dninness

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Everything posted by dninness

  1. thats pretty much my tack. We were waiting to load the plane when I watched one of our camera guys biff in pretty badly many years ago. We got on the plane and the load organizer went thru and made sure everybody was OK to jump and reminded us that there might be emergency equipment on the field when we land, so we should be prepared to land further out. On landing, the ambulance was slowly leaving the landing area, no lights. We didn't know if that was a great sign or a really, really bad sign. When the guy showed up to the bonfire that evening, we figured it out. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  2. I don't think anybody is suggesting that you don't teach students about parachute aerodynamics, and I do think they get a fair understanding of how the parachute works (from a flying standpoint) during AFF. But jamming complex aerodynamic concepts at FJC students is probably counter productive. For the purposes of FJC, they need to know that its out there, it flies, etc. (there, square and steerable/landable, right?) The rest comes as they go thru the various levels of AFF and learn more about flying the canopy and what it does for them. But really, considering that many of the variables are just that: variable, it seems to me that the lift formula might be tilting at windmills. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  3. Having covered parachute aerodynamics with Civil Air Patrol cadets (my evil plan to sneak skydiving into CAP by teaching them about the "aerospace" aspects... yeah!!), I'm with Bill on this one: for an FJC, you only need about 10 minutes on "why the parachute works." Lets face it, your average FJC student really doesn't need to be able to tell me about Bernoulli and "steady state stalls." Yes, helicopter aerodynamics for pilots is FAR more complex (retreating blade stall, anyone? Translating tendency?), and I think that for the most part, helicopter pilots better have a much more firm grasp of aerodynamics than their flexible-wing'd cousins. But spending more than 10-20 minutes on "this is why / how a parachute flies" in an FJC is probably putting too much extraneous information into their heads when its really not going to help. However, I do start covering things like "lift, thrust, weight & drag" later when we start talking about riser turns, canopy performance, etc. But again, we're not going to make anybody an expert, but they should be at least familiar enough not to be honking on a front riser in the wrong situation. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  4. We had a kid from West Point get his license in 7 days. He was highly motivated due to a slot waiting for him on the Black Knights, and let me tell you, he moved with a purpose. He'd land, grab his main, and literally RUN to the hangar, lay out the parachute, ask one of the packers "Hey, man, I'm on another load, can you make sure this gets packed?" and then run over to manifest and say "Hey, can I get another one in? They're packing for me now." I think he wore 2-3 coaches out. :) Its feasible, and in Florida, in the right time of year, I would think its even more feasible. Whats that phrase? "Speed's just a question of money. How fast do you wanna go?" (BTW, agree with one of the other posters: wait till the spring, so you don't have a long layoff waiting for a more northern DZ to open for the season. That blows. What part of MO are you in?) NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  5. I wanted to learn in the military, but they kept saying that there was no requirement for Airborne helicopter mechanics. :) There was a jump club at Cp Humphreys where I was stationed. All winter 1987-88 I'd walk past the Q-hut they were HQ'd in and see the sign "Will re-open in April" and think "alright, I'm gonna do this.." Then the sign changed to "Unable to get airlift support. Will not reopen. Sorry." Even got offered a tandem during the Olympics skydiving training (well, it wasn't a *real* tandem offer, just guys grabbing us by our monkey harnesses and saying "Here, I'll take 'ya tandem!"..) Didn't get to take up jumping until 6 years later while I was in the Guard. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  6. Richmond Revisited (and other names) was a close 2nd to the Convention. Sadly, I believe 2009 was the last year for that boogie, and even then, it was a mere shell of its former self. (yes, I know, Richmond was a DZ, too, but you don't see too many regular old DZs bringing in 2 Otters, 2 CASAs, the Mullins King Air, and then a helo, a Gooney Bird or a Twin Beech, etc. Sure, the bigger places like Z-Hills and Skydive AZ could host those kinds of events, and they sort of do with Christmas boogies and such) I never did get to the WFFC, and I really wish I'd made that extra effort to get to it. I think a lot of us took it for granted that "It'll be there next year, too.." NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  7. I spent 10 years in Army Aviation prior to skydiving. While we were supposed to wear hearing protection all the time, there were many times when we'd be cranking up an APU for "just a second" that we didn't bother. Various turbine engines emit sounds along a wide spectrum of frequencies. Sitting up front along side the PT-6s of an otter can be a little different than sitting all the way in the back, but still, some of that high frequency sound is going to get to you and could cause hearing damage. I thought I was a "tough guy" when I was a young enlisted troop, not grabbing my hearing protection when around APUs, engines, transmissions, ground power carts, etc. Then I started wearing my hearing protection far more religiously, but damage had already been done to my hearing (never mind the fact that hearing loss seems to be hereditary in my family. My grandmother and my dad were/are deaf as a haddock..) I got to the point where I was wearing the silicone "christmas tree" type earplugs or foamies under my flight helmet. (with the radios turned up a corresponding amount, etc) I don't generally wear earplugs skydiving, but occasionally I have, and now that I'm an AFF-I and sitting up front in the Otter, closer to the engines and props, I do so more. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  8. Just picked up a Sidewinder 2 for a good price, but in doing a little subsequent research, I realize that the cameras its designed for (the Sony PC-XXX series) are all tape-based and, as far as I can tell, non-HD cameras. So, in looking at the housing and doing a little mental figuring (always dangerous), on a very preliminary basis it looks like I might be able to build some sort of a mount to put, say, a CX-100 on top of that emulates the form factor of the PC-series. (for space program geeks like me, think of it like the Apollo "milkstool") I'll know more once I borrow a CX-100 or similar and try some trial fits. Anybody have any experience wedging a non-PC camera into a Sidewinder? NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  9. I learned to jump in Michigan, and jumped at a couple different DZs before moving to New England a decade ago. I met Midwest's DZO, Randy Allison (also the USPA regional director) at the USPA board meeting in July and on finding out I was a former local boy, demanded that I come visit next time I was in town. As it happened, about 2 weeks later, I was in town! What a friendly bunch of folks at a great small DZ with a tremendous vibe. I started at another fairly "small" DZ in the Detroit area, and Midwest keeps that tradition alive, even with a Caravan and a 182 at their disposal. (the 182 is probably the cleanest and most well maintained skydiving C-182 I've ever had the privilege to jump out of, too) The facilities are comfortable but not flashy. This is a "working DZ," not a tandem factory. Packing is wide open, there's plenty of space to stretch out. You can't ask for more outs, and while the landing area proper is fairly small, you have plenty of bean fields and such to land in if you misjudge. Everybody made me feel right at home the minute I walked in. Its nice to not only get the DZ orientation by walking around, but to get personal introductions to everybody on the DZ at the same time. Bottom line: if you're looking to make 30 loads a day with all the amenities, go to the "big" DZs. If you're looking to enjoy skydiving with a small, friendly group of jumpers who are there for the love of the sport, come make some jumps at Midwest. I have a new "home away from home" when I'm back visiting family.
  10. Mike's a good dude, I'm glad something could be worked out. I'm a huge fan of Pilots (even though I have a Sabre in my rig at the moment), and you should be, too. I do think it was a bit of an overreaction. If it had been you coming here and lamenting "Aww, man, I almost had a Pilot for $1300, but it was an error on the site. Oh well, back to looking for a good main.." thats one thing. But to swear off a company's products due to an error that basically resulted in no foul? Yeah, thats a little over the top. What happens at your DZ the day you get on the plane and it comes down with everybody in it due to a change in the conditions or whatever and the DZ says "Thats $25.50.."? Do you go "But, but, I didn't jump! That's stupid! I'm not jumping here again!"? NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  11. I see this fairly often, especially on early category students. It really isn't as big of a deal as you think it is. You want it to stop, yes, but its not like you can tell your legs "OK, look, cut that shit out.." Someone once explained that the kicking was usually due to the brain telling the body "Ok, I'm not 'upright' anymore, move feet until equilibrium is regained.." Like I tell my students: "You've spent the last X years walking around and learning how _not_ to fall over. Now you leap from a plane at odd angles and with tons of weird sensory inputs. Your inner ear is telling your brain 'I'm falling to this side' or 'I'm falling backwards' and your brain compensates by moving your feet to 'regain your balance'. Unfortunately, moving your feet in this instance does not quite have the desired effect." Now, that being said, I notice that the students who relax in freefall most quickly are the ones who also stop kicking. YMMV, but thats been my short experience with it so far. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  12. The whole thing is a tempest in a teapot due to the poll. Why call attention to a marginal editorial decision? I get the magazine every month, I don't know whether they had 2 photos lined up for the cover or 22. And I don't care. Frankly, any editor worth his/her salt would have known that the original flag photo wasn't going to fit the cover's form factor. At all. Without a mockup. So why bother, and then call attention to your flub? Weird. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  13. QuoteNo one is going to check your numbers. They just want it close.[/reply Last demo jump I did, the FSDO's ops inspector and I spoke on the phone and he _did_ check my numbers. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  14. I used to jump with just one, a old Sapphire I bought when I was a student (ok, it was *new* when I bought it). Then when I started coaching I picked up a cheap Alti 2 on Fleabay and moved the Sapphire from the chest mount to my wrist (helps me with being able to accurately gauge what altitude my student pulled at.. I just throw my hand up where I can see both the alti & the student and when they pull, i have a pretty good idea). The chest mount just marks me as an "old-timer" (*cough*) to the "kids," and I use it when I'm tracking and sometimes under canopy. About 2 years ago, I got an audible so I could fill that hole in the side of my A3, and I use it as a backup to the Mk1, Mod0 eyeball and the analogs. I find more often than not that the "breakoff reminder" beeps in my ear while I'm tracking, and I get the deployment reminder after I've let go of my pilot chute. The eyeballs are working as intended. Last season, I got an Alti-track for a song from another jumper, and retired the Sapphire to my helmet bag/backup/loaner duty. During the AFF course, however, I got dinged on a practice eval for signaling "PULL" to the student too high. I saw "6500" on my alti and said "time to get into the slot for pull time" and then I figured "OK, that took me about 5 seconds, so lets signal pull.." I threw the "Pull" out there, and as I did I rotated my wrist toward me and saw that I was still at or above 6000ft and quickly withdrew my finger. The "student" continued on his merry way ignoring me (so I thought) and I threw "pull" back out at 5500 and we finished the skydive. I landed and could not figure out what the hell happened, and the evaluator asked me "Why'd you give me pull at 6200 ft?" and I didn't have a good answer. That night when I looked at the face of the Alti-track, I realized how I mis-interpreted the markings. Above 6000 ft, the Alti-track's scale changes from "1000 ft per major division" to "2000 ft per major division". What I'd read as "6500" was really probably "7000+." In the dinking around to get in my slot for the pull, I only burned 1000 ft or a little less, and instead of being around 5500, I was well over 6,000. I showed up the next day with the Sapphire back on my left wrist, my altitrack on my right (I wanted to still record speed & freefall time), the chest mount and my audible to finish the course out. Sure, my buddies laughed at me (I wound up putting the altitrack in my jumpsuit pocket) for being so "Gucci." I have since gone back to the Altitrack with additional training and practice. And of course, the Mk1, Mod0 eyeball still functions as designed. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  15. Bill, you nailed this one. Jim Crouch was up here in the northeast about a month ago, and Mary Lou held an S&TA meeting with him at my DZ. All were invited, not just S&TAs, and Jim passed around a clipboard for anybody to write topics on. This was one of those topics, and interestingly, one of the guys in the room was a ~125 jump low-timer who'd recently gotten and jumped (repeatedly) a Go-Pro. While I did not call him out by name, I did say "We've seen some folks show up with low jump numbers and a camera and act like it 'ain't no big deal'.." Jim and all the S&TAs agreed that the 200 jump recommendation, while being just a recommendation, was really a good place to start and that its up to the S&TAs and the DZOs to enforce recommendations like that. Sure a guy with 175 jumps *might* be able to handle a camera. But having jumped a few dozen camera jumps myself, I think for a low-timer its a tremendous distraction. Hell, even now I find myself "flying my head" for the shot when i swore up and down that i wasn't doing that. :) Our low-time guy with the Go-Pro, after that meeting, decided to put his Go-Pro away until he has at least 200 jumps. He asked me after "hey, was that me you were referring to in there?" I said "Yeah, you and a couple others, but mostly you." He said "I didn't think that it was a big deal, but I can see, and have seen, where the camera can cause me to lose focus on the task at hand. And I don't want there to be a problem where someone could say 'Yeah, its cuz he's got 160 jumps and a camera!' ..." Conversely, I jumped with another coach last year who was borrowing a low-timers camera helmet (long story) while jumping a coach jump. The coach and another jumper spent the entire ride to altitude dinking with the camera and hamming it up on tape. I wound up reviewing the skydive in the plane and doing the student's gear checks because the other coach was so distracted by the camera. (never mind the quality of the skydive). *sigh* BTW, I think those Go-Pro mounts are an accident waiting for a riser or line. Most folks I see with them don't have a helmet cutaway or some kind of a frangible mount, and one DZ nearby, after an errant Go-Pro came off its original mount and landed nearby, mandated that they be securely bolted to the flyer's helmet. Heaven forbid that a line snakes around that thing on deployment and creates either a mal or a broken neck. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  16. Yeah, I mean, I'd vote, but since I personally use the method that's so decidedly inferior, whats the point? What I teach is different than what I personally use, however. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  17. Same experience. Last year, I'd bought an Altitrack off one of our wingsuiters who'd misplaced his, bought a new one, then found the old one (clod!). During the course of the last season, cracks developed in the housing. I wrote L&B, Mads said "Send it to us," so I did, and I got back what looks like a brand new one. I own two pieces of L&B gear (Altitrack and a Pro-Track) and I'll stick with them as long as I can with customer service like that. Their products are top notch, and their service is unbeatable. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  18. Interestingly, I had a young man come to us yesterday who'd completed the HALO course in San Diego last year and had a proficiency card signed off with an A-license stamp, yet none of the blocks (date, initials, license #) on the pro-card had anything but a stamped star in them. (the pro-card was xeroxed onto legal-sized paper, and in the extra space there was a block explaining that the stars represented that he'd met all the requirements but had not been thru a hand-deploy transition..) He'd neglected to send in his proficiency card to USPA when he got it, so he techncially wasn't an A-licensed jumper. He had 26 jumps in his log book, all freefalls, and did not have his 5 military static-line jumps from BAS in there. (I had to laugh when I'm reading his logbook entries and out of 26 jumps he's got like 5 night jumps...) We went thru and using his logbook we re-transcribed all the entries with legit dates onto a new card and I starred those items which were based on his course qualification and wrote "Transcribed from logbook entries and previous proficiency card" and told him "When you mail this to USPA, send a copy of your new card, and a copy of that old one, too.." I then took him on an recurrency/check-dive and signed off his A for a 2nd time :) (Honestly, he was a good skydiver, did a nice job, highly altitude aware, good tracking skills, paid attention to the transition training, nice freefall skills...) I asked him about his S/L jumps at Benning, and he said "As far as I'm concerned, they don't count. That was nothing like sport jumping..." So, you know, he's got that going. I mean, after all, its 5 jumps... NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  19. Sadly, I never got a chance to go to the convention, either Rantoul or Quincy. And yeah, every year I think "Jeebers, can we get a real boogie?" I went to Richmond 4 or 5 years after it "came back." Got to hear the war stories about the Holiday inn party from the old timers, etc.. While it surely wasn't the WFFC, Richmond, for me, was an accessible boogie fairly near to my home that featured several days of great skydiving with all kinds of cool skydivers and a bunch of "planes we don't get elsewhere on a regular basis." (thinking: King Air 200, Mullins King Air, Casas, DC-3, Beech 18, Bell 222) I mean, your local DZ can have a "boogie," and bring in a CASA (or in the case of a Cessna DZ, an Otter), but its not the same as going someplace where skydiving does not occur on a regular basis, for the express purpose of just jumping your ass off for several days. Seriously, I'm thinking back and I'm like "Yeah, canopy survival skills when you're surrounded by people who just got out of another Casa and a Twin Otter?" man, talk about head on a swivel and flyin' like you mean it. :) NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  20. Skydive Pepperell has, I think, free tent camping and we're pretty dog-friendly (and yes, there are "swoop the landmine" incidents..). At any one time, there must be 6-8 4-legged little suckers bombing around the DZ. I'll be honest: I'm pretty sure about the tent camping, but its not listed on the new website (clearly, an oversite on my part) but you'd do well to call manifest and confirm. There's someone there 0900-1800 everyday. 1-800-SKYJUMP www.skyjump.com NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  21. This. More than once. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  22. That's my main parachute, and I don't think it's a strange one. It was very popular in its day. Care to elaborate? yeah, I was gonna say "Hey, I jump a Sabre 1 170.. What gives?" Darn thing might be a little old, but it flies pretty good. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19
  23. I used to crew CH-47s. While in hot gas, I used to walk out to the full extent of my comm cord aft of the aircraft, which put me just about under the arc of the aft rotor system, right where the hot exhaust from the engines was being blown down by the rotor wash to ground level. And drink it all in... Mmmmmmmmm.. It was particularly nice on really, really cold Korean winter days, because I didn't like wearing a flight jacket while we had the aircraft buttoned up in flight (the cabin temp control was in the cockpit. What made the pilots toasty usually resulted in us in the back being baked alive). So I'd always volunteer to supervise refueling ops from the rear of the aircraft. Perhaps that explains a few things 23 years later. *shrug* EDIT: I remembered the "JP-4" bath I took once during a refueling accident. Ruined _everything_ I was wearing except my dogtags. And wide-cut kerosene burns like the dickens when it reaches your nether regions. NIN D-19617, AFF-I '19