kkeenan

There are a couple of them in MN. Or was that Wisconsin ? Close enough. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

We used to have some great times at Indiantown. I remember every Sunday morning, the pile of empties around the fire was awesome. Once when there was a storm on top of the DZ, we jumped a Beaver load of us into a field at Naked Lady Ranch, a few miles away. The guy in charge came up to us, screaming bloody murder that we were tresspassing and he was going to call the cops. Right in the middle of his eye-bulging tirade, I hears the engine cut on the 182 overhead. Well, thinks I, this dude is in for more stress. Sure enough, about 60 sec. later, the Cessna load opens overhead, and the guy's apeshit level jumps up another order of magnitude. Popp was flying the Cessna, and thought all was fine with us landing there, but this manager was obviously not clued-in on that agreement. While the manager was busy yelling and calling the Sheriff, Popp swoops in with the Cessna on a super-low buzz job and a bunch of aerial tricks overhead. Needless to say, the manager was about to have a seizure at this point, and all of us jumpers laughing and cheering didn't help his mood. Popp eventually landed after his airshow, about the time the Sheriff's deputies showed up. We all packed while they sorted things out - we figured if we were going to jail, at least out rigs would be packed. Eventually, everything worked out, and we all piled into the airplanes and went back to the DZ. Don't know if they ever jumped at Naked Lady Ranch again, though. Kevin K. SCR 3022 SCS 2226 ToadSucker 46 _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

Excellent post. I'm seeing an increasing number of folks who's only involvement with their gear is wearing it on a jump. Now, the newer jumpers who want to know about gear care have trouble getting complete info even from some of their instructors. What you've laid out is a good, comprehensive plan that will keep people's gear in top shape and, more importantly, encourage them to examine more components and gain more knowledge of the operation / maintenance of it. Mini risers go bad, as you said, at the top of the grommet. The grommet hole on a mini takes out a greater % of the webbing material than the same size hole in a wide riser. Therefore, the opening forces are more concentrated and the first place that shows is the top of the grommet. Infinity makes some great minis at a good price. Is there anything known about the compatibility of Lok-Tite (wet or dry) with parachute materials ?? I'm sure with a reasonable amount of care, you shouldn't get any on the risers or lines, but it's something to watch out for. Again, thanks for educating the newbies as well as the oldies. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

Very common. We have 8-10 people at my DZ who do this all the time. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

If you think money buys someone's "heart", you should get out to some other DZs occasionally. Then you may understand one jumper helping another just because he needs help. You would probably greatly value the words of a 200-jump paid "Coach", while not even listening to someone with 10,000 jumps who gives you some friendly advice for free. The world some of us skydive in does not operate on a meter of "billable time". Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

Pilots at busy / large DZs frequently take on a load of jumpers without ever leaving their seat in the cockpit. If a drunken jumper were sitting next to you in the back of the a/c would you consider it the pilot's responsibility to deal with that issue ? And if the jumper injured or killed themselves or someone else, would you consider the pilot responsible for it ? In the eyes of the FAA, the pilot is the only person in the above scenario who can be held responsible. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

The hell with that boob. I'm looking anyway. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

If you're not planning on jumping it, there's really no reason to close the rig after removing the AAD. Just put the bagged reserve back in the pack tray and tie the flaps closed with some line or a pull up cord. The pilot chute takes up more room without the spring collapsed, but if you pack it in a bag with the rig and other stuff, it will be OK. You can actually compress the PC spring and wrap the bridle around it tightly (it helps to have a friend to assist) and tie it, then it will take up less room in your baggage. Be careful when you untie it - Yes, be careful with the Cypres wires and send the cutter head with it. Maybe you can have them ship it to your stateside address when it's done. That will be one less thing to bring back with you. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

Sounds like a great opportunity for fun and training.

I think they're saying that making an off-airport, engine-out landing with a full load of jumpers aboard could be very dangerous without the use of the flaps. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

You should probably check out one of the wind tunnels. You can fly in there all day long, if you wish. Just leave your credit card at the front desk, they'll let you know when it's time to stop. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

When I was on a SAC B-52 crew back in my USAF days, I saw a lot of nucular strike maps of the USSR. There seemed to be plenty of weapons to go around to just about everywhere over there. I suspect that their target maps had just as many dots placed in the U. S. We used to practice those missions a lot, but never got to try it for real. I suppose it's just as well... Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

Yes. Dave did some really nice work. He painted a lot of pilot chute caps on Racers. I remember the aft bulkhead of Mr. Douglas was a great skydiving scene. He was around as recently as a few years ago, but I haven't heard from him recently. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

I've been looking at some ski and snowboarding helmets that seem to have good protection. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

All of the line stowing tips have been correct and are important. Make sure they are not coming out until they are pulled, especially the ones that lock the bag closed. You may want to try rolling the nose of the canopy. This is commonly used to slow down an opening, and I'm sure you can find a packer at your DZ to explain it to you. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

So, you admire a thief who gets away with stealing ? Are you a thief yourself, and look up to other successful crooks ? What have you "won", lately ? I hope your friends at the DZ check your pants for altimeters, ProTracs, etc. when you leave. Just curious. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

This is an unusual case, as most packers are not moonlighting professionals. However, when packers make as much as doctors, I don't think they need a tip. Most packers have no overhead expenses other than a pullup cord and a pocket full of rubber bands, so everything they take in is profit. Most of the packers in Florida recently increased their income by 20% when they raised their fee from $5 to $6. I think that if most of us with regular jobs went to the boss and requested a 20% raise, it would be met with some resistance. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

We had a DVD of Gypsy Moths, with Bert Lancaster and Gene Hackman, at the DZ last weekend. It was pretty interesting seeing the 60's-era gear. There were some good stunts in it. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

Since the air noise under canopy is much less than in freefall, I think having music for CRW jumps would be ideal. Plus, the time under canopy is so long, you wouldn't have to worry about pulling low so you can hear the end of a favorite song. I can't imagine a more blissfull experience than being in a wild CRW wrap with "Hot Rails to Hell" by Blue Oyster Cult blasting on the headphones. Kevin K. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

It would be incorrect to say that it is common for swoopers to jump wet gear. However, at swoop contests with ponds, people get wet, and wet gear is jumped on occasion. I've been around a few events, and I know this is done. I've never examined any equipment to see how wet it is. All I can say is that there is sometimes varying degrees of wetness, and it never seemed to be an issue to the swoopers as far as I could tell. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

Most good-sized gear stores who sell L&B stuff usually keep extras of the little kits that L&B gives out with extra springs, screws, etc. kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

Some speculation on the recent accident in CO centers on reserves getting wet in swoop meets and experiencing deployment/opening problems. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2345435;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread The accident mentioned above was tragic, and my heart goes out to our friends at Skydive Dallas for their loss. The accident will have to be investigated fully and reach its own conclusions, so that we all may learn from this tragedy. The "Wet Reserve" theory may well have no connection with the cause of the accident. That being said, what are thoughts from the rigging community about this ? 1. Can wet lines get into tension knots easier than dry ones ? 2. What other problems can a wet reserve get into ? 3. How wet can a reserve get before a repack is required ? 4. Is it routine is it for swoopers to jump "totally wet" reserves on quick turnarounds in a competition ? As our sport evolves, people are doing different things with gear than the people before them did. Sometimes gradual changes cause results that no one anticipated. People expect reserves to work all the time, and sometimes don't connect the long-term treatment of a packed reserve with the performance of that reserve in that moment when they need it. Kevin Keenan _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

These are sewn nylon assemblies, not microprocessors. What knowledge is available now, that was not around when the PD-R was designed ? The technology used in reserves is, by intent, tried and proven. The last thing you should want in a reserve, in my opinion, is some "new, revolutionary improvement". This has been a basic tenet of skydiving since the beginning. The PD Reserve is respected for its outstanding record, gained over time - hence it is recommended by many people. The SMART may be just as good, but hasn't had the time to build up the same record. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

No way. Mr. Bills are OK, with proper equip and prep., but not at that experience level. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?

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