fastphil

QuoteI have never even considered it. In my years of jumping I have never seen a case where I thought someone fudged their logbook. I have seen many cases where they logged too few jumps though. Only one more month to go for me in China, then back to the USA!![/reply That's me, I have quite a bunch that I didn't log. Wish I would have now, but number of jumps had become about as important to me as how far I drove to the dropzone; zilch...

Just kidding about the tight legstraps, but I'm guessing you can't picture this. Although very briefly upside down, I end upright, sitting on top the slider, with no weight in the harness. Anyway, I recommend you and Pops don't try this manuver...

But I think mine is genetic...

Forget the "one on ones" and move on to 3, 4 or bigger; you'll figure it out much quicker that way... (however, no matter how much your buddy backslides, you can catch him)

I had the legstraps very tight; besides, how do you know what kind of rig I was wearing??? (and, once on the slider I could take the harness off, for all it was doing)

Very cooool; A is the only one I missed, wonder if I can go back and get one...

By means of the Cochran maneuver. Cochran??? can invent his own manuver. The Slider Ride; grab risers on both sides and flip upside down, passing your feet between the risers and under the slider ("skin the cat"), then pass your feet over the slider and hook your legs at the knee on the slider. Now reach up and grab groups of lines and quickly pull yourself up onto the slider. It's been a long time but that's how I remember it. Think it out first carefully so you don't cut yourself away accidentally and do this way up high the first time. Also, this manuver is for a very low percentage of the population and is not proven to improve your sex life...

Several answered that at low altitude exits they would go straight to reserves; am I missing something, I don't quite see the point. I have half a dozen reserve rides, not nearly enough to be as comfortable with it as my main canopy. For myself, when time counts, I would rather have an opening sequence that I'm very comfortable with. I also think exits above 1000 feet leave room (for those with quick reflex) to still get a reserve out... (and I'm not condoning low exits, but if you spend a lot of time in aircraft you should know your limitations and plan for all possibilities)

Stupidist (weirdest) one for me is climbing on top the slider and sitting on it as if it were a seat. Control and landing were awkward, and it sure got some strange looks from those on the ground...

I've done hop & pops from fixed wing and helicopters at 1000 - 1100 feet AGL, seems like you're barely above the treetops. The helicopter was the wildest as we had practially no airspeed and we were as high as this little copter could get us. I've never been much on riding back down in the aircraft...

Aeronautical Charts will cover the high points. Pick one near you and visit it, study it, and always have a plan that includes running fast...

yeah, I can remember saying that "once." Yeah, just "one" for me too; boy, that got out of hand in a hurry...

Actually, it was a StratoFlyer; now quit guessing and just enjoy the pic...

No, but Smitty took that pic of me just before he became the 3rd Phil to base jump... Damn Phil...was the getaway car a 54 Buick? Did that ParaCommander open OK for ya? respect brudda. Nope, getaway car was a F-100 with 292 Y block, the ParaCommander did slide out of it's sleeve in its patience testing way, and Mayfield and Smitty were the best of Mentors...

No, but Smitty took that pic of me just before he became the 3rd Phil to base jump...

Flat can still represent opportunities, look around...

damitttt... I resemble that remark. What could've happened

Here's a 123; used, but not yet used up...

Try exiting the aircraft in head down at a thousand feet, that's a good rush; also done 135 on the two wheeler down the runway. Not to say that skydiving was ever boring, I just lost direction when dives seemed to be pretty much the same one after another. Then I realized that no matter how good I got I still exited the aircraft and went straight down just like everybody else. Windsurfing in large surf, now that's a sport with a healthy punishment factor for the lack of skills.

Not exactly bored or lack of rush, but for me skydiving did get a little mundane. I love relative work and as I got better I had to rely on everyone I jumped with to get better with me, and that frustrated me. I eventually turned to other endevours for my adrenaline...

Here's a good one...

cell phone use in freefall? Can you elaborate on that? A friend of mine took his cell phone after he landed out 2 times and had to walk back one time (he is student too...). so I might consider that. But in freefall? "YEEES HUN I WILL BE HOME SOOOOON" The "Freefall Cellphone" has been on a TV commercial lately. Of course, I cannot condone that kind of waste of freefall time, although it gives "being put on hold" a whole new meaning)...

Now that we are seeing cell phone use while in freefall I expect to see statistics change. I can remember times when the real risk taking at the DZ started after the last load of the day (like riding the rotating beacon 150 ft AGL, doing motorcyles 130 MPH on the runway, etc.)...

Boy, that pic jogs a few brain cells I didn't realize I still had...