BIGUN

Sorry, but there are always going to be friggin snivelrs. When you put on the pickle suit you take an oath. You know that prior to putting up your hand and taking that oath. It's an all-volunteer army. It's been that way since about 1973. If you cannot do the job, then don't raise your hand. You don't have to agree, disagree or even undertstand. There are so many men and women doing an outstanding job over there. Reading the snivels of a few who would place more energy with their fingers to keyboard to write Mr. Moore are probably ones I wouldn't have wanted to serve with anyway. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

I watched the program. Sure, there was the initial "How cheesey" and so he's going to solo with a Strong Tandem? Me thinks not and especially with the chest strap undone. But, I'm with Sid. It aired last night, that bell can't be unrung, you might as well pass it on to the whuffos who approach you about it as.... it was just television. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Smells like a bit of troll, ehh lad? Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Suggest you wear a knife if you don't already. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

You may already be at the DZ, but I have a suggestion. Why not ask your instructors if you can do a "Level X" dive. Basically, no flips, turns, or tricks. Just get out cleanly, do a PRCP and enjoy the freedom until pull time. There's nothing that says the AFF program is an off-the-shelf program for everyone. It's a guideline of what can be done, not what has to be done. You "can" get your "A" license in 25 dives, but there's ntohing that says you can't get it at 30, 40 or 50 jumps. What's important is to take your time, enjoy the air, relax and have fun with it. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Categories G-H Generic portions of the FJC (anything but dive flow). Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

You "may" get some flak about this (and I may also), but at 267, your major criteria is your reserve. TallGuy entered the sport at 6'9" and 265. His gear shop recommended a Mirage Container, PD 253 and Sabre (or Safire) 230 once he finished student status. You could get by with any of the following suggestions, depending on your S&TA and DZO's approval (or experience with Anvils) (no order of preference implied). H/C Wings Mirage Vector Javelin Dolphin MAIN Falcon 300 in F111 PD Navigator 280 Sabre 230 (here's where I get beat on) Safire 230 (ouch again) RESERVES PD 253 Precison Aerodynamics - RavenMax (r-max) 248 Don't let your weight concern you. Your not as big as some of the guys who have accomplished their goal. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Miguel, Your direction appears to be a solid path. The 280 will be good for the first year or 1-200 jumps while you work on your landings. The 280 will appear more "speedy" than the 370 you used in MFF, but you will get used to it quickly. I don't see any reason why you couldn't get the 260 now since you will be losing weight quickly and even at your current exit weight would be loading it 1:1. I would also encourage you to review BillVon's downsizing checklist located on this site in safety http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=47 I'm going to ask SkyMonkeyOne to jump in on this thread since you have MFF background and ask for his thoughts on the issue. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Well then take control. When ya lie down on the table, grab the doctor by the testicles and say, "Now, we're not going to hurt each other, are we?" Sorry, bro... hadda do it. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

A great read. She is a talented writer. She captured two instances of truth. One was that skydivers "turn off" the outside world when they cross the front gate of the DZ. We don't care what one does for a living, how much they are worth or wherever else one may stand on the socio-economic ladder. We are all equally fascinated with a single object called skydiving and that's all that matters - today. The other was; we all understand that it's not for everyone and everyone has their own reason for doing it or not doing it and as a group respect that. We also respect her for having tried it before candidly deciding it wasn't for her, rather than the the reasons for not doing it before tried. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

There is a large number of "Anvil Brothers" who've been in your shoes. All of us are willing to help. Please give us some more information regarding your height and weight and we can help you to move forward. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Creamy or chunky? Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

It sounds like someone has mixed you up a bit. The tandems do count towards your "A" license. Look at it like this; you've got twenty-five dives to get your "A" license as you move through the categories of skydiving (Categories A-H) - not levels. Now that you've been corn-fused, I would encourage you to talk with the instructional staff at your DZ to clarify which category you will be inserted in after ground school. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

I came back from Desert Storm and just had a feeling. Something about me was different. After 15 years, I just felt like it was time to take a new direction. Finished college, went to grad school, started skydiving again. For me, it was easy. I actually transitioned to the reserves for four years prior to a full exodus. So I had a toe stuck in both ponds for awhile, so I think that helped. I think one reaches a point where the past is the past and should remain that way. Trying to bring the past into the present is a step backwards. Short answer: No. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Hold that thought. All of them. See thought #1 Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

You know you're a Redneck if Mapquest is giving you those kind of directions... Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

1. I mentally prepare NOT to be in that situation. 2. If I fail at number 1, my mental preparation is that if I find myself under TWO grand, I'm going silver. My canopy snivels about a grand, so there's no need for me to do a mathematical equation to ascertain "if" I'm encroaching into my AAD's firing range. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

I have two Eclipse Tandems. One of them has the third drogue release on the cutaway handle, the other does not. The Icarus (Precision) main is an awesome canopy to fly. One does not need any assistance from the student during landing. I like the Eclipse tandems because the secondary (student) handle is always on my hip routed thru a short cable housing. 1) I never have to worry about the "snake" coming undone, 2) for the Tandem Progression Program, it is placed well for the students to begin learning where to reach for their own handle when they migrate over to their own rig. The student harness is OK, but the leg pads could be designed a little better. It does have a belly and back band which really gives the student an extra feeling of security. They do not come with a Collins Lanyard. You are a little heads down when flying. I takes me roughly two extra minutes to pack than a sport rig. I'm not rated on another system, although I've been thru the orientation course for the Sigma. I found it to be a little more comfortable than my Eclipse, liked the drogue positioning and would consider getting the skyhook if I purchased one. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Man, this statement is SO true. I used to sit on the plane and mentally go thru the manual's flowchart on every dive. I even had one fellow Instructor ask me if I was OK. I must've looked pretty intense. I would say it was around 100 before I "felt" like I had "experienced" most of what someone could throw at me (including a side-spin). Always out fly them... Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

This is probably going to be the best direction towards a solution. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Being a "Pro" means making professional decisions, not popular ones. This may have been a disappointing decision, but I applaud the entire team's professionalism. And, the NFL team asked you back. Even if they hadn't; the right decision was made. Thank you. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Those damn pilots. They'll never understand the nature of a good 'ol fashioned "Bonus Days" party. [/sarcasm} Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Well, my personal goal is to change the terminology. If we are belly-flyers, then they must be "Butt-flyers" In all fairness to our butt-flying friends, they have taken skydiving to a whole new dimension. They appear to be very attuned to all three dimensions of skydiving. Being one of the RW guys, I have done some FF'ing and it is fun. Ya know how you used to go out and just do backflips and barrel rolls and other manuevers on a solo skydive; well they do the same thing on every jump. It's fun with very little dirt-diving. There has been "some" narrowing of the gap between FF'ing and RW with the new hybrid dives and even the SCRs now have a vSCR and vSCS. I look forward to the day we can build some form of Borg cube together. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Are you saying that you have yet to do a stand-up landing in 44 jumps or since you've started jumping again? Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Tandem Progression and AFF learning curves are roughly the same. Either one you choose will help you achieve your goal of moving towards becoming a USPA Licensed skydiver. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.