herv

I flew out of Boston a little over a year ago with my rig in a carry on. Even though they pulled me to the side to open the bag, absoloutley no problem. I did have the paperwork and cypress card on top of the rig in the bag, but the screener wasn't even concerned about it. He stated they had just gone through training on parachutes. While flying out of Phoenix, the only thing the TSA wanted to double check was the altimeter. It was among a bunch of other stuff in a bag. He wasn't sure what he saw on the x-ray and was trying to describe it to me. When he said it was something round with something that looked like gears in it, I pointed him to the correct pocket. Once I explained to him how it worked, everything was fine. Sounds to me like you ran into something I hate...ignorance. Too often I meet people that instead of saying "I don't know", they are too scared of looking stupid and they jump on the desk and scream "I'm in charge!"

While in the 82nd Airborne, we had the "Blood upon the Risers" hymn which we used to sing over mood altering beverages. And I am sure they still do.

Hey Blahr, just noticed in another string that you had a break in your skydiving that is why your A number was so much lower than mine. Sorry for my ignorance and maybe I'll see you at the DZ! Blue Skies!

Here's a suggestion and a question, first the suggestion: By checking your profile I see that your home DZ is my home DZ (I'm racking my brain trying to place who you are, sorry sometimes I forget names). A few skydivers there also do not drink beer but rather enjoy Smirnoff Ice or stuff along those lines. I don't know if this fits into the same category as beer for you or not. With all the times I have brought beer, sometimes I would bring a couple sixes of Ice instead. This was highly appreciated also. For the question, I've been jumping at that DZ for 3 years and my A license# is 38667. I noticed that you have 68 jumps and your A license # is A17647. I was just wondering if you arn't accidently using your USPA number instead of your A number? There's my two cents, hope it might help.

NOTE TO MODERATOR, please remove this post if you feel that my advice is wrong. Normally, on a subject like this, I would defer to the more experienced jumpers and just watch the thread to learn. But I totally disagree with the "never make a sliding landing" school of thought. I agree with Skymonkey. This is based off of personal experience not just my thoughts. I have done many PLF's in that I first started jumping as a Paratrooper and Jumpmaster at Ft Bragg. (Often I am called upon to demonstrate PLF's at my DZ to the new students). About two years ago I was skydiving in some stronger (not excessive) winds. I misjudged my final approach and realized that I probably would not be able to complete my turn into the wind in time. In that split second I decided to land downwind. With my canopy speed and the wind gust, I was probably going anywhere from 30-40 mph. As I was doing my flare I remember thinking "Ohh, this is going to hurt" I got into a baseball slide type configuration just like I was sliding into home plate. I was going so fast that everyone at the hanger saw me touch down and slide, and slide, and slide. I wouldn't doubt that I slid 100-200 ft. A couple of people got in a jeep and came racing out to me probably sure that I had been injured. When they got to me I was standing there gathering up my chute with a "don't I feel stupid" look on my face. Not a bump, not bruise, not a scratch on me. If I had tried to do a PLF, I am willing to bet that something on me would have been broken. I was going way to fast. IMHO, on occassion there might be a time when doing a PLF is not the best way to go. But this would be in a basebal slide configuration. Not just landing on your ass. If you do not know how to baseball slide, I would suggest find somone that does and have them show you how to slide. I feel this it is better than having both feet in front of you. Your foot is under the back of your knee on your your other leg so your legs are in kind of a figure 4. You make contact with your calf, thigh and ass cheek at the same time and your kind of on your side with your upper body leaned back "so your spine is horizontal with the ground". Please let me re-iterate YOU MUST MUST HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE HORIZONTAL SPEED THAN VERTICAL! Practice this at home by running across the lawn as fast as you can and then sliding until you are totally comfortable with this. I am only suggesting this for an extremely fast, (probably downwind) landing. Everything else, the PLF is the way to go. I am only a B rated skydiver with a little over 350 jumps, so please take that into account when considering my advice. I will not pretend to know more than the more experienced skydivers.

Just flew Delta to and from Phoenix from and to Harrisburg, PA. Coming from Phoenix, they didn't look twice at the bag that had the rig with the Cypress. Went through x-ray and right onto the conveyor belt. They stopped my second bag and opened it. We were trying to figure out exactly what they saw. After going through eveything found out it was the altimeter they had a question with. Once they saw it and I explaind what it was used for, no problem. Went right through.

Anyone interested in linking up with a skydiver from PA this Saturday (May 10) at Skydive Arizona? I'm coming into Phoenix on Friday and expect to have all day Saturday to jump (Hopefully). Just looking for someone(s) to have some fun with since I haven't had much chance to jump this month (I think we are still in winter here in PA) .

You know this is funny, I was just telling my girlfriend the other night that I should get a hold of the "You hear me now?" cell company (whoever it is) and have them do a tandem with the the one guy sying his now famous line.

I flat pack my Sabre 170 and have great openings. I have about 230 jumps now and was slammed only twice (knock,knock,knock). The first slam was before I started tandem rolling the nose. The second one, who knows. I will tell you that practically everyone at my home DZ flat packs. But you get the idea.

Thanks for all the help!

Can someone please tell me where each person is actually positioned in a 4way team? ie. head, inside center, outside center, tail. Is this based off of a basic 4way round? I know this may be a stupid question but I don't get the inside and outside center part. Thanks

I'm at work now and don't have access to my latest Parachutist. I am trying to find out what dates the 2003 US Nationals are supposed to be in Lake Wales, Florida. I don't know if Parachutist had it or not but does anyone know?

I am cross posting this along with the Photography and video forum so that I can get as much input as possible: I want to start putting a camera helmet together. I really don't know what requirements to look for as far as a video cam goes. Sears has a video cam on sale until tomorrow and I wanted to get opinons on it. If this is not a good video cam for skydiving, could anyone responding please explain why so I know what to look for: Sony Digital8® Camcorder, Handycam® with 2-1/2 in. SwivelScreen™ LCD Monitor The DCR-TRV140 packs top notch digital performance into a surprisingly affordable package without sacrificing stunning detail, clarity, and video performance, even when shooting at night. Connect USB terminal to PC and broadcast live video with audio, capture still images, more USB Streaming only (System requirements: Windows® 98,98SE, 2000, ME, XP) 1/4 in. Color CCD, 290 effective pixels Super NightShot™ with Color Slow Shutter Steady Shot® Picture Stabilization System Up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution i.Link® DV interface (IEEE 1394) S-Video Output Interval/frame recording Thank you and Blue Skies

I want to start putting a camera helmet together. I really don't know what requirements to look for as far as a video cam goes. Sears has a video cam on sale until tomorrow and I wanted to get opinons on it. If this is not a good video cam for skydiving, could anyone responding please explain why so I know what to look for: Sony Digital8® Camcorder, Handycam® with 2-1/2 in. SwivelScreen™ LCD Monitor The DCR-TRV140 packs top notch digital performance into a surprisingly affordable package without sacrificing stunning detail, clarity, and video performance, even when shooting at night. Connect USB terminal to PC and broadcast live video with audio, capture still images, more USB Streaming only (System requirements: Windows® 98,98SE, 2000, ME, XP) 1/4 in. Color CCD, 290 effective pixels Super NightShot™ with Color Slow Shutter Steady Shot® Picture Stabilization System Up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution i.Link® DV interface (IEEE 1394) S-Video Output Interval/frame recording Thank you and Blue Skies

Just out of curiosty, how were the locals with all the skydivers there? Were they welcoming everyone or were they jerk offs?