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First of all not everyone can afford to go or have the time to go, how about instead that kind of lame ass attitude, USPA record the votes openly by name... or better yet, maybe instead of wasting a shit load of members money on a goddamn PR firm for fluffy feel good media stories.... how about we spend a small amount on setting a live webcam during the meeting and then any member who wishes to attend via the internet could do so. It would seem that a few would rather 1. waste our due monies on stupid shit and then hide behind closed doors on their votes. Then we have the issue of HQ not disclosing staff rates of pay to BOD or members. Everything should be in the open and for all to see! Geez, Strat, you might want to switch to decaf.... I am trying to remind members that the meetings are held in various places around the country for the specific purpose of getting members to attend meetings that are in their area. The meetings are not behind closed doors, they are open (except when personnel or disciplinary actions are discussed). And BOD members go out of their way to discuss issues with interested parties before the meetings. I never saw it as an issue knowing what individual staff members were paid. Webcam has been discussed, but I think it was tabled due to cost and technical issues. (its not as simple as it sounds when you are using a host hotel). Just trying to help.... top Jump more, post less!

I can see the counter argument, that it is a pain in the ass to record votes on routine matters when they are unanimous or nearly so. Board members can request that a vote be by name (which is then voted on), and any Board member can make their vote by name at any time. If you really want to know how your RD or a ND voted, go to a BOD meeting. top Jump more, post less!

For the most part, BOD votes are pretty routine stuff. Every once in a while there is an issue that is divisive or controversial. I think all votes should be done by name, that lets the people who elect their representatives know if the BOD member is representing or pretending. The "secret ballot" should be a big red flag as to BOD members not wanting own up to their vote. top Jump more, post less!

How many of us checked this link to make sure it wasn't us??? Show of hands! top Jump more, post less!

Or the third option, extremely sloppy detective work on the part of the FAA. top Jump more, post less!

Because there are a lot of names on that list of participants that would NEVER break and FAR! It must be industrial haze.... top Jump more, post less!

Below is a quote from the OP, what I said was on-topic, and relevant. Tell me that aircraft MX is not largely an issue of simply trusting the DZO that it is done properly. Tell me that Lodi did not have some egregious MX issues that spanned a significant time period and number of loads flown. As fas as I know, Bill is still running his own MX shop, so you have all the same people doing the same job as before. Do you really think it's a stretch be be, let say, skeptikal, when it comes to the current state of affairs. Note that I don't come right out and say that things are 'A-OK' nor 'sup-par', as I don't know one way or the other. I just lay out the facts from not too long ago, and the fact that there is a degree of trust involved in the area of aircraft MX in this industry. If you break that trust, there is a price to pay, and part of that is going to be some lingering skeptisism. Maybe you can help me, what does corrosion on an Otter wing attachment point look like? How about with the fairing installed on the plane, what does it look like then? How about worn control cables? What do they look like with all the inspection plates in place? It's something to think about. Relax Dave! The FAA has handled it. They have been out there so many times we know what they eat for lunch. Amazingly after months of follow up investigation, meetings with attorneys and more paperwork, the FAA has sought a settlement for much less than the proposed amounts, because many parts of their case have fallen apart. That doesn't get a big press-release because it makes the FAA look bad. But Bill is still fighting and is probably spending more on his attorney than the latest settlement proposal. It's not about the money, its about being right. If you don't trust Bill, that's fine, don't jump there. But if you don't know anything but what the FAA is spouting, then you don't know anything. top Jump more, post less!

VW had a recall on engine coils that held up my registration until I complied on my 1.8T. top Jump more, post less!

Way to bring up ancient history! In the last few years, I have been involved in a few incidents in CRW. I still don't think I would not wear one, even for this jump. First, it's another system you have to put on, make sure the flag/lanyard doesn't interfere with, its one more thing flopping around your CG when you are spinning, a tert could prevent a canopy from easily sliding of a jumper by being a snag point, and with small canopies I would worry about tossing it out one way and coming back around to it from the other side before it had time to inflate. Also, I have seen someone land a tertiary; she landed flat on her back in the dessert with no steering. It hurt me and I was in the hanger! Well fitting rigs, not loosening your chest strap until after the CRW is over, staying current with CRW, and well maintained three rings those would be my priorities. But it is a personal decision. I still think the added risks/costs outweigh the added benefit. top Jump more, post less!

Another vote for Under Armor cold gear. I used them on the 18K jumps for the CF world record, and they worked great. Still able to move, breath, etc, but not cold. Gloves are always a bit tricky in cold weather. You have to be able to feel what you are doing, but if they are too thin, you can't feel your hands anyway. With any clothing, check your ability to reach handles, feel what you are doing, and handles don't disappear into pockets or pouches. Good luck! top Jump more, post less!

The last I know, which was mid 1996, Gus had gear from the first 8 stack still. Believe he is on the coast of CA retired now. top Jump more, post less!

I saw them on ebay also with the same pictures. Weird looking old lady lol Is it just me or did she look like a crack addict? Oh i am so glad you said that. I wanted to make that observation but was afraid I would insult someone if she turned out to be a legit skydiver! Yeah, hate to insult a crack addict and call her a skydiver. top Jump more, post less!

Geez! Ya take a couple days off to go to a volleyball tourney, and you get called out for not having enough experience! It has been a couple of months, maybe I'm a little rusty. Anybody out there wanna try some CRW? top Jump more, post less!

The best thing is that whatever we are saying about her in this forum, the Longmont City Council is saying in closed session! top Jump more, post less!

Sounds like a great task for the Group Membership committee! top Jump more, post less!

Second time I heard that one Rather than go crater divng for gear I would prefer the gear bag thats left in packing area or the last car in the parking lot at the end of the day. R Think ~ wallet, watch, car keys...gold fillings... You forgot rings and earlobe studs. I think all the good stuff is back in the gear bag, and waaayyy easier to get! top Jump more, post less!

All this pre-planning is great, because there is very little time once you are in a self-downplane. We do a downplane with a 93 and a 101 JFX and it is roaring fast! Well above your normal descending canopy and ground rush easily at a thousand feet, you are just moving soooo fast! If you deploy at an altitude that your AAD creates a two-out, you will not have long to contemplate your future actions if a downplane occurs. Think about your actions and reactions clearly and calmly now, because time and response will be of the essence in those precious seconds. top Jump more, post less!

I'm glad you posted that. Many rigs are now considered "freefly friendly" and the like, and provide excellent protection against parts of your deployment system being exposed. Even so, I think we all need to instill in everyone a sufficient sense of fear and paranoia that their pilot chutes and bridles might be exposed and that they need to continually check them, at least until they get in the door. I just don't think that it is reasonable to accept that someone is going to be yanked off a plane once in a while due to something being premature. I think it can almost always be prevented. Can you imagine the video if that guy had gone out and rear-floated!!?? Would have been much more exciting! Interestingly, he didn't get a premature deployment on it since he didn't even know about it until the OP informed him. top Jump more, post less!

First one is easy. Probably not unless you are extremely well-versed in CRW, or extremely lucky. A true downplane is travelling at 80 mph straight into the ground. The second one is a bit trickier, because I believe getting rid of a true downplane would be a huge priority since you are flying straight into the ground. Any glancing blow will diminish the forces brought to your body, so my answer would be, "Until I hit dirt." I (and many others) have successfully broken off from planned downplanes at under two hundred feet and I would venture to guess some were closer to a hundred feet. So I would look to fight a two-out downplane into a side-by-side or chop it until something stopped me. top Jump more, post less!

And we drew straws to see who had to land the Storm instead of the nice-landing 5-cell that didn't have a name yet!! top Jump more, post less!

http://www.nzaerosports.com/canopies/daedalus-matrix2 clickified. top Jump more, post less!

Contact USPA HQ. They have a number of clubs that are successful and can offer tips on how you can be successful also. I think two have started in my region in the last two years. Good luck! top Jump more, post less!

We got a bunch of canopies from them and the duty came in a separate bill from FEDEX. It wasn't much at all.....like twenty or so per canopy. It wasn't a dealbreaker that's for sure. top Jump more, post less!

I can also recommend not landing on the grass at the edge of the high speed driving training course at the police academy since the po-po will have to be contacted to come and retrieve you. Not that I'd know anything about that from personal experience or anything. And never land in an empty football stadium when making a bandit New Years Eve cross country jump...they LOCK those things up pretty tight when there's no game on! Whodathunk?? We can't leave out, "Don't land at the nuclear submarine facility." Apparently, being locked is the least of your problems. top Jump more, post less!

Try this: http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/index.aspx An idea of when would also help.... top Jump more, post less!