ufk22

What? A good Free Flyer can use every axis and fly it well. That includes belly! Sorry, seen enough rating candidates over the years that went straight to freeflying off student status and couldn't close a belly two-way. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

First off, focus as much or more on TEACHING skills as flying skills. Get a SIM and IRM and start working on lesson plans for the teaching topics. Refine them and practice, maybe teaching real students with an AFF I supervising and get feedback. Sit in on GOOD instructors teaching the catagories you will be teaching for the course (and maybe all of them) and steal everything they do that works. Make lots of notes and show up for the class prepared to teach. As to the flying, your profile says you're a belly flyer. This alone puts you way ahead of anyone who is a free flyer. Things that will help you in the class; Jump a lot with students and low timers. Chasing/staying with them will give you skills you don't develope doing tight FS with good flyers ie constantly adjusting your fall rate to stay on level, side/back sliding to stay relative to them, etc. Learn to fly with your legs, can't use your arms if you're holding on to a student. Make sure your tracking is efficient. You will be finishing these jumps in the basement, but still have to track far enough to gain separation from your evaluator and deploy above 2500'. If your tracking is more dive than flat, it won't work well. If you have decent flying skills, the mental part is what makes it hard. I've been watching rating candidates "mentally melt" for years during IRC's. The ones that don't are the ones that are best prepared for the teaching. All that being said, the bottom end of an AFF eval dive is the most intense thing I've ever been through. Nothing you can do to prepare for that. Good luck This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

There is the "minimum" that USPA requires and then there is what makes sense. The fact that you have an A license will make it a little easier. First, if your membership isn't current, renew it. Then, USPA only requires one recurrency jump, but with your low numbers, I would ask to sit through a FJC, including an extensive review for EP's in the training harness. If you do well, most would have you make an AFF jump and if that goes well, you're back. Take thing slow and if in doubt about anything, talk to local instructors for the first season you come back. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

No, what you are doing is presenting what can be called "false choices." Or, both replies could just mean those of us with a lot more experience have heard all this before, and see in this whole line of reasoning a recurring pattern In the end, it appears that your issue is that no one has taken hold of your appendage to pleasure you. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

And THAT folks is what a circle jerk is.....although it is a little bit funny to give a different definition and send people out into the world using the phrase in every day conversation...The meaning translates to "I'll do (say) what makes you feel good if you do (say) what makes me feel good". Agreement for the sake of agreement, not for the sake of truth. Not exactly what happens here. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

!. Watch Point Break 2. Time the freefall sequences. 3. Get over it This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

been there, done that many times, but..... How good is your spotting ability? Do you regularly spot loads out of a Cessna, or just maybe look and go, or maybe just wait for the green light? Spotting a low-wing requires a fair amount of skill and some knowledge of the area. You need to be able to reference landmarks a long way ahead of the aircraft for heading and a long way out to the side of the aircraft for timing your exit. How good is your gear? Climbout on a low-wing is more interesting than on a jump ship. You don't want anything coming loose, especially since the pilot won't be wearing a bail-out rig. How good is the pilot? He'll have to cut the throttle, drop the nose and slip the aircraft in order for you to be able to climb out and still maintain control of the aircraft. How disciplined can you be on exit? You'll have to climb out facing the front of the plane, get one foot on the step, get low, and then release down, staying small so you don't hit the tail. Bottom line, it can be done safely, but it's not like jumping on a turbo-prop and waiting for the light. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

Let's be honest. The 45 rule came into being back in the S/L days when someone realized that most skydivers can't count past 6 ("look" thousand) and the really smart ones not past ten (with those jump boots on). This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

EGO/ARROGANCE/NARCISSISM If you really want to be a great instructor, you need to get over/past this. Very few students have these traits, but a lot of experienced skydiver/instructors do, and any or all of these traits will make you a frustrated, poor instructor. Bottom line, grow up and get over it. When you've grown up and realize how much you DON'T know, that's the moment you'll become an effective instructor. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

Are you sure he's still "at large"?????? This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

That was me but, no, not a DZO, just an C-E S/L I-E. Lots of resistance, and unfortunately I was not able to attend the meeting and explain things. For the first decades of this sport, "young jumpers" (100 jumps) could and did act as jumpmasters, safely putting out thousands of S/L students, but unlike today, were not allowed to do the training. That was ONLY done by an instructor. I now realize that in this day and age, anything pertaining to S/L operations needs a lot of explaining, as most skydivers (and board members) have no experience with this aspect of skydive training. I had a discussion a couple of years ago with my "then" regional director who was questioning me about AFF vs SL, as she knew I had both ratings. What she wanted to hear was that AFF was much more difficult for the instructor. What I tried to explain was that although AFF required more flying skills, S/L or IAD required better TEACHING skills. When I'm doing AFF, worst case I can always grab the student, get them stable and even deploy for them. With S/L or IAD, if I haven't taught it well or right before the student leaves the plane, there's nothing more I can do to help them out. Not a popular answer nowdays, but it's the truth. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

First of all, thanks to you, Martin, for pioneering getting coaches allowed to do this. At both the DZ I currently jump at and my previous DZ, coaches are working with students after a successful C-1 dive. Neither DZ uses coaches to teach the FJC. It's something I always ask my candidates about prior to my coach courses, as my coach course for anyone from a S/L DZ that has adopted this is very different than one for an AFF DZ. A lot less time spent on the FJC, a lot more time spent on C-2 on up. Also, a lot more time spent on biomechanics and diagnosing stability/spin control issues. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

Popular myth Roger used sabres, not stilettos This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

OK.... If this is what you're really looking for..... You are obviously too f#%$^&^$$%g stupid to know what you don't know. Is that the sort of response you're hoping for? Chances are, you have absolutely NO jumps under an F-111 seven cell canopy. Again, if you couldn't land a 9-cell F-111 (?) canopy???? Timing flare on F-111 for a good landing is a much narrower window than any ZP canopy. No F-111 canopy has the flare power of ZP. A student canopy loaded at .85 (that's you under a 290) is a lot more forgiving that a 7-cell loaded at 1.4. I've got about 500 jumps under 7-cell F-111. The flair has to be full and quick, a little too soon and you stall, a little too late and you crash. Hope you can look back in a few years, read what you've written here, and realize..... This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

If you couldn't land an old 290 in no wind, what do you think landing a seven cell f-111 reserve loaded that high is going to be like? This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

To the OP.... Stay far away from anyone with that level of experience/currency under a Stiletto, no matter the wingload. This canopy responds faster to minor toggle input than any other canopy made (even the Velo or Katana). Don't let them take you out. I believe PD still recommends 500 jump minimum. Just coming out of a flat turn too quickly or with one hand a couple of inched higher than the other can spin this up big time. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

Of course it's a "death spin". How else to you get to the "there I was....." part. This could be a "what not to do on main or reserve side" video. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

Late (but not last) diving exit from the Cassa or skyvan, standing in front of "the line", timing the run, feeling the back of the plane rise just as I'm getting to the tail, hands and arms in front of my chest cupping air, riding that explosive wave, then going almost head down to blast toward the formation. (not last so the person behind can ask "how did you stay so high for so long?") It doesn't get any better than this! This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

Even his friends call him Richard. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

Care to make a friendly wager? Actually, this has me thinking about backing up my audible. The G3 has 2 pockets, after all. If I can again make the comparison to scuba, I've done hundreds of scuba dives, been diving with hundreds of other divers, and have only once (very recently) seen somebody so stupid that they let their air run out by not checking. Coincidentally, she also spent the dive caring only about a camera and had no basic diving skills. These events are really rare, there's no reason to assume it will happen to all of us. I also think you're not giving yourself and the rest of us enough credit. We're talking about 2 bozos who let their AADs fire without even an attempt at pulling or checking altitude. You deployed by yourself and had an open canopy at 1,400 feet. Not really the same thing, is it? These guys were 3 seconds from dead. They were so low that if they hadn't had AADs, even noticing where they were immediately would probably not have saved them, given reasonable reaction and deployment times. I'd bet if we asked people to raise their hand if they've ever done this, you'd get nothing. Really, how many people on here have been outright saved by an AAD while fully conscious? Not fair to compare this incident to a pull at around 2,000 feet.You've got around 200 jumps. From about now through your next 300 or so, you are one of the most dangerous skydivers. You know a lot about skydiving, but you don't know what you don't know. This is a common take on skydiving incidents. "This person was (chose one; careless, stupid, reckless, etc) and I am far too good to make that kind of mistake." Your tag line reinforces my opinion. Not that what Bill Booth said isn't true. It just doesn't tell the whole story. A more accurate one is "you are not, and never will be good enough not to die in this sport." This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

Usually, students will fall slower than the same size experienced jumper, but once in a while they will fall faster. Think 110# girl bent at the waist like a pretzel. I use a FS suit with swoop cords and mega booties. This gives ME range. For students, unless they are extremely tall and light, just a regular jumpsuit. I've only had one student get above me and that was an A license check dive. I think he did it to prove that he could. Anticipate. If I'm worried about a possible floaty student, I grab air prior to release. I'll try to stay a couple feet above him to give me a cushion. I also tell them if they see the top of my rig they need to fall faster, because I can't save them from below. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

Not a crock... I WAS an Argus owner. Bought it on the recommendation of a rigger and because of the ability to set different modes. Why jump with a device that in it's failure mode could eliminate my ability to save my own life (cutter locking onto reserve closing loop)? I was just glad I wasn't one of the incidents that brought this to light. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

USPA says find an I-E, put out one student and take the test. I say depends on how long it's lapsed and how much you used it prior to lapse. If you haven't worked with students for years and/or didn't do much with the rating when you had it, I might want more. A couple of years ago a guy wanted to renew an I rating that had lapsed over 10 years. I had him go through a complete rating course. Bottom line, it's not just what USPA says, it's what it takes to make an I-E comfortable signing you off. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

This sport is full of modifications to deal with "problems" that really aren't. One person got a slight injury doing PLF's and that was the excuse to quit "wasting time" teaching it. "It's a safety issue"??????????? I always teach PLF's in my FJC's. I use it for two purposes, the PLF and to teach them to look forward, not down, when landing. I sit on the ground about 20-30' away from them, and they have to not only do the PLF, but maintain eye contact with me throughout. A perfect PLF isn't necessary, just a good one, but if they look down at all, they need to do two more. The timing on landing flares has been a lot better since I started doing this. I can usually get a class of 6-8 students through this in 15 minutes or less. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.

I use a Bev comp suit. You don't say how you fall (fast, slow, middle). I have the Majic pleated booties, poly forearms and continuous swoop cords. I never need to add any clothing. If a slow student, I use the swoop cords, otherwise not. The pleated booties give your legs a lot more power, and AFF, when things get interesting, is all about flying with your legs. This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer.