steveorino

Just ranting I guess ... Having the goal and the ability are two different things. I went into Special Forces in 1977 straight from the block (similar to today's 18X program) I quickly saw while I passed the course when most didn't I was a far cry from the SF soldier who 'paid his dues'. I see the same thing. We have 3 guys going for their TI this fall. One has 1000 jumps and lots of coach and IAD time. While he is a slight fellow I believe he will do okay. Another is a guy who made quite a stir on this forum. He is 200# pounds and jumping a Velo with 200 something jumps. He spent most of last year recovering from breaking his body. He still jumps the Velo. But now he has 500 jumps and soon will be a TI most likely. I like the kid personally, but geessus, shouldn't we expect more maturity from Instructors. the third guy probably will do fine with the minimum. But the last kid I saw getting his TI with the minimum jumped out of a plane still seat-belted in -- hanging from the plane til the seat belt broke. I won't disagree as I leg-wraped one student out of 1800. But the best advice I ever received was from a Golden Knight who said quit flying the student and fly your body when he saw I was having similar issues as this poster. Yep, I said I had one "hell ride" that was it. steveOrino

Instructors getting their ratings while meeting bare minimal requirements is what I see all around. I have 500 jumps, I'll be a TI; I have 6 hours of free fall, I'll be an AFFI. I have 200 jumps, I'll wear a WS. It seems too many want to an Instructor as soon as possible rather than be the best possible Instructor. I only have 1800 tandems and been taken for 1 "ride" (except my 'hell' dive) I relax, arch and outfly the student. Why fly with knees dropped and hands low as I see all around. Good luck. steveOrino

Paragear sent me another Altitron .. I'll be #$%@ if it didn't do the same thing! It worked for 3 jumps and failed to read on the rest. I sent it back and Paragear sold me a Neptune. I love Paragear's service and I love my EVO helmet from Parasports, but the Altitron is a piece of $hit as far as I am concerned steveOrino

Not much luck with Parasport. They wanted me to send it back with no value and UPS said it would cost $150???? Maybe I had a newbie clerk, so I called ParaGear for second time and they sent me a new one and I sent the messed up one back to them. Good service by PARAGEAR ... thank you! steveOrino

Yeah, I read that before I ever did anything - so I know I never put anything in the hole. Plus I went to their website and used their form email -- it came back as undeliverable -- Crappy service! Never again! Paragear who sold it to me was even less helpful -- they told me to contact parasport -- wasn't their issue. Seriously reconsidering ever buying anything from either company again. Plus EVERY student I have wil lhear my beef. steveOrino

I did now it says FAIL :/ steveOrino

I just bought an Altitron digital altimeter and after trying to set it up I used it for 3 jumps. I liked the fact it worked as a watch between jumps. But something happened. On my 4th jump it never switched to altimeter. I was on a tandem and had to count .... Well, after 2000 tandems I know what 4.5K looks like but not something I want to repeat. I took it as a back up on all jumps today and it never worked as altimeter. I would see "the time" then maybe a "0" and sometimes a "2". I have a manual, but for the life of me it is hard to read. Any suggestions? steveOrino

EVERYONE is scared at first. Some more than others. If you continue in that sport the fear will subside. From that point on you need the fear to change to RESPECT. For some that fear changes to a CASUAL attitude. They usually biff. Quit over-thinking, have fun, enjoy the jumps. Every jump will seem different in some form or another. steveOrino

I watched the video frame by frame - the drogue did wrap on the guys' foot. That is what created the side spin. I thought that is what happened as he was in anything but an arch. Oh well, we survived. steveOrino

I have over 3200 jumps and 1700 have been a tandem out of a Cessna DZ. This weekend I had a first. Big (6'2" - 210lbs) guy that went fetal on exit. I threw drogue as we planed out and it started to spin me on my side -- getting faster and faster. I "thought" I accidentally wrapped his foot on the drogue,so I fired the reserve trying avoid a horseshoe. But if felt like a side spin. Again, I "thought" a side-spin doesn't happen under a drogue (flat-spin, yes; side spin, no) I cleared the drogue from the reserve and landed uneventful. Can you be in a side spin with drogue out? steveOrino

I skydived one month after my lasik. And took off a month again when I had a touch up a few years later. steveOrino

The only ride I had in 1700 tandems was my hell dive with TI Evaluator. Wicked side spin. I flip out of a Cessna DZ 85% of the time. Hook 'em up correctly -- fly your body -- stay calm. works for me. steveOrino

As an AFFI I'd appreciate it if my students would seek advice from me or another AFFI at the DZ rather than the internet. I suggest you do that. Then I make one other suggestion. FLY THE CANOPY! Don't think of the flare as being the end. Fly the canopy until you are completely stopped. steveOrino

That's why I sold my 3 and bought another 2. It is hard to compete with a 2 giving them 4x the amount of pics even if the 3 is better quality. steveOrino

That wasn't my experience. I recently contacted them about my ProTrack which had stopped working and was told I was out of luck because it was over a year old. I was surprised given how often I hear about their legendary customer support. I ended up buying a new one. I almost bought something from a different manufacturer out of fear of getting stuck with another paperweight if it died again in 13 months, but in the end decided I liked the ProTrack better than the competition's products. I hope I didn't make the wrong choice. I don't know what to tell you -- mine was TEN years old .... steveOrino

I sent in a broken ProTrack after 10+ years with 2500 jumps on it -- they sent me a new one ... free! steveOrino

Right now I use my 2. The black 3 is at home awaiting fixes. steveOrino

With 3000 jumps and not being a swooper I certainly defer to your expertise, Brian, but I cannot imagine instructing anyone to unstow a toggle on a spinning canopy. In fact just this week I went over that with an AFF student to NOT unstow a toggle if the canopy is spinning. steveOrino

Me too ... man! RIP Rev! I appreciate the love thru the years as we talked theology and skydiving... steveOrino

Were you replying to me? If so, why? If not, your point is well taken, but so what? Perhaps I should have read all the pages, as I don't know what the posts are about rather than AFF salaries steveOrino

$40 for each AFFI out of a Cessna. Never figured why main should get more??? We both do gear checks and teach on the way up. While main side 'might' do more work, the reserve side in a Cessna leaves with max grips so is the one to stay in a cluster $%#@& exit. Plus I have pulled my share from the reserve side. steveOrino

Got mine last week and used it on an AFF jump. Every photo outside was overexposed. It was a clear blue sky. To make matters worse, I can't find the manual online an one did not come with the camera. Any suggestions? steveOrino

Not sure. My other Felix is at DZ. so my den or on EBay steveOrino

My "impression" of Felix's leap of faith (in acrylic triptych) steveOrino

I use to paint a lot. Last painting was probably '78-79 where I painted a HALO guy for CSM Lupiak of 5th Special Forces Group. I've illustrated a lot and started carving a few years, but this is my first attempt in over 30 with the brush. Felix preparing to jump off Christo Redento in Brazil steveOrino