BenHall

Thanks for the quick help you guys rock!

I have heard from several people who have sent emails to the old inactive dropzone.com account. They do not get an error reply and it appears as if the messages go through. Is there a way to fix this so that it doesn't look like I'm just ignoring everyone who accidentally sends to the old dropzone.com address? Thanks for any help!

If you are current or experienced at skysurfing and are willing to instruct, please send me a message. Student is experienced in Skydiving, Fixed Objects, and Snowboarding. Danke.

El Cap? Free jumps AND good for the environment! Miiiight have to go at night though.

It's been a few years since I left but no one ever forgets Emily and the brightness and joy she always brought to the dropzone. I swear after 3 yrs of sharing mile-hi I never saw anything but a smile on her face. Prayers to Lee and the rest of the crew -Ben BSBD

Dude, you gotta be nice and serious at the same time. Just say, "hey man, I know some guys whose femur's are not in one piece because they did what you're doing, and maybe you should get better under the canopy you're flying now." I know I downsized at the appropriate times, fast for some but okay for me. I got in trouble when I started doing 270's when I should have stuck to 90's and paid for it. I could fly the canopy fine in bad situations, but only when I was doing 90's. Sure my 270's were only a little sketchy(not good by any means just not horribly wrong) when all went well, but I didn't have the experience to know that when 1 thing is not ideal I needed to abort. I think most guys like him and I need to hear something more like the following from experienced jumpers(to be effective): "Hey man I know you gotta push yourself to get better, but you can have lots of fun under your current canopy and still risk hurting yourself without going even further and downsizing yet again. I'm sure you could fly that new canopy and not get hurt 70% of the time, but that margin of staying safe is getting pretty small and you should watch out." I know that for me personally, if I didn't downsize when I did I'd be bored as hell under canopy, but that didn't mean I could try as big of hook turns when I did. It can be hard to recognize that people can be safe under smaller canopies but still knowing when to draw the line when it comes to types of landings--or when that line is crossed to an unacceptable risk for injury. Of course to be safe we should all make 100's of jumps under 210' specters, but each of us has their own acceptable level of risk/injury. I'm not saying it's a justified attitude, but I felt that much more experienced jumpers warned me to a slight excess when I should downsize for my skill level. It's the messing with front risers that got me in trouble. The key is to warn others in a way that will still get through to them, especially when they have an inflated sense of self skill under canopy(like I did). Allowing them their own personal freedoms while still sending out a stout warning that their chances of getting hurt are climbing at a little too fast a rate might be a better signal than just saying "you're an idiot and you should stick at super conservative WLings.".--even though it's a true statement . Hope this helps, and my words to that jumper would be along the same lines--dude just chill for a while and learn the cool things you can do with the canopy you got, you might get away with it but man the cards are stacked in the direction of titanium for you. As cool as hours of PT and picking out new canes is, don't f-ing fly that canopy. Then if he's still an idiot keep popping his reserve on the ground till he gets the message haha. I learned the hard way and suffered for it, those of you reading with low jump #'s should consider yourselves warned.

Haha so Brig Gen Biplane will be running safety day?? God help us!! (not that I'm one to talk . . . )

Dale was one of my best friends and my main BASE buddy, we were planning a stunt junkies episode too before it got cancelled. We shared lots of good memories and sketchy jumps in Moab and Twin. I have tons of 2 way BASE footage with him and I and would love to make a memorial video, but I don't have the time or resources. If any of his swoop buddies that work at Gold Coast would like to help me out, I would be very grateful. He is as good as they come. -Ben

Ummm, sorority sponsorship?

Apex DP hands down. . . all this debate about the pin cover flap tucking up or down, why not just go sideways?? Perfect setup for both head up and head down flying, no disadvantage to either. Guaranteed slimmer profile than your current freefly rig!

Mmm, Ray? I don't think Tom would drink Keystone.....or abbie for that matter.

Sorry I was there this summer and the nearest civilian jumping is Tokyo. If you're gonna be there for a while, it's a long shot but you could always talk to the aero club at kadena to try and work something out. Your other option is becoming a PJ--they jump there all the time, but that might take a while. Sorry but good luck! -Ben

Haha come on dude, it only takes like 10 seconds!! Just put down a few numbers, then write the main thing you'd want from a personal formula racer! Any help at all would be appreciated! Haha you know you want to!!!

Fellow jumpers, can you help me out? I am the team leader for my school's mini formula racer design project (FSAE). We have done a lot of work and design already, but need to revise our customer needs. If any of you could just take a quick minute to reply with the questionnaire below filled out, even just part of it, my team and I would be very grateful! Thanks! Questionnaire (all questions concern a weekend autocross racer, but don't worry you don't actually have to have any racing experience) 1) Rate the Following in order of importance (1 least – 10 most) Reliable Easy to maintain Car is safe Highly maneuverable Inexpensive Aesthetically pleasing Responsive High stability Good visibility Quick deceleration Ergonomic design Light weight Rapid acceleration Compact size High top speed 2) What additional elements are important to you regarding a vehicle designed for weekend autocross racing? 3) Problems you have encountered in your racing experience in regards to the car itself? 4) Most important criteria in purchasing a weekend racer and why? I will post photos of our mini formula racer this spring when we finish building if you like. The Air Force Academy Formula Team thanks you for any help!

I have an HC-40 (same size/shape as 42) on a top mount cookie helmet. It is the shit! The only problem is that it makes me want to try dangerous things!