padalcek

skydiving is a pretty small and complex industry. if you don't trust the manufacturer, do tell, who is there that knows more about specific equipment. who is there that is more "qualified" to find out what happened? in a pool of potential customers that is as small as ours manufacturers have a vested interest in making sure that their equipment works. they have nothing to gain by "finding the equipment sound" (as you put it) if it's not. keeping your customers alive is the only way to make sure you sell them more stuff down the road. as far as i've seen identifying the problem and fixing it has always been the practice by anybody involved in production of skydiving equipment. Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

locks were not invented to prevent thieves from stealing. their intent is to keep honest people honest. Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

every pd reserve i've demoed so far looked brand new. and they always seem to have one of them just waitiing for you on the shelf if you stop at their place in deland. Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

car: 145 bike: 120 Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

about 50 feet. Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

since you asked. from what i saw you and a good number of others were all facing south and were on final. camera guy (who either pulled lower than he should, spiraled down to land faster, or both - i wasn't paying attention to that part of his descent) was flying WNW slightly higher but with barely enough altitude to be able to turn back into the wind. when he did his turn (toggle - not flat) it put him right in the middle of all the traffic. there was no way you could have seen him before he collided with you. he was, for the most part of his turn, in your blind spot. his comment when he walked back from the field: "the other guy hit me from the back" who? "i don't know. i didn't see him." even after several of us told him it was his fault he insisted otherwise. oh yeah, if you think this happened at 100' you must have been measuring it with baby feet or something. it is true though that after this incident the big way landings became (almost) boring. Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

you can see three of his suits in this photo the one on the left is a double zipper w/booties design. he said he will never make one like it again - but that was a while ago. another one of his suits good quality, excellent durability. all these suits have lasted 4+ years by now and are still in great shape Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

#786 - also my first save. don't rush pack jobs - even if they're just yours. Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

please remember that only supreme commander is allowed to [attempt to] resemble evel knievel. that would nix #6. as for the rest, i'm sure you're aware of the modern definition of "style and accuracy": style - when your jumpsuit matches your rig, accuracy - when you get on the right plane. Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

most cruise lines pay waiters and busboys around $50/month. bartenders and cabin stewards get a little bit more. head waiters, maitre d' and others get enough. not to mention that they usually take 'tax' from waiters and busboys. next time you're on a cruise pay attention to how many tables your waiter and busboy are taking care of. count the people at those tables and multiply by suggested tip. divide that amount by number of hours they have actually worked during the cruise. still think it's too much for serving you three meals a day (not to mention midnight buffets etc.)? Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

hmm... you don't like your equipment, according to you it's not working properly and you seem to believe it's too dangerous to keep on using it, so what will you do to correct the problem? oh, yeah ... sell it to someone else so it's no longer your problem. good thinking! Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

and from user profile: scary ... yet somehow ... intriguing ... Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

... come on baby, light my fire ... Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

Thank you. It's because of people like you that service industry in this country is (mostly) relegated to people without high school (or any other for that matter) education. On the other hand, if the waiter does not check back with you to make sure you're enjoying your meal, then he/she is not doing his/her job. To receive and appreciate good service it takes two: waiter and customer. Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

1 - '70 VW Golf 1.6 (crashed) 2 - '88 Mustang LX (sold) 3 - '95 Mustang GT (sold) 4 - '85 Dodge van (crashed) 5 - '88 Honda Shadow 800 (sold) 6 - '03 Kawasaki Concours (crashed - now rebuilding) hmm... you think there's a reason why nobody will let me drive their vehicle? Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

i tried and i failed. the lesson is - don't try. Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

there's nothing better than good single barrel bourbon straight up. mmm...bourbon Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

you can always find a decent micro brew (if you're in the right area, that is). i used to love pete's wicked ale until they changed the description from "original american brown ale" to "ruby-brown ale". oh, wait. it wasn't the change in description that turned me off - it was the change in recipe and taste. Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

hence ... would not have ... Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

he's lucky to be alive all right. basically he had a mal which he chose to do nothing about. his reasoning was that he was taught to deploy his reserve by 2000 feet and since he was unable to see his alti he decided that looking at his mal and praying was more viable option. he basically said himself that he did absolutely nothing to try and correct the situation. basically, he froze. (AAD would not have prevented this fatality.) Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.

i've got couple of extra mirrors and a clutch lever you can use (they might not fit though) http://www.theflyinghellfish.com/hfmonth.htm Padalcek - CCO, HF-17 http://www.theflyinghellfish.com I'm not a real skydiver - but I do play one on dz.com.