rapper4mpi

What about the term "Sabbatical" rather than quit? I mean, taking time off from the sport you love because you cannot devote the amount of time you need to so that you are safe and current? I just don't want to be "that guy". You know, the one that shows up once or twice a season, tries to make a jump as if he is current. Sucks in the air, sucks at landing. Then one day, makes a bad call. Breaks his leg..... It happens. So instead of living in the gray area, I have decided to just take time off. Still visit the DZ, help out where I can, but I will not jump my gear, or with friends. Hard to do with 20+ years in the sport. But necessary.

It has been just over ten years since I became a member of Dropzone....wow what a trip...looking back on old posts...how so much has changed. -rap

In this sport there are many that are willing to give out well meaning advice. However, it is your job to decide if that person is qualified to do so. Ask them what their experience is, what is their skill level, how do they perform under canopy, in the air (if there is video to watch). And how well do you actually know them? Once you can answer all these questions and feel comfortable with them, you can decide if you should take their advice. This is just a good way to protect yourself from those well meaning, yet unqualified jumpers. -Rap

The Malone Parachute Club, now in its 39th year of operation, located in Swanton, Vermont will be holding waterjumps into Lake Champlain on Saturday, September 25. Please contact us at [email protected] for more information. You can also see us on Facebook! Looking forward to seeing everyone there! -Rap

Saturday, May 22nd starting at 9:30 a.m. until who knows when the Malone Parachute Club will be holding the first annual Hard Opening Boogie. We will have a Robinson Helicopter offering $50 dollar jumps OR passenger rides and $20 Cessna fun jumps to 11,500. A Swoop contest and the ever popular Surge Challenge will be in full effect. There will be BBQ food served all day, "lawn games", foosball tournament, and a host of other shenanigans. If you haven't been to the new dropzone yet, this is a great excuse to stop by, even just to say hello. Bring your significant others, your children, heck, even your mother-in-law if you want. Once the sun goes down, hang out for a night of laughter and fun times. Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions. Hope to see you all there. Blue Skies, Rapper

The Malone Parachute Club will be holding its "Last Supper" banquet on Saturday, December 12. Jumps start at 10:00 at the airport with a banquet/awards ceremony to follow at a yet to be determined location. We are taking RSVP's. Please contact us at info@malone parachute club (dot) com (no spaces). Thank you. -Rapper

Vermont: the Malone Parachute Club, in Swanton, Vermont does not accept S.R. certificates. -Rap

He was just making a little jump before class, no need to call in TSA, the state police and the fire department.... -Rap

The Malone Parachute Club HAS moved to Northern Vermont and YES we do still operate by the same name. In response to "Club". Well, we have been a DZ for more than 35 years, teaching about 100 students a year. Brian Germain, Mike Swanson, Doug Parks and many other "notables" all started here. Ask them what they think of skydiving "Clubs".-Rap

I've been in a queen air that had engine trouble at 7,000 ft. Fourtunately, we had good pilots and had altitude for everyone to get out and the aircraft landed safely on one engine. However, that is not the point of writing this. When you are in a situation like this, even if there IS time to think, often you are awaiting instructions from the pilot. Taking matters into your own hands might save you, but it is a weird thing to do when you are actually in the situation. Opening a door and jumping out, depending on the aircraft and situation can often make the situation worse.... Anyway, thought I would share with you all a little insight. -Rapper

Just wondering, did the DZ contact USPA for assistance? My home DZ went through a similar issue (lease/eviction). It is my oppinion that the help we received from USPA was less than effective and a total let down. Thoughts? -Rap

I have to mention the Malone Parachute Club in Plattsburgh, NY. Although technically not in the "Northeast", it is right across the border from Burlington, Vermont. Not to mention that many of the freeflyers come from Vermont. So, why am I mentioning this DZ....well to name drop...Brian Germain and Mike Swanson both started at this DZ and frequently visit. There is a core group of freeflyers that are always looking for more freeflyers. If you ever find yourself in the area, stop in and you will be pleasantly surprised. Not even to mention the fact that with the DZ situated next to Lake Champlain with the Green Mountains on one side and the Adirondacks on the other, it is quite beautiful! Stop in. -Rap p.s. Orange is excellent!

The Malone Parachute Club in Plattsburgh NY will also let you jump if you are at least 16 with parental consent. Of course this DZ may be a bit far. Check them out at maloneparachuteclub.com We are indeed a USPA member Dropzone and have been in business for more than 35 years. -Rap

Maybe I missed something, but can someone tell us why Alchemy did not compete in the U.S. Nationals this year? -Thanks. -Rap

I suggest paying special attention to the final product and making sure that your pilotchute is not bulkier than it needs to be. Also, if you continually have difficulties with this method it might be better to find a new way to pack it. Just a thought. -Rap

Very good point...I guess not too hard. I think I have been out of the loop with DZ.com for a while, so I was not up-to-date on the latest rules, etc... I guess I shoudl reread them...hmmm, I don't think I ever have.... Anyway, I agree. -Rap

Okay, so sure, after you have been contributing to thse forums for a few years or more, it seems that all the topics have been covered. At least until a new advancement in gear give us more to debate/discuss. I also agree that doing a search for the topic first is good policy, but simply locking a thread to prevent more conversation of a previously talked about topic is not wise.... Why, well, what if someone has new light to shed on a topic? Also, at times, discussions need to be revamped, as outdated thinking can change... In the case of the Sabre Opening....I have had a new, expereince regarding their openings and would have liked to add my two cents....Maybe I'll start a new post and see if that one gets locked too. Anyway, just something that the moderators should consider before locking a thread due to a beaten to death topic. Nice to be back. -Rap

I agree with you for the most part. However, I look at a sponsorship relationship as more of a two-way street. In fact, sponsors are the ones that pay out when their logos are spotted in magazines. Such is the case in other sports. They are also the ones flying their sponsored competitors all around to different competitions. Unfortunately, the skydiving industry is small (financially speaking) and some of the most successful skydivers are still living in trailers. If it was any other sport, they would be king and queens. Specifically, I'm not saying I disagree with your post at all, I'm just saying that it would be great to reward the top athletes of our sport with more than just free rigs and pack-jobs. Incidently, I do however think there are several quite generous DZs and manufacterers out there. -Rap

The cost for a factory relining from PD (lines and installation) is $185, plus a $15 inspection. Worth it in my mind. The turnaround time WAS 2 weeks about a month ago, I'm not sure what it is now. Regardless, just call PD to get official costs. -Rap

Hello, at our DZ we are creating a sort of swoop competition series and I had some questions for qualified people out there. I would like to institute some sort of handicap system to equalize the playing field a bit. We only have a few "super swoopers", and the rest fall into the category of short swoop landings. So making different divisions is not practical, considering we are talking a total of 10 maybe 15 jumpers here. Any ideas on how a handicap system works, related to swooping? Any suggestions or leads will be welcomed. Thank you. -Rap

Just wanted to share with you all my experience this weekend when I attended a canopy course put on by Brian Germain. First of all, the room was filled with jumpers that had 20 jumps, to more than 2,000 jumps and we all walked away with an incredible amount of new knowledge. Brian is remarkable in his depth of knowledge of canopy flight and the forces that act upon them. He has an entertaining way of presenting this knowledge that kept us all attentively listening. Needless to say, I learned a lot, that I will use for myself and also hand down to my students. I promise, you will walk away with a better understand on how to become a better canopy pilot whether you swoop or not. The idea is to learn to truly fly your canopy, insteadn of simply being a peice of meat hanging underneith. -Rap

My Sabre DOM is FEB 2001. After 100 jumps with sometimes brisk openings and eliminating many packing variables over this amount of jumps, I called PD. They recommended a larger slider which they gladly provided free of charge. I got a new slider and "wonderful" openings. This has been discussed in other posts so I won't say anymore. However, I acknowledge that the blown cross-port could have happened on jump number one, or jump number 325, most likely over a period of time inbetween those jumps. -Rap

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up about what happened to me. I think this post belongs here because it is a safety issue. When we get our reserves repacked, they get inspected. How many of us get our mains inspected? How many of us inspect our mains ourselves? These are rhetorical questions, please, it is not necessary to answer them. I just wanted to let everyone know about my situation recently. I sent my wonderfuly opening Sabre 170 to PD to get a precautionary relining. I only have 325-350 jumps on the canopy, but I knew I would be hitting close to 500 during this season, I didn't want to send it in mid-season. I bought this canopy new, so I know it well. Anyway, PD called to let me know that one of the cross-ports on the 8th rib (non-loadbearing) was blown-out and it would need to be replaced. It didn't cost much, and PD was still prompt with their service and very friendly as always. However, this blown cross-port was caught during their routine inspection, and missed by me. I guess, I never really spend a lot of time inspecting my canopy on the INSIDE. It flew fine and opened fine, NOT hard, like many other Sabres. PD said that the likely cause would be an uneven opening where most of the initial force was taken by that 8th cell. Anyway, with a big 170 Sabre, it isn't such a big deal initially (but could manifest into a major problem down the line), but I wanted to give everyone a heads to at least insect their mains once a season, if not more. Also, it doesn't hurt to have a rigger inspect it during your reserve repack. Well, I hope this helps all you jumpers out there, have a good and safe season. -Rap

CORRECTION: The canopy control seminar at the Malone Parachute Club will be held on April 17th and 18th. If interested in attending, please let me know at [email protected] Thank you. -Rap

Steven, do you have a reason for pointing this out? I'm talking about the differences between the Orlando tunnel vs. the one in Perris. I was just wondering, not trying to start anything at all, just wondering, Thanks. -Rap