Court might have to offer. I could go on for hours. Again, what is happening in the schools that is so important that parents should risk being shot by police if they decide not to participate? If kids don't get an "education," so what? They can always learn what they need to know later in life. But the current system appears to exist for the express purpose of creating secular socialists whoi will offer knee-jerk votes for Democrats. And frankly, I'm tired of hearing all this crap about how incompetent parents are. Sure there are some bad apples, but parents are facing an uphill battle. If attendance were not mandatory the schools would be forced to offer educational priorities that parents would want to pay for. Most people would want their kids educated, and would shop around for the schools that best suit their needs. So what if young graduates enter adult life without knowing much about slavery? At least they'd be able to do basic math without a calculator, and could write a cohesive paragraph explaining an intellectual idea. Cheers, Jon S.

Everyone with an ounce of credibility agrees that the public school system is either 1) a dismal failure, or 2) is quite successful if its intention is to create generations of semi-literate secular socialists who are incapable of critical thinking. A thorough study on the topic was released 25 years ago. Candidates for public office routinely offer their proposed solutions, indicating that they ackowledge the problem. (Few people publicly declare that the system is operating at peak performance and doesn't need any modification.) Given the blatant problems with public education, why not simply repeal compulsory attendance laws and give parents the right to decide whether to send their children into these failed institutions? While there may have been a time where mandatory attendance could arguably result in an overall positive influence on society as a whole, there is little evidence that this is currently the case. Parental choice would require the schools to provide a product that people would want to pay for. This would result in the schools fixing themselves, as they seek to attract customers. If you're against freedom & choice in this area, why? What is going on in the schools that is so important that parents should risk being shot by police if they refuse to comply? Cheers, Jon S.

I guess for the freefall thing you have to be a true minuteman _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ What do they do for the remaining 45 seconds? Cheers, Jon S.

While I haven't flown in about four months, I usually don't mind winter jumping. I still have some fond memories of being the only student in a group of about a dozen jumpers who showed up the last weekend of 1983 at Albany Skydiving in upstate NY, using a kerosene heater to preheat the Cessna while we scraped ice off the wings prior to the first lift. My main problem with winter jumping was showing up at the DZ later in the day and trying to find enough people to fill the plane. Cheers, Jon S.

Yippee for me. At least I don't have to worry about dying young. Would like to celebrate with a jump, but why should this week be any different? (Have been trying to get to the DZ for two months, but was always weathered out. Now the rigs are out of date. Sigh.) Damn, I only made six jumps since my last repacks. Oh well, at least I'm an American and can complain bitterly about such minor hassles. Hope to see everyone soon. Cheers, Jon S.

Can't say he'd be worse off without pharmaceutical enhancement, but I hate to see pot being blamed for things like poor academic performance & stealing. I graduated from high school in the mid-1970's and have tasted the party, but I performed well on the job and did not get involved in cheating or stealing. Seems like Mom's not just letting it slide, though. She's taking charge and has good friends in her life. I predict positive long-term results. Cheers, Jon S.

You'll be fine. The biggest problem you'll deal with is an element of DZ culture that worships at the altar of currency. Does any DZ in your area offer static-line training? This program allows you to make a few jumps and learn the basics for less money than AFF or a string of tandem$. Just a thought. Many of the best skydivers you'll ever meet went the static-line route. You'll master basic skills and gain a boatload of confidence even when you "only" have a few dozen jumps. My student career spanned over two years, including that layoff after my first-jump injury. After that, I continued to jump at a very modest pace. At my peak I averaged about 60-70 jumps per year. I currently average fewer than 30-ish jumps per year, but I long ago learned the skills necessary to do this safely. One of those skills is knowing my limits. You'll never find me doing head-down with ANYBODY or inserting myself in a 40-way without making sure the organizer knows my abilities. Nor do I have any interest in downsizing from my 220. You can learn this sport at your own pace and jump safely as long as you can find people willing to allow you such flexibility and who won't constantly suggest that you're a jump ticket away from certain disaster. A clear mind and a safe attitude will more than compensate for a sporadic schedule. Cheers, Jon S.

Apparently you are mostly a libertarian/conservative. While I believe abortion should be illegal because of the human life factor, I appreciate your consistency on the matter. Far too many pro-abortion supporters are pro "choice" about this issue and anti-choice about everything else. With regard to drugs, I think the government has a legitimate interest in keeping illegal drugs illegal. The problem is the heavy-handed enforcement of minor violations and the poisoning of the police culture which teaches cops that any intrusion into a citizen's private affairs can be justified by saying they were looking for drug violations. Conservatives make suggestions. Liberals make laws. If you don't do what a liberal tells you to do you end up in front of a judge, and if you resist the police are authorized to shoot you. Cheers, Jon S.

...I know this is a constitutional right, but how long will it be until ... The way I see it, the real problem is over-population. The more people there are, the more nut cases you have shooting people... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ In theory yes, gun ownership is a constuitutional right. So why are we hassled by the cops for possession? Liberals grudgingly agree that it's a right, then they pass a bunch of ancillary laws making it a crime to have a gun in a position where it can actually be useful to you if you need it. There is no such thing as overpopulation. The earth can handle many more people than it currently does. The issue is left-wing control of the public school system. Students are not being taught the moral foundation that would prevent most people from wanting to hurt others in the first place, gun or no gun. 50 years ago we had much easier access to guns and much fewer violent incidents. But the schools are dominated by socialist political activists who think Judeo-Christian moral principles are dangerous and that the Bible is something from which children must be protected. A liberal is someone who thinks cross-dressing in the workplace is a constitutional right, but owning a gun is a crime. Cheers, Jon S.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Such comments are typical of people who rarely/never actually listen to what these people are saying. In O'Reilly's case he has taken on elements of society that deliberately seek to eradicate any respectful mention of Judeo-Christian tradition from the public square. With regard to the war against Christmas, he is not dumping on people who say "Happy Holidays." He is taking on major corporations which in the past have ORDERED employees NOT to greet customers with "Merry Christmas," etc. In addition, he has criticized those who would change our traditions by force (i.e. "holiday trees.") O'Reilly did not start this war. He has taken a defensive position against the aggression of the secularists who have attempted to ram their narrow beliefs down Americans' throats for many years now. All he is doing is drawing attention to the matter, providing information so people can make informed decisions. The fact that educated citizens are choosing not to do business with companies that support such policies is simply a function of the free market. Cheers, Jon S.

Overall, I support USPA and appreciate its efforts on our behalf. I have been critical of the leadership's willingness to accept the knee-jerk premise that the proper response to any unfortunate incident is more regulation. The creation of the "coach" rating not only was a solution to a problem that did not exist, but has only caused new problems by making it impossible for an experienced jumper without the rating to make fun jumps with recent graduates. Likewise, the creation of arbitrary currency standards has resulted in more expense and hassle for people who dared take a few months off. In addition, it would be nice to see an aggressive policy AGAINST mandatory AAD policies. These decisions have created a generation of jumpers who are afraid to jump without an AAD. who think they need formal retraining after a layoff, and who think that allowing me to jump with a new graduate with 20 jumps is an incident waiting to happen. These compaints are legitimate and deserve to be taken seriously, rather than being dismissed as USPA bashing. On another note, it is damn near impossible to attend USPA meetings. Why would we criticize anyone for failing to show up regardless of their complaints? Cheers, Jon S.

I'll try to get out there for a few hours on Saturday. I'd like a slot on the ash dive if possible. Of course, Lee had plenty of friends with whom he was closer than I, so we'll see what happens. Cheers, Jon S.

Wow. Just passing through the library and checking the website... Few people know my phone number, but if anyone can call with any relevant information it would be appreciated. Hug to Brandy. , Jon S.

Thanks Billy. Some of the funniest stuff I've read in years. Cheers, Jon S.

But teachers and school administrators implement policy, often even more stupidly than the board. They don't get off the hook for anything besides the zero intelligence policies.... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ This is yet another of many, many examples of idiocy in the schools. These stories are legion. The solution is simple: Repeal compulsory attendance laws. This will force the schools to adopt policies which do not blatantly contradict parental authority & common sense. No other approach will do. Cheers, Jon S.

??? .. Well this really caught my attention!! I was told paraglide canopies could, but not ours. Is there anything you do? watch for? etc. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I feel a memory coming on. Casa boogie, Ellijay, GA 1995. Star Trac 290. Caught the thermal over the runway at about 1400', held deep brakes for a few minutes. Watched the rest of the load land, gather up gear, and return to the hangar. Watched the plane turn on final, land, and taxi to the loading area. Lost about 300' in 3-4 minutes. Finally couldn't take the pressure and returned to full flight and landing. The best part was imagining the spectators seeing nearly 30 canopies in the air, then watching everybody land except for one guy... I've since downsized to a 220, and there I'll stay for a long time. Landing first is overrated. , Jon S.