Cloudi

3-ring implants directly into my skin with a kangaroo pouch on my back for the canopies. Maybe if skydivers keep breeding this will be the result of evolution?

...and David, whoever you are. Send Jeff his canopy back. Stealing is wrong. If he wants his canopy back and you haven't sent it, that is stealing, my friend, no matter what you gave for collateral. Stealing from your own "brother." You should be ashamed of yourself (or have one hell of an explanation). Jeff, what is the canopy/size/colors? It may help if people know what to be looking for in case David has "relocated" or used the name on the rig that may actually have been stolen also. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

Ya think? No point in checking with the boss if the Mod's won't let me do it in the first place, though.

Hmmm...can I post the names of people who won't return demo's? I'm not allowed to post stolen gear in the mags, because I know who has them and the police say I can't file a report because I willingly sent it to them. There aren't many (faith in humanity restored), but with the few there are...it sure would be nice to ask for help from fellow skydivers. Mods, whatcha think? Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

Here's another really informative article on turbulence: http://www.performancedesigns.com/docs/Turbulence-Hazard.pdf As you gain more experience, you will learn that there are several situations where staying on the ground is the best choice, even when you really want to jump. If you do find yourself in the air when you should have stayed on the ground, having the tools to deal with the situation could save your life, so keep asking questions.

Ask a guy for help. Watch how he does it. Repeat 100 times. Just kidding. You don't have to do anything for it to open slow, it's a Spectre. Just take your time, keep control of the pack job the best that you can, make sure the slider is all the way up and stays there, and don't give up! PD will send you a free packing DVD if you ask. Shoot an email to [email protected]. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

PD will be happy to reline your Katana with HMA. Just keep in mind that the "discount" Vectracide is talking about is on a case-by-case basis. Most Katana's out there are still doing just fine with Microline and will go to HMA only once it's time for a reline. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

http://www.tso-d.com/html/home.htm The Skydiving Outlet-DeLand is a gear dealer here in DeLand. Marcelo is great and he will get you what you need. http://www.skydivedeland.com/ Website doesn't seem to be cooperating at the moment... Skydive DeLand also has a gear store and Pine can help you find what you need. Grab his butt for a great deal (just kidding!). He's very professional and will be very helpful. As for jumping with or without one, that's a personal decision that you have to make. Prepare yourself for "safety device dependant" lectures from here on out... Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

Absolutely. No one is giving up here and the plan is to roll with it and make the best of it. The city has a few more hurdles to cross before they get that money, so it's not over until it's over. Even if/when they get the approval and funding to build a tower, we aren't done here, not by a long shot. We will continue to be the professionals we have been and we'll do whatever we can to change the image of skydivers as dangerous "daredevils" with no regard for the safety of others or ourselves. People who don't jump (even in this community so driven by the industry) have such a strange perception of what we do and why we do it. We will continue to strive to change that perception. A tower, although strongly opposed by more than just the skydiving community, doesn't have to mean the death of DeLand as we know it. We will do our part to make it work and even though there isn't much hope the city will stand up for us, we will remain positive and professional until the bitter end. DeLand has been a place for innovation many times throughout the years. We plan to make running a successful DZ on a controlled airport another notch in our belt of accomplishments and be an example for other DZ's and skydiving communities if this becomes a trend. [Paraphrasing something Mike Johnston, Skydive DeLand's DZM, said today that I totally agree with.] Please don't take our disgust or disappointment for giving up or to mean we will be difficult every step of the way. It simply isn't the case. We will do everything in our power to make it work. We're skydivers, for crying out loud! Skydivers don't give up without a fight! Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

Yup.

Sorry, I couldn't resist. Someone on here may know. Are you having problems with the openings? Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

Hey Nick. I'll check on that for you when I'm at work. You know, that whole annoying, "ask the manufacturer" thingy... Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

Glad I left early (11:00 PM). It was pretty obvious that's where it was going... All of the speakers did a great job, too bad the commissioners weren't listening. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

I assume you were kidding/trolling...about all of it. The DZO may (or may not) have the best advice. It depends on if he/she was one of the instructors or at least watches jumpers closely to see where they're at in skill level and awareness. I would hope that most DZO's who weren't involved in the person's training would at least confer with the instructors before giving that sort of advice. I would still recommend going with instructor advice and doing a lot of research on your own, with a large dose of common sense, to make the right choice. Leave the testosterone, "I can handle it," and "I'll grow into it" out of the thought process. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

Thanks for elaborating. I guessed that's what you meant, just wanted to be sure. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

Who's arguing? I'm only explaining my take on what a tower could mean. I live here. I jump here. I work here. My job could be gone (or I could be forced to leave my friends/skydiving family if we have to relocate) if my employer can't do what needs to be done. It's not about drop testing. That's done at another airport anyway. It's about R&D and test jumping customers' canopies when necessary. Something that could take as little as a week or two (with cooperative weather, of course) could take much, much longer if our test jumpers can't get in the air more than a few times a day because the tower over-restricts traffic. It's not all about fun-jumpers. It's too hot to be in a hurry anyway. Teams wouldn't be able to make as many practice jumps as they need to make their time here beneficial. They will go elsewhere. The DZ would lose a vital amount of income. That would have a huge rippling effect on the community. Edited to add: Without the support of teams and manufacturers, that leaves local jumpers, AFF, & tandems. Jump prices will go up all around to maintain such a large operation. Loyalty goes a long way, but how long do you think the support of local fun-jumpers can sustain a large DZ like this? How many do you think will make the drive to other DZ's with more competitive jump prices? Once the fun jumpers are gone, how do you think the AFF operation will fair? Do you think tandems will sustain operations? Maybe if they charge $300 per jump (yes, I pulled that dollar amount from my ass)? How will that go over in a financial climate like we currently have? Yep, let's build a tower. It will be a big boost. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

I'm sorry you don't like the word "dude." The reason I think this is because the airport is surrounded by them. The jump pilots are pretty much forced to fly close to the airport to avoid them and other local air traffic patterns. I have a suspicion that the ATC won't be having that even though it's done in a very safe fashion. Again, just my opinion. I could very likely be way off on this. You are quite obviously much more experienced than I am with skydiving operations. If you are trying to get at something (like I'm talking out of my ass), that's cool. I respect that. I probably am. Maybe you can explain why a tower won't be a detriment to a busy DZ? I have an open mind. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

Actually, I said, "...jump pilots, and other pilots do a fantastic job of coordinating take-offs, landings, and altitude climbs..." I also said, "Just my opinion and take on it. Those with extensive aviation experience will be better qualified to explain it. I'm just one of the meat bombs they let out of the plane, after all." I don't claim to have all the answers. I don't work at the airport, I work for a manufacturer. I assume so from the news article in the original post. How the heck should I know? Knowing Bob H., I'm sure they have. He is very concerned with safety, so I'm quite sure that extends to all airport operations, not just his own. I'm not trying to say I know the inner details of exactly why this is happening, just what I see as a resident and jumper. Sorry if I came across that way. I'm sure the city is looking for a way to prevent incidents and has good intentions by proposing a tower. I just don't think they've thought it all the way through. Let's experiment with it at your DZ first and see how it goes. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

I don't think that it's impossible for the two to co-exist in a situation that does not include a high volume DZ like Skydive DeLand is. Right now, during the summer season with one plane going, a tower would probably be no big deal. The teams aren't here training and it's pretty much just us fun-jumpers, AFF, & tandems. During peak season, it would be a different story. We often have 2-3 planes going most of the day. I can envision that being a thing of the past with a tower. Manifest, jump pilots, and other pilots do a fantastic job of coordinating take-offs, landings, and altitude climbs without some dude off in his tower telling them when they can take off, when they can land, and where they can fly. Not to mention a tower will likely have the planes flying over areas where there are noise ordinances already restricting plane noise. That will piss off the homeowners and then we'll really have problems. Basically (from my very limited understanding), the city is trying to perform open heart surgery on a hang-nail. It's overkill for a "perceived" problem. I'm sure someone like Bill Coe, Bob Hallett, Bill Booth, etc. could do a much better job of explaining why this could be the end of a successful DZ operation (as it has evolved) and take it to a pitiful version of itself much better than I could. I think the complaints from the flight school that share the runways may contain some valid concern, but is likely being overblown because DeLand Municipal Airport just isn't the tiny, empty airfield that they would prefer. If it were really the problem they profess it to be, don't you think we would have seen the news crews there for plane to plane collisions? Just my opinion and take on it. Those with extensive aviation experience will be better qualified to explain it. I'm just one of the meat bombs they let out of the plane, after all. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

What was so aggressive about mjosparky's post? Maybe you're being a little sensitive? You have 15 jumps. Maybe you're different than the rest of us, but I know I didn't know shit at 15 jumps (still don't!). I asked my instructors for advice. Period. I trusted whatever they had to say. They haven't steered me wrong yet.

There will be a city commission meeting on this subject Monday, June 5th at 7:00 pm at DeLand City Hall (121 W. Rich Ave., DeLand). We encourage all those in the area who are against this to be present. Bring friends. The more people who show up to represent Skydive DeLand and the manufacturers who depend on this dropzone, the better. Many people's livelihoods depend on preventing a tower from being constructed at this dropzone/airfield. We're all about safety, too. The tower just isn't the way to go about it--it doesn't guarantee safety, it only promises to bring operations to a crawl. The city simply isn't thinking ahead and needs to understand how badly this could affect Skydive DeLand and the city of DeLand. There will be speakers representing us, who will explain why the tower could be the end to income to the city and its residents. Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

Huge props to: RWS - they adjusted my harness for me because it just never fit right from day one, even after I gained weight, and even after quite some time went by. (Never got around to "officially" thanking you guys! Thanks Rosi, Mark, Louie, Pablo, & Mike. Your chocolate is in the mail. ) Thanks Louie for the save! Aero Tech - Terry and company fixed me up on many occasions, from my FF pants to various BirdMan adjustments. I worship the ground these people walk on to this day! Alti2 - They were very accommodating in helping me pick a sweet Alti. The "receptionist" is pretty nice, too. Hee, hee! Sorry Lara, couldn't resist! Skydive DeLand - made me feel like family from day one (as a tandem), they are soooo professional, and I am proud to call it home! I learn something new every day from these people! I've even learned how to catch an alligator (should I ever find myself in such a need) thanks to Rusty! PD - can't say enough - from LBPD (life before PD) and LWFPD (life working for PD). What a kick-ass group of people who truly care about skydivers! Bad: PD - The demo coordinator at PD is mean. She won't let me have a Katana! And I heard she writes really long posts! Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

How lovely that you know what one looks like! Kim Watch as I attempt, with no slight of hand, to apply logic and reason.

http://www.performancedesigns.com/demos.asp

Whoa, man, breathe! Ha, ha! The demos won't be ready for at least a couple of weeks yet.