JerryBaumchen

Hi John, Lots of things can do it. In my case it was an out-of-control Para-Thyroid gland. A little surgery and nothing since. If it were soda pop I would be having them all of the time. JerryBaumchen PS) My doctor told me that the Portland, OR area ( that is here, where I live ) has the highest rate of kidney stones of anywhere in the world; and no one knows why.

Hi folks, Looks like the answer still eludes us. The 'noteable grads' site had this: JOHN J. “BLACKJACK” PERSHING - and was named General of the Armies of the United States by Congress upon his retirement in 1924. And this: DOUGLAS MACARTHUR - He was one of only five officers to be promoted to General of the Army (five stars). I understand that Pershing is the only officer ever to be promoted to 6 stars. The 6 stars are 5 arranged in a circle with the 6th being in the center. The 6 stars are what you get when you are General of the Armies ( note plural ). As for the historians on here: Don't give up we need this information. JerryBaumchen PS) Andy908 - AMERICAN CAESAR is my 2nd favorite book of all time. He was an egotist, very self-centered, and a lot of other negative things. But he was a great general; quite possibly the best military strategist we have ever known.

Hi out there, A good many years ago I read 'AMERICAN CAESAR' by Wm. Manchester. It is a biography of Douglas MacArthur. In it ( IIRC ) he mentions that MacArthur was the 2nd highest graduating cadet from West Point, & that Rob't. E. Lee was the highest graduating cadet. Earlier this week I watched a PBS program/biography of Rob't. E. Lee and they showed a 'document' that showed that Lee was 2nd in his class. So that begs the question: Where does MacArthur stand among West Point graduates? I do know that MacArthur's mother moved into an apartment across the street so that she could keep the pressure on him during his time there. Anyone out there know for sure as to what MacArthur's standing really is? Thanks, JerryBaumchen

Hi Rob, Not necessary, you can get that now. About the only thing the Dolphin does not offer ( compared to so-called 1st tier rigs ) is a MARD & Mag Riser Covers. Other than that IMO it offers just about what the other rigs offer; except for color selections. Which brings us to the question: What percentage of rigs sold are all black? Hmmmmm,,,,,,?????? JerryBaumchen PS) Mike is also well known for very good customer support and updates that are timely and rather inexpensive. PPS) And the comment about lack of profit for dealers is IMO dead-on.

Hi Terry, One additional source is Al MacDonald of Flying High. Although, this might not be the best for US-folks. Al does have a number of used pilot rigs on his website at this time. JerryBaumchen

Hi Rob, Interestingly, I got a call yesterday morning from a rigger in Arizona that you and I both know. He wanted some info on my approval to recertify SAC canopies. He had been contacted by another rigger in Arizona ( to remain un-named ) who was of the opinion that he ( the un-named rigger ) could merely do the acid mesh test & the fabric pull test himself and the canopy ( if it passed ) would be good to go. I informed the rigger who called me that only those people who held an approval from the FAA for the re-certification of these canopies could legally do this testing. BTW ( and just to brag a little ) I was the 2nd person in the US to get the approval; Manley Butler was the first. Apparently this SAC canopy was in a pilot rig that had been sitting for 'some time.' JerryBaumchen

Hi Jeanne, Let me say that I know nothing about the details of this. However, some time back I went to bat for someone who was banned for life from this entire site. The reply that I got from a mod made it very clear as to why ( no specific details ). IMO ( and it is ONLY that ), I think that any mod would provide one with plently of warning(s) before doing what they do. Just my thoughts . . . JerryBaumchen

Hi captain, Well, there was the time that the Coors team was in training as the US Team. They had gotten all new gear, fresh packed from a factory. Craig Fronk had a malfunction & when he used his reserve ( a round fortunately ) he found that it was on backwards. No one is perfect, and that includes me. Like some others here, I'm a rigger so it would be an easy decision for me. JerryBaumchen

Hi Sparky, The engineer in me is very envious. That just looks like a lot of fun. JerryBaumchen

Hi Chuck, Is that a typo or is that what you are paying? I just topped up one of my cars yesterday here in Beaverton, OR with Super for $3.259 which went up today by 6 cents/gallon due to an increase in state taxes. The days of cheap energy are behind us. As I have mentioned before, consider reading THE LONG EMERGENCY by Kunstler. JerryBaumchen

Hi Austin, I've spent a fair amount of time in both of them & think that just two days in each will be way too short. Just my thoughts on that. But, then again, you two may be way too busy with 'other things' that you will be doing. SkyMoms has given you some good ideas for London. For lodging in Paris, I highly recomend: http://www.hotel-leveque.com/en They speak excellent English, it is very will situated for walking to just about anywhere in the city, and you can get REALLY good crepes for breakfast at a little kiosk in the street in front of the hotel; just go out the front door & turn left, the kiosk should be about 100 ft away. Best of luck, JerryBaumchen PS) http://www.squidoo.com/top10-things-to-do-Paris-France PPS) Also go to Rick Steeves website as he has something about Paris in 7 days.

Hi daniel, I worked in Contract Management for 30 yrs. Verbal contracts can be binding ( in fact, they are binding ) but the problem is just what was said. Therein lies the problem. Most verbal contracts simply do not have sufficient details to make them enforceable unless it is something simple like "I'll give you $30 for that canopy" & 'OK, I'll take it.' And then there is the age old problem of did one party actually say exactly what the other party says they said. And I do know that a verbal contract can be binding per the Uniform Commercial Code ( UCC ). Just for example let us say that FFE agreed to provide aircraft on the weekends for 14 months at some price. And the other party agreed. When ( and I do not know ) FFE did not provide aircraft on any given weekend during that period ( short of a Force Majeure ) then FFE was in breach and the contract was void. A Force Majeure does not have to be actually included but is usually implied. A Force Majeure is usually defined similar to an Act of God, i.e., something that neither party could do anything about nor act around. Just my thoughts . . . They are worth just about what you paid for them. NOTE) I do not consider myself an expert on contracts and I do not know anything about the details of any actual contract between these two parties. JerryBaumchen

Hi jack, Sometimes you have to dress right to jump. JerryBaumchen

Hi Zig, Here is my guy. Back in '79, when we were doing the testing, my daughter, who was 7 then, said that he looked just like Darth Vador. Hence, his 'name.' JerryBaumchen

Hi reg, I only have one thing to say: GO PATS JerryBaumchen

Hi viking, http://flightconceptsint.com/reserves If it is a Fury reserve then it is 220 sq ft. Or it could be a Maverick reserve at 200 sq ft. Take a look at the Packing Data Card or the label on the canopy. Or talk to the seller. JerryBaumchen

Hi Danger, I want you to do something for me: Start shoveling. I will be driving to Reno for the Symposium in Feb & I want the roads clear. JerryBaumchen

Hi Moms, Who knows what's normal anymore? I cannot speak for any other man regarding 'normal' but my record is four changes in one day due to four showers in one day; way too much manual labor that day. Every morning I shave, shower & put on clean skivvies. YMMV JerryBaumchen PS) And if I should shower late at night, I then put on clean skivvies for bed. I then put on clean ones after the morning shower. Am I using too much water? I'm in trouble with someone. PPS) So Moms, you going to vote in Andy's poll?

Hi Mark. What was is Pogo said? Oh yea, "I have found the enemy and it is us." JerryBaumchen

Hi Paul, Over the years a good number of people ( some even friends ) have 'fudged' my name onto the packing card. I would tell them to just open the phone book & stab, use that name & make up a rigger's number; it keeps me out of it you go in. JerryBaumchen

Hi Jim, I fixed it for you. JerryBaumchen

Hi rider, This one even has a present under it. NSFW, though. JerryBaumchen

Hi ski, Great graphic; I only wish I knew how to do that stuff. If it broke on the shortest leg, between the Lark's Head knot and the seal, then the other leg of the thread would pull it towards the loop/grommet but that should not be a problem. IMO, and I may be wrong, this problem only occurs if one puts the seal thread through the loop. JerryBaumchen PS) I am doing a lot of responding to this issue because I think that every rigger's nightmare is packing a total. Sorry to be taking up so much time on this.

Hi Paul, There are things called 'stress risers.' I know a little about this because it was something we studied in engineering school ( a couple of lifetimes ago ). In this type of case, we simply do not know where the highest stresses on the thread occur at. I am thinking at the Lark's Head knot at the cable because the thread going through/around the loop would be more curved and therefore be subject to less stresses. Or maybe I am completely wrong & have no idea. Does that explain it completely and make it clear for you? JerryBaumchen PS) An excellent graphic of a stress riser is the drawing in Poynter's original Parachute Manual at section 8.2.1.C.2.b. When I did this testing I was surprised that the line broke where it did. But after doing some thinking, I realized that this was the location of maximum stress, i.e., where it has to break. I don't have a scanner & am a computer 'know-nothing' so I cannot put the drawing up on this site. I took a photo and this is the best that I could do. Hope it helps.

Hi Michael, You bugger, you beat me to it. Terry, this idea of just how to do this might be something for the upcoming Rigger's conference at Reno. When I first heard of this 'problem' ( I seem to remember that the first time was with a rig from a Scandinavian country; but I might be wrong ) and I really could not see how a lead seal could ever cause a total. Why: Because it just never occured to me that anyone would ever put the thread through the locking loop. One learns something every day; some things I just would prefer not to learn. JerryBaumchen