pccoder

OK, everyone slam me some more. I speak out of ignorance. Please forgive me. PcCoder.net

Not to laugh at someone else's misfortune, but this was really funny to watch. About 3 or 4 months ago I watched an AFF student ( I believe it was her 3rd jump ) in Sebastian, FL. Upon landing the winds were more than she could handle and instead of spending any more time fighting with her canopy which was completely full of air and starting to make her run in its direction as opposed to being drug along the dirt, she chose to cutaway while on the ground. Funny thing was that she also had an RSL which (you guessed it) caused the reserve to fire. So, no harm no foul. But had to try hard not to snicker a little when she came back to the hanger.

I am sure they have all had misfires, Cypres as well. Perhaps my comments sounded too harsh. 4 out of 20 is unbelievable. Those numbers are worth not having the AAD at all. And, if Cypres misfires occur that often (which I am certain they don't) than I should be considering whether or not I stay in this sport. PcCoder.net

Quite simply, this product will never be purchased by me. ONE misfire is too many. PcCoder.net

I just might do that. I normally jump at Titusville, but I have been out to Sebastian once, nice view. PcCoder.net

This Valentine's was my one year anniversary from my first solo. As you all know, this is about the passion. There's no point in trying to explain the love for this sport. You either love it or you don't do it. I'm glad to have been involved for the past year and to have met so many great people. Hope to see you all in the sky. Chris PcCoder.net

good point!! PcCoder.net

Landing out, how much of a consideration are power lines for chosing a viable out? i.e. If you can land in a residential area on a street, but there are power lines occasionally crossing the street that you may wish to land on, what is everyone's policy here? PcCoder.net

Simply looks like the crosswind was too much for the small amount of toggle input you gave at the low altitude. Then your flare looked a little too late. Just land crosswind if you aren't getting any response from the toggles at such a low altitude. Landing faster than you would like is better than bouncing and busting your coccyx.

I am SO bad about this. I have done it more times than I can count, then someone in the hanger (before boarding the plane) will notice and mention it to me. Just this past weekend I did it, concisously thinking about how NOT to do it, then looked down a minute later and realized I had done it wrong!!! Retardation is kicking in sometimes with me and my chest strap. I always remember before boarding the plane, just not always when suiting up. PcCoder.net

Arch Arch Arch (and look at the plane) PcCoder.net

Jeff, Something else I guess everyone should know... I realized after all was said and done that my very first solo (AFF 1) was a year ago to the day of this out landing and that landing was also out (however just past the fence in a soccer field) and I was talked into that spot by the instuctor on the radio. So, I haven't really considered that as an out landing, but I guess it would count too. :) Valentine's Day Jumps = Out landings for Chris PcCoder.net

Thanks alot, looks like this article will be very helpful. PcCoder.net

I had considered that, however this could have turned into a serious injury if I hadn't made it back, so decided to put it here. Next time (hopefully not), that's where I'll put it. Thanks. PcCoder.net

I wasn't sure if that would be the way to go because I was desperatly trying to not lose any unneccesary altitude. I never did any left turns to line up for landing, I was straight in from the time I deployed till the time I landed. So, in my opinion I barely made it back. PcCoder.net

My 62nd jump was yesterday, one year from my 1st solo (Valentines). Anyway, I was base on a 3-way sit fly which went great. We broke off at 4500 feet and throw out at 3500 feet. Unstowed the brakes and realized we were North of the landing area DOWNWIND. The lowers were maybe 10 mph, but it seemed that the uppers must have been 30 mph. I wasn't getting much forward movement on my way back to the landing area and the other two guys were right with me, only higher and we were all headed in the same direction. At 2500 feet I was seriously considering turning North and looking for an alternative; however having never landed out before and knowing the only alternative would be a baseball field a good quarter mile North or trying to land on a street in a residential neighborhood I figured I would go for the very North end of the airport like my 2 buddies were doing. As I got closer to the ground I knew I wasn't going to make it; at 500 feet it was a given I was going to come up short and there was a small clearing between some tall pine trees and that's where I aimed. I negotitated my canopy with small inputs on the toggles and amazingly made it into the small clearing and stopped as I ran directly into a small chain link fence covered with shrubery. No injury, just shaken a bit. This was my first real problem that I have had since I began a year ago. I tried to stay calm and my buddy who landed only 100 feet in front of me in a larger clearing was concerned but happy that I was fine and impressed that I didn't panic ( if he only knew

Thanks, that was very informative. I appreciate that. PcCoder.net

I've noticed in all these swoop photos that everyone has taken the slider and pulled it to what seems even lower than it normally would be and collapsed it nice and tight and placed it behind their head? What is this all about? I am a fairly new jumper (61 in 10 months), however curious about this as I am becoming more interested in canopy control. Thanks in advance Chris PcCoder.net

I had an opportunity to run out to Skydive Sebastian last Friday. I usually jump in Titusville at Skydive Space Center, however with a day off and some time to kill I took a little drive out to Sebastian. The staff was very nice, helpful and friendly with me. I was at the DZ and signed the release and had my rental gear, etc., on the plane and down the runway all within 30 minutes of arrival. I was very satisfied with that aspect. At my home DZ it doesn't usually happen that quick, so I was pleasantly suprised to see that when a time is given by manifest for a load, that time is held to and the plane leaves when it is supposed to. The downside is that the gear looked pretty old and ragged by comparison to what I am used to. Secondly, the plane (a Grand Caravan) looked alot older than what I am usually going up in. Ok, I am spoiled and have gotten used to really nice gear and aircraft at Skydive Space Center, but honestly I was a bit un-nerved by the condition of the equipment (and happy to get out when it came time for jump run). Lastly, the 13,500 ft exit was less than I am used to, so that was a small but expected dissapointment. The landing area was really nice and I especially liked the little gravel accuracy circle out in the middle of the landing area. My home DZ would do good to create one of these. :) Overall, my experience was good and I would recommend jumping here, just might feel better with my own equipmenet and not using the rental gear.

OK, I am looking through this forum and really am just looking to learn some basics about higher performance landings. Please don't rag me for asking these questions at 39 jumps, but I would like to hear some basic explanations of flying the canopy at a higher performance level. Not necessarily swooping the ground yet, just the theory for now. That way I can spend time on many jumps just practicing these skills at a much higher altitude (like 2000-4000 ft.) I am aware that I am new and still need to have alot more experience before attempting this close to the ground (not looking to break every bone in my body), I just want to know what is the RIGHT way to do it, so a couple hundred jumps down the road when I want to start doing it closer to the landing I will know how and not hurt myself. Thanks for any replies. PcCoder.net

They offer a good canopy course at De Land also. Will tailor is to your specific skill level and needs. PcCoder.net

Did someone say free beer?? Hell, I may throw at 12,000 for the free beer. PcCoder.net

uuuuhhh, yea. PcCoder.net

Jeez, I wish I had known this. I did AFF in February and tipped about $10 per jump, so in addition to the case of beer at the end, the $1300 for the AFF and all the time I had to take off of work, I also spent about $100 in tips. PcCoder.net