brianfry713

It's currently playing on the IMAX daily on odd numbered hours at the Tech museum in San Jose, CA. I have the DVD, but I'm looking forward to seeing it at the IMAX soon. http://www.thetech.org/imax/ BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

Humps: Jumps: Beer Owed

Yeah Skydance is great! I also like to jump there. Welcome. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

We finally settled on the name Roger. We say it all the time while flying airplanes, it fit our "little guy", and I like the name for a dog. For those who might not know, while talking on a radio, for example while flying an airplane, saying Roger means the message was Received and understood. Adding Wilco is less commonly heard in my experience but adds in "Will Comply". BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

Your regular rigger should have easily been able to tell who did the last repack and where if the data card was still in the pocket. He shouldn't have to ask you. I agree that he should have talked to the other rigger before telling you about it. If I suspected someone else put their seal on my packjob, I would take it up personally with that rigger. But it would be a hard thing to prove unless you planted a telltale or something like that and it's your word against his. I don't think that a telltale is usually necessary unless it's an FAA response to a complaint as I think most riggers are good and ethical, but maybe I'm being naive as I recently got my rigging ticket. I probably wouldn't tell my customer unless it is a safety issue and the other rigger doesn't care. I don't feel that going to the FAA is going to help anything. Do pull your handles, but ask your rigger first and do it with him/her around. If you really don't trust the guy, you could pull it all the way out (or use it in the sky), but you should go to a rigger you can trust. I also use a stamp with my seal and FAA arimen number to discourage customers from pencil packing with my seal intact. Of course that does nothing to stop determined riggers from pencil packing and resealing a rig. I've even heard of riggers who charge a lower price for a pencil pack over a full I&R. To counter your argument for arguments sake, you could say you got your 120 days and your rush boogie "packjob", so you got your moneys worth. Keep track of your due date, get it repacked at least a day before it's due and you need it. I think there's at least one thread on here arguing about whether the 120th day of a packjob is legal to jump (I think it is). Also the other rigger could argue that there's only one way to pack a rig - according to the manufacturers instructions. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

Spent from about 4:30am to 10am in the drunk tank for a wet and reckless driving around 2002. My BAC was .08, the limit in CA. Recently spent from around 12:30am until 11am for B.A.S.E. jumping. I was charged with trespassing and resisting arrest. I'm still going to court for it. I spent until 5am in a single cell at the city PD, then they threw me in a paddy wagon and transferred 4 of us to the county jail. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

I've had three unplanned cutaways (two with a skyhook) and one intentional Skyhook cutaway. My first chop was with an RSL equipped Infinity, Sabre 2 170 loaded at 1.4, and PD Reserve 160 loaded at 1.5. It was a Mr. Bill attempt from a Cessna exit at 3,700 feet. I ended up with a spinning lineover, cut away very unstable, watched my reserve deploy and had a number of line twists that were easy enough to kick out of. My second unplanned chop was on a wingsuit jump with a Skhook and magnetic riser cover equipped Vector 3, Sabre 2 170 loaded at 1.4, and PD Reserve 160 loaded at 1.5. I fought the rapidly spinning line twists until I was fairly low (below 1,500 feet) and made no progress and decided to cutaway. I probably actually pulled the cutaway handle somewhere around 1,000 feet and was under my reserve at about 850 feet. The reserve opened quickly, smoothly, and on heading. The reserve opening was also my first save as a rigger (but I didn't pack the main). I landed close to my main which was still attached to the freebag. My third unplanned cutaway was on a Skyhook equipped Sigma Tandem, Precision 365 main, and I'm not sure which reserve as I was on a back to back. Line twists I fought until my hard deck of 3,000 feet. I tried getting my student to help me untwist but we made no progress. I had him arch and grab his harness. Quick and smooth cutaway and reserve inflation. The reserve was difficult to fly and had a small built in turn. Landing was okay in the target pea gravel. I also packed twice and jumped once the UPT Skyhook demo cutaway rig. Falcon 150 main, PD Optimum 143 reserve, and unused belly mounted PD Reserve 143. Great, fast, smooth, and on heading pre-planned Skyhook reserve deployments. Overall I'm a fan of the Skyhook but I cringe when I read posts from people who know little about it but use one. I would consider having a MARD put on my Infinity if it becomes available and well tested. As for now I sometimes jump a Velocity 120 loaded at 2.15 with my Inifinity and standard RSL but I'm debating disconnecting it. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

I broke my fib and dislocated my tib/ankle on a low pull 15mph downwinder into a ditch B.A.S.E. jumping. I had a soft cast for the first two weeks, went in and got the staples out and got a hard cast for a month, and then got another cast I still wasn't supposed to walk on for about a month. I was in a walking boot for a few months after that. I did two skydives 3 months after my break but it was still painful to walk at that point. The freeflying was fine and I upsized to a 170 and landed on one leg and slid in on my butt without the bad leg touching the ground. Two weeks after that I got all the hardware out and was back B.A.S.E. jumping two weeks after that. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

Yes new AADs are expensive unless you can somehow get a good deal on them. Yes good value used AADs are hard to come by and in high demand, but keep looking and asking around. I recently bought a 10 year old Cypres with the 8 year done and a repack cycle left on the battery for $200. A lot of people spend more than that on a day of jumping or tunnel flying. You don't have to give up skydiving to afford an AAD, just work more, pack a bunch of rigs, or give up something else. A brand new Cypres 2 is not the only AAD out there, also consider the Vigil, Argus, and Astra. Of course it's your money and your life so it's your choice. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

I like Mojo, and I'm going to keep calling him that at least until he has a name other than Spike. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

I don't know the SoCal area or DZ's that well, but I've heard there are a few people that GL around there. Ask around at the DZ as the people that are out having the most fun are not always checking these forums daily. I've also read that Jim Slaton is still running camps at the Ground Launch Center and could help you out and that's a great way to learn how to do it. That's what I did a year and a half ago. I don't know if it's the best way to help you get into BASE, but GL is a lot of fun and I know a few BASE jumpers in NorCal that also GL. Work on your canopy skills at the DZ. Accuracy, quick and correct canopy control action are important for both GL and BASE. Learn how to swoop and more about your gear and flying a canopy. GL is a lot like a long swoop down a mountain. I don't think GL is safe but it can be done without hurting yourself if you're skilled and trained well. Gear selection depends a lot on the site and winds. I usually use an old BASE harness with a Sabre 170 loaded around 1.35, but I've used a number of other canopies. An old flat gliding 9-cell like a Sabre or a Stilleto work well. I've launched a Spectre and it wasn't nearly as much fun. It's hard on your gear so you could look on the classifieds for something cheap to beat up. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

I took a combined basic/advanced canopy course with Brian Germain a few years ago and we did lots of jumping. There was a lot of classroom time as well. I don't remember the exact ratio but it worked well for me. We did lots of hop and pops (some from full altitude where we flew around with each other under canopy), and even a couple of freefly/RW jumps with high pulls. I had a great time, learned a lot, and improved my canopy flying and swooping a great deal. Brian was jumping with us and filming and would lecture in the mornings and then do an extensive debrief at the end of the day. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

Sounds like fun, don't die. I did one hanging onto a guy jumping a 90 VX. We were probably around 450 pounds put together. It spun after opening until I let go but didn't twist up. I was probably pulling on his harness off to the side we spun. It was also a cloudy day so we only got around 5,000 feet of exit altitude. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative

I would find a way to skydive nearby if I felt I had to move to a place like that. Sure you won't get to do as many jumps, but find a willing pilot at a nearby airport that's closer to sea level, or just travel to the closest dropzone when you can afford it. I would jump as often as I can even if it's not twice a year. Or look further for suitable BASE objects, jump from something other than a plane, or whatever else you can. I don't want to live my life without flying. I would rent or buy a plane nearby and have my girlfriend fly me to altitude, or save my money for BASE trips. BASE 1224, Senior Parachute Rigger, CPL ASEL IA, AGI, IGI USPA Coach & UPT Tandem Instructor, PRO, Altimaster Field Support Representative