larsrulz

Did my second sit (training jump with a coach, ~#60) without a wrist alti, only had an audible. Fortunately it was stable and I kept my eye on the coach and he gave hand signals (planned during the 15 min 182 climb) for 8, 6, and 5K breakoff. I heard my audible at 5, but sometimes I worry about trusting it. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

My opinion is that an individual on the ground does not put themselves in a potentially dangerous situation by being proactive and moving a few steps out of the way, while a canopy flier can (especially someone with low numbers). This is of course not to say that the jumper on the ground was at fault, but I believe that one should always be aware when on the landing area, so in that respect the jumper on the ground moving out of the way could have easily kept this problem from happening. That aside, I wish both individuals a speedy recovery...such incidents are always unfortunate. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

A NOTAM is a notice to airmen....that means a NOTAM just says "Jumpers are jumping at XYZ during the hours of ##:##-##:##. There is no TFR (temporary flight restriction) during jump operation (I could be wrong here, but don't think so). Both skydiver and pilot are acting under VFR conditions, hence it is really just bad luck. Probably would have been nice if the pilot were keeping a better eye on traffic and had contact with ATC (given a cessna, I'm sure he had comm), but not a requirement under VFR conditions. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

I would argue the biggest problem is that hypoxia symptoms are so variable. One never knows the onset of hypoxia until one experiences it in a controlled environment such as an altitude chamber. I can go clear to 25,000' and not get any signs of light headedness, which so many people say is the sign of hypoxia. Personally, I just randomly can't keep my head looking forward (i.e. like head bobbing when people can't stay awake, but I'm fully awake and aware of what is happening), which normally starts above 15,000', but gets really bad above 20K'. One guy I knew noticed no symptoms himself during the training, but everyone else could see and he noticed afterwards that he was dripping sweat like we were in a sauna! Others mumble, etc. etc. Hence, I think that the confusion about the onset of hypoxia is the biggest problem. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

At least I wasn't the only one....I went on a scouting canoe trip where there was a ~30' cliff into the river and everyone would jump in (most went off the 15' ledge). I took one of the garbage bags we had and did a BASE jump! I wonder if anyone got that on film... I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

It was a 22-way female headdown with camera! That could be some kind of record... I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

Bush...he'll pull Bin Laden out of a hat 4 weeks before election. Then WMDs in Iraq at 2 weeks. At 1 week, he'll "discover" a love child between Kerry and Jane Fonda. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

When a country is based on a two-party system, then it becomes necessary for many people to vote for the "lesser of two evils." Either you have to vote for one of the two chosen ones or you waste your vote. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

Scientific research says 60 mph. http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/211.web.stuff/Kuhns/terminal_velocity.htm I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

The maximum usable load for an Otter is 4400 lb. Given a light fuel load (w/ reserve) of 1000 lb (max is 2500), a 150 lb. pilot, that leaves 3250 lb of jumps. At 160 lb. per jumper (w/ gear), which is light imo, that gives 20 jumps, which is a common number for DZs, but I have heard of 23 jumper otters before. This also doesn't take into account weights and balances, I would imagine as you stuff more and more jumpers into an otter the CG would work more and more aft, so that is problematic. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

Quotebut the driver managed to make just as many as we did and we only came close to crashing about half a dozen times.Quote So what you're saying is that it was still a lot safer than BASE jumping. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

The pilot cabin also doesn't have to be pressurized (not at 10Km), but it is certainly nice to have some level of pressure differentiation for the pilot, much like military jets use. The only thing necessary to keep that pilot flying is oxygen. Would be nice if (s)he had some altitude chamber work too. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

Given his friend is buying a Citation X......I'm not sure if money is an issue....yet I wonder if they realize that one flight will cost at least $1500 just for fuel! Why not just fly to the US and do an actual HALO jump. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

Actually the initial order was not in violation of the Geneva conventions....and there aren't exactly ICRC "rules;" that is part of international law that they be given access. The initial order was that information be held from the Red Cross about prisoner "XXX." In the case of an individual being an "active threat," which it seems this guy was, then holding the information is legal. Unfortunately this prisoner fell through the cracks (or so it is said....make whatever conspiracy theories you want), so that is the "violation" of this situation. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

I think in the case of a Wuffo emergency rig that it is acceptable that as long as they get a canopy over their head and can somewhat stear the thing (i.e. not hit other buildings or the one they just jumped out of), then that is enough. Worrying about a broken ankle is much less important than say not getting out of the burning building. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

In a manner of speaking, you trust your life to a closing pin everytime you jump a throw-out rig. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

Only 19807 that time...but I got him over the wall! I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

I think the guy was jumping a BASE rig...no double canopy there. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

A quick google says specific impluse of HTPB is 273 s. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

Early CReW dog I guess. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

I look forward to seeing you at Archway this weekend Travis. If you are sure that you want to make skydiving a hobby for you, then SL is the way to go. Tandems are good for people who either only want to do one jump or aren't sure if they wish to continue with skydiving. If you end up coming sunday, I'll be helping teach your first jump course. Either way, I'm sure I'll be jumping. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

What you're asking about is the difference between student status and licensed status. Until you get 25 jumps and complete all necessary requirements for the A license, then you are still a student. According to the USPA this just means that you have maximum wind requirements (14 mph), minimum opening altitude (3K', same as A license), minimum distance to hazard requirements (DZ issue, again same as A), and certain gear requirements (such as AAD, altimeter, helmet...things you should have no matter if licensed or not). The primary difference you will see is how specific DZs treat student vs. licensed skydivers. My home DZ requires you use their student gear packed by their packers (or your own packing supervised). I know of other DZs that allow students to buy their own gear as soon as they are cleared to solo. My DZ let students solo jump (without a coach/JM) as soon as they showed they were proficient at the necessary skills (although you still need 5 coach jumps for the A license. The way Chuck says it, sounds like maybe some DZs require a student to always have a coach/JM clear them out the door for all student jumps. Any solo jumps you do still count towards the required 25 jumps for your license, but there are certain requirements that must be met for the A license (swooping in freefall, fall rate control, etc.), so a certain number of coached jumps are required for your license. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

If there isn't, then you know it's a scam. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

I think the occupation listed under his profile explains all. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

19 mins behind the game here... I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF