kwmontreal

OMG!!! 225lbs on the front and my arms were aching when I needed to flare.............amen for adrenalin!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

Congratulations! We share the same season for our first T-mal! Mine was mostly likely due to packing error. It was like a slider down base opening. Although the jokers still say it was my body position!! Center cell top skin was blown out and two others ripped....and toss in a few broken lines Luckily for me we were both ok, and the canopy was flying in a gentle turn, so I had a few seconds to talk to my student and give him a heads up. Jump had video and the opening sequence took about 3 or 4 frames (from coming out of the d-bag to fully open) My biggest surprise was that the 425 reserve only had one set of steering toggles ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0007M3PM6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_olp_1/102-8061614-2868962?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1189176444&sr=8-1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

There is no one answer to your question with the info you have supplied. Have you practices rear riser turns and flairs? With 30 jumps I would hope you have. I'll tell you the same thing I tell my students. You need to have a plan (a two part plan) for every jump. One part is freefall skills and the second is canopy skills. My SL students start practicing rear riser work on jump two or three. You need to learn and get reasonably proficient in many basic maneuvers a soon as possible in your jumping career. I call it the "TOOL BOX". You need to fill that tool box with skills that will help you avoid and or deal with unusual problems and situations that may "pop up". If in this instance you have not done and rear riser work, or, are not proficient/comfortable .... I would not fault you for going to the reserve. You are at the point where your "toox box" should be getting full of knowledge and you should be practicing these skills so that when (and it usually does) the poop hits the fan, you can get the upper hand on "Mr Murphy". There have been many articles and postings here and else where on the basic desirable skill sets you should be working on. PM me and I can send you a few. If you don't already have an instructor/coach/mentor working with you ..... you really need to find one! Challenge yourself and have fun! Plan the jump .... and jump the plan. Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

check this PC-350 out! I love my PC-1000 but the 350 is a good alternative if you want it "now". Presently on Ebay there are three PC1000's and one PC350. I haven't havd a problem shooting on the sunset loads (video), so night shot for me has not been needed.the night shot is interesting, but I have no experience with that camera. Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

S/L course to 'A' lic at our DZ will set you back about $1100.00. Thats 25 jumps and includes free coaching jumps to get all the requirements signed-off on the A-LIC card. We fly a C-182 ..... with 4 jumpers its approx 2 gallons of fuel per jumper (@ 4.55 per/gal) so $9.10 in fuel cost if there are 4 on board ....with three its a little over 12.00 per jumper). Maintenance, inspections, oil, and insurance, and other aircraft expenses and you are looking at 8.00 to 9.00 per flight (divide that into a per jumper cost of say 2.00 per jumper) OK plane cost is approx. $14.00 per jumper Student gear gear amortized over the life of the gear is about $2.50 to 3.00 per/jump (2000 jumps) OK.... we are at $16.50 per jump, and there are some real big expenses still not calculated in yet! Facilities, taxes, STAFFING costs, advertising, and the lists goes on!!! Look at the above costs and throw in some of the other good points brought up by the previous posts and you can see that there is not much room for error when calculating jump prices. How many DZO's do you see living life easy and big? Most work their butts off just to make a living. As has been said time and time again ..... if its really important enough ... you'll find a way 9I did). Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

I can't see any good reasons for leaving the door open. I can see many for keeping it closed ... the least of which is safety. Whatever of the two systems you use there is always the danger of an open reserve/main container. If the door is already open, and a student behind you pops the reserve, good luck to you! Not to mention ease of instruction, calming of students, .....you get the idea. Close the door. My 0.02 Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

8 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

I totally agree with Dave. Pay the $$ and be patient I guarantee its worth the wait! I chomp at the bit also when I want my new toy ... especially if its later than normal. Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

I am sure if you do it a few times on some fun jumps it will be second nature ....... if you don't fall!! Notice the little handle on the side of the AC. Found this pic on airliners.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

Have a couple of Ebay batters for my pc1000. They are great! While once in a while you may not get the life you may expect, BUT, at a quarter or a tenth of the expense of the Sony OEM battery ..... you are still way ahead!! Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

Hi Ozzy, Just make sure that if you use footage (video or narration) that you ask the author for permission. In most cases they won't mind, but, you will need to acknowledge their input and give them credit. Most of us have used that old training video. Can you imagine how much work was put into it back then (without all our new cameras and editing software)? Keep up the good work! Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

I agree. You should be able to get your A lic via S/L for $1100 to 1250. Its definitely less expensive that most than AFF. My 0.02 worth is you get a whole lot more instruction and skills taught to you, BUT, this is all dependant on the DZ. I am not knocking AFF and am sure that there are some truly great caring AFF instructors, but you can't argue that the attention given from jump 12 to 25 (at lease where I jump) is a hugh plus. My 0.02 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

I did the S/L progression when I started, and never regreted it. Here is a little food for thought......... S/L is half the cost and for 25 jumps ....... now here comes the food for thought .... think of all the fun!! Not only fun, but think of your skills in canopy flight and many other areas and skill sets that you can learn in say 25 jumps! Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

As requested. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

Hi, I have done exactly what you want to do. With my FF2 I use a 0.45 without it being in the frame. I want to try a 0.30 next to see if it gets in the frame, but that will have to wait until we thaw in the spring. Email me with your email address and I can send pictures of my setup and if you need it, distance measurements of the mount on my helmet. Jump Safe In 2007!! Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

There are still a few clubs left out there. I belong to one, and there are days where all I do is go up and down with tandems. I don't get paid a cent. I do however really like the other club members and regulars at the DZ. Likewise for some of the regulars who have rateings. The only time that I don't enjoy it, is when we are stretched to thin (ie: teaching the FJC and listening to the radio to run out and talk down students ... or to jump into the plane to film a tandem). I do it for nothing because of the people at the club. Do I get free jumps ...yes, but I will add that since I became a member I have been doing FAR less "me jumping" than before I was a member and still paying for my jumps. Happy New Year ! Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-DCR-PC1000_W0QQitemZ140065804822QQihZ004QQcategoryZ20333QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Ebay item in USA .... thought you or other might be interested. Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

Sweet pics. Thanks for thetips. The reversing carve with the TM sounds like a winner, and it won't take too long. Being above with the ground spinning would be cool . Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

Damm ....Gary beet me to the downsizing chart!! You really need to consult your instructors! There are some who progress somewhat faster than others....BUT... at a conservatively estimated wingloading of 1.25 .......you will most probably get bit! If you manage not to get bit, you will be so engrossed in survival that you will not be able to develop the canopy skills nearly as quickly as someone who is flying a canopy with some measure of self confidence. There are some many important skills that you need to learn and put into you "toolbox" that its important that you take your time and learn the survival skills on an appropriate sized canopy. If you want to there are numerous resources here and else where for canopy skills & drills, or PM me and I'll send you a bunch. ALWAYS go to your DZ instructors for advise .... be wary of advise from others! Slow is fast in this sport .... enjoy it and do it for a Loooooooooong time!! Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

I'll try to hit everyone at once! By the way this was not just my first tandem video, it was the first video ever. Here in point form is what I have taken away so far. 1) There is a way to make "Clickies" 2) Drogues can hurt! hope not to experience that! would make a cool video clip!! 3) Back off some or go to the side shot for deployments. Excellent as I was not thinking about the trapdoor effect! I guess four boots in the head could put a damper on your day! 4) Zoom in a little to take the outside ring out of the frame. I believe it is the ring adaptor (30mm-37mm). When I get a little extra cash I am thinking of buying a liquid lens. I can't figure out what those concentric rings are? I have only put on a clear UV filter to protect the lens. 5) I bought some wings off of the classified here. I will have to practice before using it filming. I will also need to fly on my back with the camera suit. 6) Dick never wears goggles! (on any jump). Like I said, I have much respect for him. He (I believe) was one of the pioneers out of the box and trained in the early days by Bill Morrissey. You can start another thread .... but lets let this finish here. 7) When I can squirrel a little cash away (read: secret fund the wife doesn't know about!). I would like to get a lens (Liquid)I can use for tandems and general RW/FF with a littler wider angle (0.38 or 0.40). I am open to suggestions!! BUT I do not want to get the "fisheye" type. I keep thinking that I would like to carve a 360 around the tandem to get a kind of panorama shot. Why don't we open it up a little .... please share your coolest tips or technique that really looks great on video! This could be in air or ground video ...some little trick that you do or say to the TP who has just landed. Thanks for all your input! Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

Hey Kyle, Welcome to our/my world! There are many of us doing the same dance all over the country. The more of us that speak up, the safer our friends and fellow skydivers are. I guess I am relatively low time compared to many individuals here. I am still learning, but..... I have an open mind to input. I don't always like what I here, but I listen and try to apply the constructive input I receive. Thats the crutial point ....how can we open the up the person so he sees its is for him and not against him. Just keep it up in a friendly non-aggressive friendly posture. There comes a point in time where DZO's and ST&As need to find some backbone. I don't necessary agree with the "say your piece and dust off your hands" approach. I think of it like this, Some heads are like our muscles, and some individuals are a little quicker to pick up on the muscle memory. How may times do we need to repeat certain physical motions before they start to feel and become more natural?? Keep it up and welcome to the club. It was not easy but this this past season my partners and I instituted a ling loading policy at our DZ. The exact same chart that has been recommended to the USPA . I can send it to you (PM me) our it can be found some where around here. There were a few people caught by the implementation and not happy about it .... but life goes on. Incidentally. There were a few more about to be caught by the new polocy (read; about to buy new gear). We did not lose any jumpers because of this, just a few a little pissed, but they changed canopies and are having fun again. There is much controversy about regulation and you can read many threads about, "its my right to decide and thats the bottom line". You know that I agree with them. Its my right to decide whats acceptable at the DZ. Bottom line, I'll do what I have to to protect the DZ, AND thoes who are unwilling or unable to do so for themselves. I guess thats why I am the "DZ BITCH". and I am good at it! Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

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First off lets get the important stuff taken care of .... Beer has been paid! I love my new FF2 and find myself (again) back in a student roll as far as video goes. Below is a link to video I shot prior to mounting the ring sight. I used a tiny piece of electrical tape on my goggles to keep the frame (sort of). The AC was a C-206 and I had practiced all of one type of hanging exit the jump prior to this one (hanging way out on the strut with a toe on the step). The FF2 was loaded with a PC1000 and a 0.45 Keno lens (next time I’ll add a touch of zoom to get the video without the black boarder due to the 30 mm to 37mm adaptor ring in think). This Tandem is special in itself as the TP was a paraplegic who had come to the DZ a few times, and am sure she will be back. The TM did an awesome job, and for whom I have a HUGH amount of respect. I am a TM (newish) and would have loved to do it , but, I would not be in my personal comfort zone at this point in time. I welcome all your input both positive and negative!, and would appreciate tips and tricks both in-air and exits used out of Cessna’s. As I am not up of "clicky" stuff, below is the link to the video at skydiving movies.com http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=5120 Thanks. Kent PS: have fun with the poll .... I think Norm is safe for now! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

I just went back and actually LOOKED at the program and there is a space for custom resizing. So I went 400x300 and they are on average in the low 40kb range! Impatience is an awful thing!! Thanks. Kent ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!