Meux

This is my favorite HEAD story. Many, many years ago, in a land far away. I met a flight attendant on the contract airline that took me to my first overseas assignment (Germany). We developed into a flaming red hot relationship pretty quickly. One beautiful morning we crawled out of bed to take a walk. The path from the hotel went through a forest that seemed to go on forever. Eventually it turned and paralleled the autobahn. On our right was a deep forest, on our left was the autobahn that was elevated about 10 feet or so. There was a guardrail there, we could hear the cars, but not see them. As we walked my wonderful girlfriend took a couple quick steps got in front of me, put her hand on my chest to stop me. She slid her hand down and pulled my gym shorts down and promptly started a wonderful blow job. I stood there enjoying it immensely. After a time I became very excited and sensed that something was about to erupt, so I was kinda wiggling around a little. Just as I exploded, a tour bus went by, all the people were looking, I just waved. I guess ya had to be there. One of my favorites. Sorry no pictures Cheers, MH

I don't know any of your details, but having gone through a pretty rough divorce recently Id' recommend a book called "Safe People". There is somebody for everybody, just be patient. Good Luck, be safe in the air and on the ground. Cheers, MH

Did I miss it, No Beavers? My list C182 C206 Caravan/Grand Caravan King Air SkyVan Casa Otter Porter Beaver Great idea, it's fun to look at all these lists

This is just cruel. Excuse me, I'm in the shower for a few minutes.

Wasn't there another "Dave" show about a stunt man called Super Dave? That guy was funny. MH

I'd like to get on the list for 2. I didn't know GFD, but really enjoyed her on this forum. Thanks, MH

I wasted my youth about three blocks from a pretty active DZ and spent a lot of time watching the parachutes come down. In the beginning I was a distant whuffo. Part of a different story, but I started taking flying lessons which got me closer to the operation. It just looked like so darn much fun. A couple days before Christmas my step dad gave me 50$ for my Christmas present. That was how much the first jump course cost at that time (1975). I zoomed down to the airport signed up for the course and by the end of the day had made my first static line jump. Then reality hit me. I could continue with flying lessons or learn to skydive. I didn't know anyone making a living jumping from planes, but I thought I had a chance to get by as a pilot, so I focused my time and money on flying lessons. I did make a total of 8 static line jumps spread out over a couple years and two assignments in the Air Force. My last static line jump was probably about 1977 or so. Fast forward to 2004, been flying professionally for about 25 years, approaching my 50th birthday, I go back to that same DZ thinking that I'll just do the AFF program, maybe a total of 10 jumps. Just to fill that square and get that bug dealt with. Now I've got just over 100 jumps and find that the more I jump, the more I like it. To answer the original question, I started jumping out of curiosity. I keep jumping out of curiosity. In the beginning it was, "can I do it". Now it is, "can I do it better?" Its been fun reading other peoples stories. Thanks for asking. MH

Try Sky Dive Twin Cities, which is just off the interstate near Baldwin, WI. Good fun DZ, Cheers, MH

I've heard people called Douche Nozzles and someone once said, "Lick me where I shit and call it a candy bar", MH

I ordered a swoop suit at the end of March. They told me then to expect 6-8 weeks. I called them last week and they said expect the end of May. That is right at the 8 week point. So far, no worries. Good Luck Mo

Hey Zeppo, Here's what I did last year. Having only 45 jumps or so I was a little nervous about being in the air at an event of that size, but I didn't want to miss it. I contacted the staff and volunteered to help out in what ever way they needed. There are so many ways you can participate without jumping. I showed up a day before the event kicked off and had the chance to help in the final set up. In the course of a couple days I was moved into several gaps, they put me where ever they needed me at that moment. It was a blast. I didn't make a single jump, but met several people, camped out on the field and reached a point where this year, with a few more jumps, I feel comfortable going back as a jumper. It's an option. Worst case scenario, you'll be in attendance at one of the coolest skydiving events of the year and you'll make a couple new friends. Cheers, Mo

Awesome story! find me ROTFL. Thanks,

I've thought alot about what I said earlier and I feel like I came out the door sideways. Trying to sort of summarize some of the most important lessons I've learned along the way actually apply to any endeavor. For example, Dirty Harry said, "A man's gotta know his limitations" (or something like that). That applies in jets, under parachutes, or at the bowling alley. Another lesson I've learned is that it is way better to be on the ground wishing I was in the air, than to be in the air wishing I was on the ground. So I need to apologize for sounding pompous and making grievous spelling errors. There are some other things I've learned along the way too. Stuff like I am very afraid of pain. I don't like it, I don't even want to sprain my ankle, much less get titanium installed somewhere. What that means is that I tend to be cautious and not push to 100% of my limits. I try to pay attention to the conditions. Perhaps I've said enough here. I'll retire from this conversation with humble apologies for sounding stupid. Fly safe, have fun, and I look forward to jumping with you guys. MH

I suppose that is why one of the first things I did off of AFF was to take a canopy course and have an expert teach me how to fly a 230. From there I did the same stuff on a 210. From there I did the same stuff on a 190. Right now I'm very comfortable on a 190 and probably won't go any lower. I made one jump on a 170, liked it and went back to a 190. This is good for me. Part of my flying years (15) was spent sitting on various ejection seats or wearing a parachute to the plane. Every year I went through all kinds of military training on parachuting. Water drills, emergencies under canopy, etc. All just in case I pulled the handles one time. During those years my jump numbers were zero, but I was getting training and thinking about steering with risers etc. Granted, it was all theory and no practical, again, somehow I think there has to be some benefit to training like that. I think that BillVon's list of drills is the best, flat turns, flare turns, 10 meter circle etc. Cheers, MH

I'm very sorry to hear about your friend killed on landing. One of the most impressive points made during the canopy course I took regarded that very thing. When I jump I try to visulize where the turbulence will be based on wind speed and direction. Not a cure all, for sure. Allowing a couple hundred feet from obstacles is a nice little margin. I've had two landings where I wished I'd had a couple more square feet overhead. That is part of the reason I watched last weekend instead of jumping. I thought, "just a little too sporty for me today" One lesson from flying airplanes is that a bunch of pilots who were better than me in every regard somehow put themselves in a nonrecoverable situation. When I read about skydivers with hundreds or thousands of jumps more than me hurting themselves I know the same thing can happen at the dz. I really do want to die quietly at home in bed, in about 40 years. Not screaming in agony or fear at the dz. All the best, MH

I'm over. I went through a canopy course and did a methodical step down program. I fly my parachute the same way I fly my 757 loaded with 224 passengers, very carefully. My jump numbers are low, but somehow I think that 10,000+ hours of flying a number of sophisicated jets translates into some kind of awareness of handling qualities. Exit weight of 215 on a Spectre 190 with 92 jumps. Hopefully thats not too extreme. It is over though. Every day is a school day. Cheers, MH

Is part of the problem the media? What if this guy went into his bathtub and slit his wrists with a razor blade? Would there be any discussion about how dangerous razors are? If one baby shits, you don't change all the diapers. What I'm saying to the BPA is that there is no limit to the number of regulations and oversight that a person bent on suicide won't overcome. My impression of skydiving in England (everywhere for that matter) is that it is very safe and while accidents do happen, they are individual tragedies that more rules won't stop. I've lost friends to suicide and it is so difficult for me to imagine walking down that path. I would suggest that perhaps the last two suicides were copy cat suicides caused in part by media hype. Stop the media hype, the suicides will still happen, just in another place, not at the dz. God Bless, MH

My all time favorite place was five acres located six miles from town. We were the last place down the end of a mile long dirt road. Rarely saw any traffic. Had beautiful places to walk the dogs, all kinds of wildlife, very quiet. When it was time to get stuff, zoom zoom, in the car and in town. That was before I started skydiving. The only change I'd make to that is to have a dz about 10 minutes away. Cheers, Mo

I made my first jump in Dec 1975. I hope to pass 100 soon. At the rate I'm going I should have my D license by early 2126

My dad worked on the X-15. Scott Crossfield is one of the names from my earliest memories of aviation. What an amazing history. God Bless His Family. MH

The one handed handstand with splits was pretty impressive.

outrageously great weekend. Mucho/8/mucho. I did so many firsts this weekend I can't even count them. I owe a truckload of beer. Finally bought my own rig and got six jumps on it. Love it and can't wait to jump again, this afternoon, tomorrow, the next day....... Yahooey!!

Forgive the spelling, from my time in Germany. Spass ist ein ernsente sache. It means something like, Fun is serious business. Cheers, Mo

BK, To say that you learn how to fly the canopy is kind of an understatement. Riser turns, flat turns, stalls, max performance turns, learning the accuracy trick, returning from a bad spot are sort of the headlines. Most important is learning to land, flare rate and when to start it. Certainly having the classroom time helped, but having each landing videoed really helped. I was amazed at what I was doing, once you see it on video, it's so much easier to clean up. Good to hear that you got some tunnel time too. It's all fun. Keep at it. Cheers, Mo

Congratulations Bill K, If you want to hear it, I'll tell you what I did between AFF and the A license. Made a couple solo fun jumps, just to laugh my ass off and celebrate this new thing. Next, I went to a different DZ and took a canopy course, specifically Deland and Scott Millers course. Highly recommend this, or something like it. Next I made 12 jumps with an instructor, 10 were belly flying, docking, fall rate control, exits, basic RW. The other 2 were attempts at sit flying. Very fun, hope to do more of that someday, after I learn how to belly fly. I also went to the tunnel in Orlando and got 20 minutes of instruction there. Another great way to build confidence. All that will get you to your A. Have fun and keep jumping. Mo