Gary73

If you're definitely going to make another Tandem, then definitely take Krissane's advice. On the other hand, there's no real need to do another Tandem. In fact, I really haven't noticed any difference in performance between students who did Tandems before doing AFF and those who went right into it. To address your two main concerns: You won't really be going solo. You'll have two Instructors hanging on to you from before you exit the plane until after your parachute starts to open. You can make the whole experience a lot more fun for all three of you if you remember to arch, relax, and pull, but if necessary, the Instructors can handle things if you don't. Steering the parachute is fun and easy. Your Ground Instructor will spend a fair amount of time going over canopy control; feel free to ask questions until you're comfortable with the subject. Also, as a backup and to help fine-tune your landing pattern, there will be an Instructor on the ground to help guide you in by radio. Have fun! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

12 pack jobs isn't a large enough number to be statistically significant of course, but still, jeeze. Sounds like another market that's crying out for packing lessons. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Damn! One save for every 13 reserve pack jobs? Sounds like more folks over there should be coming to you for packing lessons! Meanwhile, I know it's a slight violation of an ancient and honorable tradition, but what's wrong with asking for non-alcoholic beverages? It's been working pretty well for me.

Good job Gary. Did they give you a few cases of Diet Coke? Actually, all I ask for is a fridge pack, but Jeff gave me two.

Heresy! Heresy! Where are the moderators with their post-deleting powers when you really need them? "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Nope, all the main pack jobs were done by paid packers. Or even more important, since you know they're going to be used. Yeah - one of the reasons I'm not all that interested in CReW. But were all those reserves packed by the same rigger? As above. Yeah, really! Better to have someone else's seal on the rig when fate catches up with him! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

After going months without a single one of my reserve pack jobs being deployed, I had three saves on Saturday. Got me wondering what the record is. Anybody have any idea? "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I'm constantly amazed and saddened by the lack of objectivity demonstrated by members of our species. If you had to watch helplessly as a loved one was being waterboarded, there would be no doubt in your mind that it's torture. And if it's torture when done to a loved one, then it's torture when done to a stranger, or even an enemy. As for the allegation that opposing torture is unpatriotic and disrespectful to those who have died supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States, that Constitution clearly prohibits torture, even for convicted criminals (Eighth Amendment). And that brings up another point that's often overlooked in these discussions: interrogation subjects are almost always suspects - not convicted criminals. The authorities don't know for sure what, if any, information they have. But one thing is for sure: if they weren't enemies of the United States before they were tortured, they most certainly will be afterward. And so will all of their loved ones. So no matter how you look at it, morally, legally, or practically, torture is wrong. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I'd go with smaller canopy (but no smaller than 170) without lead. Lead introduces several problems, including the near certainty of drowning if there's a water landing. A dropzone should have a decent range of student canopies so as to allow every student to have a safe wing loading. Doing that will also provide rental gear for every need, if not every desire. Not that long ago, many DZs had nothing but F-111 Manta 288s for students. Hopefully we've all joined the 21st century by now. If a DZO isn't willing to provide good student equipment, he shouldn't be in the student business at all. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

This manufacturer is aware of this problem. Not surprisingly, it's known as "the Hello problem". One of my rigging customers had it and AAD replaced the unit with a new one for just the cost of shipping the bad unit back to their center in Florida. Talk to your rigger about getting the same deal. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

This is what George sent me a in 2006: Base A A to B A to C A to D A to T BL to Tog 135.5 2.4 9.6 19.2 8.9 20.7 "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Ryan, You don't mention your wing loading. Everyone knows how important that is on a main, but I see case after case where people ignore their reserve wing loading and even the manufacturer's maximum recommended exit weight. Whatever you choose, please keep those factors in mind. I've ridden a variety of reserves, from a 24-foot unmodified round to a PD 360 (Tendem), and my personal preference is the Aerodyne Smart, but the PD Optimum and Paratec Speed sound interesting. I'd want to demo those before making a decision. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

PD recommends a max exit eight of 200 lbs. for the 143 reserve, even for "experts". Regardless of your experience level, keep in mind that there may be things going on on a reserve ride that make for a less-than-ideal landing situation. Be conservative. If you go with a Mirage or Wings, whatever reserve you decide on, tell them you're getting the next bigger size. Your rigger will thank you for it. Definitely demo a Pulse. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I'm a big believer in letting people make their own decisions, but to make good decisions you need good information. BTW, speaking of information, would you care to publicly identify yourself? "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I considered the hatchet buried until the aircraft logbook incident last Fall. You know what happened - would you forgive and forget if he had done that to you? Didn't know that I was authorized to bless things, but let me put it this way: I would boycott any business owner who did to you (or any of my other friends) what your hero did to me. Y'all can use that information any way you see fit. Was just out there today. Don't know where you've been getting your information , but the south end is the same as it was in '97 and the north end is the same as when the dropzone closed in '06. Didn't see any changes there, either. Your post said that the landing area is bigger than before. Big difference between is and may eventually be. Also, a 6,000 sqft. hangar still isn't four times bigger than a 3,600 sqft. one. No, but when you open a new business with a name that's so similar to an existing one, you're asking for trouble. And violating Georgia law. Trey asked him to use a different name, but Bill said that there weren't any other URLs available. ( OMG! The Internet is full!) Tell him I'll trade him skydivemonroe.com for 2319G's Airworthiness Certificate, which also "disappeared" somehow. How's that for burying the hatchet? This also hasn't happened yet, but I hope you're right. I've seen people hit fences before: not pretty! I am happy. Usually at Skydive Atlanta, sometimes at The Farm, and almost always in freefall. Ever see The Great Waldo Pepper? Up there, everything's clear. It's the stuff that happens on the ground that's messy. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Actually there's a lot less landing area than there used to be before they extended the taxiway and put the security fence across the middle of the West landing area. Also, the runway was only extended on the north end, and that was done before the dropzone closed three years ago. Likewise, the old hangar was 3,600 sqft. while the new one is 6,000; not even twice as big, much less four times. Skydive Monroe was a great dropzone because of the people. Very few of those people will be going back, so don't be surprised if it doesn't feel like home anymore. Depends on what the court decides. "Skydive Now Atlanta" is a pretty clear infringement on the name "Skydive Atlanta". Was that really the best name that he could come up with? "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Welcome back! The only complaint I have with the Mirage is that the manufacturer is too optimistic about how big a canopy it will hold, especially up top. Whatever size reserve you plan to get, tell them you're getting the next bigger size. Your rigger(s) will thank you. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Policies vary a lot from one dropzone to another. It would be best to contact them directly. As for repeating AFF levels, that varies, too. We probably average 7.5 jumps to complete the 7-level program we use at my home dropzone, but I've heard of places where the average is 11 jumps. You might want to post your other questions in the Safety and Training forum. More people read that, so you're more likely to get a response from a U.K. Instructor. Good luck! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Yes, but keep in mind that the dive-to-fly times are based on airliner cabins, which are pressurized to the equivalent of a maximum of 8,000 feet above sea level. We routinely go above 14,000 feet at turbine dropzones. I don't have much dive experience (and none lately), but I've never seen dive tables that took this into account. You might want to add 24 hours to anything the table or computer tells you. I've heard of jumpers getting DCS 72 hours after a by-the-book dive. Oh yeah - blah, blah, welcome to skydiving, blah, blah. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Yeah, that's one of the few things that I don't like about the Z1s, but fortunately there's an easy fix. Use a file or grinder to carefully remove a little of the plastic on the chin section between the button and the rivet that attaches the button spring to the chin section. That gives enough room to get your thumb under the visor for easy one-handed operation, even with gloves. I've done that on three of these helmets. Works great! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Oh well, I tried. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

For about a year I used the signature line: "Getting away with something does not prove that it was a good idea." Then I heard my current one on Mythbusters and decided to switch. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Welcome back! I'd recommend a complete AFF ground course, then AFF levels 3, 5, and 7. Eight years is a long layoff for only having 14 jumps. I was out for ten years after 800 jumps and was glad that I did the complete ground course (then AFF 4 and 6). I've since worked with a number of returning jumpers with various layoff times and experience levels, and they've all benefitted from a conservative return to the sport. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

To celebrate this level of dedication to the skydiving community, the only logical thing to do with your 10,000th post would be to announce that you're buying a dropzone. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan