freelyflyn71

I know a few are coming from The Farm...Charlie will be there for sure...I haven't seen a slippery, new ZP defeat him yet! That's why I'm already spoiled on my F111 Raven IV! It practically jumps in the bag by itself! I've got a rude awakening when I buy my first brand new ZP! The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

Thank you all for your advice! I will take heed and work hard on my RW skills...although, I have been tempted to start doing some freeflying, you know, to hang with the "crowd"...but I've got a good buddy of mine that I've been jumping with, and he's a real floater! When the good coaches are busy, we make fun jumps trying to dock with each other...it's taught me LOTS about fall rate control...and it's fun!!

Are there any special skills or drills that I need to work on when I do my coaching jumps if one of my top goals is to video tandems and AFF's in the future? If there are, what are they? I'd like to integrate them as early as possible into my coach jumps...maybe that would help me fly a camera when I am ready to strap one on? Thoughts?...advice?

Agreed, says the 33 jump wonder. The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

Yes, I have sat and read fatality reports...and to my limited knowledge, there are no fatalities resulting in an AFF Instructor intentionally making a student unstable, and that said student plummeting to his/her demise. And as for anyone packing an intentional malfunction into your rig...NOW you're being dramatic...and I don't think at 4 jumps you have to worry about your instructor throwing you around the sky just yet. If you have fear of being unstable without warning...well it's gonna happen. And my first time was when I docked too hard with my instructor while working on forward movement...I folded right underneath him and began spinning on my back. I fixed it with a good hard arch, but it was a great learning experience! You have every right to not want any surprises during your training, such as the instability issue, but really...slamming instructors you don't know ain't the way to go. Seems like you just need to mellow out a bit. The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

I think you're being a bit dramatic. You ever heard of being "fruitlooped"? Usually happens on your AFF grad jump. Unplanned instability should be a part of AFF training, in my opinion. The instructors are trained to handle out of control students. Perhaps a little trust in AFF I's is in order. They go through VERY stringent training to attain that rating. I don't think it's cool to bust on a guy that you don't know, or have never jumped with, either. The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

Bob, if anyone gives you any more crap, I can sic my German Shepard on 'em for you...he can at least go over and shake on them after a dip in the pond! Edited to read: Or walk across their pack jobs! The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

Hope there's no license requirement for hopping out of da helicopter and balloon!!

Count us in too! 1st tailgate jump...woohooo!!! Eric & Melissa ----------------------------------------------------------- bdbrown BigM blueskyserenity ccowden Chaoskitty CrazyRick CSpenceFly and Mrs. RoamingDZ (aka, Julie) Darkwing FlyDoc freefalle Gia Goofyjumper jelloJ Jessie07 Jumpchikk jumpoutnow katiebear21 Keith Kramer Lauraliscious Lisamarie McDuck & BoomBoom mcneill79 Micduran Missg8tordivr MOUTH Namgrunt Nanner Popsjumper and BF's Psycho Bob & Patty RastaRicanAir revillusion selbbub78 skinnyshrek skymonkeyone Superman32 The_Don & Jeannier Wingnut vdschoor XenaSwampJumper Yardhippie & Hottieliscious freelyflyn71 whodamiss The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

We did 2 loads today w/the Caravan...I was on the 1st load...it was chilly as hell, but was tolerable! The only thing that sucked was my landing...if that's what you wanna call me goin' ass over tea-kettle! I'll see you all tomorrow! Eric The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

I don't know which calling you missed...singer or comedian...you're pretty good at both! The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

Leave it to the Brits to drink room temp beer...on the other hand, who's responsible for tomato juice and beer...yuck... The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

I'll do that...by the way...I'm pondering the fate of your Modelo Especial...wonder if it survived the weekend.... The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

Windline...I knew it!! Hans said you only use Merlin Suits...I knew I was right! See...Hans is mortal after all!!! Is there someplace close that would alter it for me? I can afford it now since I just sold some stuff on eBay! And I wanna keep the booties...if I can't fly cool, I at least wanna LOOK cool!! The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

Got it...I'll bring a few cases of Natty Light fer ya... The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

Forget the t-shirt then, and get back here and jump with me...I wanna see if you can dodge a 280lb student skydiver trying to power-dock at a 140mph terminal velocity...we'll get along great...just make sure your cat-like reflexes are up to par! The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

Lee, if you have room in your luggage, bring me back a cheesy-ass t-shirt souvenir. Something like "I love England" or "I'm a Yank Tourist"...surprise me! I'll pay ya back for it...Size for me is XXL, cause I'm fat like you... The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

You too? The wagons are circlin'! Maybe Hans will donate the Manta 260 to me after it loses all its porosity, then I could still have better landings than my trusty Raven! The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

Hey! What about me?? I should have dibs on next rotation! I know...it's 'cause I don't play with my risers enough, isn't it? sniffle,sniffle...and it's my big canopy that scares children and small animals... The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

He would float quite nicely, and I doubt the sharks would bother him. And when I whine about my Raven, and my monetary situation, I can always count on Lee for a sympathetic ear! The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

Naw, you need to drag your ass back across the pond and make some jumps with me! I want your job, so you gotta teach me how to do that shit you do...I wanna jump AND get paid for it, like every other slacker like me! And then I'll be able to afford a main that won't break my fool neck! And...I know, you told me so... After a few minor abrasions and face slides, That Raven will warm right up to me! The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

Lee, this is bad news, but I have to devulge..."they" are planning to drink the Modelo beer I bought you Friday night...I suspect out of retribution, since you weren't there to help with the gaggle of tandems they were swamped with Saturday! Don't ask me who the culprit is, 'cause this thing goes all the way to the top! The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

Oh my God! You guys are killin' me! Lisa, Shrek, I swear...you two are somethin'... See ya 2mrw Lee...bring yer beer gut, I'm bringing your favorite brew! The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

I gotcher wussy, fat man! I'll have yer ass next time I belly up to the poker table! The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.

Count me in!! I'm off the leash per Mike G, and ready to jumpjumpjump!! The wife and I will certainly bring a tasty dish, and it'll be wonderful! (if I let her do the cooking) Maybe with a little luck I'll win a free jump from the raffle since I suck at poker!! The Braver the Bird...The Fatter the Cat.