PilotMike

and noone drops in.... and you don't fall and get eaten by a shark -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

A wise man once carved into a desk at my old high school... -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

Mine reads about 400' low once above 6,000.' I brought it flying a couple of times and compared it to the aircraft altimeter to see where it was going wrong cuz it always ended up reading 0' on the ground. It hangs up a little at 2K and 6K... I just set it to the right side of the 0 to make up for that hang up at 2K. Breakoff, pull, reserve altitudes are all below 6 anyway. -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

As AggieDave's jump pilot, I believe that he doesn't communicate by talking or with sounds. I think they recognize his scent as one of their own. Hey Dave, how many times did I have to open the window today? That's not counting the one you saved for me once the door was open -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

From the clicky... "You find yourself mentally telling the pilot when to flare while landing on a commercial flight." I actually did that today! I thought it was because I'm a pilot. I guess indirectly it's because I'm a skydiver because I didn't start flying until after I started jumping. -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

Lowest year 28, highest 103 -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

I want to express my sincere condolences to you and yours. I began jumping with my dad when I was 16 and he was 46. Since then, I consider him one of my very best friends. We've been jumping together now for more than 7 years. You should know that "Pops" and his son not only loved each other but are loved by the whole community of skydivers worldwide. Blue Skies, Mike -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

He's got a point, but I'd modify it. Since the pants aren't allowed in there, but people are... You should've taken the pants off and handed them to the guy. Then said, "Here you go, take them outside and I'll pick them up on my way out." That way, they still would've gotten your and your friends' money for drinks and the 'offensive pants' wouldn't be inside. -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

50th isn't too bad right? I don't work at a computer. I'll let you know when I fly my 1000th load. I'm gettting close. PS - Fly is bold so you don't make load jokes. -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

Reminds me of a tandem out at Aggieland recently (I'm pretty sure AggieDave was the TM). Anyway, the guy was mid 30's, an Elvis impersonator, and he had the best question when he landed and was asked what he thought. All he said was, Perfect, I think... Nobody will ever answer that (or the licks to the center of a tootsie pop) -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

Wait a minute... Girls don't do that -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

Some pics are labeled 'NSFW' (Not suitable for work). You shoulda labeled that one NSTLAE (Not suitable to look at, EVER) -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

I'm actually kinda disappointed it's Friday. As a jump-pilot, it means I have to go to work and not jump. Oh well, the 17 jumps I got in during my 3 days at Rantoul equal about the month and a half previous... -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

All the places I mentioned before... PLUS RANTOUL!! It was awesome! -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

I just have to LMAO at that one... That recording used to get stuck in my head like a stupid song. I'd find my self saying it in that annoying voice. HAHA -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

Now wait a minute... Isn't the point of cross-bracing and airlocks to make the canopy more rigid? I think you're onto something with that starch idea... -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

http://www.news-gazette.com/story.cfm?Number=14294 Rantoul mayor keeps promise, takes plunge By TIM MITCHELL © 2003 THE NEWS-GAZETTE Published Online August 5, 2003 RANTOUL – Rantoul's mayor took a flying leap Monday evening. Neal Williams, 46, summoned up the courage to sky dive at the Rantoul airport during the World Free Fall Convention. "It's not something I ever imagined doing in my lifetime," Williams said. "I'm sure some people will wonder if I go with or without a chute, but the Free Fall people assured me I would get a chute." Williams took part in a tandem jump, strapped to professional tandem jumper Marc Hogue, a former member of the Golden Knights Army parachute team. At the end of a business after-hours celebration sponsored by the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce, Williams and Hogue climbed aboard a plane and took a flying leap 14,000 feet above the Rantoul airport before landing on the airport grounds. "It was the most exhilarating thing I have ever done," Williams said. "I was nervous when I first got on the plane, but my tandem jumper was excellent. As we fell through the air, it was a complete rush because of all the wind. "Then, when Hogue opened the chute, it was peaceful. I felt like a bird soaring through the sky." Williams said jumping out of an airplane was one of the last things he imagined himself doing after being elected two years ago. But Williams summoned up the courage after his wife, Sheila, jumped at last year's convention. "That woman wouldn't quit talking about how much fun it was," Williams said. "She kinda shamed me into it." "I thought I would lose my stomach like on a roller-coaster ride," Sheila Williams said. "But sky diving is nothing like that at all. ... When you are floating under the parachute canopy, it is extremely peaceful. It is just like floating." Then, last winter, as convention officials debated whether to return to Rantoul, Neal Williams promised he would take part if the event returned to Champaign County. "I was apprehensive at first," Neal Williams said. "I think anybody would be, and the jitters really set in later on today. It's just an amazing feeling." Joining the mayor in the jump were his father, Robert Williams, 65, of Rantoul, and Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Joe Bolser. Robert Williams worked on airplanes for 20 years as a jet engine instructor at Chanute Air Force Base. "I got to fly a lot, but I never got a chance to jump," he said. When Robert Williams developed diabetes and had his legs amputated, one in 1998 and the other in 1999, he believed he would never get to sky-dive. "It had always been my big dream," he said. Then he found out about a program that allows paraplegics to do tandem sky-dives. "I found out that Neal was going to jump, so I asked him if he could arrange for us to jump together," Robert Williams said. Robert Williams said his jump was exhilarating. "As soon as we landed, I was ready to do it again," he said. -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

when you yell "DOOR!!" before leaving a restaurant -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

Just got back from Rantoul... Planned on buying a Neptune, but came back empty handed. The Altimaster/Alti-2 guy said he had 'no news, ask the Aerostore.' They told me to check on Wednesday or Thursday. I left Thursday at 11:00 am and they said that the Neptunes might come in 'later.' Does anyone know anything about when/where/price? I've heard $250, but it would've been nice to skip the S+H... -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

According to the DaKine guy at Rantoul, they are "getting out of the business." Didn't say exactly when...you might be too late (at least for a custom one). -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

Hahaha Dave. You sound like "The Parrot." And I want to correct you by quoting a shirt at the Convention. Front - Rantoul Rocks Back - Quincy Sucks -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

I've got the inside of my toggles labeled 'L' and 'R.' Also, any time I'm disconnecting a canopy still in the D-bag, I have two flat sticks with a rubber band around both ends to hold them together. The sticks are labeled too. You kinda make a riser sandwich with the risers going perpendicular to the sticks. It'd be really hard to mess up with either or both of those methods. -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

23/16 -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

I lived in Kansas City for years and worked at DFW last year. Waiting in line at security with the people for 1/2 a terminal building is a lot more annoying to me. There's never long lines at MCI, when they've got security for every 1-3 gates... -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

I'd like to be on it, but won't be arriving until Monday the 4th. 420 jumps, biggest is about a 20 way. -------- Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'