davepend

Members
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Gear

  • Container Other
    Javelin OJ
  • Main Canopy Size
    120
  • Main Canopy Other
    Diablo
  • Reserve Canopy Size
    150
  • Reserve Canopy Other
    MRaven

Jump Profile

  • Home DZ
    Hastings, MI 1992-2005; Fremont, MI 2006-2013; Grand Haven, MI 2021-present
  • License
    D
  • License Number
    16439
  • Licensing Organization
    USPA
  • Number of Jumps
    2305
  • Years in Sport
    30
  • First Choice Discipline
    Freefall Photography
  • First Choice Discipline Jump Total
    1950
  • Second Choice Discipline
    Freeflying
  • Second Choice Discipline Jump Total
    250
  • Freefall Photographer
    Yes

Ratings and Rigging

  • Static Line
    Instructor
  • IAD
    Instructor
  • USPA Coach
    No
  • Pro Rating
    Yes
  • Wingsuit Instructor
    No
  1. Very nice! Do you (or your DZ) standardly do FF stills of your AFF graduates? What a great service to offer! -dp
  2. Hey Mark, I get that same FlightAware newsletter, but didn't see that photo. I wonder if everyone gets a different random selection of photos each week. Anyway... reminds me a bit of when I had Henry sew that left-hand-opening pouch on the bottom of my rig (after I landed the Esprit flaring it like a wore out F-111 Manta.) -dp
  3. You know what's strange? Telling people about a new website, asking them to go have a looky see, then not actually posting the URL. Strange. Even stranger would be to complain about something without offering a solution: http://www.fireflysuits.com/ -dp
  4. Thanks. Turns out I've seen that clip before (in low res), but never realized it was the guys camera that got broken (thought it was just part of his bike). Wow. "Oh, this is broken?" he says, after picking up the third piece. Nice. And I've got a new desktop picture. ;-) Nice photo. -dp
  5. It must've been pretty good... YouTube's taken it down already. (They only ban the really good stuff.) :-(
  6. No offense intended, but I'm wondering how someone has eight years in the sport and is a moderator on dz.com and doesn't know the basics about her gear and the rigging rules. -dp
  7. Does anyone out there who has Apple's iMovie 09 tried the new Image Stabilization feature on freefall footage? Anyone try any other IS post-processing on skydiving video? Before/After examples appreciated. Thanks, -dp
  8. Question for riggers regarding this: The ring is sewn to the main riser (not FAA regulated) but, since it's purpose is to pull the RSL lanyard attached at the other end to the reserve cable or pin, does this alteration require (legally) sign-off by a Master Rigger or the Manufacturer? -dp
  9. I remember seeing on the MacInTouch website (http://www.macintouch.com) a discussion running about the new MacBooks and their lack of firewire ports. It specifically discussed the issue of downloading from video cameras that only have firewire ports. I don't recall of the solution involved a Firewire to USB adapter or what. The MacInTouch site is pretty well laid out and you should be able to search for and find the discussion there. Hope this helps. -dp p.s. Congrats on your new MacBook. I checked them out at the Apple Store when they came out. Nice machines.
  10. The item that struck me as most offensive was (which I would add as point five): The "TC" listing in Parachutist (and USPA.com?) that implies (or would likely be inferred by the reader) that those DZs without a "TC" next to their name do not encourage students or offer training beyond the first jump. This may not be the intent of the "TC" listing, but it's definitely what people will assume when they see it. -dp
  11. Me camera flying with Gary (TM) and Justin (Student) at Skydive Hastings in 2005. -dp
  12. I agree with nsemn8r's post above. The manufacturer's rating was first and is still necessary to help ensure safety with DZ's tandem jump programs. The USPA rating is the add-on intended (in my opinion) just to generate revenue for USPA. (I wish I could arbitrarily require some group of people to pay me $40 to continue doing something they were already doing for years.) ***Disclaimer*** I am not a tandem instructor, just someone who's tired of USPA "fixing" things that aren't broken. As a camera flyer, I work regularly with the tandem instructors and their students.
  13. The monthly staff meetings we had at our previous dropzone is what I used there for I-rating currency. Counting "safety meetings" around the bonfire might be a stretch, though. -dp