bigbearfng

I am definately going to take the coach course next since getting my d license. If I have someone that wants to learn something then I really do enjoy teaching. I've already been encouraged to go for TI rating too, and I'm seriously considering AFF and TI. This would not be the job that pays the bills. My concern is that making it into a job would change skydiving for me. This sport is my therapy and I love it and respect all the teachers and mentors of mine and would like to give back to the sport. However I remember how things changed for me with skiing back when I started working ski patrol; I used to ski all day, enter every race but after it became "work" I spent less and less time skiing for fun and enjoying it. It really makes my day when jumping with a new A lic. to see the look in their eye as they turn points and get it, so is this the part of it keeping it "good" for you? Do you have any regrets for becoming a TI? Regrets as an AFFI? So I'd really appreciate input from instructors on your take on this. Thank you.

I wanted to get some input from instructors here. I've had several friends completing AFF and continuing to get their A license. Of course lottsa questions from them, referred to their instructors; also recommended to read these forums, specifically incidents. Just one example is "tail strike" in incidents-they both brought it up to me and were suprised with the info they'd read, and said they had no idea of a need to dive out especially on emergency exits. These are my fellow skydivers and friends-this greatly concerns me. I always pass on my SIMs for free to newer jumpers and encourage them to read it, however it is not required for them to buy one and read it.... There seems to be a gap I'm seeing in education of newer jumpers, just from what I've personally seen and some of the questions/comments in some threads. I know I was in sponge mode and still am trying to soak up all the info I can to stay safe and not end up in incidents, but not all students/ new jumpers are to the same extent and a lot know nothing of DZ.COM. So do you also see this "education gap"? Should it be required to actually buy a SIM and read it? Not just a USPA membership? Not insinuating a fault with instructors, but rather with the system, and I realize there is always going to be that HUA student too.

Anybody have an exit for multiple WS to keep it tight like you can from an Otter? Thought of on the step, one hand on the strut then a couple WS more behind.....that didn't work! With SM1 just kinda spun offa there!

Edit: Frankly? I think 90% of these tipping threads are plants by people that work for tips. Much like the "who has the best wind tunnel" threads in the wind tunnel forum, "I got great service from _____", "what kind of suit do you buy", "how much do you tip your TM/AFFI/coach" etc.... Not even close with this OP......I was just brought up that way like I said before. And to another post, no I wouldn't accept money for a canopy I brought back cus that's part of how I was taught too! I would only be offended if the canopy owner didn't say thank you verbally, and just didn't say anything. May sound old fashioned but, well ya, so I am old!

Not meant as a "monetary drive" at all. I would consider myself rude if I didn't offer. And if it's someone I didn't know I'd consider myself beyond rude if I didn't offer. And yea if it was offered to me and I was the one recovering it I would turn it down and just take a beer. But maybe it's just the way I was brought up?

OK, this is a pet peeve for me..... I made it a point to find out who found it and have tipped numerous jump tickets for a neptune that I lost and it was returned to manifest by another jumper. If my chopped canopy is recovered from unknown parts I absolutely will tip at least 15% the replacement cost of that thing! Don't we all (ok most) even tip 15% in a resturant? I realize if it drops 50ft from me and someone picks it up and hands it to me then no. But if a bad spot driver hauls ass to track it, risks a ticket from the cops and gets it off a rooftop, then you damn sure bet he's gettin a big tip from me!!!!! Come on, figure even a used canopy is at least $1,000.00 that he just saved your sorry ass! OK end of rant.......

very well

One thing I havn't seen mentioned here- Please talk to the pilot! It's not just to make sure he knows your flight plan, but in places where there are parallel jump runs being flown it becomes VERY important!

Things I've learned flyin for work-most folk are so unobservant!!! The look on one womans face when she actually caught on that our prisoner was in cuffs-Priceless!!!! And a big thanks here for all the FAs that have made my life easier up there!

Also pay attention to how many planes are flying at once-they may be running paralell junp runs.

Thanks too for the vids! I got to demo the SM1, awesome wing! After my aerobat I was intimidated by so much more wing! I was the blue and white on the left out of the skyvan, we bumped on exit and I really thought here we go....but it was amazing to me how easy it was to recover even as big as it is. Yea can't really afford it, but...I've got plastic! Jeff, you pusher!!! Hey anybody want to buy an aerobat? :-)

Hmmmm, I have to reply, but take my response with a grain of salt...since my divorce will be final soon. A lot of newbs get carried away with the sport, but would be part of the group that quits anyway. But if it turns out to be your "therapy" in life, then you have to be true to yourself-yes keep a balance as others have said; but when it comes right down to it, if things are falling apart, then there are probably lot bigger issues at work. Good luck, and don't make any moves without a lot of soul searching.

Your posts are a beacon of rationality in this thread, I'm finding hard not to agree point by point. It is pointless imo to legislate in response to streaks of incidents. Any worthwhile legislation stands on its own, and does not need a string of incidents to justify it. I start to wonder when a series of incidents is used for any legislative process whether the rules created in reaction may well be irrelevant in a years' time when probability has given us a new series of incidents to legislate. Did you forget that the BSR's were written in blood? More like from blood? Ans I realize that I'm just a nobody FNG, but jeez spizzarko, you're even makin my rookie ass BS meter peg with your "logic"

As other posters have said; you're going to have to see what works best for you. However one constant I've found is the "rolling the shoulders" as previously mentioned. The best way I've found it described is if you are laying on the wing of a plane with your head over the front leading edge, you want your upper body/shoulders to follow the shape of the leading edge of that wing. And yes, every jump I track like my life depends on it!!!! Nothin but hardcore trackin!!!!

I just got a call from Jeff. He'll be at Elsinore April 20-23 with lottsa demo suits!!!! If you've been wanting to demo a Tonysuits Wingsuit here's your chance. If you've never jumped a wingsuit Jeff is still offering: you just pay for his jump ticket and he instructs/coaches/videos you. So if you've been itchin to try a wingsuit now's the time!!!!! That's how I got started bein hooked on bein a bird, and yup I had to buy a wingsuit from Jeff after a taste!

OK, Picture package (I've got a sony hc40)I've been playin with; it doesn't do much plus poor video qaulity. I have Nero7 and am happy with it, but....is there an easy way I'm missing to delete the original audio and not just add a track of music on top??? Or another software that'll work? I also tried windows movie maker-not impressed with the video quality on that either. What is everyone using?

I bought a sony hc40 with version 1.0, but have noticed there is a version 1.6 out for mini dv while ver 1.8 is for dvd. Any significant difference/better function to the 1.6? Or is there another software that will work with the sony and do a lot better job, but is still fairly easy to work with? Thanks!

Or the USB

I'd say the minimum should be 500 but most people don't make it to 500 so the pool of candidates would be greatly diminished. Huh? Is that really true?? Most people don't make it to 500? I realize a lot don't but the majority?

Hmmm, seems like newbs choppin for something they wouldn't chop for later on when they're more experienced is really nothing new... Should of made a poll!

OK, I'm sure I've got more than one friend that'll volunteer!! So is gaffers tape suffient? Thanks!

I just set up a bonehead helmet with chin cup and their cutaway mod for a sidemount hc40. I'm thinking of using hotglue to seal between the L bracket and helmet instead of just gaffers tape. Comments or suggestions on that? Biggest question I have though is about their cutaway system; what's your assessment of it? Has anyone actually had to use it? Did that pin pop right out? Thanks in advance!

So here’s my story of the first chamber ride in about 1983… I was training to fly a mission as a civilian photographer in a B-52, so I attended a military version of the PFT program. There were about 16 of us in the chamber, all the others were Air Force green suits. My group was instructed to drop our masks and feel the effects of altitude. As we went though the progression an Air Force Lieutenant chatted with us over intercom. At one point he addressed me and asked what it felt like. My answer….”well, you know how when you’ve been doing cocaine all day long and you take a little hit of weed to get the edge off…” He said “I wouldn’t know sir,” and immediately after that I put my mask on. I knew I was really messed up, but all of my inhibitions were gone and I didn’t care what I said. The Lieutenant laughed about that with me later. It wasn’t a common description of hypoxia, at least in his world. Oh gawd!!! You made me choke on my beer!!!!! And I'm still laughin!!!!

chrismgtis- I'm disappointed by your response. Please read up on hypoxia and take a ride in a chamber. Hypoxia is very insidious- as it sneaks up on you, you really don't realize you're getting impaired and don't realize how badly your judgment is screwed. You may think, ya I'm feelin a little dizzy from it but no biggie. It's not like getting drunk etc! So that comparison is not valid. Sorry, but the way you ragged on the other jumpers bugged me!!! It could just as well have been you helpin that guy out the door!!!!

I asked a few folk who had already jumped the jet with wingsuits so had a good idea of what to do/not do! Most important is make sure you are squarely facing front. It has short grab rails at the top of the "shute" that you can grab and swing around to face front before sliding out the short ramp. Then just ease open the wings when you clear and before you know it you'll be looking down at the tail. And it seems like you hang there a long time!