bigdad510

jumpdr...thats a good idea, i'm suprise with me being a computer geek I didn't think of that...cool advice to the OP, I highly recommend the scanning thing, I had to reconstruct mine after Katrina, the storm took it all away, but I had my computer...I know better now. Oh, one more piece of advice...take your license tests at the appropriate number and SEND IT TO USPA! I had my signed off A license paperwork for 10 years before I sent it to USPA. Brad

I'm not on instructor, but I want to make a comment on this one. I agree that it is very hard for a JM to see when hips are out of place. It seems to happen a lot with students and it takes forever to get recognized. I had the same problem as a student and spent about 4 jumps until someone figures out my hips were off-center. Brad

Sorry, should have been more specific. 100 jumps for a tracking dive in groups. Brad

I made a mistake with my RW suit. It was Red & Blue with yellow grippers, when I put in on, it looked like a clown suit, i would recommend staying away from that color scheme. SO I painted all the grippers black, now everyone calls me spiderman, I can live with that. I don't think canopy colors matter. I don't have a lot of jumps, but I'm on my THIRD USED canopy. I don't recommend buying a brand new canopy, you won't want to give it up. Buying used lets you feel better about going form one canopy to another when YOU want to, not you wallet. I bought my heatwave for 200 bucks on here, and the most I've paid is 350. I'm glad I haven't bought new because I think I'll be going back UP in canopy size in another year or so. I love my 135, but getting older. So I agree with another post, match you colors for container and suit, but don't worry about the canopy. You'll want to change it anyway. Brad

I understand the need for skydiving. I don't want to say I was in a hurry to do things, but I kind of was. You get blazed on here quick by doing things before it is recommended, and it's understandable from statistical standpoint. When I came out of tracks in the beginning, I was always in a turn. I just talked to alot of people, teh DZO, instructors and kept trying in smaller groups. We all learn I guess, glad to hear you're learning and taking the right steps to get better. Recover quick, we all know the "itchy" feeling of getting back in the air again! Blue Skies Brad

Glad you're "ok". I've read and I'm sure you'll understand, that tracking dives shouldn't be done by low number skydivers. At our DZ you have to have a minimum of 100 jumps to participate in a tracking dive. Give it some more jumps than talk to an instructor before trying it again. It took me a while before I could track really well, come out of it and be stable exactly the way I wanted to, be careful, be safe! Blus Skies Brad

Everytime I teach a SCUBA class I get asked about flying and diving. It seems the rules change each year, but its always been at least 12 hours between diving, I think this year its 18. The conservative answer is 24hrs and even then, you can have microbubbles still in your system. The dive charts,tables and computers are used as a "measure", everyone is different. I know divers that have been bent by doing a 60 foot dive, well within the limits of PADI table, but still suffered. I agree with the post of switch the two. Skudive them SCUBA. Even small elevation changes can effect some people and a pressurized cabin in an aircraft for 8k can have ahuge effect on some. Some people can off-gas quicker than others. For skydivers after SCUBA diving, not a good idea. The rapid accent to altitude causes the body to release Nitrogen at an extrememly fast rate, and even microbubbles still in you system can cause DCS. Brad

I've witnessed two jumpers fudge thier number whe I first started jumping 10 years ago. They wanted theier "D" so bad that they some how both "lost" their jump logs and had to reconstruct. Funny, they signed each others and magically had a "D". But they flew like crap and didn't know anything about skydiving. Fudging can get people killed, who cares what your numbers are. My numbers are actual to my profile, and my membership is legit. Had a 9 1/2 year "break". I see people with hundreds and thousands of jumps that can't handle themseves like you would think from their numbers. Guess it al comes out in the air and under canopy. Brad

Just wanted to let everyone know, I'm making my own still condom out of 2mm neo, its coming out really well. If you need one, let me know, I might start making some for sale$$$ Brad

I have one for a HC-36, its great, but don't need it anymore if you're interested. Its a Bonehead box. Brad

I also agree about the forward movement thing. About the only time a belly flyer should bring his arms back are to dive to a spot outside the formation or to track away after breakoff. --Ed I hear what your saying. It worked for me toget me TOO the formation. Once I was there I stayed there. Now I have booties, best thing ever for me. Brad

If you get help from experienced jumpers, look on ebay and here. I put my first rig together for 1000. You may have to piece it together.

Well said DSE. Our DZO bends over backwards and a lot of jumpers take it for granted. Sure there are times I don't get out at the right altitude, but there a re plenty of times on the last load we get 15k+, and no one complains. Some of the logic hear kills me and makes me thankful for having a great DZ with a great DZO. You know, I never did bill the DZO for gas money when the weather was bad and no one could jump. Skydiving and Skydivers are a very small community. Without the give and take, it would be even smaller. DZO's look out for people that look out for them. You scratch mine I'll scratch yours mentality. Bail out at 3k- I don't need a refund, the DZO can keep the money to get the aircraft fixed so I can go to 14k soon. Brad

Fill me in, whats the alternative? Got a pic of the others? Brad

I' not too familiar with the AFF course and am out of my league to talk about it. But from listening and watching things at my DZ there could be another approach. I'm a PADI Master Scuba Diver Instructor, and one of the things I like about Instructing SCUBA is the flexibility I have to conduct my course, as long as I follow standards and ensure my students meet standards. Maybe an approach to both the AFFI and AFF course especially, is take home study material. I conduct my SCUBA that way. People interested in SCUBA come up to me, and first I get them the books, tell them to read, study and do the self-exams in them, and when they are finish, come and talk to me about starting a course. Its not a perfect system, but for me, it is REALLY easy to see who is prepared and who isn't. I have turned people away because they say they are ready but they really haven't read anything. I think it would work for at least the AFF course. I agree with a post that said a lot of the course is "survival" techniques. I love jumping with skydivers fresh off student status because I learn how well each instructor is. To me, there isn't enough taught and learned prior to getting in the air for that first jump. So many people go thru AFF, and when you start talking to them about basics, they don't know. I say have them buy a "manual" that teaches for than survival skills, give them written and on the ground practical exams, and then take them to the air. I think it would promote safer skydiving, especially with canopy control. Sorry that some of this is about AFF, but I think that the basic design I'm talking about for AFF students should be in the Design for AFFI and a whole lot more. Thats my 2 cents. Brad

Thanks for the post. I want to learn a sit just so I can fall a little faster when doing some video with big boys. I have a Q. Can you sit fly in an RW suit with booties? I know that all the sit flyers at my DZ wear freefly pants or a baggie top in the arms to fly. I'm looking to see if I can still wear my rw suit incase I want to dramatically slow down and fly on my belly. Maybe thats the wrong approach. The one time I did try to sit fly, I was on my back in a spin and couldn't get out, so I went belly to earth. Thanks! Blue Skies! Brad

I jump a HC36 just for fun. A lot of peple have commented the video quality is better than the PC cameras most jump with. Like B?D said though, no LANC, ant it doesn't have an outside record light for the battery operated cam eyes. I just have a routine. I turn it on around 11K, then when the green light comes on, I reach up and push record. Works like a charm. I like the MiniDV tape, I've heard the DVD and hard drives don'w do too well in the air, too much vibration. Brad

Thanks all for your post. I fell better knowing others would have made the same call I did. You guys hav a lot more jumps thatn I do. Blue Skies! Brad

Let me give you a father perspective. I have three children and one on the way due in May. I understand your concern but I don't think you should feel guilty. Instead, use skydiving as a lesson to teach your children a number of things. That you can enjoy life, not matter what your age and circumstance. That you can include your family in your hobbies, even if they don't participate. Even more, you can teach them to reach out and go for their goals, not matter what others think or say, because you are in charge of your life. You should never have to look back on your life and say, "I should have done that" but didn't, because other peoples opinions are different that yours. I do agree though, that you should approach skydiving with common sens and be conservative. I don't do hook turns, or swoop or anything like that, and my wing load is 1.2. What I tell other people is, I want to be a safe skydiver, and I want to live to skydive another day. Each person has hobbies they enjoy, whether they have risk or not, other people look at those activities in different lights. People don't understand skydivers unless they are skydivers themselves. Or unless that person is my wife. My wife has no intentions of ever skydiving due to her own reasons. But she is out there every day that I am out there jumping, supporting me, because she knows that’s what I like doing. I've asked her several times, if she wants me to stop. She gets mad at me when I ask, because she knows skydiving is a part of me, and if I stop, I won't be happy. Sorry this is so long, but to wrap this up. "You" are living your life, and I believe showing your children valuably life lessons. Take the opportunity to explain those lessons to them. People will always criticize the unknown, because they are ignorant. You're right, “they just don't get it". Be safe, enjoy your life, and I wish you Blue Skies and Calm winds to get out there and enjoy freefall. By the way, my avatar is my wifes first ultrasound. Can't wait for the next one in a couple of weeks. Brad

To answer your questions, as I was pulling the cutaway the opening shock of my main stopped me. Funny, because I would think the opening shock would have assisted me in pulling it. My throw out may have been a little lazy. I was jumping a wing jacket (have about 10 jumps on it). When I think about it, it wasn't a normal pull, to half-ass on that jump. It woke me up though. So you can imagine the clearance I got the PC from my body on the next jump A lazy throw out shouldn’t be happening again from me anytime soon! Brad

Friday I went out for 2 jumps before work. One the first jump, I follow a tandem out and everything is good until throw out. I pitched my PC like normal, and instead of going upright within a second, about 3 seconds pass and nothing. I reached for my cutaway as I felt something hit my leg, I'm assuming it was my PC. Another second or two goes by and I start to pull my cutaway handle and my main opens. I looked up and everything was fine with the canopy. However, I had a situation and I'm curious how you all would react. As I look down at my cutaway (under a fully functional canopy), it is completely out of its velcro with about 3 or 4 inches of yellow cable showing. I had to make a decision. I was just above 2200ft. Do I cut it away, because the cables might almost be out, or do I push it back in and hope that works? What I did is made sure my airspace was clear around me. Then I pushed the cable back into place and put the pillow back in as much as I could. I looked at my three rinds and followed the route my cables made to make sure they weren't about to come out, and weren't even close to coming out, and landed safely. The whole thing had my heart pumping, since this was my first "malfunction" . I was glad to get to the ground to start breathing again. I got right back on the horse after a good gear check and made another jump.

I checked out thefirst one and I haven't seen anything newon thier website since 2002. I've emailed them several times with no reply. Has onyone bought anything recently from them? The second, its an option, but seems really expesive to me. I just bought high grade neoprene to make my own for under $15. Thanks for the post! Brad

Was searching everywhere and only found one company that "use to" make camera condoms for Still camera's. Anyone have a website of anyone currently making them? Thanks! Brad

I have a 25mm also for my sony. The threads on your camera is 25mm, so when you buy your wide angle it should say 25mm on it. I bought mine straight from the sony website, works great and the price is actually good. I purchased the .45. Hope that helps Brad

I have an HC 36 that I have been jumping for 6 months now. It doesn't have a LANC, but I don't care. I have a routine, and its on and recording when I need it. I get compliments on teh video quality. Its much better then the PC cameres sony makes. I have Sony's .45 wide angle on it and it works great. Currently mine is in a Bonehead box. They weren't sure what fit it, So I bought it with a discount, fit it,called them back and gave them a thumbs up. So if you ask they can tell you. Shoot manual focus, sports mode, thats all you need to change. Brad