PROGRESSIVE

Thanks for the advise guys/gal. I get the impression there's some die hard Mac users out there. The "no Bill Gates," thing almost sells me on getting the Mac, just for that reason. We'll See.

I'm quickly coming to realize that this can be a huge money pit. I'll definitely look into the Mac, since I'm pretty much starting from scratch. Up until now, I never considered it. If there's any other suggestions, I'm open to it.

What's the benefits with a Mac, over Windows?

My idea was just to take pictures for my hang gliding business. I thought, If I'm taking pictures of my hanggliding tandem students, why don't I also take pictures for skydiving too? Then I thought, If I take pictures for skydiving and hanggliding, why don't I get something that can do videos too? So I bought the camcorder, and now its starting to mushroom big time! I know I can sell my stills and video to my hang gliding students/passengers, so that will help cover the costs. But I also would like to produce some DVDs and videos and re-make the old film, "Playground in the Sky," as well as some other films from ideas that I've had for a long time. Yeah, I beginning to see that this is a bigger investment than I first thought, but oh well.

So I've taken the plunge and purchased a Sony PC350, but now I have to upgrade my computer and software. I currently have a Gateway computer that is running Windows 98. I want to produce DVDs and stills. I have been looking at the Pinnicale Studio Movie Box DV that accommodates both digital and analog videos. I also have been looking at the Epson Sylus CX4600 for a printer, copier, scanner, and photo printer. Finally, the computer that I am thinking of purchasing is: The mother board is a AGP 8X, 400 MHZ. The RAM is a 512 MB Mushkin DDR 400 / 2 GB max. The hard drive is a 120 GB Western Digital 720 RPM. A DVD burner, fire wire, flash card insert and CD ROM will also be incorporated, as well as a USB port. And I really don't know what I am doing... Any suggestions?

I just received my Sony PC350, and I have a lot of questions regarding filming, editing, etc. First question, does the 120 mph wind + damage the electronics in the camera, such as the audio. Also, not that I'd ever jump thru a cloud, but does the moisture from the cloud create problems in the camcorder, or its electronics? Also, I have a Sony HI 8 camera. Is there a software package where I can down load my videos from my HI 8 as well as my PC350 and edit them, add music, etc? Is anyone still using the Sony Hi 8 camcorder these days?

I just purchased a Sony PC350, on line for $940.00. I've been searching a camera that can do decent stills and video. My primary purpose is for hang gliding tandems, photos only, and video for skydiving. I plan on getting a printer in my vehicle so after doing a tandem hang glide, I can sell the stills to the customer. I also plan on doing videos for skydiving so I can maybe, possibly, hopefully get my skydives paid for...we'll see. The PC 350 seems to have all the qualities I need, but I am new at the photo end of it. I still need to know what vignette, and fire wire mean.

Thanks for the info. I'm going to try cold distilled water. No brushing. If that doesn't work I'll change my story from a paper cut on finger to something else when the beer light turns on.

I was packing my reserve about 3 months ago when I noticed that I had blood all over the slider and canopy. Apparently the paper cut I received earlier in the week (I have a hazzardous job) had broke open. The slider and the canopy has blotches of blood here and there, and the canopy is yellow. Not pretty. My question is this, should I leave it alone, or try to remove old blood stains from the canopy. What would I use to remove it without damaging the fabric?

I'm a rigger, but most of my rigging consisted of repacking my round reserve from 1982 thru 2002. (Not a wide variety of rigging). I purchased new gear about 1 1/2 years ago, and retired my old gear. I attended a rigger's course recently as a refresher and to learn to propack a square reserve. I have an Odyssey and a PD 160 reserve, with cypress. I've repacked mine about 5 times, and another rig 1x. I'm fairly comfortable packing the newer "state of the art" equipment. My question is this, how hard is it on the equipment each time the reserve is repacked? I know PD has a placard that should be marked with each repack. But practicing packing on your own gear over a couple of weekends, versus every 120 days, how stressful is it on the canopy and container?

I just enrolled in a course this weekend. Cypress, freebag, pro packing are all new compared to the old stuff I got my back rating on. Thanks for the advice. Education is a good thing!

I've had my rigger's ticket for back type harness since 1987, or so. The issue I have is that I've been packing round reserves, until the last year, when I upgraded my gear, and became current. Legally, from what I have learned, the FAA has not updated their requirements regarding square reserve repacks. I know USPA has addressed this by saying get with a rigger who is current, and become familiar with the ram air reserve, the deployment bag, etc. My question is this, rather than paying a lot of money for a rigger's course, would it be prudent to just pack my reserve under the supervision of a certified senior rigger, and pay him/her the $50 for their service? I've saved my own life by becoming a rigger, and firing my prior one after he packed me a total mal. (the cable was lodged under the pin of my two pin Rapid Transit System...old stuff). I rather be doing my own rigging because of this instance. Opinions?

Any body ever jumped at the St Croix Valley Skydiving Club, in Osceola, Wis? This Club started way before I began jumping, which was in 1979, when I was 16 yrs old. The runway was out in the middle of a corn field that was mowed, and the people back then were considered very good skydivers and hard core partyers. Jimmy Hendrix could be heard playing loudly over the roof mounted speakers on the club house as one would enter into the corn field trying to find there way to the DZ. A lot of stories came out of this place. One story involves the pilot who had inadvertently landed / crashed in the back of a pick up truck after a night jump while a couple were out in the truck watching the stars. That very same pilot was later flying a Beach D18, with a load of jumpers when an engine over heated. An emergency exit took place, and the pilot landed safely back at the DZ. Apparently, an industrious bird had built her next inside the cowling causing one of the engines to overheat. The late Jon Quest (spelling) ran the NCC boogie (North Central Conference) at the main Oseola airport every Spring. And for this area, it was huge for its time. DC-3s were the norm, and preferred jump ship. Exciting times for a sixteen year old. Unfortunately, Jon, along with several of my mentors were killed in a plane crash around 1990. A midair collision took place near the Oseola airport with another plane that was being piloted by a student. The jump plane had just taken off, and the other plane was setting up to land when this occurred. The DZ had closed soon after this tradgedy. Jumpers disbanded and began to jump at Baldwin, Wis, aka Skydive Twin Cities. Others started a drop zone in Hutchinson, Mn. If anyone else has any additional info on the Saint Croix Valley Skydiving Club, its history, etc, please post! They were good times among good people!

Soft handles are great. Look at how long cutaway pillows have been put into production. I chose soft because it would be me to snag a D-handle on climb out. Or launching a piece with someone grabbing a D handle rather than my main lift web. I can think of a better place to be than at 12500 ft under my reserve. A word of caution though, with an articulated harness, and probably other types of harnesses too, the pillows, cutaway and ripcord, can turn around on you while putting on your rig and become neatly tucked behind the lift web and your chest. Food for thought.

I spent a ton of money towards my education. In the beginning, right after high school I went to a tech school in Minnesota, trying to learn mechanical drafting and design. My mind however, was on the up coming jumpmaster certification course, followed by many demos, compliments of "The Freedom Flyers Parachute Team" and jumping at any opportunity I had. I went to a Junior college after tech school to begin to try to learn what I should have learned in high school, such as simple algebra, but again my head was in the clouds. All I could think about was the up coming demos, AFF courses, teaching skydiving, etc. (I never learned anything in high school because at 16 I began to jump out of airplanes (1979)). I finally went to the University of Minnesota, compliments of a rich great aunt that I didn't know. I used her money one summer and went to Roger Nelson's Freak Brothers Convention (1982?) Shortly after, I dropped out of college. The bottom line is I spent a lot of money towards an education that I never really wanted, and never got. I could have spent it in skydiving and would have been happier. PS: I finally got my college degree...in accounting. My job now...insurance claims. Go figure.

Thanks for the info! It'll be tough leaving the rubber duckies at home though. Sounds like a good time. Can't wait!

Ok, I'm a little late, but check is in the mail for the boogie. My questions is, how much are jump tickets and what kind of floatation device is required. I purchased an inflatable "paddle float," from REI, that is used among Kayakers. In the past, I've used CO2 life jackets and floats. This paddle float has one buckle that can strap around a chest strap when in need. I would stash this in my jumpsuit however, deflated, and whip it out if needed. Definitely not Coast Guard approved, but will work. Is this ok? Suggestions? P.S. What kind of formation flying can I expect?

I quit skydiving and now I'm back. I too thought it was really strange how touchy, feely this sport has become. I thought it only occurred at the drop zone that I re-started jumping at, but after going to several drop zones, eveyone is giving skin. Before it was a "Blue Skies, Black Death," yell as we rolled down the runway. Then it was "Eat, F---,Skydive!" as we lined up for exit. A lot has changed...Why go head down and decrease your free fall time? Why are canopys so itty bitty, decreasing canopy time? So many questions...

I purchased my Sabre 2, last Fall, and had a real difficult time packing. My dealer said to have it packed by a packer for the first 30 jumps. After that it should get easier...and it has. One thing I've learned is when I roll the tail together real tight while having the canopy laying nose up, and then rolling the entire canopy back over to eliminate the 180 degree line twists, now tail up, I can get the canopy the same width of the d-bag more easily. Make sure that after you lay on it, squeezing all the air out, make your folds quickly and stuff it in the bag before it starts to breath, and inflate. Get the first locking stow on it, and then you can puttz around. Its gotta be fast! I think people around me were wondering if I was a competent skydiver when they first saw me pack. Now that I've gotten better at it, I still think they wonder...JK.

Thanks for the info! It seems that after a good launch, everything comes together. Anyother suggestions would be helpful.

I purchased an Odyssey and have a Sabre 2 170, with a 160 PD reserve. I can't compare this with anything else but my 20 + year old Rapid Transit System made by Sky Supplies (makers of the original Mirage). What I can say is re-sale of the Odyssey would be fairly easy due to the supply and demand. I have the articulated harness with stainless steel hardware. Pillows for ripcord and cut away. And although I haven't packed my own reserve, I've never heard of any rigger complaining. The rig is comfortable, reliable, and fashionable. I will say this however. The transition from my old gear to this gear, I've had to change my technique in reaching back and pulling the hackey. I've posted a problem here in the past where I had problems getting a grip on the hackey, and had to dump my reserve twice. Two total malfunctions within 30 jumps on my new gear. I think I've figured it out! My old technique was to place my left arm full arm extended and reach back with my right hand to grab the hackey. What was happening was that my harness would conform to my body and my left arm would pull on the harness upward on my left side. I would then stretch and twist my body, groping for the hackey. My body configuration would move the articulated harness to the point that the hackey would become out of reach, riding high on my back and to the left. The more desperate I became, the more I'd stretch, reach and grope. Symmetry is key! I don't know if I'd have the same problem with other articulated harnesses, but one thing for sure, the Odyssey does conform to your body!

I've usually gone rear float, or diving out when it comes to launching a formation. Very rarely do I go out front float. Going front float seems to be the most difficult aspect on launching a piece from the aircraft. Either the front floater somehow gets sucked under, or flips over the top of the formation within the first 3 seconds of the exit. Very rarely do I see, or experience a successful launch. Question is, what is the best technique used in launching a piece, eg, 4 way, out the door of a DC3, or Grand Caravan that is equiped with steps and handles successfully?

I called all the names advertized in Parachutist, and Skydiving newspaper. I obtained quotes for a custom made odyssey, cypress, 160 PD reserve, and a custom colored Sabre 2. Out of all the quotes I got, the best price was Storrie Parachute Works, listed in Skydiving newspaper. With an 800 number, free shipping, and reserve pack job, this guy was the best! He'll answer all your questions, is honest, and had accepted my personal check as payment. Good luck!

Today I crawled out onto the wing of a twin bonanza, waiting for the count. After several seconds of having a death grip on the outside handle, we left the aircraft for a hoop dive. The problem is that after I went through the hoop, I checked my altimeter and it read 2,000 ft. Talk about a wake up call! I looked at the ground and the people still looked like ants and I realized something happened to my altimeter while hanging on to the rail. The next jump it pretty much did the same thing. It has lost its ability to correctly display the altitude. It starts to go bad after 3,000 feet and gets progressively worse as we're climbing to altitude. Is the Altimaster III, made by SSE, still being serviced? And if so, by whom?

Thanks for the response. I think beer is the motivating factor here. I'm looking forward to it!