Gato

That... ...is damn funny, sir. T.I.N.S.

Sold!!! And here's your change....five internets. Don't spend'em all in one place. T.I.N.S.

Thanks for the clicky, Samahdi - the power of deductive reasoning is strong with this one.

I would kindly direct your attention to the clicky in the above post... Seriously, trying to follow the rules here, but I'm excited about the (my) project. In case you didn't click the above clicky the ebook is called: "Blue Sky, Black Death V1: A Politically Incorrect Glimpse into the Culture of Modern Skydiving." The idea was this: Without demonizing or incriminating any one person or group, what is the truth about this sport? (From my limited perspective(s) of course.) You may like it, you may hate it, but barring any possibly incorrect speed data, I think it's a pretty good read. And as the title states, it's just a glimpse...but a good one, I think. So if you know any noobs, and you're not going to kill me or this thread, I'm asking you to have a look at it. There is a free sample available online at all times, and the entire book is free (normally priced at $4.99) - no strings attached, no bullshit, no salesman will call. Not even me. Thanks, Phree T.I.N.S.

...and he kinda wrote this little ebook about makin' them parachute jumps. And this dude, he thought he was arrogant enough to try and provide a concise, humorous, direct, informative, and interesting introduction to the sport. And he tells me that he's givin' the damn thing away on some site named after a piece of land owned by god itself. I was told that he used a lot of information that was bitched to him/afforded him by fine intellectuals on this here site. I was also told that I can't advertise for him, or ask you folks to have a look at some random classified ad somewhere on some website here on the internets. Like the ones we got here. Can't ask you to do that. So I won't do any of those things. I also won't say his name, cause I can't fucking remember it. Some folks calls him chill, though. Funny lookin' bastard. Night. (oh...um....Blue Sky, Black Death...) T.I.N.S.

Damn, this is an old thread! I don't know if there have been any other packing vids... *cough*** HelloBrianGermain,IamstillwaitingtoseeyourNoSweatPackingvideo...**cough** As far as PMS, I can tell you that it helped me tremendously, if for no other reason, it was instrumental in making the actual construction and layout of a canopy perfectly clear to me. (I was still on student status when I ordered my copy.) Your dropzone may have different procedures when it comes to packing, so pay close attention to what your instructors do and teach. Because (later on) packing becomes something that is somewhat personal, you're never going to find two people who do it exactly the same way, and every manufacturer has a recommended method for every canopy they've ever made/will make. Rigger's tip: It is a VERY good idea to find and thoroughly read the manual for the main you are going to be packing AND jumping. (I'd venture a guess that there are a lot of jumpers out there who are not even aware that a manual for their main even exists.) T.I.N.S.

Very well put, Dave. I am the guy in black and grey, the "star," or "asshole," as the case may be. I think it's easy for some of us to forget that, even though we really want to jump with our friends, not everyone is at the same skill level at a given number of jumps. And I also agree that we ALL should have paid very close attention to our friend that went low, or just broken off the formation altogether. Very powerful learning experience for all of us. T.I.N.S.

Skydive Dallas is about 71 miles from the farm. (Already spoke to Ernie about possibly joining staff there!! lol) T.I.N.S.

Well, interestingly enough, they own another plot of land (7 or 8 acres) that has another house on it. It needs a lot of work, but it could be livable with a few grand in repairs. This is about the long-term in life/quality of life - I am tired of being a slave to the job market, and there is potential for the business. T.I.N.S.

Always the voice of reason, you are, Skymama.

Hello again, my commers - I'm at a crossroads in my life, and I'm looking for perspectives other than my own. I'm not going to be too specific with locations, just in the interest of privacy. I'm 44, currently filling out paperwork for my divorce, with a separation since September of 2009 (yeah, I know.) I was laid off a very well-paying job last November, and have been keeping myself afloat playing private parties (musician,) and unemployment has run out. My lease is up on my apartment at the end of October, so I've been looking at my limited options, and at the moment, there are two readily-available options: 1.) Move to the DZ, live in a trailer or bunkhouse, and work in a convenience store to pay for food, gas, etc. (Maybe $40 per month for electricity.) I live in a Midwestern state, by the way, so our season definitely ends around the first of December, if not sooner. 2.) Move back home to East Texas and live on my family's farm...with my parents. They are both enthusiastic about this, despite my age (they are both in their 60's), but I don't know. The plan would be to help my mother get her antique business off the ground, but that would be the only source of work immediately available to me, and the parents aren't rich. (Fyi, all of my family is in Texas - where I live, I have a lot of friends, but the REALLY good ones are the only ones that stick around during the worst times of your life, so my list has been whittled down somewhat.) Maybe I'm just pissing and moaning - I don't know. Your thoughts? Attached is a photo of the Butler-style "barn" my Dad built about 4 years ago - packed with antiques. My mom is a great inventory specialist (READ: Packrat,) but she sucks when it comes to sales. LOL Edited to add photo. T.I.N.S.

Crazy hair? Not sure what you're referring to. Edited to add: No one on this jump is wearing "crazy hair" - there are a couple of strips of velcro on the top of my helmet (from trying a key fob spy cam last year...for one jump.) T.I.N.S.

Ok, I was reluctant to post this when I first finished the editing, for two reasons: 1 - It was stupid of me to invite two of the skydivers in this jump...you'll know which ones. 2 - I don't want to embarrass anyone, or have any of my friends labeled as "that guy," but the lesson this vid provides well overrides that feeling. This is a vid of my 200th skydive...and it epitomizes why you should always know the skill levels (or lack thereof) of those you invite on a skydive. Please disregard the mint I forgot to chew up before exit - it did leave me in freefall, though...lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWUSi9luLIA I await my 10 cool points...just kidding, nothing cool about this. T.I.N.S.

Thank you, Spot! T.I.N.S.

Afternoon, Flockers - I will be in the Orlando area for a few days next week, doing a quick install in Apopka, and was thinking of possibly taking an extra day or two to take a WS First Flight Course. Does anyone have any recommendations for instructors either at Z-Hills or DeLand, or another DZ nearby? I'm also wanting to know pricing, if that's available. T.I.N.S.

Thanks for taking the time to say that - I really do appreciate your perspective. T.I.N.S.

Well, I haven't taken it off my rig just yet. But my other main is at the DZ. lol I think I should probably shut up for now. T.I.N.S.

Agreed. On some level, I suppose I do think I'm skilled enough to handle this parachute. I consciously know that is not a good enough reason to own it. I did my best to minimize as much risk as possible. I got advice and coaching from experienced instructors that I trust implicitly. I pack very carefully, including both my main and reserve. I was very conscious of bringing my legs together and staying symmetrical in the harness for deployment. When I'm under canopy, I try to do more than just collect data while monitoring altitude loss in various maneuvers - I try to feel and observe what the system is doing. I have taken a lot of time to work on canopy skills up to this point. I had the opportunity to try the same canopy back when I had around 100 jumps, and was advised against it by some, encouraged by others. I ended up asking the DZO, "If your son was at my level with my skills, and he asked you about flying this canopy, what would you say?" He just shook his head and quietly said, "No. Because I have a vested interest in you walking, talking, and breathing. Same goes for you, but you can do whatever you want to do." I thought my friend had sold the STL 190, but when I found out he still had it a couple of weeks ago, I went to the DZO and had another talk about it. It was a different conversation, but the bottom line was that we both felt it might be something worth trying. (And not purely for his entertainment....lol.) Maybe I'm just unnecessarily trying to defend a poor decision. T.I.N.S.

Seems the one of the mods may have removed a post from this thread? I think, perhaps arrogantly, that I was hoping the proportional size and performance differential would play in my favor. That's why the little voice in my head is conflicted, because I know that just because there's a guy next to me with 126 jumps with a Sabre2 135 loaded at 1.3:1, doesn't mean I should do the same thing. (Real guy, love him, but damn.) This is may be another one of those paper-thin layers of dumbass that I have to peel away. T.I.N.S.

So a Stiletto 190 isn't hardcore enough, is that what you mean? T.I.N.S.

I hear ya - I usually run the maneuvers in Brian Germain's skill drills on any canopy I'm flying, and regularly make high-altitude hop & pops to work on this stuff. I only put 4 jumps on the canopy last weekend, but I did fly 3 of my landing patterns in partial brakes, doing my best to make flat 90s for turns onto base and final. You're right about the Stiletto, at least from what I've observed, it does flat turns really well. (Edited for a typo.) T.I.N.S.

Hi Dave - Just as a point of clarification, the majority of my jumps have been over the last 2 seasons. I was out almost all of 2007 and some of 2008. You're absolutely right about not being able to bounce back quickly. I do try to stay active, and keep my muscle tone happening, and that in itself has helped with a lot of injury prevention. So far, the shoulder has been quite stable (knock on wood.) And yes, you're also absolutely right about my own misgivings - and as I stated in my post, I'm NOT sure this canopy is right for me. Maybe I'm at one of those, "Save me from myself," stages, I don't know. I do appreciate you taking the time to reply in a thoughtful way, and I want you to know I will take what you say into consideration. As you say, I'm not a kid anymore...and as such, I do know we have an amazing capacity to fool ourselves. I do not believe I am above that happening to me again. Thanks.

Point taken.

Hey guys - I'm fully prepared to take the flaming I will likely receive for what I'm about to post about. First, a little background info: I'm 44, had my first jump in 2006, and was out for almost 2 seasons with a non-jumping related shoulder injury. I currently have 225 jumps, most of them on a '96 PD230. I've put around 50 jumps on Sabre2 190s and a Pilot 188, and a few on a Sabre1 190. (And not that it's relevant, but I'm also a Coach and Rigger.) My jump numbers are relevant, I do realize, but let's say that for the sake of argument, I don't know shit. Last weekend, a friend loaned me a Stiletto 190 (2001 model) to try out. Before even considering jumping it/putting it on my rig, I had lengthy conversations with our DZO and the best canopy pilots at our DZ, a few of whom fly the Stiletto, as well. After hanging the canopy up and inspecting it, I attached the links to my rig, and had another rigger check my work. I then made 2 hop and pops, one from 10k, because of the ceiling, and one from 13k. On the advise of a few of the pilots, I took 10 second delays on both, as they warned that subterminal deployments can be quite tricky. I have a Digitude Pro on a chest pillow that I wear for learning an unfamiliar canopy (or when the weather is weird...lol...hello, Midwest,) and I ran through basic maneuvers, noting the altitude loss for each, which I know is never a constant. So the point of all of this is basically to give my impression of this particular wing, which I am incidentally loading at 1.26:1. One thing that surprised me was how deep of a stroke the toggles had, but I suppose most people who have a STL load it heavier than I did this one, but they all talk about the flare being quite shallow, and half brakes at the ear-level. The bottom of this canopy's flare was easily at waist level, and I did spend some time edging it to the stall point. The canopy does turn quite fast, but honestly, I didn't find it that much zippier in turns that the Sabre2 190. It certainly has a better glide. Counter-steering a toggle turn is interesting, and only seemed necessary if I was giving aggressive input. (Incidentally, my "hard deck" for ceasing aggressive flight under an unfamiliar parachute is 3k.) I cannot say enough about the glide, though, especially using rear risers. And rear riser turns are just about the most fun thing I've felt under canopy...I can say that, right? I will say that I was very very surprised at the surf I got out of it on one particular jump...no wind, very hot day, and I was just flaring as I felt appropriate. Think I got 60 feet or so. I fully realize I bit off a big chunk, moving from canopy to canopy as I did. I do understand why people here freak out when someone says, "I'll just get this now and fly it conservatively." That is not my goal. I don't have plans to be a swooper, but when I have the time and space, I like to fly the shit out of whatever I'm under, and fly a predictable landing pattern. I am not interested in HP landings, but I am interested in the HP maneuvers one may need down in the basement. (I am not asking for approval for my decision to try out this wing. I have not bought this canopy, yet, because I'm not sure it's right for me. So far, I do like it better than the Sabre2 190 and the Pilot, if only for its landing characteristics.) Having said all that, you may flame or advise as you please, Gentlemen and Ladies. (edited for typos) T.I.N.S.

Good point. That's usually what happens at our DZ as well. T.I.N.S.