VideoFly

I've used the kind you are using for years and they are my favorite goggles.

Some ski jumpers face their palms down and some occasionally turn one palm down to gain stability. Who knows, maybe trackers can teach them a few things.

I've always referred to ski jumpers when teaching students to track. Also, some ski jumpers train and test equipment in wind tunnels.

Maybe they test drive from the rockies in Colorado downhill to Kansas. I remember my Road Runner only got 9 mpg, but I still loved to drive it.

It is frustrating to watch elderly family members do without while they send money to organizations that convince donors that the money actually goes to people in real need when in fact it doesn’t. It’s even more frustrating when you try to tell your elders what is going on and they fault you for being uncaring. These are cruel businesses that we are faced with, but any actions we may take against them make us look cruel in the eyes of our elders.

I am about your weight and a little shorter. When I started jumping, I went low a lot. I got an old balloon suit, which helped, but I wanted more foot control for forward motion. I now have a Tony Swoop Suit in cotton with big forearms, swoop cords through low armpits, and cordora mega-booties. It works well to jump with others. Also, most of my jumps are with a camera suit for shooting video. For me, wings are definitely a disadvantage for RW. When you go to take a grip, wings tend to push you up and back.

Good points that I didn't think of.

Would night tandem jumps with a B or C license holder on the front count as night jumps toward their D license?

I’ve had a couple of no-canopy-out dreams and landed beautifully with a swooping body flair. I also had a dream where a buddy of mine swooped in with a great landing with no canopies out. They were fantastic dreams.

Well stated!

Here is great animation of airplane pitch, yaw, and roll. http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/short.html

As always, tombuch conveys well informed and cogent viewpoint on the topic of climbing exits. Subsequently, I ask the following question. Is there a specified or recommended window of angles of incline that pilots should remain within during skydiving exits? Of course, we know that correlations do not always indicate causation. In other words, must we remain cognizant to the fact that tail strikes on climbing planes may or may not be the sole responsibility of aircraft pilots? Or instead, is it possible that airplanes involved in skydiver tail strikes may have been flying at a safe incline while the skydiver may have been in error? As tombuch stated, the USPA ad photo does appear to show that the tail of the plane is quite low, possibly as he stated “much lower than it should have been.” On the other hand, the photo also seems to indicate that the jumper may have been more concerned with a photo op than the incline of the plane, and in turn, a safe exit. It appears that this issue needs more discussion and subsequent training for all involved in skydiving operations. It also opens the door for analyzing the effects of having cameras on jumps as they relate to individuals becoming distracted from performing safe procedures. I am glad the jumper in the photo is okay.

Holy smokes- that is awesome! Those canopies scare me.

Much of this discussion seems to stem from Safety and Training issues, which are worthy of discussion. From a student’s early training, they are told about the possibility of a plane climbing during exits. Step 4 of the “Learn Spotting One Jump at a Time” section of the SIM states that the student is to “Look straight down, using horizon reference points. Avoid using the aircraft as a reference. On jump run, the plane is often climbing, banking, skidding, or crabbing.” I can only hope that these points are stressed during instruction and throughout each skydiver’s career. Also, part of the purpose of Category F instruction is to prepare students for emergency exits, which may need to be executed with a plane in any position and/or attitude. Step 5 of Section 4- Category F of the SIM deals with aircraft emergencies with clear and pull recommendations. Within that step, it is stated: a. A clear and pull is used for emergency exits and pre-planned low-altitude jumps. b. Use a familiar, stable exit technique. Again, I hope that skydivers are familiar with appropriate familiar exits, which are stable in varying instances. One concern we may have with the SIM is that within the Category F Freefall Dive Flows for the 5,500 foot and 3,500 foot Clear and Pull exits, the SIM specifies the use of poised exits when it previously recommends the use of familiar, stable exits. Perhaps, instructors need to spend more time explaining that at times, we may need to use diving exits, particular during an emergency when the aircraft may be “climbing, banking, skidding, or crabbing.” Either way, I have witnessed a tail strike with fatal results and have seen too many near strikes. This is a Safety and Training issue which merits more discussion.

If we look at the ad from a logical perspective and read each sentence carefully we may gain the following: The ad says, “To help avoid tail-strike, pilots must provide skydivers with a properly configured aircraft for every exit.” I agree with that statement, but this is not to say that a flaps-up climbing airplane is not properly configured for skydivers to exit. However, the prior sentence states “During this low pass, the pilot continued the airplane’s climb to higher altitude, which placed the tail much lower than it should have been during a time when a jumper is exiting.” That statement seems to indicate that the USPA admonishes pilots for continuing to climb to a higher altitude, placing the tail low during exits. That statement concerns me as it is quite possible to exit an airplane in such a configuration safely. Furthermore, in this age of litigation and blame, the statement concerns me as it may provide individuals with avenues for blame in respect to the performance of an airplane pilot, a DZO, and others; for a skydiver’s error in judgment. The ad continues to promote an inflammatory stance by stating “Jumpers also need to learn to recognize when an aircraft is in level flight and safe to exit.” This statement may allow readers to assume that exiting an aircraft in un-level flight is not safe. Once again, I disagree with the statement. I do credit the USPA for stating “Additionally, performing a low, diving-type exit can help ensure clearing the tail of an airplane.” That statement is important because unfortunately, we may find ourselves skydiving with individuals who are inexperienced/undereducated, pre-occupied, thoughtless, or perhaps even ignorant. Moreover, in the ad cited, I take some exception to the USPA contradicting a common and potentially safe procedure. On the other hand, I must praise the USPA for statements made in other recent ads concerned with re-thinking minimum opening altitudes with higher performance canopies and helping to ensure that packers are adequately educated.

Nerve tissue is some of the slowest healing tissue in the body. It may heal perhaps one-half to an inch per month. Measure your leg and do the math. My legs still hurt a bit at 18 years after surgery. However, for the most part, I mostly have numbness, which is better than pain. It sounds like you are doing great.

One time, after kicking out of line twist and pulling my risers apart, I noticed that I had dislodged my left cutaway cable to the point of having only one-quarter inch still through the loop. I carefully pulled the cable back up into position until it was tight and landed the canopy.

I had a double discotomy (L4; L5/S1) and a double lamentectomy several years before I started jumping. While I have arthritis and some leg problems, the surgery had little effect upon jumping. In fact, jumping in a good arch actually relieves quite a bit of my stiffness and pain. My surgery was fairly evasive, leaving a scar about ten inches long. While your recovery may take long, you will hopefully be able to enjoy jumping soon.

Whatever altitude it takes, depending upon conditions, to safely achieve your goals.

Beautiful pictures Karen. Great composition, timing, and technical characteristics. Congratulations! Eric

Here's a few of my favorites.

Another one.

Here's some more.

Some of my favorite things are pink.

I think the stupidest things I saw at the mall today were: 1- Whimpy guys flapping their arms at a Wii booth. 2- People with those earpiece phones seemingly roaming while yelling at themselves. 3- Very large, very slow people walking side by side in groups of four, blocking crowds of people from passing by. How about you? Any stupid observations at the mall?