jimmytavino

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Posts posted by jimmytavino

  1. · Edited by jimmytavino

    if i ever  saw  the  bridle Under  the bottom  skin   ???
      And  the  Pilot chute UP  and  Over  
    The  leading  edge ???   3  words  >>  Peel  and  Pull  ;-) 
    No  toggles  no  rears,   chop  and  reserve. This  sounds  like  one  of  those  pictures  which  students  were  shown,,, 
    While  In  a  Hanging  Harness !!!  "  Under  a  Reserve "  beats  a  lot  of  other  scenarios.   This  jumper  handled  it  well. 

     

    • Like 1

  2. · Edited by jimmytavino

    The  folks  who  had  been "operators"  of  the  DZ  are  no  longer in  the  picture .
    However  LONG  Time  airport  OWNER  and  Original   DZO   John  King,  Still  owns  the  place,  Still  calls  the  shots,  Still  has  a  dedicated  following  of  certain  staff  members  and  Fun  Jumpers.  The  airport  has  always  Been  and  Still  IS  a  DZ..
      J.King simply stayed  busy  with  Other  things,   and  "subbed  Out"  the  Running  of  the  skydiving  part to  others...  
       Word  through  the  grapevine    IS  of  the  Likelihood  that  a  C206    will  soon  offer  the  opportunity  once  again ,   for  jumpers  to  Enjoy  the  Great  views  and  Good  Vibes  of  a  Skydiving  Venue  with 40+   years  of  Parachuting   History.  
    So  No  worries,  wmw999      jimmytavino  in  Rochester.  :-)  

    • Like 4

  3. Remember  there  is  a  Big  Difference  between   Coasting  through  3,500  feet  AT  Terminal,  and  Exiting  @  3,500  feet....  It  takes  a  while  to  build  up  some  airspeed  and  therefore  "start  Booking  through   your  airspace "  When  you  Leave  a  Plane,  as  compared  to  BEING  In  Freefall …   from  a  Higher  Altitude..  ;-) 
     We  used  to  "  get  Out "  at  2,800  ft.  .....   2,500  ft......  No  worries....
      Sometimes  lower,  IF  we  ran  into  the  ceiling....  ONLY  condition....  Don't  DO  15  or  20  seconds,  from a  Low  exit..... ;-) 

     

  4. Hello  To  ALL.....  Just  checked  in  here,  to  find  this  thread.....Thanks  to  Each  of  your  for  your  posts  and  good  wishes......The  worst  Is  now  Over.  I  was  discharged  on  Oct  20th..
    "  They  turnt  me  Loose  "  " said  I  was  Well  "  :D…. And  I  AM.... 

    I  had  gone  to  Skydive  The  Falls  on  Saturday  September  14th and  after  a  bit  of  a  wind  hold  it  calmed  down  and  they  started  sending  up  loads.  I  enjoyed  a  Nice  2  way  from  12  grand  with  a  long  time  buddy....The  view  of  Niagara Falls during  the  climb  to altitude  was  Fantastic .  While   Packing  my  rig  afterwards, I  found  it   to Be,   a  bit  of  an  effort..  and  I  had  to  stop  3  times  and  sit  to  rest...…  Hmmmm.  Got  home  that  night  and  was  just  feeling  wrung  out...  No  real  pain,  no   numbness,  but  I  felt  lousy..It  was  around  10  or  11 pm  and Nancy  had  already  gone  to  sleep.  I saw  NO  value  in  waking  her  and  having  her  SIT  in  an  E R  waiting  room, wondering  and  Waiting,,,,  so  I  wrote  her  a  note ,  left  it  where  she  could  Easily  Find  it.  and  said  "  I am  going  to  the  hospital "    Got  there  in a  few  minutes  because  it  is  only  a  couple  of  miles  away.  It  was  NOT  busy  and  they  took  me  in quickly.  They  did  an  EKG  on  me.  and  the  next  thing  I  knew  they  were  calling  for  an  anesthesiologist  AND  a  surgeon  !!  Yikes  !!!!   Well  they  did  a  big  time bypass   on  me ,  had  me  on a  heart  pump  and  a  respirator  throughout...
    I  was  out of  it  for  a  few  days...  and  feel  terrible  about  putting  my  FAmily  through  those  first  few  days,  post  Op...
    I  got  great  care  from  the  doctors  and  nurses  and  a  few  in particular  were  top  shelf,  in their  encouragement  and  insistance  that  I  "get  UP  and  get  Moving"...  I  was  walking  around  and  improving  each  day,  by  about 2  weeks post  op  and  little  by little  they  removed  the  trach...  and  the  drainage  apparatus  and  the  nasal  feeding  tube  and  got me  back  onto  swallowing  and  a  bit  of  a  sense  of  normalcy...  I  have been  Home  now  for  10  days  or  so,  and  I  am  pain  free  and  no  longer  need  the  walker I  had  been using.  Kind of  glad  we  are  coming  into  the  end of  the year as  I  am  on a  hiatus  from  work  and  will  be  doing  Physical  therapy  and  building  up  my  appetite  the next  few  weeks.  I  lost  22 pounds  and  was  Under  170,  for  the  first  time  since  high  school.....  Anyway  things  are  improving.  I  am  proud  that  I  Did  NOT  ignore  my  sense  of  malaise and instead  sought  medical  care...... I was  told   I  was  getting  close  to  a  cardiac  arrest.....  Follow  your  instincts  my  Friends  No  One  is  bulletproof  and  certain  issues  CAN  sneak  Up  on  us...  I  feel  blessed  that  in  addition  to  Great  Friends  and  Family,  I  also have  a Guardian  Angel  or  Two...  sitting  on  my  shoulders...  Thanks  skymama,,,  for  initiating  this  thread.  I am  glad  that  I checked  in here,,,  to  Find  it.... 
    skydive  often,  skydive  safely,  skydive  with  friends  :).   jimmytavino  uspa # 9452   A3914  D12122

    • Like 8

  6. It was 1972. I had never been in ANY airplane before....[:/] So I was a 19 year old,,,,,just Looking for an Airplane Ride....B|
    I was a sophomore at a College which HAD a "skydiving Club " .. 50 bucks got me ALL my training, my lift ticket, Gear, logbook and 1st Jump Certificate. I Really Enjoyed it, and since my next 4 static line jumps were only 10 dollars Each, I stayed with it.... Once I got to Freefall a jump at 3 grand cost me 3 Bucks, and 5 bucks, got us 7 - Five !!! Seldom went above That and so building freefall time was Slow Slooooow...
    Anyway, here I Am almost 47 years later, Not as active as I MAY have been in certain years PAst,,, but still Current, still safe, still " getting to the DZ " as often as I can. Lots of Good times , Great memories, Fantastic Skydives..... I Have made and Kept, MANY friends with whom I share a Love of the Sky...
    jmy... A 3914 NSCR 1817
    " Skydive Often, Skydive Safely, Skydive with Friends " :)

  7. I have been paying attention to Elizabeth Warren for a few years Now,,, I first saw her on some TV News programs and immediately thought that she was smart, and articulate and strong in her convictions. She seemed to be railing against Corporate Inequality regarding workers pay vs. CEOs pay. Seemed to be for the Blue collar types, the hard working citizens who BUILT this country, and seemed to be working for some Fairness.... What difference ?? concerning her Heritage ? I have no reason to doubt her, after ALL, SHE has known her Family History her Whole Life...Those who bring it UP in a Contentious and demeaning way... are simply being partisan and are trying to Deflect attention from her sensible behavior.... I have learned NOT to trust most of these "Special Interest " claims and attacks... So unproductive and further evidence of a " smoke & Mirrors " approach to FAR too many issues.... I am neither democrat , nor republican, as BOTH parties have been disappointing to me, for Decades. I Will continue to Listen to What She has to say,,, and weigh things , rationally... I would prefer Ms. Warren to Joe Biden,,,, ANY day..and Certainly to HRC...>:(.
    I wonder just How, the voting public might respond to a Warren - Sanders Ticket,,,, OR to a Sanders - Warren Ticket ??? any ideas ??
    jmy in Rochester..

  8. An RW Challenger 240....
    made by New England Parachute Co. :)Made over 1,200 jumps on it... Never a Mal...;)
    I side packed it on One chord, for about 800 jumps. then flipped it OVER and side packed it, on the Other Chord !!!. good openings, good landings... Was jumping it when I started shooting videos in 1995...and was Wearing, ALOT of cameras on my Helmet !!( see Attachment ) It WAS F 111.... and so it Earned it's retirement... I had ONE new set of Lines... It now sits on a Shelf in One of my Gear closets
    jmy

    jan 29 , 2007 015.jpg

    • Like 2

  10. :|
    Can't we Do Both ???;)
    Much easier, with a turbine dropzone, since there are More slots in the plane.... A C182 DZ,,,much simpler to manifest Two TMs, and 2 First timers, right??? Rather than the tandem Trio and a Solo.......
    If the marketing is good and the student is made Aware of the Options, then Both, would make sense. As for added cost???? Ah Hell just convince 'em to swipe a charge card.... :)Plus the outside video people would still feel relevant.. and Needed..... It simply takes some Salesmanship at the point of Purchase...Share the Air !!! B|

  11. skymama

    Quote

    Everyone needs to give Rick some grief...



    Don't we have to go through this every year? :P

    Rick, if you don't come, you're going to break Bradley's heart. He loves hanging at the Muff Trailer and eating your pretzels!


    Exactly...... what Miss Mama has SAID !!!!!

    Plus,,,, we Gotta Have the Mobile Muff Machine,, On site....[:/]

    Rick,,,,, if you have Other matters of Pressing Importance... I suppose we'll have to deal with that... But IF that is the situation,,,, At least,,,,,, Please Send Deb !!!!! :oB|;)
    jimmy

    DSC09802.JPG

  12. Assuming the jumper COULD don the rig AND exit OK.....
    then Yes. He or She WILL "LAND the Parachute " .... Gravity will see to THAT.....;)
    Now , Whether that landing will be upwind, downwind or crosswind is anyones guess....If the uninitiated person does Any sort of "toggle whipping " chances go Up that the Landing will be rough....
    Unclear terrain.... the landing will be rough....
    Open fields ??? Maybe survivable......
    A round "emergency " Main. and the realization to "drop and roll" could improve the chances of NOT getting Killed " !!! Nasty Scenario, in Any Case.....

    :|

  13. definitely Yes. to packing tabs
    My clouds All had them The RW Challenger(s) which I jumped for over 1,200 jumps... Malfunction - Free,
    had them and when I changed mains to The PD Spectre(s) about 15 years ago,,,, I was happy to see That THEY also had them...
    This gave me some silly sense of assurance, that it WAS OK to continue packing as I always had...
    Plus ,,, in a world of all too frequent conformity, I Like being Different ;)
    jmytavino

  14. I have been safely flat packing, since my first "square jumps " in 1974...;) and since I bought a second hand Cloud,,, in 1979.....
    STILL Do...
    I carry a packing mat AND drag mat with me, and set up in a shady area, soas to "not intrude " on the regular packing mat...
    Yes I Do "Move " my mat around, as the sun overtakes any Early morning Shady spot... :P
    thousands of pack jobs.... Just as quick as PRO Packers, and often quicker..:)Some people call it " flat Packing " I call it " Pre-PRO ". ;)
    I have always been a proponent of a Few things Two of which ARE
    1. If it Ain't broke, Don't Fix it " and 2. "to each , his Own " :|
    ymmv. jmy

    :)

  17. jackwallace

    I'd guess its in your heart. I've known people that were jumpers before they ever stepped out of a plane. They are/were magic to jump with and watch. Its like the circus. When it gets in your blood, you're always there.
    I'm a has-been. I hasbeen a skydiver and am proud of it.
    I know people who haven't been out of a plane for 40 years and you can see it in their eyes and hear it when they talk. That they have never really left the air.




    Quote

    Nice Post...
    For Anyone who has ever enjoyed exiting a plane and Freefalling.....
    Try to Never say.. " My Last Jump / Skydive was..... " even IF it has been years ago or decades ago....:|
    Instead try to say " My Most Recent Jump / Skydive was ..... " !!!

    See the difference?? ;) jmyt:)

  19. pchapman

    *** NOT distract the PIC at this crucial moment... and To NOT attempt to reach Out ,,, in any sort of effort to CLose that door.



    So you might be thinking of, what was it, the jumper in NY state who fell to his death at low altitude while trying to close a Cessna door that had popped open.

    Yes..............[:/]
    we lost a Good friend due to those circumstances.....:(
    although you are incorrect to use the words... "fell to his death ".. seat belts WERE in use. Those In the cabin remained so, as the plane encountered the trees. The Deceased was on life support for about 5 days... and then succumbed to his injuries . :(:(

  20. I've been deploying left handed for almost 12 years now... and was pleased to find that it easily and quickly became "2nd Nature " ..
    My rigger modified the spandex pouch changing the open end... bridle routing and protection was assured... and I Simply Changed..B|..Cannot say that I ONE Time... reflexively " went for the hackey with my Right Hand "... I had my right shoulder dislocate immediately after a CASA Exit... as one of Our "Base 6 " managed to Snag some part of His harness on some part of the interior of the airplane... [:/] My exit slot was on the left side of the tailgate, backing off, facing In.. 2 friends to my right also backing off.....facing in. Then 3 others, lined up abreast, and facing Us...:o
    anyway. We were all double gripped on shoulder grippers and when WE went,,, The guy Facing me, didn't... as the exit flailed, I tossed off the grips. but the guy on My right shoulder clenched right onto to me and then back looped....:|:([:/]...The rest of the skydive was Interesting :o;);):) anyway,, being the upbeat kind of guy I LIKE to be,,, I wasn't gonna let that injury nor the following surgeries Ground Me... Thanks to my friend who is a Rigger.... I can still " make a jump or two,,,," " every once in a while" ..:):) about possible "arm strength " and " handle location " on the right side...
    gives you greater peace of mind , resulting in better overall skydiving performance in general !! I am for the idea...
    jmy A 3914 D12122

  22. A scenario YET to be mentioned here... and usually Only likely with a Cessna Top Hinged door.....

    Would be An Inadvertent Door Opening,,,, either by having the handle hit.... Or by failure of the side jamb Pins to Hold, maybe from Being NOT fully engaged...and occurring DURING the Take-Off Roll and while racing down the runway.......[:/]:|
    Such a sudden occurrence can create trouble.... Best, imho, for all Jumpers to remain still, remain calm,,,, NOT distract the PIC at this crucial moment... and To NOT attempt to reach Out ,,, in any sort of effort to CLose that door......>:( All jumpers need to sit tight....with all body parts remaining Inside the cabin.... and to note the need to " protect all Handles "
    Allow the Pilot to rotate , complete the Take-off, set the trim if needed, come Off the Flaps..... and THEN address the door issue....
    Anything else can create an unsafe situation can distract the Pilot... and can in some cases lead to real trouble :(..... Sit tight...await instructions from the Pilot.... Get safely OFF the ground,,,, and THEN deal with the door..

  23. Bob_Church

    In this month's Parachutist story about incidents over the last year they talk about a Stearman taking off with two jumpers on the wing.
    I've got a lot of biplane jumps but I'd never heard of anyone riding on the wing except of course during jump run.
    Is this common? I've sort of thought about it, but not as something I'd really do. And I can't imagine it's legal.
    Or did I read the article wrong?




    :| thanks for the reminder [:/] of this sad and unneeded event...
    Anything from Take 0ff , til 1,500 feet is Serious business
    Best Procedure????... as George Carlin once put it. "You Get ON the Air Plane,,,, I am getting IN the AirPlane "...

    A Radial Engine Bi-Plane.... puts out Big time airflow... and at rotation speed would require Big Time MUSCLES.... in order to hold On....

    bsbd

  24. Try your best to relax....
    Do not think of things in terms of "Jumping Out a Door "....;)
    Instead look at it in terms of "Jumping IN a Door " ..B| A Door to Freefall..... You Will have the proper gear,, pay attention to your instructors as they gear check you and RE-Assure you...prior to boarding and then Trust to working together as a team from climb-out , through the skydive, to a correct and timely deployment and then a safe and coordinated canopy flight,,, to a successful landing...Keep us posted...
    You Can do this...good luck.... :)
    jmyt

  25. kkeenan

    Are there issues of "Skydiving" magazine viewable online ? I'm interested in 1980 issues.

    Kevin K.




    Hi Kevin !!
    back, many years ago, Mike made available "back issues" and offered,,, either the "first half of the total" OR the " 2nd half of the total... "
    I Bought and received the First Half,,,,, and have been kicking myself ever since,,, That I did NOT get them ALL.....:S[:/]:(
    anyway, If you have a particular issue, Month and year... I can see if it is among the ones I Have...
    The full cardboard box which he sent me,,,, ( and which Included 5 or 6 Tee Shirts, Which I Now cherish ) is safe and sound and on a shelf in my "gear closet "
    lemme know...and I Will Look...
    jimmy in Rochester....