Nash

This drop zone is new, but as of July 2015, it is the only DZ within 100 miles of Knoxville that caters to sport skydiving. And although the DZ is new, they have a very experienced staff for tandem and AFF. DZO Mikeal Stevens has been jumping since he was a kid and is and always has been very passionate about the sport. Local jumpers are very friendly and love to jump with visitors. No doubt this DZ will be sporting a turbine in the near future.

This is Nash Copeland. I am one of the DZOs at Skydive East Tennessee. We are in no way affiliated with Adventure Skydive Tennessee and we don't take Skyride Gift Certificates. I don't know who Amy Gravlee is. We ARE having a Coach Course and it is still open to anyone interested. We are located just about a mile off I-40 near Knoxville and have been open just over a year. We bought an 81 acre farm and built a 3100 foot grass strip, swoop pond with a sand beach, a manifest building with indoor packing and training room, and a large hangar. We currently fly two Cessnas and hope to move up to a turbine soon. We are not exactly a destination DZ yet, but we are working on it. People are very down to earth and easy to jump with, and we have great views of East Tennessee lakes and the Smoky Mountains. If you are in the area, stop by and see us. Blue Skies, Nash Copeland http://SkydiveET.com

I also am interested in it because of the lighter weight. Looks like it could be a great camera for tandem stills. Of course I would like someone else to try it out first and let me know how it works

Hi Kathleen: I had dinner with John Dean and Lauralicious tonight. They have many good things to say about you guys - welcome to our world! We're a small but friendly bunch. You'll have to get used to Cessna's but they're okay once you get used to it. I think Gary Speer posted my phone number - I'm a realtor also (Laura tells me you are too) so feel free to call me and I'll get you set up with custom listing reports on our MLS site. Its a very good one. Look forward to meeting you- Donna Copeland 865-414-1260 -or- [email protected] www.knoxville-area-mls.com

Oh yea! And with all the recent AFF grads, it is starting to take a toll on my liver.

Skydive Smoky Mountains is a rapidly growing drop in East Tennessee and is an easy 45 mile interstate drive from downtown Knoxville. We have been in our current location for three seasons and before this we were pretty much shut down for 2 years, so in essence we are really starting over. We will be running three Cessnas this year and we are starting to bat around the idea of a turbine. We are located on a farm in Greene County just east of Morristown. The scenery is gorgeous, with the Nolichucky river a short walk away and outstanding views of the appalachian mountains to the east. As for real estate agents, i would recommend Donna. Her web site is http://www.knoxville-area-mls.com/

Rob, Did the early Triathlons open softer then the later ones? I have heard of more hard openings on Triathlons than any other canopy, and have 40 or 50 jumps on one where the openings were extremely inconsistent. I would never jump one with a camera on my head. I agree with you re. Spectres. We have several on our DZ and never a report of a hard opening, despite being packed every way imaginable. Blues, Nash

The Yankee from Michigan is right. Skydive Smoky Mountains is a fun, friendly DZ with great scenery. I'll change my rating to 10 when they get a turbine!

I need some info and advice on camera helmets. I am looking for a new camera helmet with the following requirements; 1. Top mount 2. Still mount in front 3. Rear entry with some quick release mechanism. 4. Ability to mount and dis-mount the video camera easily (i.e. no camera-lok tape) 5. Relatively flat angle on the platform. I am looking at the Head Hunter Vortex and the Hanson full face. I would appreciate any feedback on these or any other helmet that meets my criteria. Thanks, Nash

It is secure. The camera-lok tape is like super velcro and, combined with the strap, keeps the camera plenty secure. But is a pain to take on and off. The way it works is that one side of the tape is on the mount and you have to stick the matching side on the bottom of your camera. Then you have to press the camera on to the mount (hard) so that the 2 camera lok tape strips lock together. And when you want to remove the camera from the mount,you have to put a lot of pressure on the camera to disengage the tape. So in summary, it is a fine system if you want to leave the camera on the helmet all the time. If you want to take it on and off often, it is a poor system. Blues, Nash

I agree with your assessment. I think the G3s look a little nicer, but I think the pin protection on the Vector is better. The flap covering the main pin on the Vector is a little stiffer and less likely to get unseated by movement in the plane, even though it may not be as wide as the G3's. I also like the extra riser covers on the Vector better. But both are great rigs. I have a Vector 3 but would look at Mirage if I were in the market for another. I like the way the reserve packs on the Vector much better than some other rigs. And the reserve pilot chute has a really stiff spring which should help launch it clear and maybe avoid entanglement if you are unstable. I have not packed a Mirage, but understand they pack the same. Hope my 2 cents worth helps. Nash