gemini

I ordered a pair from Paragear 3 weeks ago and they were the standard scuba webbed gloves. They worked quite well in the air, but I don't think they will hold up very long. Very thin and light weight. Blue skies, Jim

Maybe we ought to segregate the records between "National RW Records" (all country residents) and "Largest RW Records". This would help to clear up some of the confusion. Blue skies, Jim

Just received an invite. Looking at the bank balance.... Blue skies, Jim

BASE BASE BASE! Congrats to all the jumpers on a great event. I want to personally thank Carey Peck, Dan BC, Tim Wieble, Harry Hopkins, John Kallend, Tim Webb, Larry Elmore, Kimbo Godwin, and Carl Daugherty for allowing me to captain with them. It was fun and rewarding being on such a great POPS team. Blue skies, Jim

What the Texas plane (E) doesn't even get an honorable mention? Help me with Bill John! ;) Blue skies, Jim

GordonH says "I'm particularly interested in European big-way FS records - any idea what they are in France, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden etc?" He wants to persuade dz management to host another record attempt. Can anyone post the new records? Blue skies, Jim

Hooha....I did an 8-way big way out of two cessna's! Blue skies, Jim

Yep, as an observer in the co-pilot seat with earphones so they can talk to the pilot and listen to ATC. Quite a ride after the last jumper exits! If I see a bored spouse of a jumper or tandem, I try to always ask if they want to ride in the plane. Most are surprised they can and usually say yes. Blue skies, Jim

Should be in 70-80s with puffy clouds. Can be iffy, but cold weather usually doesn't start till early Dec or Jan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Mxte3Rtxo Blue skies, Jim

Videos out to music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Mxte3Rtxo Blue skies, Jim

More than a few years ago I did a little research on the issue and found that the decision to allow civilians on military aircraft is the local base commander's. However there were congressional hearings going on at the time that were questioning why civilians were being given free rides on military aircraft. Most commanders basically said, "I'm not falling on that sword" and stopped allowing civilian passengers. Like most regulations, it is very difficult to read which may have been intentional so congress could continue flying. Blue skies, Jim

Got my TR-3A in 1966 for $600. Had a removable hard-top that I think was home built. Fun little car and easy to work on! My dad sold it for $600 while I was in the army so my brother wouldn't drive it without a license. Replaced it with a new 1968 Chevelle SS, 4-speed which cost $2,828. Blue skies, Jim

Granted it may look straight down to you, but if you cover 2.5 miles from 13.5k isn't that more like a 45-60 degree drop? Wish I had one of the new gps' so we could get the right distance and speed. The 107 sec track may also have been from a higher altitude than 13.5k. They tend to all run together in my mind after a little while. Also remember that skydiving is a lot like fishing. Unless you were there and saw what happened the size of the fish is questionable. ;) Blue skies, Jim

Hey I'm an old guy! Give me a break.... Besides the bell I heard ringing was probably just the ringing in my ears that I hear all the time. Seriously, you're probably right a minute, 27 seconds makes more sense. I have had one tracking jump with 107 seconds though. My protrac at the time was broken and did not record the speeds. I know a very small, woman jumper who consistently tracks in the 60 mph range in a freefly suit. We've always joked with her saying "Why don't you ump a wingsuit and you can land the damn thing!" Blue skies, Jim

Here is round 3: http://www.omniskore.com/comp/2007/usnats/media/Freefly_105_r3.wmv And the pending world record: http://www.omniskore.com/comp/2007/usnats/media/span.wmv Blue skies, Jim

????? Was flipping and caught it in progress. I will see if I can find it again. Blue skies, Jim

Anybody else catch the special on cable last night about Ali & Mel, aka Pink Mafia? I think the lead in was something like "How skydiving changed two sisters." Was very well done. Blue skies, Jim

Mullins put me and a friend out over the WFFC one sunny morning at 30.5k and -41F at altitude. Military helmet, full face mask for O2, googles very similar to ski goggles, hi-altimeter, and pony bottles in freefall. Blue skies, Jim

Actually your speeds are not bad and are probably in the lower middle range for trackers. As some of the others have said however, you need to get into the 80's and work on the forward speed as well. I have hit 83 and am 5'6" and 190 out the door. I don't remember the exact protrac times but 127 seconds rings a bell and the distance covered was 2.35-2.5 miles. Blue skies, Jim

Looks like another good medal year for Anomaly. Scores are not all posted, but they are way ahead and set a new world record with a 17. Way to go guys! Blue skies, Jim

I actually thought that was what the article was going to be about when I read the title. As usual Brian makes some great points that were worth reading. I wonder why he didn't close with something like: ...And if you still dread the no wind landing, you should consider upsizing. Blue skies, Jim

Woohoo! I've got two numbers, 4178 and 4204. Let me know which one you want back. Blue skies, Jim

Congrats to all the freeflyers and Skydive Chicago! Makes me proud to know a few of those guys! Blue skies, Jim

On one of my student jumps I flipped on my back and went mostly head down. I looked up at the intructor who was trackin down toward me, but not gaining very fast. I then looked at my altimeter saw I was at 4500ft and waved off as I looked at my instructor and saw her break off her track and fly away. I pulled the ripcord and then watched the pilot chute go between my legs right before I snapped over from the deployment. Years later I run into my old instructor and she says "Damn Jim I never thought you would get off AFF much less stay in the sport!" There's hope for most people who want it bad enough and will work to overcome their fear. Relax, take a deep breath and practice each dive from gearing up to laying the gear down in the packing room. Blue skies, Jim

Then I guess they are not impossible are they? :) One of the advantages of a larger dz. Blue skies, Jim