Jumpah

I voted for 200/C...but it depends on the person...coaches are like any other teacher...some are good, some are not. But...most students with 8 jumps just need a jump buddy who is safety conscious, a heads-up skydiver, who understands the ebb and flow of the dropzone and its routines. We are not talking about a 200 jump person coaching a 4-way team or freeflying. We are talking about helping someone with turns...exits...landings. Coaching isn't rocket science. For beginning skydivers, it's a role that can be fulfilled with the right sub-200 jump skydiver. Its not a good idea, generally, to try to give someone with 8 jumps too much new stuff on a jump. Teach them one new thing and use the rest of the jump to practice their basics. Properly mentored, a 100 jump coach could be an incredibly useful part of the student's overall education.

It's pronounced "Bah Habah"... =) Ok, all of the above, plus check out Cadillac Mountain you can go early in the AM and be part of the first rays of sun to hit the continental US (not sure what time of the year this works). See if Moosehead Lake has anything of interest to you. I don't know of "Casey's Camps" are still in operation, but I spent a few vacations up there as a kid and it was amazing. Hit Skydive New England in Lebanon Maine at some point, too. They have tenting and bunkhouses and the facilities has been updated quite a bit in the last couple years. The DZ in Millinocket is a tandem show for the most part, but call ahead and let them know you are going and they can tell you the score. They have run some students through in the last couple years, tho. They come to SNE once in a while for some turbine fun. Also...as for rafting...in Millinocket is "Boatman's" bar...its also a campground. Owned buy a skydiver, and the instructors at the Millinocket DZ go there, so you'll be in familiar company.

It'll vary, dude... ...when your instructors think you are ready ...when you think you are ready ...when the canopy progression chart thinks you are ready There are lots of posts on this topic. Find Brian Germain's canopy progressing chart. Nice rule of thumb...at least it'll keep you from getting bitched at if you are sticking around it. Me...Manta 280 for first couple, 260 for next couple, 230 for about 20, manta 210 until jump 60 or so, rental saber 190 until about 100, a purchased saber 1 190 (I'm 230 out the door) until 485 I think, and I'm now on a 170 saber 2 for a while. I'm loading the 170 up about 1.45:1 now with my winter weight. That is currently on its way down, but I'm considering borrowing a 190 for a bit until the rust is shaken. The Saber 1 was sportier than the Manta, but not by a whole lot. The Saber 2 feels much sportier than the Saber 1. It puts a big grin on my face. For those of you thinking a 170 is too big...I can make my dittter deliver my 2k warning while I'm under canopy just spiraling. I can also land downwind with a 15mph wind.

Nah....at 3,500 even with a tumbled exit and an additional 5 seconds delay/swear session you should be well above that. For one, you are still vectoring along with the plane and you aren't at terminal velocity so your downward velocity is so little. The parachute opens quick even in the lower deployment speeds.

Has there been any effort to develop a full face helmet that allows for the chin/face area to be removed quickly on a face-up victim without needing to move the head/spine? Perhaps a buckle/release/etc on the front or side that holds two halves of the front together, when removed the chin/cheek part of the helmet can be pulled from the helmet in two pieces Similar to a cutaway system for the chin cup of an open face, but allowing the helmet to fall into pieces with the cranial portion remaining on and intact.

A lawyer may have a proper answer, but basically people under 18 cannot legally sign a waiver agreeing not to sue if something goes wrong. This leaves the dropzone open to lawsuits. A parent cannot sign for the child.

Not blowing smoke up your butt, but I read the ppt and the info because I read a post that you supported it. I think the presentation makes sense and it taught me some stuff I didn't know. I thought it was a good joke to place there, too. I suspect that finding a way to easily apply the techniques suggested in the presentation is a large barrier towards adoption. It may be that hearing a presentation about it live makes it all click, but I had to read it several times to put it together, and I'm still fuzzy on it. Too much math. I'm college educated, just not much math in my background. Perhaps there is no easy way to apply the new data and make an easy way to "do" it, but that is one thing that could help. Edited to add: I misread your original post and didn't realize it until Diablopilot posted. Definitely interested in hearing more.

It's sort of amazing how people can get different perspectives in this little sport. I believe someone that has done most of their jumping at big dropzones has a different perspective than someone that jumps at a little dropzone. And there are other reasons why we end up with different perspectives. Like here in CT, we have to file incident reports with the state DOT for every injury, dropped object, and even off landing. The town reviews our incident reports every so often. Every safe off landing in a back yard or huge farm field is an incident that will bring negative attention to the DZ. We don't have many injuries at our DZ, but every one of em gives the town more ammo against us. So maybe some skydiver are more sensitive when it comes to "everyone should be allowed to take any risk they want." Dave Which is why, on post #172 of this very thread I wrote: "Yes. And it is fairly independent of jump numbers. However, if they are informed of the risks to themselves and are not a risk to other people, it's really their (and the DZO's) decision to make. If they are a hazard to others the DZO should ground them, like he or she would ground any dangerous individuals regardless of experience level." I suspect you'd have a bigger reduction in accident rates by not allowing 18-24 year old males on the DZ. Do you also have plans to ban them? JUST the ones who spot with the "45 degree rule".

This is a global sport with local management. Forget all the ruling and governing bodies for a second. Just worry about your current airspace and the people you are with, and whether you are comfortable with what is going on. WL is a guide, a good one, and thats all. Its risky to downsize, but it can be so much more fun that its "worth" the risk to you. The difficulty is that new jumpers often don't really know the extent of the risk, and many haven't experienced first hand what can really go wrong. They just have great experiences. How can a new jumper really appreciate how dangerous it can really be until they see their first break, their first pond crash, or a fatality? The reality is that if you stay in this sport, someone you know is going to get really hurt or die. I ask myself internally on every jump if I would be comfortable explaining what we were trying to do to the authorities and family and friends of the victim, should something go terribly wrong. In my short skydiving career I've seen more breaks and fatalities than in the rest of my life. Your mileage may vary, of course, but I wasn't sheltered in my upbringing, and I feel I've been taught by excellent and caring people. If you stay in the sport, eventually you'll be around when something terrible happens. Back to my original statement: this is a global sport with local management: manage yourself as best you can and you will influence others. All types jump...some you can never save. Just don't be a part of their demise and do what you can to discourage dangerous behavior. All types post here. Ignore most, take in some, vet the rest with people local to you who know their stuff. Over time you'll gain experience. Over time you'll understand more and more. Over time you may become the person that others go to just as you did when you were new. Just my opinion. Jumpah

IMHO... It might not be close enough for a day trip, but take a weekend and come up to Skydive New England in Lebanon, Maine. Full-time Twin Otter, bonfires, camping, food onsite, night life, live music on occasion, private airport, friendly people. Bring your mountain bike, ATV, etc...there are hundreds of acres and trails. Folks are friendly if you are...its easy to find jump buddies so don't worry about coming up solo....just tell manifest you are looking for people and they'll help hook you up.

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1501667;search_string=bag%20lock%20faster;#1501667 In the post by Riggerrob: "A bag lock falls as fast or faster than belly fliers (120 mph). Jump Shack proved this more than 20 years ago with photos of test jumps." Perhaps check those two sources out for more info.

Her use of "Reviewer's tags" are rather specific: accidents, rig flaws, skydiving, tandem skydiving, skydiving dangers She appears to have an agenda.

I asked my alti's manufacture that same question last year...they did not recommend changing the alti when in flight. Definitely ask your manuacturer.

A highly experienced skydiver at my DZ told a story about a plane crash from long ago. During the investigation they found that one loose helmet had DNA from many sources.

What a wonderful and funny image! My condolences for your loss...she sounded like quite a lady!

Sounds like a "419 scam".

True, true... I've been into computers for 25 years now, and I just switched to a Mac as my personal system in February after spending the last 20ish years with Microsoft and Unix/Linux. One thing OS X users should check out is www.osalt.com. It's a database of open source alternatives to commercial programs. Since OS X is linux in its underbellies, with the X11 package (off the installation CD) you can run certain linux programs...like Neo Office, OpenOffice, Gimp, etc. I do have VMWare Fusion to run XP on to support two of my clients, but other than buying a photo editing package the next few months, I've converted to native apps. The MB Pro can dual boot to XP or Vista natively, but from testing I did with Parallels (a virtual OS competitor of VMWare), the speed reduction of running XP in a virtual session made my core 2 duo 2.16 into a core duo 2.16...not a huge problem for me. Anyway, to the OP, welcome...the water is getting warmer...

Sleep functionality is greatly improved...my MB Pro would wake if my USB TV turner was connected to the hub, and it would not sleep if Final Cut was running.

Rad tools should work...it can convert .MOV to .AVI. I did a test of MOV to AVI and it seemed to work. http://www.videohelp.com/tools/Rad_Video_Tools I will say that it took a 3.2mb MOV file can created a 282.3mb AVI monstrosity.

What a HUGE loss... BSBD....

On the last one we did, we had about 7 people and here's how we did it (it worked pretty well): Have the two hoop fliers face each other when holding it...helps eliminate potential backsliding away from the jumpers. People went through and linked up on the other side in a star. At 6k everyone but the two holders track off and deployed at 4.5k (we had a variety of experience levels on this dive and that made the most sense for who was there). The hoop holder verifies clear airspace, waves off and deploys at 4.5k with the other person stabilizing the hoop by flying on level and lightly holding the hoop in front of the holder...no death grips, and let go when they see a Dbag coming out. The stabilizer person tracks and deploys at 3k. The hoop holder can hold the hoop between their ankles and fly home. Try to drop the hoop over a wind sock for some extra points. Make sure everyone on the dive can be trusted to dive the plan! Put the new people in the 6k breakoff group. Make sure they can track with awareness...as a previous poster eluded, don't want them tracking under the hoop group and deploying. Put people who have done it before as hoop holders. You can make the dive more complicated in a few ways, depending on the skill level you have...for example, once through the hoop, have the star start turning points, or go back around and get in line to go through again.

I honestly never have...I'll make a point to! A friend is a wine rep and I'll see what she can dig up

Hey all, I'm looking for some new wines to try that are in the $11 - $22 price range. I am a fan of NZ's Tohu, Isabel Sauvignon Blancs, and California's Cakebread,and Groth's Sauvignon Blancs. For reds I tend to like French Bordeaux and Russian River Pinot (California) in that price range, Groth and Cakebread reds if I'm in the mood to spend. Any suggestions? Thanks!

My boss gave me a card last year after our team finished a big milestone in our project. It was real sweet, and at one point it said "...and for the objectionable way in which you view all things". This was a purchased card...straight from some smart card writer somewhere (not hallmark tho). I looked up "objectionable" recently as something wasn't sitting right. (from dictionary.com): ob·jec·tion·a·ble /əbˈuhb-jek-shuh-nuh-buhl –adjective 1. causing or tending to cause an objection, disapproval, or protest. 2. offending good taste, manners, etiquette, propriety, etc.; offensive: objectionable behavior. Well we all got a good laugh out of it...I knew what she meant, of course, the word "objectively". Its still on my office wall...

I've purchased from Aerostore several times; they sell Rawa helmets and camera boxes.