Dutchboy

I'm getting an error when I try to review a DZ. It thinks I have already reviewed the DZ (which I have, but those reviews were cleaned). It seems that when reviews were deleted they weren't completely cleared.

Nobody is going to admit to being a tandem factory. If you see other experienced jumpers and they make up a large % of who you see than it is probably not a tandem factory. The big tandem factories will crank out 100+ tandems in a day and normally have big airplanes to help them do this. It is mostly a matter of emphasis. I have never been bumped off a jump for a tandem at my home DZ. There are lots of experienced flyers and several teams that train there. A tandem factory will likely lack these, especially the teams. Although most teams want to train with something bigger than a C-182.

The technique described here is correct. However, keep your body relaxed. Keep your mouth closed, but don't clench your teeth and tense up or it will hurt and you are more likely to be injured. This is why drunks are rarely hurt in car wrecks, because they are relaxed. Trust me on this. I study kung fu and we learn how to fall without hurting ourselves. A PLF is very similar to a break fall. When I was a student, still on radio I couldn't hear the radio very well and as I was nearing the ground I hear something that sounded like "flair". He was really saying "let it fly". I flaired way too high and stalled at about 5 feet in the air. I just relaxed and did a PLF and walked away without a scratch, much to my own amazement.

Only if you have a bic lighter handy

This would be extremely challenging since neither of you is well rooted while in freefall. Two words describe why trying this could be very painful: penile fracture

Don't know if I should tell you this or not. Oh well, why not. Just don't want to feel like I'm taunting anyone. I gave you a couple leads, because my company isn't hiring any managers at the moment. Anyway, we had a very important deadline at the end of Feburary. In order to motivate people to meet their goals I set up an incentive program where people who met at least 4 out of 5 weekly goals for that period would get some sort of incentive. One of the possible incentives was 5 free skydives. I was amazed at how many people took this incentive. One guy had already started his training and finished the last 3 jumps. Another just started and did all 4 tandems in the progress and his FJC on the company. He's two levels from graduating. Several others just did one tandem to see what it was like. Of course, when everyone else at the DZ found out they wanted to know were to send a resume. If anyone is wondering I write computer software. We are actually looking for some developers and customer service folks at the moment. If you are an experienced C++ developer drop me a line. If you have DOCSIS experience, or CORBA experience that is also a huge plus.

Most of my friends won't jump at this DZ. I decided to give them a try myself, and to make my own decision. I was hoping that this was a good DZ since it is only 30 miles from my house, and my home DZ is 98 miles. They were advertising $19 to 14k in a skyvan so I thought it would be a good time to try them out. When I got there I noticed they didn't really have a sign up. The reason for this is that they are doing business under several different names. They have different phone lines for the different names and even have different prices depending on which number you call (hint call the Alabama number). So I got there, standard story fill out a waiver. Then it was cash in advance or letting them physically hold your credit card. I thought this was a bit odd, but gave them a credit card anyway. I made a few jumps. In each case I noticed everybody was starting to get ready at 9k. I asked one person what was up with this, we still had lots of time. They said that the skyvan climbs fast (which it really doesn't). I found out why they were getting ready so soon. We didn't exit at 14k EVER! We always got out at only 10-11k. It seems that when the pilot got to where he thought he should start jump run he turned on the light and out you went. So naturally you would expect to be charged less when they screw you out of 3-4k in altitude. When it came time for me to go I went to settle up at manifest. First off, there was only one person working there and she spent 22 minutes talking to some chick who just had her first tandem about buying a logbook, and some other random BS. When I finally got to settle up I found that not only had they charged me $19 for these low jumps, but actually charged me $19.95. Oh yeah, we don't tell you that credit cards are extra. Neither my home DZ, nor the other one I occassionally jump at charge extra, certainly not 5% when they are only paying 1-2%. The landing area is tiny, not flat, has trees on three sides and a road on the other. The trees are also the right height so you hit turbulence from the rotors coming off the treetops at about 3-5 feet AGL. I think just the following points from my narative above should be sufficient for anyone deciding if they want to jump here: they don't give you what they promise, they charge more than advertised, and the landing area is far from ideal. So all of my friends were right about this place. Now 98 miles doesn't seem so far to go to a first class HONEST DZ. Incidently, if you live in this area and don't want to drive to another big DZ (Thomaston, Monroe) you might consider Air Ventures in Rome. They are not a big DZ, but they are honest and friendly one.

You can get lots of information here. This site has reviews on many pieces of equipment. You can also ask for help in the gear forum. Any canopies or containers you buy should be inspected by a rigger that you trust for safety.

I own one of their suits. Yes, they make freefly suits (only I think) and you are right about the $190. That was a big reason that I bought mine from them. I have been very happy with the suit. The service was good and fast. Suit fits great. Not bad for half the price of a Tony Suit.

Don't worry about it. I think the worst is when you hit like 26. You can't really claim to be in your mid 20's anymore. 29 really sucks 'cause you're almost 30. After you hit 30, you just don't care anymore. You might even take up dangerous hobbies, like skydiving.

I noticed that "someone" entered a new review that has nearly the identical text as what the DZO entered. Either everyone at that particular DZ thinks exactly alike or ??? I find this too funny.

I think you are refering to DaKine Rags. I've seen some of their suits at the DZ and they looked awesome. Course, maybe it was the hot females wearing them that made them look so good.

Happy b-day, and congratulations on getting started with your training!

I wouldn't say that you are suckering somebody else if you sell it to another new skydiver cheap. Depending on their size, it might be a good transition rig they can use till they are comfortable with something smaller. Now if you try to sell it as modern gear for lots of money that's another story.

Skydive Atlanta used to have a Queen Air that was nice. I don't know why, but I really liked that plane. Maybe because it climbed so fast and had a tall door that you wouldn't knock your head on.

Hopefully it won't backfire on you like it did for me. She got up and was in the door and then chickened out. I don't know if she'll every try it again. I'm really sad to know she'll never understand what this is all about.

I think this would be bad. Some of the smaller DZ's would never get any reviews because they don't have many visitors. Just because they don't have many visitors or more importantly visitors who are on the net AND would take the time to write a review doesn't mean they should not be reviewed. For example, there is a small DZ closer to my house than my home DZ, some others from my area might want to try them out, and I wouldn't want them to be scared away by a lack of reviews. They are actually a good DZ. I think what got things started down the wrong path was DZO's impersonating students and writing reviews of their own DZ.

Best advice I have for you is to hook up with some other married jumpers at your DZ and talk to them. Perhaps their spouses can talk to your wife. If their spouses don't jump either they could actually talk while you are jumping.

We want reviews from real skydivers who have actually been to a DZ. I have been to every DZ I reviewed and gave an honest account of my experience. I think that is exactly what those reviews are for. BTW, do you know what is happening with Rome? I heard they lost the Super Otter. They also built a swoop pond. I was there the day after they built it, but it was so cold I think there was ice on the surface.

That's a tough one. All my jumps are memorable and fun. If I had to pick, I'd say the first time I really got a sit, and it finally clicked in my head. Of course, as soon as I realized I had it I got really excited and forgot to keep flying so I lost it and ended up in a fast spin. I was just laughing my ass off (while checking my altimeter to make sure I had time to play with the spin).

And it shows, replying to every single thread!

What do you mean, that is my favorite video.

You are 100% correct about this. Horizontal speed (momentum) can be rolled out, but vertical speed ends up getting disipated in your body (read turns into injury).

Just based on what I've seen I'd have to disagree. I think most people who do these low turns are trying to impress their friends. Approximately 20% of skydivers are female, yet you almost never see them hooking into the ground. We have lots of ladies at my DZ and I don't think I've ever seen one of them doing a hook turn.

You're presuming that everyone is getting money back. I just finished my taxes in a record 3 hours. I owe Uncle Sam, and Georgia owes me. Unfortunately, I owe my uncle more than Georgia owes me by a few hundred. I just hope Bush can get some of his tax cuts implemented despite Democrats in congress. I especially like how Bubba Clinton has gotten them to phase out deductions if you make "too much". That's right if you make enough money to have something left over for charity you can't even get a tax break for giving it away. Now that's an incentive to give!