fonz

My final checklist is as follows: 1. straps: chest, legs 2. flaps: riser covers shut, reserve flap tucked, main flap secured 3. accessories (bottom to top): typically booties, AAD, altimeter, RSL, goggles, helmet 4. handles: main, cutaway, reserve Notes to add: I can visibly inspect the riser covers. The main and reserve flap are inspected by touch and I might ask another jumper to check them if I think something feels wrong. Step 3 may change according to the type of jump and the items you jump with (cameras, boards, wings, tubes, inflatable toys, whatever). Some accessories (step 3) merely need to be there, others need more elaborate checking. On the ground (during packing and prior to boarding) I check many more things, but this is what I check in the plane prior to exit. Actually, I do this check prior to door opening. When the door opens, I want to either trust my gear to be ok, or be nowhere near the door because there is (or might be) something wrong. I realize that this approach won't work when in hot weather the plane flies with the door open (think Perris), but where I live that rarely (if ever) happens. Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

You mean this one? It's over on skydivingmovies.com... http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=5356 Alphons (took the link from the Dutch forum) And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

I didn't really mean to a) hijack the thread and b) start a debate about whether or not canopy sizing should be regulated, but since the thread is moving that way, I might as well voice my opinion after all. Looking at the performance of modern canopies, the amount of attention paid to canopy control in today's training curriculum (or actually lack thereof) and the number of landing accidents with perfectly open canopies, it is my belief that at least some degree of regulation/guidance (2 different things) is called for, at least until canopy flight education catches up with canopy performance development. However, I do agree that such regulation/guidance should not be based solely on jump numbers (as is currently done here in Holland), but rather on skills. The problem with this though, is that jump numbers are easy to check, whereas skill is more difficult to define. Canopy licenses could be a solution, but have the drawback of increased administration/bureaucracy as well as an increase in jumpers' expenses. I'd say it's worth it, but that's just me of course. Alphons P.S. Sorry, but I don't feel much for the Darwin approach. I'd prefer education and guidance instead. [edit: Fixed typo in subject line] And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Yeah, that made the news here in Holland as well. According to the report, she tried to "evade a storm". Not so sure if that's a wise thing to do. Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Nah. They just have beady little eyes and flapping heads. Alphons (sorry, I'm watching South Park) And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Thanks, Jurgen! Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

There are two kinds of alarms: 1. Alarms that go off in freefall. Typically set to seperation, opening and harddeck altitude. As seen on the Pro-Track, (Pro-)Dytter, Time-Out!!! and Skytronic FX for example. 2. Alarms that go off under canopy. Typically used by swoopers. I wouldn't know exactly how it works. This seems to be a recent development, seen on the Optima and Neptune for example. According to another poster, the Solo sort of falls in between and sounds three alarms regardless of whether the jumper is in freefall or under canopy. Anyway, what I think that the OP is asking is whether the Optima, which has both types of alarm, can sound both types of alarm on the same jump or if you need to choose between the two kinds of alarm when you set the device. I think the former is the case, but to be sure, just check out Larsen & Brusgaard's site. Hope this helps, Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Just curious: does the USPA have any rules/regulations/guidelines regarding canopy selection? Here in Holland, a person with the OP's jump numbers (or mine, for that matter) simply isn't allowed to jump a Stiletto or similar elliptical canopy, of any given size. Our national association has rules for that. Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

This is what a world-class CRW competitor told me: Typical wingload for most recreational CRW as well as record attempts is around 1.35, rotation canopies are usually loaded higher. Alphons P.S. The Lightning comes in many variations. Be sure to pick the right configuration for you... And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Bad news is that she doesn't act but really talks like that, if I'm not mistaken. Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

For you British guys: I couldn't help but think about Louise in "Two Pints of Lager"... Alphons Btw: does Kathryn Drysdale really sound like that or is she just acting the squeaky voice? And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Just your average run of the mill boxers. But then again, I'm single so I don't need to bother wearing anything special I guess. Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Hell, Pulp Fiction is full of memorable quotes. Tried the ones I mentioned above? They're not from Pulp Fiction, but still some are classics. Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

That one's easy. John Travolta as Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction. Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Slow on the uptake, aren't we? Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

I understand your anger. But realistically, it's generally just not practical to say "this dog is allowed and that dog isn't." Unfortunate and unjustified as it may seem, it sounds to me like a classic case of a bad apple spoiling the whole bunch. Aphons (sorry dude, I really feel for ya) And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Too bad I don't live in the U.S. However... surely it's a piece of cake to find someone qualified. Alphons (easy as shit) And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Isn't he by any chance the rock star guy who wandered in at Perris during july 4th 2001? Alphons (I have my memories) And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

I've had a look at this, too. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that the "mark as read" link appears when there are new threads, not new posts in existing threads. Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

In my opinion, most of the notorious whuffo questions are actually valid questions. They may seem silly to us, but I can understand that whuffos wonder about such things. One tactic could be to completely hide your skydiverhood. This means not wearing skydiver-related clothing, jewellery (sorry Pammi) or tattoos, never mentioning skydiving and not responding to overheard skydiving-related discussions when Terminal Velocity/Drop Zone/Cutaway/Point Break/etc. has again been shown by some TV station. This should largely decrease the number of "stupid whuffo questions" you have to deal with. Since I have a skydiving tattoo and many people know that I skydive, that won't work for me. Besides, I don't mind answering whuffo questions. The tactic that I found to work best for me is to have well-phrased answers ready for the most common whuffo questions. When people ask such questions seriously, I take them serious and give them a serious answer. If I then find out that they're not seriously interested but merely fishing for sensation or trying to "prove" that I'm an idiot because I skydive, I'm usually quite quick to terminate the discussion and avoid the topic the next time I meet this person. I'm a real pub crawler and my experience is that skydiving more often leads to amusing/interesting/entertaining/animated bar discussions than to annoying ordeals. In fact, on several accounts one of the people I talk with turns out to be or have been a skydiver as well. Discussions then get even more interesting because we often turn out to know the same other skydivers, have been at the same dropzones or an oldtimer is interested in what the modern gear and practice is like. Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Unfortunately that process leads to people accepting the advice they want to hear and rejecting advice they don't like, regardless of the qualifications of the person giving it. I think you've got a point there. Personally, I try to take great care not to fall into that trap, but I guess the human mind can work like that. I still don't agree with the OP though. Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Great fun... Thought I might throw in a few easy ones: 1. Ehm... I think you'll find the fancy dress party in the next building. 2. We're not murderers, despite of what this undertaker says. 3. Let's drop a BUG on SPIDERman! 4. A: You must have made quite an impression. B: Aye. A: I didn't think you were in that tent THAT long. 5. A: She's wanted by the police. B: I didn't know the police had such good taste. 6. If we find the spider who did this, you can arrest him. Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Break Away by Kelly Clarkson is a nice example indeed. But it's also a phrase that occurs in many other songs (Mi Chico Latino by Geri Halliwell for example) that otherwise have nothing to do with skydiving. Some more examples: Damn Yankees - High Enough Fatboy Slim - Bird of Prey Geri Halliwell - Scream If You Wanna Go Faster Alphons (the list is longer than you might think) And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

It should also cover any damage suffered by neighbours. But indeed, the machine itself isn't likely to be covered. Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Just feel the need to add my 2 cents... I think that everybody should listen to advice from anyone. If you're low on experience, just listen and then take it up with an instructor. If you're experienced enough you can make your own assessment about the valididty of the advice and possibly point out that the advice is wrong or even dangerous. Judge advice by the content, not by the person offering it. In any case, it never hurts to FIRST listen and THEN decide what to do with it. Dismiss it, discuss it, ignore it, accept it, whatever. But at least hear what they have to say and then take it from there. Alphons And five hundred entirely naked women dropped out of the sky on parachutes. -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy