BASE841

The experienced jumper was going to take another pass, then belly fly.

I was the one who shot the video and was her reserve-side AFF-I. When the experienced jumper in the back chose to jump in winds too high for our student, I weighed the risks of a PC out and catastrophic aircraft mal vers. her accidentally falling out while he was between me and my student. I decided the chances of the latter were higher than the former and snapped her seatbelt on. Once the door was closed, I took it off until shortly before landing. So far, most posts have been to keep it off. In the case that was staring me in the face, the choice was obvious to me, and I'd do it again unless my S&TA tells me otherwise. By an interesting coincidence, we're having a DZ-I meeting tomorrow, where I'll bring this up. I'll let you folks know about the discussion and the final decision by our S&TA.

...please PM me. I may be heading your way soon (1st of Apr timeframe) and I'm looking for some jumping guidance. Thanks!

Two main monthly publications, at least here in the US: http://www.skydivingmagazine.com/ http://www.uspa.org/ (You get Parachutist free when you join USPA.)

Go to uspa.org, find the SIM (Skydiver's Information Manual) and read the portions on a Catagory A jump... that'll be your first jump course right there. That way your familiar with what will be expected of you. Make sure you're in good shape the day of your course, mentally and physically. Avoid partying the night before and get a good night's rest. Drink plenty of water, keep yourself hydrated. And stretch out before the physical parts of training, your muscles will thank you. Most of all, have fun! Fun is the best reason to throw yourself from an airplane.

No, I don't think a lot of these questions are stupid, just uninformed. Remember that for most people, jumping is unnatural. To them, our playground is an alien environment. Take for example the "cutaway" question. When I'm briefing my tandem students, I don't use the word "cutaway" until after I explain it. Then they have no images of me hacking away at our suspension lines. I like the wuffo questions! It gives me a chance to explain our sport to someone who is at least curious and might even turn into a jumper (it has happened a couple of times.)

Yeah, but the photos kicked ass, no question! (ok, I'm biased, I shot two of them.)

Dude, it's a bodily function in a room especially set aside for bodily functions... I say that's the best place to let one rip, anywhere in the room. Of course, I fart in the plane with no apologies...

I love it!! What e-mail do I use to pay for the larger version?

"The Black Hole at the Center of Our Galaxy" by Fulvio Melia. Man, there's some wild things going on there!

Here's my Photoshop-ified version. Hey, is that a canopy up there?

I wouldn't rule out skydiving just yet. USPA Basic Safety Requirements (BSRs) state that to make a skydive, you need to have one of three documents: an FAA Medical Certificate, a certificate of physical fitness for skydiving from a registered physician, or the USPA medical statement. Most people just sign the medical statement (trivia note, tandem instructors need the FAA certificate.) The medical statement reads in part: "I...have never been treated for or diagnosed to have any of the following...fainting spells or convulsions...” That means your twin cannot sign the medical statement and must have something specific from an MD. Seizures can have dozens of causes, not all of them neurological. Your twin needs to see a doctor again. That doctor needs to know the history, all the events leading up to the seizure (especially the alcohol and lack of sleep) and that your twin wants to skydive. A seizure is a serious thing, easily deadly during a skydive. But just because a seizure happened one time doesn't mean skydiving is forever out of the picture. Bottom line, he needs medical clearance.

This clip brings me back, and not in a good way. My ex-wife was like that, just not quite as shrill (turned radical evangelical/charismatic a month after our wedding.) It sucks, having someone try to cast demons out of you.

I've had great results with Basic Research (two canopies) and Morpheus Technologies (one container.) You should hear about Morpheus especially. My youngest son Matthew chose the colors of my Gargoyle, and he was coming to visit me for a week. Scheduled delivery was just after he would depart, and he really wanted to see me jump the container he "designed." I called Kathy and explained the situation. They got me the container early, in time for Matthew to see me jump it. I understand this meant a couple of late nights for Robert to complete my Gargoyle. They didn't have to do that, they would have met their obligation. But Robert and Kathy went above and beyond to help me. BIG TIME kudos to Morpheus!

In a cave, while straddling a 30-foot cravasse (sorta how porcupines do it! )

Any suggestions on a Cessna 182 exit for a successful wingsuit rodeo? Skysprite and I tried it a few months ago. It was fun but I wouldn't call it successful.

Dude wants to get paid to pilot rotary wing aircraft, he'll have to pay the price of wearing a bar. At least it's as a warrant, that's almost as good as being an NCO.

Happy Birthday, Sprite. You know, you still don't have to buy booze. Your brandy bundt cakes are wonderful (although I think I did get a little tipsy once from scarfing the glaze.) Have a wonderful time at Eloy. I think I'll probably stay back at SDNM and wait for tandem passengers.

Aw, it could be a lot worse, at least for me. She could have cut up my jumping gear instead. But yeah, I see a country song in there, too. I just hope it has a happy ending.

My wife replaced my climbing gear she threw in the trash when she was pissed at me.

That had to be my last one, Saturday. I was with friends (both old and new) at a huge tower with an elevator. The elevator stopped at 1010' and Shaun went first. Then a hunter showed, so Bryan and I waited for him to at least point his truck the other way. Bry used his time constructively, climbing another 150 feet, while I hung out and enjoyed the view. About 20 minutes later, the hunter headed away. I gave my count and pushed off, head high and chest out. Quiet surrounded me, then the wind built, giving me something to push against. I swept my arms back and pointed my toes into a track, looking down at a 20-foot angled chunk of aluminum, making sure I passed it with plenty of room. I watched the ground get closer, seeing my buddies looking up. I paused a moment and thought of my pack job, then tossed at what I thought was a reasonable compromise between confidence and worry (and turned out to be 7 seconds.) One second later, I had a gold and black canopy over my head, precisely on heading. One turn into the wind and I landed on the dirt road. I watched Bryan jump, track and wait for his toss until I could tell he still had something caught in his teeth from breakfast. We got one more load up, but had trouble with the elevator. Back to town for spare parts and on Sunday, Peter (the only one in our band of brothers who missed the Saturday loads) got his jump. I'll let him tell about jumping from above the clouds.

: 1 : 0 Got a thrilling, memorable jump from 1K on a daylight tower out in the desert, while spending the rest of the weekend swapping stories and vids with old and new friends.

Attached is a photo of me just after my 666th skydive. That's Skysprite beside me, playing an Angel to my Devil. Will this work?

My dad was with the phone company, and we moved about as much as a miitary family. I usually say something like, "I was born in North Dakota, but lived all around the country. Where are you from?" Then I comment on my connection to where they live (there's a good chance I either lived near or at least visited their place.) That helps connect with the person and turns the conversation back to everyone's favorite subject, themselves.

Hooking a 2K lb. sandbag to a UH-60J during Katrina/Rita recovery ops. Full time soldier for the New Mexico Army National Guard, either out in the field taking pictures and writing stories, or at a desk creating ads.