Milo

Hey Fred! I know your home DZ is snowed in and you won't be able to get an A license before you go to Eloy. But, if you take your log book you may get them to at least let you do a hop & pop or even a static line. Give them the phone number for GL (1-800-351-6617, I think) Have them call Denny. A jump is a jump, you will be one of the few Michiganders in the air in January/February! Milo

Hey-- Are there any DZs in Puerto Rico? I will be there for a week for work in February and may be able to extend the start or end of my trip by a few days. Milo

If you want to know everything possible about your gear and Rigging, I agree, you can never know too much. If you are thinking about making a living as a rigger, I want to hear how your story turns out. I am curious what the take home pay and working conditions are really like. $25-$30 an hour sounds good until you hear that on a good week they may only have 30 billable hours. They may choose to pay taxes and insurance out of that as well ;) Maybe it is 60 hours a week in the summer, but if the average is only 25 hours a week for the whole year that only works out to a $15 or $20 an hour full time 9-5 job in other career paths. Maybe that isn't so bad, EXCEPT, your main working hours are the hours everyone else gets to jump. It sounds like a good job at first glance, but do I really want a job where the only time off I get is when it is raining? I'd like to hear input from other people who have given it more thought than I have. Milo

Two men are standing at the top of a cliff. One has two budgies, one on each shoulder. The other has a parrot and a shotgun. The first guy jumps off the cliff and on the way down the birds fly away. He crashes on the rocks below and rolls over on his back. He looks up just in time to see his friend jump off too. As the second guy falls the & parrot flies off, he pulls up his shot gun and shoots the bird just before he too crashes onto the rocks. They lie there groaning in agony for a bit before the first guy says, "I really don't see what is supposed to be so great about budgie jumping!" The second guy lets out a groan and says, "I'm really not too impressed with free fall parrot shooting either!"

Dude, Your subject line says it all. There comes a time when you have to leave your parents. Their focus is all out of whack, they can't see who you are as a person because they are looking into your pores. You can't 'talk' them into looking at you differently, you have to leave and give them the opportunity to observe you from afar. Yeah, it is no fun paying your own rent, but if you want to stay sane it is the only option. Milo

fwiw, I never met Taya. But I did a web search on her name and read an article she wrote where she said: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Skydiving is an expression of freedom, courage, and individuality, a physical and visceral celebration of life at its most intense and beautiful. At the very least, it will be the best adrenaline rush you've ever had. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That's closer to describing my feelings about skydiving than I have been able to put into words myself. Milo link: http://www.reckonmag.com/articles/issue7_article1_p1.htm Another interesting link (not about skydiving): http://www.impactboston.com/stories.htm#mideast

Thanks! To sum up the responses and rebut: I should get a USPA membership. I should call the DZ at whatever state/city I am going to visit and talk to someone regarding my current progression and what I need to do to jump there. Rental equipment is almost always available. I will probably need to do a hop & pop or coached jump to demonstrate my currency and skills. Beer is always appreciated. For the rebuttal: I can't get 'just get' my license today because I am not ready to pack my own rig. I can't 'just deal with the cold' because my cold weather dz doesn't fly after October 31. Thanks for the help! Milo

Hey All, I'm a new, unlicensed and (so far) non-uspa member, skydiver. I graduated a static line progression course from a DZ in Michigan this summer. The weather has turned cold here. This winter I will travel for work to Miami, LA, Dallas, Cincinnati, and a few other places. I would also consider emptying my bank account to fly to a warmer climate where the sky is blue and I can jump. As an unlicensed jumper what difficulties will I face if I show up at a DZ without my own equipment, but with a log book? Does USPA membership make a difference at some DZs? (It was not a requirement at mine.) Is rental equipment usually available? One last thing--- I think I come from a "dry" dz. If I show up at your dz do I have to buy beer for all the 'firsts' that have not been celebrated in my progression? Thanks! Milo

In the new classified ad pages only 10 new ads are displayed, even though the link shows more: Monday, November 05 2001 (24) only shows 10 ads. It would also be nice to have links on the main classified page pointing to today's and yesterday's new ads, two pages I go to every day.

Ouch Kelly! It hurts to read this. First things first, take all the pain pills you need to numb the pain. If it looks like you are running out of pills call your mother, father, grandma & grandpa and ask them to pull all that darvocet out of the back of their medicine closet. Call the surgeon Monday morning and ask that they call you if anyone cancels. If you can't make the earlier appointment, no big deal, but if you can find out how bad it really is a day earlier that is good for your peace of mind. Things often look better when the swelling goes down, so you may get a much better prognosis from the surgeon. Good Luck! Milo

I understand the desire for more detailed explanations of incidents, but Sangiro is a webmaster- not an investigative reporter or an FAA investigator. I am sure it is challenging for him to track down and find reports of actual incidents and filter out the rumors and urban legends. Maybe the source could be further clarified, i.e. "Flatland Weekly News", but I appreciate the information, whatever the source. Milo

Hello Since jumpsuits seem to cost more than most altimeters and many helmets I want to make an informed decision when I buy my first jumpsuit. I appreciate the product reviews and manufacturer links for the other categories under the gear section, could jumpsuits be included? Milo

BDU= "Battle Dress Uniform"

Whoa, I don't want to get philosophical, theological, or semantical. I just wondered if anyone ever saw an Amish person jump. Milo

I have seen young amish men driving really tripped out cars. Apparently some of them can have modern conveniences, but they must choose whether or not to give them up and join the church when they turn 21 years old. Skydiving is almost a non-motorized sport. I would not be surprised if there have been Amish skydivers, that's why I asked the question. Milo (Edited because I can be an ass sometimes)

Hey All, Yesterday at my DZ in Michigan I was walking in from a landing and there was an Amish family sitting where the spectators sit. I wasn't too surprised, the Amish population in this area has really been increasing in the last few years so they are common, and I can understand why they would want to watch a bunch of skydivers ;) My question is: Has anyone seen any Amish go skydiving? Do they only jump black and white canopies? Milo

I bought gear on ebay and felt realy stupid sending a Cashiers Check for thousands of dollars across the country. But, I got my gear and extras. Your milage may vary, but it worked for me. Milo

What's wrong with Protek? I'm just starting out and I had been renting stinky, scratched up Proteks from my DZ for my jumps until I got a z1 thrown into another purchase I made. My last jump, one of the other jumpers had a shiny comfortable looking Protek! Since it was his it probably wasn't a hassel to get it sized correctly, and it probably wasn't dripping with other jumper's sweat. I know many people like brand names and fashion, but $50 or $60 for a Protek vs $200+++ for a polycarbon fashion statement is something to consider. Milo

There are about to be some empty spaces at drop zones around the country as the men and women who have volunteered to serve their country are called upon to do so. Thank You. Be safe. Kick some serious ass.

I know it sounds extreme, but the FAA is facing some extreme scenarios right now. I may be over reacting, but I would be seriously bummed if skydiving were banned, even if it was just 'for the duration'. Should we write letters to attempt to sway the policy makers (whoever they are?) to allow skydiving? I don't know about your DZ, the only DZs I've jumped at used C182s. We never seemed to go more than 2 or 3 miles from the DZ and the plane aways landed back at the same airport. It seems like we could get some type of exception. We are not dangerous or malicious, my DZs have not been near population centers or historical sites. Skydivers may be fanatical, but they are only fanatics about skydiving. The AOPA.org web page said a panel of people was appointed to examine the security of the nation's air system. Most of the people appointed were either from Commercial Airlines or Commercial pilots unions. People who would stand to benefit if Private Aviation (vfr) were banned. I'm worried this sport may not be allowed in the future, and I don't know how to stop that. Who can I write? What type of argument do I try to make? Milo P.S. Or, maybe we need to figure out how to make our DZ's compliant with the 'Secure' airport standard as determined by the FAA and have an IFR flight plan for every jump run? I just don't want to stop skydiving.

From AOPA: http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2001/010913boyer_02.html "When the security threats lessen, first will come the approval for Part 91 IFR flying. Then, no sooner than 48 hours later, should come the restoration of VFR privileges. " If I read this correctly, private pilots can not presently fly under IFR rules, and when (if?) that is finally allowed it will be at least 48 hours before pilots can fly under VFR.

In response to quade: "Rather than go to the DZ, you could always give some blood." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some more daring jumpers using dangerous rigs might be able to do both at the same time. Milo (I can't give blood, (malarial risk) I went to Mexico in January)

Hey Jason! You are partially right. The main thrust of my post was , surprisingly enough, the title. When ARE we going to get to jump again??? But, I am seriously concerned about the shit that happened in NY and DC. I hace two friends in NY who are OK. I have a friend who works in the Pentagon who I can't get a hold of. This is serious shit. I'm in Michigan. I'm not a potential terrorist target. My DZ is tiny. I doubt anyone wants to comandeer a Cessna 182 to attack anyone. Even though today's events will weigh heavily on my mind for a long time, I will not allow them to scare me into doing things differently tomorrow. I am lucky. I have a choice. I get to choose whether I want to be a victim of today's events, or choose not to be a victim. Milo

In response to lazerq3: "First off no terrorist is trying to "change" your lifestyle. " Terrorism is all about changing people's lifestyle. Innocent people, with nothing to fear. Terrorism is, by design, aimed at the largest audience, who are typically least susceptible to danger bust most easily manipulated. It's your choice to be terrified. It's my choice not to be. Milo

Like most Americans, I am shocked, saddened, and sickened by the tragedies in New York and Washington. My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of the people killed or injured in these attacks. However, I refuse to allow these terrorists the victory of making me change my lifestyle or actions in response to their senseless, misguided acts. Will the DZs be operating Wednesday when I get out of work? Milo