flydog

Like Quag I too would like to know the program you used to design the canopy. I have been around way to long to let you kids be that far ahead of me in things I have always wanted to do. Plus no jumping for me this year as I am laid up with a broken pelvis again. 6 weeks until I am weight bearing means i should be starting now. Hopefully I can do ss well as you two have done. Thanks for the inspiration.

Spot, I read your response and while most of the claims seem pretty bad, I do question one. We have talked about it and I questioned it since then. Now that you have brought up the ferrying to a demo in a bean bag chair I have to question it. It seems pretty much a non event in the letter of the law unless you can supply more information. Was the person in that chair for taxi, takeoff, or landing? If not it is a definite non problem. If he is in an approved seat or berth for taxi takeoff or landing he can be wherever he would like for the rest of the flight. Hell if they have taken off and he wants to go stand on his head at the back bulkhead until time to go sit down for landing its fine if the pilot is ok with it. Also stating all the wrongs of the various board members is an example of the above the rules attitude of USPA. The same as the VP of USPA using a non rated instructor to do AFF. The lack of attention to safety starts at the top. The members of the organization should put in place people who will hold themselves beyond reproach and lead by example.

Rich Winstock is not the only board member that I have questions on. Since September 17, 2015 I have been talking with a couple of national directors at USPA to try to solve a problem we have here in Michigan. It seems that our regional director Randy Allison, who is also VP of USPA doesn't require an in date USPA card with ratings to do AFF. In addition how hard is it to look at the membership database and see that a person who had their instructor rating expire on August 31 of 2009 is not able to do AFF Instructor jumps at his DZ in 2015. In addition this persons USPA membership had expired June 30, 2015 per the database check September 17, 2015. After almost a month of no progress other than USPA looking at the AFF-I for possible disciplinary action, nothing has happened. I have reached out to the one national director I had originally brought it up to, and he said he is no longer able to talk me about this problem. I have not heard from anyone else at USPA that may be working on this. I have Facebook video from August 23, 2015 of this person doing AFF at Midwest Freefall. I also have 4 other videos of this same instructor doing AFF at Midwest Freefall in early September 2015. I am just wondering is this another case of like Rich Winstock, the president is protecting her boys. Sherry Butcher refused Rich's resignation after his "accident" on safety day 2014. He slipped right through as Randy seems to be doing with using non-rated people. I have seen several other similarities between Randy and Rich in the past. The biggest one would be that both had innocent bystanders at their DZ (actually the one at Randy's DZ was on the road), get paid $50,000.00 by USPA's insurance for getting hit by a swooper. I got involved in this whole fiasco because I was told this AFF-I was coming to jump at a DZ where I fly. I had heard in the past that this instructor was no longer rated. I called someone to check USPA's membership database, it took less than a couple minutes to find out when everything had expired. I am not out to crucify someone. I am just asking why the board cannot hold themselves to the same standards they have put in writing for us to follow. I feel anyone in their position should hold themselves beyond reproach. Todd Ames

Top I agree there are things that would saave more people than AADs that should be mandatory. I also feel when AADs are mandatory, they should come with mandatory groundings, and refresher FJCs, because obviously the people having AAD fires need it. Anyone who has an AAD fire has failed to remain in control and save their own life. I could give less of a shit if someone knocks you out. Learn to choose better dives to be on. If you think I am being harsh, I have asked one poster on here his opinion. His opinion matters because he has had an AAD fire. He feels that grounding in many cases is prudent. He almost grounded himself, but went back and jumped after some seroius self reflection. I have friends and aquaintances who have had AAD fires. I am upfront about calling them a dumbass. Most dont disagree because they let themselves slip up and fail to save their own life. Lets make AADs mandatory, but you set your ass down for a month if you have an AAD fire. Imagine the whining we would get about the second half of that sentence. Just my $.02

Hi Jerry, You can get nickel plated brass #0 LR and #0 LLR grommets from Stimpson. I needed a few for a project and they had them. I couldn't find a distributor who would sell me less than a gross so Stimpson sent me a dozen as a sample batch to "test".

Paul are you sure he's not ChrisD?

Webbing is 1 23/32"

Or you.could be ChrisD trying to sound different and still argue stupid shit that defies industry standards.

The way I read it Jerry was to load them to 100 lbs for testing the power unit at the high end of pressure. This would allow you to know what the unit does in a worst case when the pressure builds in the unit.

John I have a few questions about your pin pusher idea. You have suggested an Argus cutter with a longer stroke to push a 3rd pin on the ripcord. All logic would dictate this pin has to be above (or closer to the handle) than the other pins. How would this work on the wide variety and sizes of rigs out there. In my experience with Racers I know of a few of the smaller ones that have the housing very close to the top pin. Where would you put the third pin on those. This thought of a third pin would be a problem on Dual Hawks with the dual cable from the reserve ripcord handle. Also how would you route the cable for the pusher and keep it protected and oriented right. I have a few more questions, but will wait to see what direction you have been thinking to bypass the obvious ones. Im sure you have thought on these as I am only asking after a cursory overview of the idea. I am not against the pusher just not sure it truly trumps a cutter. Thanks in advance.

I have Chris' glove for the dual GoPros and love it. I think thats the one to pick.

Was Going for an even 100. The real goal was to raise money for the OI Foundation and awareness of Osteogenesis Imprefecta (brittle bone disease). That part I did.

86 in 21 hours, packing them all myself. Fell short of the goal, but the 96 degree day kicked my ass. Went from 5:18 pm Thurs to 2:13 pm fri. Fell behind schedule at night so I went from 1:30 am to 2:13 pm with no breaks. When I finally took a few minutes due to heat and just plain exhaustion my body wouldn't come back with me.

Why not ask Kapowsin. They actually owned the airport and got run oof be proactive. What happens in MI means shit. I say this and live in MI. If homeowners want us out its teouble. The skydivers should buy all the land. It woiuld sove a multitude of problems.

Dave, Just curious on the numbers for your math. why would a tandem rig converted to a boc/ no drogue wieght almost 50% more thatn a normal tandem rig.