steelyeye

Just a few screen grabs. First is filming the first all lady 4 way over "The Jumping Place" in Saint Marys, GA. The second is a sit fly jump with another camera jumper. Must have been a real freefly jump since (# cameras)>(# jumpers)!

John,

You won't remember me, but Valinda and you coached me on a very early post-license jump. Your professionalism, friendliness and general skydiving abilities motivated me to become not only a skydiver, but a coach, instructor and coach examiner.

Here are my thoughts (as a USPA coach examiner, SDU course director, AFFI):

A lot of experienced skydivers really can not track. They really dive away from the formation. The first thing we should be teaching students is to have heading control away from the formation while minimizing vertical acceleration. This means adopting a "T" body position, extending legs (thighs first, then shins, and sweeping arms back to a stable 90 degree position). After they are comfortable with this position, we can "tweak" it in with arms further back, cupping the chest and shoulders, and extending from toes to head and refine their abilty to minimize vertical fall rate while maximizing horizontal speed.

IMHO, most skydivers are not good trackers; they really delta away from formations. I think this is a major area of improvement for all skydivers. I was fortunate enough to be coached by people like you who valued tracking dives as an important part of the newbie skydiver training program!

Having had this kind of background, I think this phased approach to teaching good tracking (not just delta refinement into track) is the right way to go.

Blue skies - Bill

All -
I was only able to stop by on Saturday (with the newborn twins, dog and very understanding wife in tow...) AWESOME time! Got a couple of 4 and 6 ways in and even a couple of 10 ways in with the STF crowd (thanks Ken!). Sorry the POPS thing did not happen Saturday. Sorry I did not get to see everyone I wanted to (still have not gotten a chance to freefly with Psycho-Bob!). Chris - great job, and thanks to everyone that put it together! You all rock! Contact me via Spence for a submarine tour! Blue skies - Wild Bill

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Besides, I have an over-active sense of responsibility.

And that, in a nutshell, is why I would trust you to be my rigger.

Roger, understand the difference between tube and fabric and monocoque construction. Just answering the original poster's question if it would be possible to build a "glass bottom plane".

Many competitive aerobatic aircraft have plexiglass panels under/around the pilot. (http://bjaffee.rchomepage.com/extrapage/images/300/extr300.jpg)

Yeah, it might be time for a reline on the canopy in my picture - the flare on that thing SUCKS!

Had an interesting discussion with a couple of riggers and the master rigger I am training under...

What, in your experience is the lifetime of a line set? The master rigger expressed that in her experience, lifetime was getting shorter. Whereas she was used to seeing 500+ jumps years ago, now it seems that some line sets need to be replaced much more frequently, like in the 300 jump range.

I recognize that there are a lot of variables (WL, line type, canopy type, environment, etc). Any thoughts?

(I tried a search and did not find anything, if there is a similar discussion, would appreciate a re-direct).

The latest Parachutist would suggest that there are three stages. In the pie chart on fatalities, there are "students", "novices" and then license holders.

Sherm,

I'm with you there, I have 300+, am an instructor and still consider myself a student. I take every opportunity for canopy control courses, freefall/RW coaching, camera flying coaching and freeflying coaching.

Blues,

Wild Bill

Fellow instructors,

OK, I recognize that I may be going off on a rant here and may not recognize the historical significance of the phrase, but it seems to me that we, as instructors, need to stop using the term "cleared off student status".

By my reading of the SIM and IRM, it is pretty clear that skydivers can be broken into two clear groups - students and licensed skydivers. If a skydiver is not a licensed skydiver, then they are a student, regardless of what AFF level they have completed or whether they have been "cleared for solo jumps" or "cleared for self-supervision". A student is a student.

Why am I ranting about this? Again, my reading of the SIM and IRM are pretty clear that students are only authorized to jump with instructors, coaches or appropriately authorized D license holders. Too often, I have seen skydivers "cleared off student status" getting virtually no supervision in their preparation, dive planning, or organization. Consequently they are not learning the basic freefall or canopy control skills we, and the SIM, expect them to learn. Additionally, I have seen students participating in group skydives with skydivers who do not hold instructional ratings and are not authorized to jump with students.

In each of these cases, I have discussed the issue with the DZO, and it has been resolved. However, I think that the term "cleared off student status" is a contributing factor to this problem.

As a student pilot and skydiver, it was pretty clear to me that until I had that certificate in hand, I was not a full-up pilot/skydiver. Where are we losing this?

Now, you (and I) may agree or disagree with the SIM/IRM requirements, but they are pretty clear.

I may not have stated my argument very clearly, but in the end, a student is a student, is a student.

Rant over. Flame on.

Wild Bill

I'll sign up for the VASST customized skydiving tunes CD, too!

(There - now you've sold two, that should make all the effort worth it!)

Lindsey has a bright, shiny new license in hand!

Thanks to everyone who came out! It was great getting to know all of you, and even better to see 20 canopies over St. Marys!

For everyone that landed out on the first load on Sunday -

1. Sorry for the spot! (Damn weather-guessers!)
2. Thanks for not getting hurt!

Wild Bill

Hollywood -

Yes it is, and I dearly miss my moco loco with two scoop!

Shrimp and grits are just not the same...

Mike - Can you direct me to that clip - there are a few folks that I know could use a look at it!

Whoa there, diverdriver - that would be Major Nelson (Air Force) not Lieutenant Commander Nelson (Navy)!

If this topic has already been addressed, please forgive me, but I could not find what I was looking for.

Our DZ is considering inviting some of the local news shows out to cover a charity event. Does anyone have any experience in providing skydiving footage for broadcast? All our camera jumpers have plain old non-HD video cameras. I assume this would work, just providing the tape to the reporter/cameraman.

Any advice?

Sacramento Bee reporter Bobby Calvan from his own blog, a long read, but well worth it:

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My visits to the Green Zone are always a joy when I pass through checkpoints manned by Peruvian troops, with whom I have established a rapport. Sure, they are sticklers for rules, but unlike Ugandan troops who have the warmth of armed robots the Peruvians are simply simpatico.

They are a friendly group with easy smiles. They’ll chat you up while being frisked a pad down with benefits. They’ll engage you in conversation once they discover you speak their language.

The experience isn’t nearly the same with other multinational forces. The Ugandan troops are often terse. While not mean, their reticence often makes one feel like one of the many sheep being herded through Baghdad’s many checkpoints.

The Americans, however, are the absolute worst. I had a testy exchange Tuesday with an American soldier at an entry checkpoint into the Green Zone.

Most of my entries into the Green Zone had been by car. I was running late to cover a news conference (because one of my security folks was late for work), and we decided to take a short cut through the Green Zone, instead of driving all the way around to get to the Iraqi foreign minister’s office. We had no trouble getting in. (Read the story here.)

We parked the car, and I headed out of the Green Zone (along with one member of my security staff) to attend the news conference. Getting out is seldom ever a problem.

When the news conference was over, we headed back.

That’s when trouble started.

At the first check point, a pair of Ugandan soldiers asked for identification. We showed our military-issued badges. Unbeknownst to us, we were supposed to be carrying an additional form of ID.

He asked for a passport. I told him I didn’t have it on me. (The advice is to lock up your passport once in Baghdad and never take it out until departing.) He asked for another form of ID, and I replied that I didn’t have anything else.

The American soldier assigned by the U.S. military to oversee this particular checkpoint came over to investigate the problem.

He asked if I had a driver’s license on me. I told him I didn’t have one. He looked incredulous. Why would I need a driver’s license in Baghdad; I wouldn’t be driving, I told him.

He took offense at my response.

Then he looked at the second ID of my companion. It was a badge issued by our newspaper. He said it wouldn’t do. Besides, he asked, what is Knight Ridder?

“I never heard of it,” he said. He probably would have never heard of McClatchy, either. (We use Knight Ridder because it already had a bureau in Baghdad before the chain was bought by the McClatchy Co.)

I explained that it’s one of the largest newspaper companies in the United States. It owns the Miami Herald, The Sacramento Bee, the Kansas City Star.

“I know the Miami Herald, he said. I used to live there. But I never heard of Knight Ridder.” He began to chuckle, pronouncing the company as Knight Rider. Perhaps his chuckles stemmed from memories of the 1980s television show “Night Rider.” He then seemed to mock us.

We couldn’t call for an escort, because he wouldn’t let us switch on our cell phones. (Cell phone batteries need to be removed at most checkpoints.) If we wanted to use our cell phones, we would have to make the far walk beyond the barricades and razor wire. We would have to put ourselves in danger by standing out in the middle of downtown Baghdad where I could become a potential target. (As required, I was wearing my body armour, despite the heat.)

With nothing to lose I decided to get pushy.

I asked him how he could not possibly know that Knight Ridder was one of the country’s largest newspaper chains. I told him that we’re bigger than the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times.

“I’m from Atlanta. I only know the Journal,” he said.

“I thought you said you also knew the Miami Herald,” I retorted.

“We’re bigger than the Journal,” I replied. “You never heard of Knight Ridder?”

He didn’t want to be embarrassed. He already looked irritated. He asked me if I knew the number of the military’s media office.

“I would if you’d let me switch on my phone,” I snapped. “What’s the use of these media badges if people like you aren’t going to honor them? Is this for nothing? Why don’t you call? That’s your job, isn’t it?” I made it known that I was jotting down his name.

My security man was struggling with a smirk on his face. He knew my plan. I was going to bully my way back into the Green Zone.

The man with the gun glowered as I continued my barrage of protests. The Ugandan soldiers were oblivious to the commotion, despite the growing line behind me.

The American soldier called another soldier on his radio to ask if he had ever heard of “Knight Ridder.”

To my relief, the voice said that, yes, Knight Ridder is one of the country’s biggest newspaper companies, that it owned many of the
country’s largest newspapers.

The soldier in front of us explained the situation to his colleague. The voice on the other side suggested that we be let through, that the media office would only instruct him to simply confirm if the pictures on our media badges matched the ones on our shoulders.

When you’ve got nothing to lose, I told my security officer, you do what it takes. He nodded in agreement.

Category Posted in Iraq

Clicky

The comments after the blog are priceless.

Also, interestingly, this same reporter has been highlighted by PBS:

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This episode focuses on the differences between getting the story and crafting the story. Several journalists discuss the skills needed to be a good writer versus those that make a good reporter. While the journalists are split about whether it is possible to be both, most agree that some people are born with a talent in one area and focus on developing their skills where they are weakest. All agree that a good story cannot be written without the reporter first providing a wealth of information based on a strong foundation of facts. Writers then make the hard decisions about selecting the best material to use to write the story. Bobby Calvan, a news writer in Northern California known for his aggressive reporting, illustrates the techniques of a strong writing style. The viewer follows Calvan as he covers a poisonous chemical spill in a Northern California river. Calvan, as well as several other award-winning journalists, stresses the use of concrete nouns and action verbs uncluttered by too many adjectives and adverbs.

Clicky

Great to know my tax dollars are going to support an organization that clearly recognizes superior journalism!

I successfully modified a Sony DSC-V1 with the RM-VD1 remote to work with a bite switch (see attached pics - but bear in mind they were annotated for a non-skydiver). I can pass along details of how the mod is done if interested.

I am getting about 20-30 pictures in freefall. At 5M, they are pretty good resolution and have gotten some fantastic 8X10s out of the camera. It is a bit heavier than other point and shoots, but I had it on hand. This method could potentially be used for other Sony point and shoots with a lanc/acc port (if it uses the RM-VD1 remote).

I have not forgotten about you DSE, still working on the instructions!

I've been using the time-lapse function on my HC-42 to shoot clouds passing by and sunsets lately (on the ground, of course ). It really works out well in the 1 second mode (so a compression of 30 to one).

Just finished wiring up a bite switch to operate the Sony RM-VD1 remote control for a top-mounted DSC-V1. If anyone is interested, I can pass along the details about how I did it. Not hard with some soldering skills, but figuring out how to wire it in was tricky (at least for me!).

It's not a DSLR, but I did have it lying around the house!

PM me if interested.

http://www.usapr.com/

Koidl -

Those are way cool! We have been tossing around the idea of filming a static line student on exit with the camera man hanging off the strut and releasing at the same time - any tips or warnings?

Another favorite - Jared doing a credible job of formation flying his new Katana 120 with my big ol' Pilot 188!