danornan

Old school here...An audible with 3 preset altitudes (break off, canopy out and flat-line) and analog altimeter on my mud flap.  Mudflap is always there, easy for me and other to see and out of the way. Little to remember...

Not sure of the point as a D qualifies you for all aspects of the sport.  While we're at it, eliminate the night jump from the D license.  Not necessary and dangerous. No one has to make a night jump accidentally or unintentionally.

A lot of good advise in most of the above comments and great for skydiver to Instructor coaching.  One almost universal point,  when skydivers turn low is to either avoid something because their planning was off or they are afraid to land downwind.   Landing downwind should not be avoided if you are too low or the alternative is being unpredictable in the landing pattern. Side comment, EVERYONE thinks they have cleared their airspace! Landing downwind should be practiced.

Give some thought to analog on the mudflap.  It's away there, easy to read and not in the way.  For me, so much more convenient and it's eaisly shared with your friends..

On 6/8/2020 at 8:58 AM, pchapman said:

That's an interesting one! 

I have heard (somewhere on dz.com years ago) of a hook knife becoming unsecured, flying up on opening, and cutting a line.

If my memory is not too fogy, this happened at Z-Hills and was caught on video, maybe 10 years ago.  

On 11/27/2020 at 9:56 PM, bigbearfng said:

 

Also how is it to kneel down for repacking your main?

I had a TPF (tibia plateau fracture) 21 years ago and my range of motion is around 135 degrees making it uncomfortable to kneel down and pack.  I've paid a packer since my accident. I was told after my accident that I might need a total knee replacement in about 5 years, but so far I still have all natural parts.

 

 

Get some skydiving gloves at your local gear store.  They are the right tool for the sport and that will be one less thing to have to think about.  Later as you get more experience you can try other types.  Keep it simple.

22 hours ago, JoeWeber said:

This is hands down the best advice you will receive, that's assuming you are aware enough to get your weight normalized before any elective surgery. I call it pre-hab. Even if it hurts it'll save you from a lot of more painful rehab. 

I do a lot of swimming with fins and that really works the larger muscles in your upper leg.  According to previous PT therapists, that has made a big difference in my not needing any pain medication or a TKR.

I'm following this because I had a TPF (tibial plateau fracture) about 20 years ago and was told I'd need an artificial knee in about 5 years.  I'm long over due but not in any discomfort and don't take any medications.  Turning 70 in January with about 3600 jumps.  Maybe 1500 jumps on the fracture and no sign,  in the future of a new knee,  yet.  I was told by one of my doctors, after the last of 5 operations, that if I didn't gain any weight, didn't run or smoked and drank moderately, his handiwork might last  20+ years.  3 out of 4 ain't bad.....

Good friend of mine, who doesn't skydive had both knees replaced several years ago.  Prior to the surgery he was told to loose weight.  He didn't loose any weight, had the surgery and there have been some complications.  It's been several years and his weight has increased.  He had to have the surgery but is not satisfied with the results.  Bottom line is that everyone is different and if you are over weight, loose the difference before your surgery and keep it off and don't run on the new knee.   

From above, "I later spent many, many hours going over the sequence trying to figure out "why". I was at a PIA conference and talking to Bill Booth. Bill listened to my description and then said "that's why I started using magnets on the riser covers". 

Has anyone with magnets on you riser covers had a hard opening?

I am not an attorney and did not even stay in a Holiday Inn, but what I've been told, at least in Florida, is that no one can sign away a minors rights, not even their parents.  Keeps it pretty simple.

http://www.familyblawg.com/family-law/can-a-parent-waive-their-childs-right-to-sue/

https://square1.com/

I am not a doctor, but from what I know about dehydration, I need to stay ahead of it and not wait for the symptoms.  I do a lot of biking (because of the virus) and might ride for 2-3 hours in the Florida heat. I take lots of fluids with me that I try to remember to sip every mile or so.  Light snacks and fruit too help to keep up my blood sugar.  I'm open to new and other ideas so please fire away... Same at the DZ when I start back. 

No need for special ear plugs.  Good disposable ones that lower the decibel by about -30 are fine and disposable.  I use the same on my motorcycle.  Key is to use them correctly.  I've been using disposable ones for at least 15 years.

I always carry mine and check the knife.  There is no reason to carry your rig without putting it inside a general backpack type of container.  TSA will give it a look and generally pass you through to the swab table and then say thanks...  Don't make a big deal about it and they won't either.  Everyone on the airplane does not need to know that you jump out of airplanes... I also check my weight belt.  

If you look at the cost per year to own any AAD, and amortize it over it's life, the cost difference between the best and the worst is very little.  Why not own the best.  Maybe one jump a year difference !

I have what will be an out of date,  (06 19)  but still working Cypress and hate to just throw it away.  It's available to anyone who wants it.  Preferably someone not too far away from Z-Hills... 

8 hours ago, Erroll said:

Two clicks and half a rotation on the scroll wheel and  I could see all 24 AADs currently being advertised in Classifieds.

You must really struggle with Google searches?

 

No, not using google search.... Next time I'll give it a try. thanks for the suggestion.

7 hours ago, Meso said:

That's because small cramped text is terrible for those with deteriorating eye-sight as well as creating a tendency to squint or move close to the monitor. Larger fonts with more space is easier on the eyes in terms of strain as well as not feeling cramped.

I don't understand your comments regarding the AAD though? Nothing has changed in the classifieds other than the listings requiring you to scroll down to see the listings. We even made sure to keep the same amount of classified listings per page as we had. 

The one area I'll concede is an issue on the classifieds is the lack of an easier accessible search, which is something we have already designed and will be implementing soon.

I used to be able to see a summery of all of the listings without any detail.  It made it quick and easy to find what I was looking for.  Now I have to look at each listing to see if it is the brand that I am looking for.

Giving it a try, but I feel like I went from an adult novel to a children's primer...  BIG BLOCK PRINT with lots of unnecessary space.  Still trying to locate an AAD in Classified and I feel like I'm wading in quicksand.  It is no longer user friendly....  Quite frustrating and this used to be a favorite site.

You basically made too many changes too quickly and I feel lost..  Hate to say good by...

Still having lots of difficulty navigation on the new improved site !  There is so much white space I waste time just looking for the last reply to anything.  I'm presently looking in the classified section for a new AAD and can't look at more than 4-5 items at a time on a page.  Seems like the summery is missing.  The site is loosing me and it's a shame because I used to looks at DZ.com pretty regularly.  I feel like I've lost a friend.

I don't like it and it is harder to find what used to be easy.  It is also harder to read.  Go back !!

Too much white space and not enough content.  Harder to navigate.  Go back !

Maybe it's my age or maybe I just liked the previous face and format before the change, but I don't like the new Dropzone.com web site and find that I now avoid what I used to enjoy. It is not as easy to navigate and a lot of the print is lighter and not as easy to read !  I remember the last change a few years ago and I think I was uncomfortable with it too  It was not as drastic of a change, and I did grow to like it.  I hope the same happens here, but I don;t think it will. 

There are several other web sites that I used to go to regularly, that have changed recently,  and I unfortunately now avoid them too.  Change just for change sake is not always good.