bigbearfng

Then there's the 2005 flight that maintained level flight-with a little help lol!

What I find most disturbing is the tandem fatalities this year. If that were to keep up, it would not be good for the sport. Yes every skydive has risk, but at least experienced jumpers have a chance to mitigate those risks.

Very true, and not just by ability-my lead sled butt will never be able to stay up with those 6'3" 170lb'ers. I can only wave as I drop away lol.

Yup, it's pretty cool! Just make sure you're squared up to facing the front of the plane on exit. Take a second before opening up and you fly the relative wind-up! I was really surprised at how far above the tail I got!

They've spent a lot of money already on engine overhauls and the runway so even if they plan to sell it I don't see why they wouldn't send a couple loads up first. I got a chance to take a wingsuit out of it when it was flying before-you have to try it! You really do fly up until you're looking down at the plane-amazing!

A friend of mine that's big and lived in So. Cal. had to first buy his own rig ( correct harness size and canopy approp. size of course), then went to Lodi for AFF.

Yes always loved his sense of humor! After he came back after his surgery to remove a brain tumor he said that now he can pinch a girls butt and then just say it was the tumor. Then he looked at me and said " now if I pinch your butt then it really is the brain tumor!"

Blue skies Mark, you'll be missed in the air, on the ground and everywhere.

Hi Dave, I'm about 7 months out on the second knee now and the damn thing still hurts. I do have good flexion of 125 degrees although the first knee is up to 135 degrees. Seems this one is taking longer to heal. If I work it out hard for a few days straight then I could hardly walk for a few days after. The first knee at 13 months is good, gets a little stiff if I over do it is all. I'm going to wait another couple months and then get in a tunnel first. I'm getting impatient but my ortho doc said to stay patient as it can be 6 months to a year to heal. How are you doing?

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42169/operation-pineapple-express-saw-special-ops-vets-lead-rescue-of-hundreds-of-afghans "Dozens of high-risk individuals, families with small children, orphans, and pregnant women, were secretly moved through the streets of Kabul throughout the night and up to just seconds before ISIS detonated a bomb into the huddled mass of Afghans seeking safety and freedom," retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Scott Mann, a member of Task Force Pineapple and a retired Green Beret commander, told ABC News. "This Herculean effort couldn't have been done without the unofficial heroes inside the airfield who defied their orders to not help beyond the airport perimeter, by wading into sewage canals and pulling in these targeted people who were flashing pineapples on their phones." Here ya go. But I've already figured out how you twist everything, If someone said the sky is blue and you shouldn't piss into the wind you'd come up with something to the contrary. There are a few in here that give some common sense thought to a discussion, but the majority don't and just bash. And then there's the outright trolls. OK, I really am out of here. (Al Pacino voice) I really liked that one! LOL For reals this time.

Thank you. It's refreshing to see an intelligent thought out response. I found it- and I stand corrected that Biden was referring to forces other than the Taliban, and the wording of ops outside vs expanding the security perimeter. (Slightly different note also-not expanding the security perimeter still did not prevent "unintended consequences" -the attack by ISIS-k.) https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/08/20/remarks-by-president-biden-on-evacuations-in-afghanistan/ Q Thank you, Mr. President. You mentioned just now using every resource available for evacuations. Why haven’t you ordered the military to expand the security perimeter around the Kabul airport? Do you have any plans to do so, given that it will likely require more U.S. troops? And are you considering rescue operations to recover Americans and Afghan allies stuck behind Taliban checkpoints?THE PRESIDENT: The last answer is yes — to the last question. We’re considering every op- — every opportunity and every means by which we can get folks to the airport. That’s number one.Number two, the reason why we have not gone out and started — and set up a perimeter way outside the airport in Kabul is that it’s likely to draw an awful lot of unintended consequences in terms of people who, in fact, are not part of the Taliban. As for stumpy and phil-if you're going to talk smack about someone commenting on current events you should at least keep up with what's going on.... Blue skies everyone.

I will answer this accusation... Actually I heard it out of Biden's own mouth at one of his "press conferences" in which he said operations outside the airport were not carried out-I can't recall his exact words, but were to the effect to prevent tensions with the Taliban . I can't find a link to it at this time, however I would offer this also. https://taskandpurpose.com/news/pentagon-afghanistan-taliban-checkpoints-kabul-airport/ CNN’s Barbara Starr asked Milley pointedly if the U.S. military and international special operations would extract people from Kabul if needed. “That would be a policy decision,” Milley replied. “If directed, we have capabilities to execute whatever we’re directed.” When asked if President Joe Biden had limited U.S. military operations in Kabul to Hamid Karzai International Airport, National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said that Austin had already described what the military’s mission is.

he is the commander in chief for our military. though yes he probably doesn't even know what day it is. since you want to use "you just made that up" that standard would apply to most of the crap posted in the echo chamber here. I guess nothing has changed in here. Blue skies and carry on. Out.

And you do? Then please what's your analysis.

"He also credited active U.S. military personnel at the airport who, despite being ordered not to go beyond the airport boundaries, offered crucial assistance such as overwatch, and stayed in communication with some of the members of the “Pineapple Express” ground team. " https://www.newsandguts.com/abc-news-special-forces-vets-volunteered-to-run-covert-evacuation-of-630-afghan-allies/

The problem I have is when Biden ordered our military not to go past the airport perimeter. Commanders on the ground ignored that order/said FU or whatever and went out to rescue a group of stranded US citizens.

Basic common sense...get US Citizens out first, then Afghan interpreters, leave thru Bagram airbase that is much easier to defend, destroy our equipment that you don't want to leave (including US military uniforms!) then the military leaves. Also just listen to military commanders and the intel.

The Taliban had already broke some of the terms of the previous agreement. In doing so leaving it open for Biden to change the way things are going to go. (Which Biden could do anyway) So enough already with everything is Trumps fault, how about looking at the guy thats there now and has the power to change things for the better.

No shit! I'd really like to know who these dumbshit "US officials" are and by whose order it was done.

Sure the elections are secure, and there's no problem with mass mail ballots...... https://ktla.com/news/local-news/300-recall-ballots-drugs-multiple-drivers-licenses-found-in-vehicle-of-passed-out-felon-torrance-police/

It just gets so old to keep hearing y'all say this. Biden has been in there for plenty long enough to change things. He already changed a lot of what Trump did just by executive orders. So NOW it all falls on Biden.

https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/afghanistan/2021/08/20/inside-the-mission-to-rescue-169-americans-from-a-hotel-outside-the-kabul-airport/ So the local commanders on the scene decided to say FU to Biden's initial order for our military not to go beyond the airport perimeter. It's called leave no one behind. I applaud the commanders that made that decision! And we still have an unknown number of US citizens stranded behind enemy lines.

I'm not back in the air yet-close! I finally got the second knee done 3 1/2 months ago. I've been going to every store that carries knee protection trying them on. Motocross pads are just too restricting for mobility. Mountain biking pads for XC and downhill are perfect protection- found the POC Joint VPD 2.0 Knee pads. I figure I need to protect the new knees from PLFs, banging on the door exits etc. not just packing. Plan on using the pads for mountain biking, and everything else too. Gotta make the new knees last till I kick the bucket! Take a look at them-REI usually has some in stock to try on. Hope this helps other folk dealing with this too!

Runway has been paved/extended!

Hi DaveL, I'm sure others will add their updates also. Ortho surgeries are still playing catch up on schedules here. I got back on the wait list within a month and a half of my first knee and I'm just now 9 weeks out from the second(right) knee, and that was taking a cancellation. It's been 9 months since the left knee. The left knee is doing fine; 0 to 135degrees, no pain. But it is stiff every morning still and takes a few minutes of bending it to get going. It will also stiffen up if standing too long. If I keep moving then it works great. The right knee that's 9 weeks out has been a lot more painful and a bit slower-still at 0 to 125degrees. So at the rate things are going I figure it's going to be another 3 to 4 months before I can get back in the air. With the way the first knee is doing I don't anticipate any problems skydiving again. Now the way you describe your base landings that sure sounds like a no way again, but skydiving sure.