chicagoskydiver

My nickname is Hackey...I actually had that nickname in the army. It's just a coincidence that it has anything to do with skydiving (hackey handle)...I got it because my last name is Hackman (no relation to Gene) Hackey

Which of course inspired your signature quote Hackey

Newbie to Enthusiast in three months...not bad. Hackey

Yeah, I had it before. I don't post that much so it's not a really big deal. I just don't want to be checking the forums all the time to see if there were replies to my post or not. Hackey

OK, HH I know I have pm'd you about this at least a couple times with no response. Maybe this will work better. I always have the box checked that I want email notification of replies to my posts but I never get them and haven't been getting them for several months now. I have my correct email address listed on my account. How can I get this fixed? Hackey

I haven't been there for a while. I'm not very active in the sport anymore since buying a house...I just do a jump or two every few weeks to stay current. I normally go to Morris only because I know a lot of people there....but I would come out to Ottawa if I had someone to jump with. I had to sell my rig to buy my house so I rent gear and that sucks...but SDC has kick ass rental gear. That sabre 2 is sweet...you'll love it. Nice lift in the flair. The rental gear at Morris...well frankly it's not as nice. I wouldn't even think of attempting any freeflying with it. The problem is I really don't know many people out there any more. Hackey

That's a good thing that they do that. But in terms of the gear (all students use sabre 2's), and the quality of instruction (i.e. - video debrief on EVERY jump...included in the cost) there is no better place to learn. Even the aircraft there is tops....all turbine and maintained to the highest level. Hackey

If they say you are ready for AFP I then go for it. Just remember to arch and relax. The instructor will be docked on you the entire time. You'll be fine. I still remember when I did my level one and after I pulled the feeling I got when I realized I was up in the sky under my canopy all by myself for the first time. It's very cool. Hackey

That's great! I did most of my student program at Skydive Chicago. You won't find any place better to learn skydiving. You may ask why I did "most" of it there and not all of it. The instructor I was working with left and went to another DZ and I followed him over so I could continue working with him. The student program at SDC is the best there is. A word of caution though.....don't jump just because they say it's ok to jump...use your own judgement and discretion. Whatever anyone says, I can say from my own personal experience that they will put you up there in marginal conditions...high winds....no holes in the clouds...etc. In terms of the student equipment and quality of instruction, I would say they are unmatched anywhere. Hackey

I agree with you on the whole it's well written and sticks to the facts. I just didn't like the implication that this is somehow the convention's fault or that the convention itself causes fatalities. I can just see some whuffo reading that and saying "You see? Skydiving is crazy! It just claimed another victim! " In all fairness though, the facts were presented in a fair manner. I guess I'm a little hypersensitive because of all the bad press around here about what's going on at Skydive Chicago and all the misinformation and misconceptions that have come from it. Hackey

The definition you referred to reads: A person who suffers injury, loss, or death as a result of a voluntary undertaking: You are a victim of your own scheming. I agree with that definition.....but under that definition he's a victim of his own poor judgement or lack of experience or whatever it was, not the convention. The convention doesn't have any "victims" under any definition. Hackey

Oh crap it's the post police!! We're busted!! Hackey

I'm pretty sure all of the DZ's in the Chicago area are open during the week. At Skydive Illinois they tell me they've been more busy during the week than on the weekends. Hackey

Good call. Ok, so maybe I'm a little bit of a post whore. Or is it a post ho? Yeah that's it. Well, I am a ho anyway.... Hackey

And I didn't even do any mindless post whoring to get there! Hackey

Does that count as a base jump? Hackey

Excuse me? Victim? Meaning the convention victimized this jumper? I'm afraid not. I don't mean to be insensitive...it's a tragedy when something like this happens...but for the press to suggest it was anything other than the skydiver's mistake that did him in is ridiculous. Hackey

The plot was about a DZO running an international drug smuggling operation. Of course, it was entirely fictional and not based on anything in real life. Hackey

It shows that you understand the priorities....number one you have to pull. Number two pull at the right altitude. But the main thing is you pulled. Better too early or too late than never. Number three...pull stable...but if you're at pull altitude never sacrafice altitude for stability. You did it right.....just need to get that internal clock going. We've all pulled high at one time or another....on one student jump I became a little unstable and said "screw it I'm outta here" and pulled at 7 grand. Those survival instincts are important. Hackey

I would say anyone who thinks about which way their closing pin necklace is turned has entirely too much time on their hands. But that's just me. Hackey

What shirt? Oh, never mind! The day after yesterday! DOH! Yes, I wore the shirt I'm wearing now the day after yesterday! That's a good one! Hackey

It doesn't say anywhere you're racing on a track. Although I see your point, it would only be possible if you're racing on a track to overtake someone in last place, meaning to physically pass them. I think what the question meant is that you're actually behind the person in a race from point A to point B. That's a good catch. Hackey

Actually, it's impossible. How can you "overtake" the person in last place. You can only overtake another runner from behind. If you are behind someone, that person isn't in last place because there is at least one person behind them, namely you. Hackey

Is this the new math? 'Cause it just doesn't add up for me, and I guess I do the old math... Ok, let me spell it out for you. 1,000 + 40 = 1,040 1,040+1,000=2,040 2,040+30=2,070 2,070+1,000=3,070 3,070+20=3,090 3,090+1,000=4,090 4,090+10=4,100 The answer is 4,100. Hackey

Very Cool Pics! Looking good! The only other advice I can add...and I did the same thing....stop looking at the ground! It's only natural to want to look at the ground but you gotta keep your head up and look where you're going. Good job! Hackey