squarecanopy

Don't even think about not jumping!!!! I mean, if you really enjoyed it, pursue your AFF with diligence and you won't regret it. You have already gotten lots of good advice here, so go for it! Hell, I broke my leg bad during AFF, was off for 15 months and still came back and got my A and B licenses. Not that I am anyone special, I'm just saying that this sport is that cool. Don't let a little extra weight (I'm 245 out the door myself) and some reticent instructors stand in your way. Jump, Pack, Repeat. And then do it again! Blue Skies Safe Landings Just burning a hole in the sky.....

I'm just curious on what tracking pants are. I don't think I've ever seen a pair..... Just burning a hole in the sky.....

That was gutsy to post what you did. After reading every word, all I can say is THANK YOU AND WELL SAID. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

the best way for jumpers to avoid a "Close Encounter of the Last Kind" is to look before you leap. THIS BEARS REPEATING. And since the OP did just that, and good for him, he did not become a wing ornament on the airplane that crossed their flightpath. Just cuz the green light is on does not necessarily mean we can assume that it is safe to jump. SPOT AND MAKE SURE. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

I second this idea. Let us know how it works out. Safe Landings Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Point is, all jury members knew of the 95 murders and most/all thought he did it. All white jury of his peers???? The murder trial Simpson went through was so highly publicized that we would have been hard pressed to find 12 people that had not heard of it. Therefore, in this case, it is fair that he was tried by 12 Americans who are imperfect humans that may or may not have an opinion on his past actions or perceived actions. I am not sure what color has to do with this. A man in this context is a man, not a black man or a white man, whether the defendant or a juror. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

I have been jumping my Mamba for about 1 1/2 years and it is a fine helmet. Fits very well, quiet, visor lock is the best in the business. And it's fun to go to a dropzone where nobody knows you, set your helmet bag down and quickly back up while screaming SNAKE, SNAKE, SNAKE! Just burning a hole in the sky.....

In all the skydive videos I've watched, I have yet to see anyone freefly wearing a full face helmet with a face shield. Is this because the face shields tend not to stay closed in freefly maneuvers? I jump wearing a Bonehead Mamba and am sit flying most of my jumps these days. No issues with the visor staying shut. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Skydivers. What a sick bunch. The OP throws caution to the wind, lays bare his soul, and shares his sincere, positive, and heartfelt thoughts on why he digs hanging with all of us and how do we respond? FART FLAVORS DISCUSSION..... Just burning a hole in the sky.....

WELL SAID Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Pilots spend lots of time energy and money getting their 250 hours and commercial, they deserve to be paid accordingly. While I certainly agree that skydiving grinds to a stop without pilots, you have to realize by now that 250 hours and a commercial provides you with the ability to acquire only the lowest paying entry level jobs in the flying business. I would encourage you to keep working your butt off for shit money if flying is really your passion, and the money will come. Besides, hanging out with all of us cool skydivers is a great perk... Just burning a hole in the sky.....

I am 6' and 210 in my shorts, 245 out the door. I was within 5 lbs. of that when I started 5 years ago, so git yer butt in the airplane and git to gittin' out of it! You will need some good advice from your instructors and rigger on gear, canopy choices, etc but that is true for all newbies. Your response to training and your rate of advancement has much to do with your early gear choices well. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

And that is EXACTLY what the politicians, no matter their party, would do to make it hurt for us average taxpayers if in some weird fashion the government did shut down. God forbid they would shut down programs that fund building bridges to nowhere, oil company subsidies, farm subsidies, or billions in foreign aid to countries that take our money and laugh. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

How old should you have to be to own a gun? Especially the 22mm caliber type? Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Not in the original Bell X-1 which made him famous. Nor in any of the Boeing crowd killers that he was the test pilot on. Pardon my ignorance-I am not aware that Yeager ever flew for Boeing. Please expand on this! Or PM me if you don't want to hijack this thread. Thanks! Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Yep, right up there with " Here, hold my beer and watch this!" Just burning a hole in the sky.....

[I landed in the grass close by our hangar only to see our pain in the ass airport manager running toward me. Admittedly, he had caught me making bandit jumps here before. But before, he could open his mouth I said, "Calm down, this time it really was an emergency!" My boss landed without issue and we fixed the oil line while of course blaming each other for screwing it up in the first place. So the joke around the shop for a awhile was poor Art Linkletter, nether one of his children could fly worth a damn. . . NickD

I apologize for my poor english Thank you Giuseppe Sorry I could not write my message to the Mayor in Italian! I hope your efforts are sucessful. I would like to be able to come jump with you someday. Blue Skies Safe Landings- Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Unfortunately had the same experience but on a skydive (you BASE jumpers are nukin futz) and it actually hurt worse after I figured out the truth... Just burning a hole in the sky.....

In fact, I've always been a pretty cautious person who often considers what could go wrong in a lot of situations. I'm hoping skydiving is like that, but I'm afraid it might be scary as hell, and it's something that's meant for only the most extreme life long thrill seekers, and not so much average joes. What do you think? An old pilot's saying goes like this- "The looney bin augers in The cautious guy enjoys the sky" I think it is most appropriate for jumping as well. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

The clap of thunder as 15 assholes puckered up could be heard for miles. Doesn't matter who you are, that's funny! Probably sounded like a sonic boom.... Oh, to answer your question-PULL WITHOUT HESITATION Just burning a hole in the sky.....

since my shoulder break two summers back, there is a slight asymmetry between my shoulders, and I can feel the difference with the rig on. I have the same issue (multiple breaks to my left collar bone in a motorcycle crash, now my left shoulder is closer to my neck than my right shoulder). When I am gearing up I notice the difference in the fit of my harness but in the air it does not affect my flying. Keep at it you will be flying straight in no time Just burning a hole in the sky.....

Having this "issue" is a good thing. That pit in your stomach is keeping you aware of the realities. I'd say don't lose it. Keep it, think about it, stay aware of it your entire skydiving career. It just may prevent you from getting complacent and ignoring safety. REREAD THE ABOVE COMMENT. SEVERAL TIMES OR UNTIL YOU LOCK IT IN. As for your feelings, you are normal to come to the realization that - it ain't an amusement park ride -you really can die doing this. Go with it, face your natural fear, and decide for yourself if jumping is worth the risk. For me there is nothing else risky or not, that I would rather do. Reading about other people's troubles is good for realizing what could happen but don't let it overwhelm you; let it serve the purpose of educating you without having to go through it yourself, and be just that much more prepared for when stuff happens. Just burning a hole in the sky.....

[ I would have been very happy and content to have seen her become a weekend fun jumper. But she didn't. She became a very competent woman's big way participant, a FAA Parachute Rigger, and she runs her own AFF Instructor Certification Courses. And sometimes that's what we foul smelling dirt bag bums who live in trailers can accomplish . . . NickD

[I know that most of us as jumpers really don't think too consciously about our own safety in the aircraft but the real question should be - what quality of pilot do YOU want at the controls when that aircraft loses one right after rotation and your wife or child is on board? Well said, Bill, well said. Anyone, jumper or pilot, can show up when the sun is shining and everything works. The ones with the sand stand out when the malfunctions happen and the world turns to crap in a heartbeat. Just burning a hole in the sky.....