Gary73

$3,000 for the first one; 25 cents each for the rest, what with seals, closing loops, etc. As for quality, so far, so good. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Eric, Thanks for the info. I prefer to list as much info as possible in the table, since that's so straightforward for both the seller and the buyer. Any additional manufacturers and models would be helpful, but any fixed list is bound to be incomplete, and possibly incorrect (like "Vector Tandem Sigma"). If it isn't practical to allow free-form text, how about including "Other" in the list? That would at least let sellers list as much as possible there. I'm not a sysadmin, but if you need a volunteer to come up with additional gear names, I'd be willing to do that. Okay, it's not important enough to do a major re-write. Sangiro. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Two months ago I posted three different bug reports in this forum regarding problems with the Classifieds system. There haven't been any responses from any moderators or admins and the problems are still there. I also tried PM-ing the moderator, again with no response. So I have to ask: Is the classified ads system intendeded to be supported by dropzone.com, or was it set up years ago and then just left on autopilot? "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Be aware that a Manta 288 is probably an older F-111 canopy that won't have much of a flare. The newer ZP Mantas are pretty good, though, and are available in sizes up to 320. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

From the 2008 Skydiver's Information Manual, Section 5-3B: 5. The following are suggested maximum wing loadings based on experience level: a. A and B license 1.0 psf maximum b. C license 1.2 psf maximum If you're 180 in street clothes you'll have an exit weight of at least 205, more likely 210, for a wing loading of 1.1 PSF on a 190. So on your fifth jump this "instructor" wants you at a wing loading that's not recommended until you have at least 200 jumps? If he wasn't kidding, this guy is an idiot. Your first instructors may have been a little conservative, but that's not such a bad thing in an instructor. I'd recommend that you talk with at least one of them before you jump again. You shouldn't be jumping anything smaller than a 230 for now. Oh, WRT the 190 being a student canopy: yes, but for students who weigh 140 or so. Keep being careful and keep asking questions. You'll make a lot more skydives that way! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

All of the above, and if you can, do a practice eval ground prep, dive, and debrief with a Coach CD or an Instructor who has acted as a Coach Course Evaluator recently. Be especially careful about your pull altitude. Evaluators have no leeway on that one! Some items can be done before, during, or after the course. Do them before the course and it'll make it easier on both you and the CD. Good luck! Here's the standard announcement that I put out when I plan to hold a course: Before attending the course, candidates must have: at least a B License and at least 100 freefalls, observed and assisted with one complete First-Jump Course, a Skydiver’s Information Manual* that's less than 2 years old, an Instructional Rating Manual* that's less than 2 years old, become familiar with the relevant SIM and IRM sections, Become familiar with all A-license (yellow) card items, and completed the Coach Written Exam (in the IRM). At the course, candidates will: Attend a day or so of class and conduct training sessions to teach several basic skydiving skills. At or after the course, candidates will: perform two or three simulated ground preps and coached jumps with Evaluators. Before or after the course, candidates must: teach the general portions of two First-Jump Courses under the direct supervision of an Instructor. (Not a bad idea to wait ‘til after – hopefully you will have learned a few things during the course that will come in handy during the FJC!) Upon receiving the rating, Coaches can: teach the general portion of the First-Jump Course, make regular or coached jumps with students who have completed AFF, verify (but not sign!?) A-license card qualifications, and work toward qualifying for AFF and/or Tandem Instructor ratings. Don’t delay your preparations. This is the easiest USPA Instructional Rating to get, but it’s not something you can just walk into and expect to pass! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I thought Quincy switched over to being a tandem factory. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I am, of course, always happy to spend time with the most liscious of all the Lauras, but in addition to the general meeting, I want to go to some of the committee meetings and ask questions like: "What's the point of a Group Mamber Program if there's no enforcement of, for example, the Code of Ethics?" and "We trust Coaches to jump with our students, so why don't we trust them to sign A-license-card items?". I also want to get a feel for who I should vote for (or against) this Fall, though I've got some pretty good ideas already. I suspect that that will take up most of the weekend, but if not, yeah let's hit Palatka or maybe St. Mary's on the way back to ATL. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Yeah, that's what I did, so the addresses should have been correct. Could be other reasons for not getting a reply, but I think that the main problem is the lack of interest that most NDs have in communicating with their constituents. One more reason for a good housecleaning this Fall! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Theoretically NDs don't have any more power than RDs, but if you've got another qualified, non-DZO candidate for RD up there, then get him/her to run for RD and Goswitz to run for ND. The only way to get rid of the NDs we don't like is to put up candidates we do like and tell the community why. Those of you in the Central region might consider doing the same with Gary Peek. Another update: Got a PM from Todd Spillers saying that he didn't get my e-mail either. I used the e-mail addresses listed on the USPA BOD page and only got one reject back, which I corrected. So what's the deal here? Are these folks using spam blockers which reject legitimate messages? If so, they might want to reconsider that policy. I place a lot of value on responsiveness in a representative, and I suspect that others do, also. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Yeah, actually I was a little surprised. I was hoping for better from fellow skydivers. Small update: I just got a PM from Jan indicating that she didn't get my e-mail. Could be true of other Directors, also. As for how the game is played, I got a taste of student government back in college, and haven't been tempted to get involved since then. Like most folks, I'm content to let those who have a desire to do such things do them, as long as things don't get too messed up. Well, things have gotten pretty messed up, so I'm about to go to my first BOD meeting in twenty years of USPA membership. And on a weekend when the weather's supposed to be good here. Bastards. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Okay, so I e-mailed the entire BOD to ask what this and the other agenda items were about. Only Gruwell, Quaintance, Peek, Dixon, and Goswitz replied. Not a single National Director. (Guess I know who I won't be voting for in a few months.) Most of the RDs who did reply didn't know anything more than the rest of us. Apparently if you're not on the Executive Committee you're not privy to anything important. Is this the way we want our association to be run? I hate to miss a good jumping weekend, but it looks like I need to head down to Orlando for the BOD meeting and see these folks face to face. I don't expect to change any of their minds, but sometimes you have to speak up anyway. Anybody else? "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I don't want to start another thread about the advantages and disadvantages of ISP, I'm just curious as to how many dropzones in the U.S. are actually using the full Category A through H ISP program. There's Skydive Orange, VA, and Start Skydiving, OH. Any others? Thanks! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

No. Is that available online somewhere? Thanks. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Sounds reasonable, but ronny2 is correct. The SSK Web site isn't being cooperative tonight, but there should be a section on there which explains it all. Something about the philosophy of reliability. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

The classified ads posting system doesn't allow the entry of some very common equipment makes and models. Examples: UPT RWS Vector Tandem UPT Sigma Tandem Precision Raven (not r-Max or dash M) PD 360 Tandem reserve It is kind of nice to have the models available as menu selections, but it might also be nice to allow the poster to enter models that aren't in the menu. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I made an error in the details section (non-numeric character in # of jumps). Instead of just marking that one entry wrong and letting me correct it, the system made me re-enter the entire details section, which is a real pain for a complete rig. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I modified a classified ad and the text at the bottom of the confirmation page included a Classifieds link. When I clicked on it I got an error message: Oops, we had the following problem: We don't seem to have a category by the name 'var/home/dropzone/dropzone.com/www/classifieds'. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Some jumpers (and riggers) run a lighter flame along the edge of webbing like that to singe off the fuzz. If that's done too slowly or maybe too often it can cause the edge of the webbing to shrink. I don't know what effect that would have on the strength of the webbing, but harness structural failures are so rare that it probably isn't anything to worry about. Notice that I said "probably". "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Skydive Atlanta is in Thomaston, GA, about 185 miles from Augusta. We have several jumpers who make the drive every weekend, sometimes including folks from Ft. Gordon. There are motels in the area, and trailers and RVs are permitted on the airport, but a number of folks bring sleeping bags (or use ones left by others ( ) and spend the night so they can maximize their jumping vs. driving. We also host the 82nd Airborne Division's Silver Wings demo team, so you can get a lot of good info directly from real Army skydivers. (Yes, skydivers - the Army pays for a lot of their non-airborne jumps!) We're closed for the holidays this weekend, but come on out Jan. 5-6! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

My thanks to everyone who replied to the poll. I realize that it was completely unscientific, but I'm still glad to find that ninety-two percent of any group considers violence to be acceptable only as a response to other violence. And I hope that the categories helped a few people put things into perspective. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Agreed. I attempted to list the choices in order of increasing provocation in order to determine the minumum threshold. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I was looking at a few of the posts on a recent thread about an assault on a skydiver and got to wondering: What do people think is the minimum amount of provocation that justifies using physical violence? I've tried to divide provocations into just a few general groups. If anything in a group justifies violence to you, select that one, even if the other things don't. If there's enough interest, we can divide each group further in a later poll. Philosophical Differences - simply having a different political party, favorite sports team, religion, etc. Hurt My Feelings - insulted me or someone/thing important to me, flirted or had a consensual affair with my "significant other", is my SO and had an affair, betrayed a friendship, etc. Attacking or About to Attack Others - when violence is the only way to prevent or stop violence Attacking or About to Attack Me - as above Never Under Any Circimstances - rather die than commit any form of violence Thanks "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Apparently another hoax: http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/s/support-the-troops.htm "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Attached has measurements for HeatWave 90 through 190. First page is Metric, second is American. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan