Shark

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Posts posted by Shark

  4. At sunset 17 November 2007, we took Tom up on his last skydive. N926MA was piloted by Karl Gulledge with 23 of his closest friends and family. The ash dive was primarily a 3 way base with Brandon Bletzacker, Phil Arca, and Melanie Curtis. Brandon had Tom's ashes while Phil and Melanie assisted in the release. There were also various jumpers with smoke canisters during freefall and canopy descent. Other friends participated by making tandem skydives. For myself, I had the honor of taking Tom's mom on her first skydive. We had no video, but yet had Tom in our thoughts during the freefall. Last out, I hesitated at the door as we banked towards the coast and the setting sun. I'm not even sure what was going through my mind, but yet smiled and told Lisa, "Here we go!" I made my exit count and arched, still watching the sun going down. I pitched the drogue, gave Lisa a "thumbs up" and made a slow left turn, taking in the beauty of the earth from above. I stopped with a heading towards the setting sun and thought of Tom...

    (He was one of my AFF students, along with Brandon and Phil. I did his A License Check dive. I watch the kids progress into good free fliers, leaving me high as I corked. He used my spare rig, while his was being repacked. I borrowed his gear for some demo jumps. Earlier this year I had the pleasure of being his Coach Course Evaluator. Tom and his buds have come a long way.)

    ...I take a peek at my altimeter, just as my Neptune is reminding me and I take Lisa's left hand so she can see the altimeter. Just then I remember she is wearing Tom's altimeter. She reaches back with her right hand and I guide it to the drogue release. I feel a slight trap door effect and #11 opens up smoothly, on heading, still towards the setting sun. I turn towards the DZ and see some smoke canisters still emitting what is left. I offer Lisa the toggles and have her steer a course towards the DZ where her family awaits. As we fly, I notice a kind of mist in the air, and I knew Tom was there.

    (As we make our descent, I tell Lisa a little about myself. Just as Tom, I was a Midshipman while in college. Although he was a Marine Option, we often spoke about similar experiences. In a way, I lived vicariously through what he was now going through, and what I have in the past. Tom would have made a good officer and leader.)

    As we make it into the pattern I take control of the toggles and set it down right by the others. Just then my emotions take over as I hug Lisa and Tom's sister in a group hug. The rest of the family comes over and I quietly gather up the canopy, while trying to hide my emotions and act professional. It was difficult, and could not hide the tears, even after all the hugs.

    We will miss you Tom Flynn. My best skydive was with you and your mom. Semper Fi.

    Shark out.

  7. Quote

    It's easy to find AFF I's who want to jump. It's difficult to find those that want to teach. Ask one to teach the days FJC and they all run for the hills. I teach the FJC all the time because I like to teach almost as much as like to jump.



    Ditto!

    Hey Jim,

    That's why you see me on the ground most weekends. B| Then again I jump every day.:ph34r:

    Shark

  8. Yes, shit happens, and all we can do is minimize it, by good training and education.

    I'm still relatively new in my 1,600+ AFF jumps and I've seen a lot of stuff, both the good and bad.

    In a perfect world I'd have students do 10-15 minutes of tunnel prior to level 1.

  14. Congratulations, Devil Dog! At least you did not freak me out too much. If you want to make new friends at the DZ bring more imported beer, otherwise you will still be considered one of Uncle Sam's Misguided Clowns. B| You just need to work on your landings now. :D

  15. Practice, practice, practice with current evaluators and/or AFFIs.

    Be aggressive; real students will not always be stable a pull time.
    Your evaluator will at least be belly-to-earth.
    Level 1s are not always the easiest. :S

  16. I went from a Stiletto 135 to a Katana 120. I've read the other posts, but my Katana opens up much nicer and on heading than my Stiletto. In fact I feel it is the best opening PD canopy.

    Careful when doing your front riser turn to final. If you are used to the "lower" turn of the Stiletto you will find your self stabbing the Katana or worse. The Katana has a lot more stopping power than the Stiletto, but since it has a steeper glide it can be difficult to make it back from longer spots.

  18. Last year I averaged more than 1 FJC/week. Although I provide a PPT presentation for them to take home I do not use it to lecture. In 2003 created the PPT from the SIM using Cat. A guidelines. The original poster can create his own. He may even learn something along the way. He may buy one from me if he wishes. B|

  19. Quote

    Can anyone provide a copy of a First Jump Course/AFF ground school on Powerpoint? I want to make one specific to my DZ but didn't want to go from scratch if possible. I'll cite you and give you credit if you want ;-) Thanks for any help...Happy Flights!



    Imagine the time in hours/days one took to complete the project. Now imagine what a software consultant would charge as compensation. And all you will do is cite the developer?

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    I don't know how you are going to get 6 hours of freefall time with 200 jumps... Unless you start adding tunnel time to your freefall time, which is technically wrong, because you are not in freefall. You'd be hard pressed to get 1 hour for every 60 jumps... So that's at least 360. I have yet to meet an AFFI that would have passed the course with 360 jumps... If they did the tunnel time to do it in that time then they have the skill - more skill than it takes to take out tandems.



    Even with tons of tunnel time, no one with 360 jumps is the "most qualified, most experienced and most capable" instructor. They might have great freefall skills, but there's more to it when you're dealing with "4 arms, 4 legs, 5 handles, and a pilot chute in tow".

    edit to add: I think TIs should make more than AFFIs because in the end if everything goes to shit, the AFF guy can just let go. TIs can't.



    TIs do earn more as they are the ones most likely to be tipped. As far as your AFFI statement goes, a newly minted AFFI will have tough time getting hired, especially at larger DZs. Jump numbers do count. Having an AFFI with ~360 jumps will not get you a job, nor will a TI with around 500 jumps. Well, at least not at any DZ here in SoCal....

    Also, please do not disrespect the AFFI skills.

  22. Quote

    I wonder if the floating laterals can be retrofitted.:S



    Dude,

    That's a good excuse to get a new one! B|
    I love the floating lats on my new rig, and it's kind of a
    bummer when I need to jump my "older" Infinity.
    Guess I might have to upgrade that rig, too! :P

    BTW, when's your bro Leon going to get back in the air?

    Shark out.

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    Sorry to deviate from this thread but have you ever heard of any tandem instructor candidate fail a course? In my thirteen years in this sport my answer is NEVER!



    I know of one...



    I know of two....