jdatc

Thanks for your reply. Since I already have the canopy (I bought one from their stock list and it should be here soon), I'm not really looking to buy a similar type of 7 cell canopy to skydive on... This rig would be just for some hop & pops on my Rock Dragon.... I want to get real familiar with the canopy I am going to be using for base jumping.... Yeah, as for the AAD on the rig, well, if I decide to get it, it would come right off... could make a fun science type experiment with it I imagine though... More-so I was just curious what most thought of the rig... Is it worth it to buy just for nothing more than hop & pops on my base canopy... Thanks for your opinion and experiences... 4 rigs, 10 canopies and 3 wingsuits?!!? wow, I thought I collected a lot of sporting equipment.... Thanks again... Off to work I go... decisions, decisions...

Hi all. I have a spot in late may in the apex base course and have ordered some new gear. One of the things I am looking to do is to put some skydives on my BASE canopy. Since my Mirage is too small to fit it, I figured I'd probably just rent a student rig at the dropzone a few times and make some jumps... But then today I saw this on ebay... http://cgi.ebay.com/Complete-Skydiving-Rig-Parachute_W0QQitemZ7222539914QQcategoryZ106980QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem I was wondering if it was worthwhile to buy? I figure for the price it's worth while to keep around... My Base canopy is a rock dragon 266 withVTEC... Thanks all -Justin

Pretty much true. for reference purpose, I have a commercial pilots licesene and some time in a Beech Starship, light twins and 737 sim time from interning at US air... I'd almost say in an instance where the pilot keels over (jump plane style) you would alomost be better dumping him out with his emergency rig (if he has one) and going out on your own then attempting to land the plane. Basic flying knowledge (10 -15hrs) and you could probably land a small single engine acft... maybe a caravan... Multi engine ecperience (private pilot multi engine land) and you could probably not destroy the otter or casa if push came to shove.... But it's a lot of money to spend if you aren't really in to flying... I almost got into aerobatic flying this summer, but then I found skydiving..... Gotta have priorities.....

460 is right. and what's worse is many of these towers aren't just TV broadcasts. Some of them carry the VHF frequencies and relays we use for Air Traffic Control (data and voice). Don't get me wrong there are back ups and such... and we lose frequencies due to equipment problems occasionally... But losing a frequency when busy is a hair raising, nerve racking excersise. Potentially, the loss of such risks human lives. even though you can often go to the back up quite quickly... but there is always that possiblity that you may miss that one important call or bad readback.... Which is why if you see a tower with a sign that says "this blah blah blah is used in air traffic control and loss of human life my result from service interuption... FAA blah blah blah.... well please don't huck a bike off it... There might be a lot more at stake then you realize.

I bought all my gear from the skydive store. audibles, helmets (don't ask), a new rig, etc... Actually just put in my order for a new sabre2 170. The guy running it, Art is great. I didn't know it at the time but during my last AFF jump I cut him off pretty good in the pattern.... Man I din't have a clue then.... but, later when I called to order my rig (the next week) and we started talking he knew exactly who I was.... haha... I will continue to buy my gear from him as long as he keeps selling....

I find it easier to remember it as b.a.h. below/above/horizontal so below 10k msl bah 5/1/2 500 ft below, 1000 above or 2k horizontal above 10k 1/1/1 1000 below, 1000 above, 1 statute mile horizontal (if you want to be picky) vis is 3 /5 and it makes sense that if the cloud lcearances go up, the vis should go up. But then again, when all you do is aviation, you try to think of easy ways to remember everything... at least for me, it's the easy way. so try and remember 512.111.35 kind of like a phone number.... See you out at SDLI. -justin

As someone who works shift work nonstop... here are my thoughts. First off all I work a mix of 3-11pm, 7-3am and 11pm to 7am shifts... Mostly nights and mids as I hate getting up early. I would often swap onto 11pm - 7am shifts knowing that they were the best for jumping in my eyes... get home, get some sleep, and be at the dz by noon... jump the rest of the day. Especially with long daylight hours over the summer. Downside was no drinking beer if I had to go to work afterwards. The most important aspect to this kind of thing is how well you know yourself, and knowing if you are tired. And honestly only you will be able to make that decision. I've felt great after 2 hours of sleep and shitty after 7 hours... it's all just a feeling. That said, I plan on during the summer time, once again swapping on to as many midnight shifts as I can as they work great for jumping. Just remember if your alarm rings to wake you up to go to the dropzone and you feel like hitting the snooze... you probably should. unless you broke the button off like I did.... There always will be other days to jump-

Thanks for raining on my parade... I have 21 years and 4 months till I can retire.... I work at ZNY.... But you couldn't be more right, it is a great job.

I am just starting to become interested in base and have bought several dvds... the last one being BD 05. I thought Triax did a great job. this is the kind of dvd that would appeal more to a mass market. when my wuffo friends have stopped by and watched Bridge Day extremes, Fixed2, etc, even though the jumps are much crazier... they disliked them. This one was different... This year the production value I thought was great. However I can understand that if you went, jumped, bought the dvd and didn't appear... you might be disapointed considering the way some of the previous years were produced... When I finally make it to a bridge day, even if I wasn't in the video I'd buy it. Cause life isn't about pictures; it's about memories. oops, back to work.

Got the call from lauren and email just a little late... or I would have made it out there.... Ah well, they reopen weekends April 1st... till then I'll keep going to florida every 4 weeks or so. ps anyone want to buy my sabre 2 190 this spring? About 80 jumps..... time for the 170 real soon.

Well, I went the new route and could throw some prices at you... scary prices. But I'd suggest as people suggested going the used route, but if you were to go new... Rig; Mirage G4 with all the options, Cypres 2, Sabre 2 190, PD 176 reserve- $6300 New Jumpsuit- $230 Goggles- $10 Helmet$ 190 Pro Dytter $110 Neptune $250 Altimaster 2: $150 plus I (stupidly) lost a hemet and a dytter on a dive by forgetting the chin strap... Then you throw in the cost of training this year, jumps, and of course beer... Well, I guess I don't want to think of it anymore. Go used, and piece the rest together slow, it hurts less that way.

I was in the same boat... and it was sinking fast. Brand new ZP 190, very little packing experience... New rig, new chutes, new jumper.... I remember my first solo packjob (after like the 3 times where people at the DZ helped me bag it) took about 2 hours. It was so ugly, but I figured hell, the lines were straight, and the stows weren't too bad, so I jumped it. Gave me some confidence. MY DZ had packers but they were usually too busy... So I got used to doing it. Think I packed it about 40 times now. It gets easier... slowly... even though mine still looks like hell going into the bag sometimes, but the openings have been pretty good, mostly on heading and not too hard. So grab a beer, and try again. Good luck! by the way, I propack and got it down to about 15 minutes... now i can make every other load and winter comes... doh!

I am biased because they taught me to jump, but... I like the dropzone. That said it's great, friendly people, a good atmosphere, and a generaly caring atmosphere. Plus it takes a lot of work on your part to land out... but i have done it. The downside is, yes, you do pay a little more than other dropzones in the state. But, hey just to drive to another drop zone with gas and tolls, it's a wash in my book... I'd rather hang out at Skydive Long Island with cool people and decent planes and have a good time. There are downsides thoguh... Food is a drive. I mean that, a drive. And the weather can be a little annoying... but hey, if you are on long island, and don't want to deal with the hassle of driving to the ranch, it's the place to go. That said, I didn't finsh AFF till July and I logged 70+ jumps there this summer... I look forward to logging another hundered there next summer. Skydive long isalnd rocks.

What 2 grommets? I put the first (central) stow through the grommet on the other side of the split and make the first stow there so it is only holding the split closed, not the bag. Then use the 4 stows opposite the 4 grommets on the lid to close the bag so each stow only goes through one grommet. Is that wrong? I can't see any other way to do it! Edit 4 spellin! Yeah... I close mine like you do.... I also have the only G4 at my dropzone... Makes me wonder if I have been doing it wrong.....

I bought a stock rig that ward brought to the wffc for art from the skydive store. COuldn't be happier with my G4. Well, except if it packed itself.