L.O.

Couch was awesome. The meet went great. The drinks were great. The people were great. The weather was great (sometimes). I was hoping you would just show up on a wim. I ran into several other friends who did just that. I had one of the best weekend boogies of my skydiving career. You should make plans for next year. I promise to show you a good time then. See Ya. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

This post appears to have been very timely. Read about two out at Couch Freaks boggie. Of Five two canopies out, one landed SBS, one cut-away before reserve inflation, one cut-away after reseve inflation and the other two are in for a long hospital stay and an even longer recovery. So take a look at your odds. Three people chose to try and land the SBS, Two will regret that move possibly for the rest of there life. If you have no choice but to land it, then land it but if you can get rid of the main do it. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

Thanks Orlando, Looked like you had a good time at CF. I think that was the most fun I've had at a boogie in a long time. Couch was great this year. My team (I am a player/coach for the Wissota Shockers) had it's best meet by far. I got to organize some nice 7-8-ways. It all went just right. I hope to see you at the convention next year, make sure you bring the boys. I can't wait to see how far they come along in a years time. I will be at CF next year for sure. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

It is the Mafia, Those guys are the government, I think. I didn't mean to put it here, but it's done now. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

I am just looking for the guys I jumped with all week at the WFFC. I told them my E-mail and Bio was on the WFFC homepage. I have update my bio but it hasn't made it to the homepage yet so I just wanted to say Hi and let them know what a great time I had with them at the convention this year. If you know them let then know about this post, I would love to hear from them. If you are one of them here I am. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

I have about 50 naked jumps. I have done about 20 at the WFFC. I remember one year at Qiuncy, we did manage to fill an entire otter. we had 22. Between 3 LOs we split it up. I think I had 7, only one female in my group. Naked ways are a challenge. Unless you have the right bodies its very hard to get the thing together. Two jumps stand out for me. On one a buddy and I were on the way up for the last load of the day. We stripped in the plane and when the door opened (182) it was like the inside of clothes drier. His pants went out the door. We both jumped anyway. He was jumping borrowed gear. He had a mal and landed off. The other was a two plane shot. me and another guy were base pinners with no grips on us so we got naked on the way up and swooped the lead plane naked, Surprise. Naked jumps are fun I did one last week with two girls and another guy. All were on there first naked jump. Very fun. We are all family, and though I don't get naked in front of the family very often, I am not held back by their presence either. Give it a try, its fun and every one is the stuff that makes a good memory. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

The only real inputs needed in a DP are for heading changes or if you want it back in the SBS. Other then that, your ground bound for the rest of your life. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

Does anyone here have a lot of CRW time ? I have a bunch of serious CRW and if I had two out in a side by side I am sure I would be fine. If you don't though I would do anything I could to get rid of the main. A SBS with two med performance or worse yet two high performance canopies could develop into a DP simply from harness input. So as you crane you body around to look to your side and your canopies go DP welcome to your funeral. I have seen side bys flows to the ground. I have seen people die because they tried to make a little toggle input at 100ft to avoid a tree. and that was with a Manta and a Raven. I would not try to inniciate a DP if you don't know how but get them clear and cut away. If you can't get them clear and you have to land them make your body silent fly were the s#$t takes you don't do anything to agitate them. And promise god you will start your CRW training as soon as you land safely. Now its time for the CRW soap box. Doing CRW makes you a better safer skydiver. You learn things about you conopy and yourself that you never dreamed. It is so fun and so crazy. I did some sub 100Sq (89-96) this weekend now thats scary. Doing CRW at 2000fpm decent rate and 60mph ground speed wow. everyone should do it the Fatality numbers would go down a lot. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

Alright shes not my GF either. I just wish. sorry again. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

I'll be there in the very A.M. Friday. I'm driving down with Lynn and her BF Dejan. Haven't been since Lady Di died in..., what ever year that was. Look me up We can make some jumps together. Alright I was just trying to poke fun at Lynn Dejan is not her BF. I am. I think I pissed her off and now she might not be my GF anymore. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

I have two kids. I had no fear in my life before they came along. There is no history of genetic defects, of any sort, on either side of the family. But I was so afraid. The risk is always there, no matter what you do. If you know that cancer, heart disease or other disorders are likely, you had better do something. To bring a life into this world without doing everything in your power to make sure the child is healthy is irresponsible and you don't deserve to be a parent. The medical technology of the late 20th and now 21 centuries has eliminated Natural selection to one degree or another (in this country anyway). 50 years ago if you had cancer you died if you had diabetes you died if you had any number of genetic defects or diseases that are no big deal today you died. Now you live, procreate and pass the defect on to you kid and there kids and so on. the modern American doesn't take into account the mass of defects found in there ancestry. It is nice to see people thinking a little about the future of there child and the effect of there parental genetics on them. It all comes down to the risk involved. if it's a sure thing or even a very good chance, then it would seem to be foolish to have kids (adopting is always an option). This all comes from someone with almost no risk factor. so take it with a grain of salt. If I was in a different situation I might be singing a different tune. Kids are awesome. Good luck. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

Couch Freaks boogie in Iowa. NSL comp. then it's party time. The Couch boogie is like no other. It has a different feel to it. It's like your coming home. Everyone is nice and it just feels like they all want to be there. Good times, Larry and the AZ planes, lots of drink at night. What more could you ask for. I would love to take the time and show you around. I would also enjoy making a few skydives with you if you came. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

Anyone who knows or has even met Cathy and the kids, knows that this new place is going to be a blast. I don't make it down south very often but when I do I plan on a visit and at least a few jumps. If your in the Georgia area you need to make it out and make some jumps at Cathys new place. have fun and let everyone here on DZ.com know how great it was. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

I have talked with PD. Reps have told me that it is a future step in the construction of upcoming models. They also said they are still trying to figure it out (actual implementation,openings, Ect Ect). I would not try it unless your willing to except the consequences The performance gain on a new HP canopy is a noticeable amount only if your using the canopy very well ( thats what I was told by the PD guy). I think your better off letting someone else do the testing. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

First jump (static line) first 727 jump (I had 62 jumps) first CRW (wow) fist sub 200sqft jump (Jonathon 136) first big air-plane (Queen-Air) first time Mal (terminal video round) first naked jump(Helo Stallion) first DC-9 jump (cool) first sub 100sqft jump(96 Velocity) Nationals round 10 2002 (just clicked) 8-way with 7 airspeed and me (13 or 14 in time) first cross country of more then 10miles (scary) first High alt (23000) first Helo at Quincy (wicked 412) first 50-way that turned more then 3 points First night CRW (two stack SbS DP) first night sub 100 (89) First super small canopy (63) 212 exit when they asked me to be S&TA (God help them) I'll just stop because I could find at least 3 or 400 more. My skydiving career has been very good. I hope everyone has this many memories after 15 yrs. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

Quincy, back in the early 90s. I wasn't involved but I watched. People were BASE jumping off the top of a pick-up camper. They were doing a hard arch throwing the pilot chute, the whole nine yards. They fell into a gruop of skydivers who were clasping hands and they absorbed the impact. This worked great until one time the base jumper didn't get a good launch. He landed short and just two guys had to take the force of impact. The two guys were drawn together so hard that it cracked skulls, one was rendered unconscious immediately. It was neat to watch though. Head down from 1600 is fun 9 points from 3100 on a 3 way (full rotational moves, not just grip switch'n). With the famous Jim Klinge pulled the 182 out and did some fly-bys (so close that people were diving into the snow(and they were standing next to a building)) And I am the S&TA. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

You know your a skydiver, not when or because of anything you think or feel. You know your a skydiver when your kids (4 and 6) are more knowledgeable then an average 20 jump wonder or pilot just starting to fly jumpers. We went out on the lake by the house a couple weeks ago. I was missing a few hours of jumping but I do that for the kids. The DZ is on the same lake about a mile from shore. One of our airplanes had a prop gov. that was a little out of adjustment so it was a bit loud. The plane took off and passed over the east side of the lake and my 6 year old little girl says "76X-ray is one noisy airplane the neighbors are going to call if we fly it to much". I just about cried, I was at the DZ this week and couldn't remember which aircraft I'd seen take off on the last load I yelled out which planes flying? The same kid say the yellow one Dad 69er 1. I am a skydiver but I only know it, because my kids tell me so. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

I was scared, "7". I went because a friend of mine wanted to, I had never really thought about it that much. Once I did it I never looked back. I make 400 jumps a year and cant get enough. This is my life now, skydiving is so cool and it gets better with every jump. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

Making your first jump, will be an experience you will never forget. You may or may-not make many more but that jump will always be with you as one of the water-shed moments in your life. There is nothing like it and tandems are so safe it's crazy. Go make that jump and please get back to us and tell us all about it. have fun and Happy Anniversary HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

Hi Gary. I brake a line on my 89 before I re-line it every time. I have always noticed it, but never had to cut away. I have always broken a center A, so no biggs. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

I for one will be jumping the jet as much as I can. I have gotten at least 10 people who wouldn't have been going otherwise. The WFFC is going to be very busy with people from my DZ, because of the Jet. If an extra 10 show from my little Cessna DZ then I would expect at least a good sized chunck from other DZs around the US and around the world. The WFFC is going to rock this year. I hope this gets things going in the right direction for the convention at Rantoul. My 10-way speed star team won the comp for the last 3 or 4 years in Quincy and the Jacket is getting old I need a new one. If anyone wants to compete against us, just come down (or up) to Rantoul get 9 others and show us what you've got. I cant wait this is going to be a rebirth. the convention is going to be a blast. I think that Don has taken the initiative and is going to pull out all the stops to make the Convention a real fun place to be. He has lowered reg. and got us a jet (Paris got the jet but he helped it get going). Even if you don't make a lot of skydives at the convention you should make it down for this one and then maybe hang out for the after party. I will be there and I hope you will to. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

I would love to help out, but to suggest anything other then the conservative approach would be foolish. Talk to a knowledegable person who has seen a large enough number of your landings and get that persons take on your skills and weather they feel it would be safe. 30 288 400 220 500 120 1200 105 1500 89 the rest from 63 to 500 HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

Jeff has it figured out. Do what's fun, I just went over 15 years, in May. I have done just about everything over the years. I am a Com pilot a rigger a CRW dog a swooper a videographer and most of all a 4-way guy. Its all about what you find most enjoyable. Look around see what interests you and do it. Thats what makes skydiving so much fun, the unlimited possibilities. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

Sorry again, I did phrase that poorly. I know the exceptions, I was just talking about 182s since that was the topic here. I did make my post way to broad. Thanks for the clarification. I said law not FAR and I did say most not all. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.

Mark!! I didn't realize who I was talking to. Danm, sorry about that. I bow down before your rigging knowledge (you are the man), but I just had to make sure the other stuff was corrected. It is a saftey issue and I knew I was correct. I hope I didn't stomp to hard. HPDBs, I hate those guys. AFB, charter member.