hchunter614

New post on cnn.com about the jump... http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/12/robin-meade-what-to-pack-for-a-presidential-skydive/

It also depends on what your ultimate goal is. Do you want to become a licensed skydiver or just do another jump for the fun of it.

I believe that one of the canopy flight objectives during the AFF progression is rear riser turns for collision avoidance.

Isn't the fastest was to make anavoidance turn on opening by using the rear risers, not the fronts?

As for benefits, the main one is that your currency time goes up to 1 jump every 90 days. Some dropzones that are near large bodies of water also require a B license.

+1 Please add this feature.

If you're planning on getting tinted eyewear be sure to ask at the DZ first before you do. The thought there is that the instructors want to be able to make eye contact with you and if your eyewear is tined or mirrored they can't tell if you're looking at them. I had just gotten Lasik done before I started AFF and the bright sun still bothered me so I talked to the DZ and they helped me pick out a pair of lightly tinted goggles.

As others have said, wait to buy any gear until later. You'll get much more benefit from using that money to do more jumps than you will from the equipment. You only get 60 seconds (give or take a few) to practice each time plus you have down time in between jumps so the more jumps you can get in during a certain period of time, the more you will learn. In addition, most DZs like all students using the same equipment (theirs) while training for various reasons (radio in helmet, etc).

I just shipped a Sabre2 210 and it, along with box, weighed in at 8.5 lbs so you should be covered at 8 lbs.

I would highly recommend Luigi's course. He tailors it to each jumper and videos each landing for debriefs. I took it last year and it was worth every dollar. I will be taking it again this summer when he is at our DZ.

You may have also had a touch of "ground rush" that made you sick. Above a certain altitude you can't relly "percieve" how high you are because you don't have the visual references in your peripheral vision. I also agree that you should try eating something light a couple of hours before you jump and be sure to drink plenty of water. (just remember to go to the bathroom beofre the jump - lol)

If you're in the US, you need 25 jumps at the minimum to get your A license. If you do the static line method you will eventually be learning the same stuff as someone that started doing AFF but you'll most likely have a few more "jumps" than they do. No matter which method you choose you will have to demonstrate specific skills (in freefall, under canopy, on the ground). Why do you not want to have "2 guys hanging onto me"? Depending on who you talk to, there are pros and cons to each training method. Search these forums for any of the numerous threads discussing the different training methods.

Your best bet is to call the DZ, explain your situation and ask them. You need 25 jumps (at least) to get your A license but I would expect you'll go over that some because there are also learning objectives you need to demonstrate. All of your tandem and static line jumps will count towards the 25 as long as they are verifiable.

There is also Wink up @ AerOhio. Call their main number to get in contact with him.

Just wanted to post an update. We worked with Kim at SDU and did a total of one hour in the tunnel on the 27th. Mick and Will were our coaches from SDU and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for tunnel coaching. They are both top notch coaches! They took the time before our flight to find out what our goals were and then put together a plan to accomplish them. During our debrief they took the time to watch our entire flight with us and provided additional instruction and things to work on in the air. THANKS Mick and Will!! Curtis (and Jeff)

Even if you do not let go of the toggles before you restow your brakes after landing, you will still get twists in your brake lines. You won't get as many, but over time they'll still twist up. It only takes a few extra seconds during your last pack job of the day to remove the twists. Not to mention that if you leave even a few twists in the lines they will set in over time and you'll never get them out.

Thanks for all of the suggestions and PMs. Will check them out. Blue Skys and Happy New Years!

Looking for a RW coach for Skyventure Orlando the last week of January. Prefer someone who is also a skydiving instructor. Thanks Curtis

"The final will count as 20% of your final grade". Hate to break the news to you but if you knew your final was 20% of your final grade and you didn't get any better than a C (72%) on it you got the grade you deserved. If I knew the final was 20% of my grade I would have studied more.

Call ahead and ask how the DZ you plan on going to breaks their training up. Be sure to take your vidoes (if you get them during your traning jumps which you should). Also, if you have a student traning booklet from your original DZ that outlines each level, be sure to take that. Then if the DZ you're visiting uses a different system they can match what you've done to their system accordingly.

To locate the DZ after opening there are a couple of things you can do that help before you learn landmarks from the air. First, as soon as you open do your controlability check and while doing that LOOK for other canopies. You can be assured that they are headed back to the dropzone. Second, if you don't see any other canopies, start looking for the dropzone directly between your feet. DO NOT start out ot the horizon and search back because most likely the DZ will be below you or very close. Learning to identify where landmarks are from the air can be hard depending on where you jump. If you jump at an airport it's much easier to see the runways than it is if you jump at a DZ that has a grass runway. Try to sit by a window or the door and look for land marks on the way to altitude. Ask an experienced jumper to point some out to you also. It does get easier. And of course, talk to your instructors. Ask them to point out where landmarks are on an overhead photo. Good luck.

At the drop zone that I jump at we do teach students how to do a proper PLF and make them practive it until they can do it properly. (not bashing here but) If you've had military experience (and PLF training like you said you did in your post above) why didn't you perform a PLF instead of landing hard on your feet and then your butt?

Quick search turns up these... http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/dropzone/finder.cgi?search=addr&lat=41&lng=-81&rad=100

People are making a big deal about your chest strap because that's what holds you in your harness. Does the rig fit properly on the ground? Is the rig well maintained? (sounds like your leg straps may be loose after opening - are they tight during your gear check, is the keeper slipping?) You say you're at "one of the best facilities in the world" but if they can't find gear that fits you properly you should find a dropzone that can. If your chest strap is at your neck and you have a canopy malfunction and need to execute your emergency procedures your cutaway and reserve handles are going to be in places you're not used to them being and you may not even be able to reach them.

You'll learn much more by jumping with a coach or instructor than you will by jumping alone. Not only will they give you a frame of reference they will be able to debrief you after the jump and help you identify skills that you did well on as well as those that you need to work on. Also, don't forget to work on your canopy skills on each jump. A coach or instructor can also give you canopy skills to work on.