peckerhead

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Everything posted by peckerhead

  1. peckerhead
    My first rig cost $350 and that seemed like a lot to me at the time. (I did not even own a car and survived on top-ramen) Strato flyer as a main, 22 sac reserve, no idea what the container was but it was odd looking....R-3 capewells and a belly band. There is no way I would pay $350 for a friggin jumpsuit. My camera suit I got on Ebay for $85 (new windline) My RW suit I also got on Ebay for $8 (Thats right 8 friggin dollars) It came with a jack the ripper hook knife sewn to the leg. My old two zipper style suit I bought new back in the 80's and don't remember what I paid for it. Times have changed for sure.
  2. peckerhead
    Actually the count is 19 but one was considered to be a medical related death after jumping so that is still under investigation.... At least 15 skydivers that I know of died in plane crashes in jump planes. (5 in Montana, 10 in Wahington) 34 dead skydivers not including the others we lost from other causes. Lets be careful out there! Edit to ad not all fatalities are reported to DZ.com
  3. peckerhead
    There have been 18 fatal jumps so far this year in the US. If nobody does anything stupid for the next few days we could actually see an all time low since 1962. If you count plane crashes in 2007 the numbers are not so good.
  4. peckerhead
    Can we see the other side Jerry?
  5. peckerhead
    He was only 56, another victim of prostate cancer. Like many before him early detection could have saved him. A friend of mine died 4 years ago from the same thing and he was only 44. Get yourself checked fellas.
  6. peckerhead
    Terry Ross is my hero!
  7. peckerhead
    The rigger?
  8. peckerhead
    Here ya go...
  9. peckerhead
    --When did the Group membership program start? Mid to late 80's as I recall, 87 maybe? --Did any (many, all) DZs require USPA membership prior to the establishment of the group membership program? Some did some didn't. If you wanted a license (and most of us did) you had to join. Membership was cheap back then and most new jumpers wanted the magazine. In my experience most people did not join until after they were off student status (25-30 jumps) There was no temp. membership. I think I had almost 50 jumps before I joined. Back then the license, awards, patches, and certificates seemed to be a big enough incentive. Some DZO's would charge a buck extra per jump to non-members to encourage people to join. --How have USPA individual membership numbers changed before and after the establishment of the group membership program? I don't think the experienced jumpers numbers have changed much per capita but now with the temp. membership more students and non- licensed jumpers are joining.
  10. peckerhead
    I would recommend Park City. I lived there for 3 years. It is a short commute to SLC. When the inversions settle in to the SL valley you will have clear skies up at PC. Those inversions seem to last forever. PC is not cheap but that would be my first choice if I were to move back to Utah.
  11. peckerhead
    A buttload of Beavers?
  12. peckerhead
    I had a reserve ride on a borrowed rig back in the 80's and afterwards we discovered it had not been repacked in over 4 years. (I think it was a 22 ft. sac) Some people say that the material is different now...Well hell yeah it is different, It's better! I honestly don't think parachutes know how long they have been packed if they are stored properly. Time alone is not a factor.
  13. peckerhead
    Oh brother... It is just a friggin T-shirt.
  14. peckerhead
    I have a Naro freebag and pilot chute in one of my Eclipses that was installed by a master rigger and it works just fine. Functionally there is no noticeable difference.
  15. peckerhead
    I am just happy if the porta-potty gets pumped out once a week and there is beer in the fridge
  16. peckerhead
    If you don't know how to do a PLF... Then you have no business jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. This is a life skill. OMG!
  17. peckerhead
    Keep it simple Right. left. land.
  18. peckerhead
    Thanks Nick, it would be fun to compare stories someday..... When we switched from Static line to IAD the question was: Do we still holler CHECK YOUR STATIC LINE!!!! And then make them tug on it? CHECK YOUR IAD just didn't sound right.... What is there to check? You are no longer attached to the airplane and we certainly did not want the dents to pull on the bridle. So we decided it would just be part of the training to show the dent that we had indeed pulled the pilot chute out of the pocket and were, in fact ready to go. I have absolutely no problem with the dent sitting and facing the rear of the plane with static lines but I just don't see this practical with IAD. I want them facing forward so I can see the back of the container and everything set before I pop the door. So far so good!
  19. peckerhead
    I have done it Nicks way for years and I think it works just fine. It is more comfortable for the student to sit facing the rear. However, I prefer to have both the student and the JM on their knees facing forward with the student in front. The other students are also on their knees facing forward so it is easy to move them up into position. I have used this method in both Cessnas and Beavers, 3 to 8 students per load. I have dispatched most of my students this way for over 20 years now. With the student already facing forward they are already facing the direction of flight so they don't have to turn around. Here is a video of the method we currently use, we have made a few small changes since the video was made but the position of the JM and student is the same. Student IAD Jump
  20. peckerhead
    2) if you are looking for someone who's incapacitated, you can call their phone and listen for the ring. Unless the battery is dead. Sorry Billy Vee, you will never get me to advocate gizmos or gadgets.
  21. peckerhead
    That was a very good day!
  22. peckerhead
    Mayfield? give me a break! Teddy couldn't fart in a Jar and get away with it.
  23. peckerhead
    She's got 28 jumps too! Our 16 year wedding aniversary is next month. But, she was also my girlfriend for 8 years before we got married. Life is good!
  24. peckerhead
    I am a lucky fella!
  25. peckerhead
    This one?