EDYDO

Judging by the number of views and no response, it appears that we don't know. I suggest you go to the USPA web site www.uspa.org , get the number of the drop zone in question and speak to the DZ owner. Ed

(Not just directed at you Lisa Marie.) It is not unusual for pilots to be given block IFR altitudes instead of hard altitudes (say 13,000' to 4,000'). That means the area should be clear of IFR traffic from your top altitude to your bottom altitude. Would you go through a cloud intentionally if skydiving planes and the skydivers were given IFR block altitudes and jumping through clouds were legal ? If so, would you be comfortable with it? Ed

The "pros" on here seem to have no problem mounting a 10 on the front of a helmet, but I can tell you that I did. I am a "some time" camera jumper. I tried my 20d on the front of a FTN and, for me at least, it was "way" out of balance. I could not jump it that way. Finally mounted it on top to get balance. Ed

Received an email today with the following people copied. I noticed that the history of our sport is highly impacted by those on the list. How many names do you recognize/know ? William Calhoun ; Tom Place ; Tom Falzone ; Ted Rose ; Sky Huminsky ; Tom Morrison ; Russ Manhold ; Robert Smith ; Ray Cottingham ; Randy Wise ; Pete Gruber ; Pat Moorehead ; Mike Spurgeon ; Mike McGuire ; Mike Britting ; Michel Van Beirs ; Marvin Emmons ; Lew Sanborn ; Lennart Klackenberg ; Lawrence Pearlman ; Larry Thomas ; Larry Moore ; Larry Galusha ; Larry Elmore ; John Spear ; John Kallend ; John Jumper Green ; John Hawley ; John Hammond ; John DeSantis ; John Crowhurst ; John Bracken ; John Bates ; Joe Taylor ; Jim Fee ; Jim Culhane ; Jim Cook ; Jay Fragoso ; George White ; George Frey ; Eike Hohenadl ; Ed Miller ; Don Simonds ; Djan Stewart ; Dee Trees ; David Sands ; David Pear ; David Couper ; Dave Williams ; Dave DeWolf ; Danny Hupert ; Craig "Scotty" Gallan ; Conrad Hobbs ; Chuck Slezak ; Bud LaPointe ; Bob Pruitt ; Bob Boreman ; Bill Rappa ; Bill Nelson ; Barry Lastinger ; Adolpho Unda-Rojas ; Ed Meyer ; Jan Meyer ; Alex Kubilis ; Andre Lemaire ; BJ Worth ; Burl Baxter ; David Layne ; David Wall ; Ed Gillespie ; Franc Bender ; Harry Ervin ; Jack LaLonde ; John Young ; Johnny Gates ; Kate Campain ; Max Miensopust ; Mike Nestor ; Mike Wadel ; Neil McGrath ; Quinton Weaver ; Ray Kuemmel ; Richard Crayne ; Roger Humphrey ; Tom Plonka ; Tom Zukwosski ; Vic Johnson ; Ed Dixon ; Ski Chmielewski Ed

Hey Zulu, Where are you ??? Parkton is closed and I haven't seen you at Raeford. Ed

Thanks Doug. I was scheduled to start another Region tour toward the end of September, but that has changed. I had such a great time I decided to start the new tour this week. I will be in your area again the last week in August. Ed

Chris, That is pretty impressive. Please give Larry my best wishes for a speedy recovery. I was in Laurinburg yesterday and the activity looks kinds slow with all of you in Russia. Ed .

I am about to close out and send in my Petition to get on the ballot for USPA Mid-Atlantic Director. Having been to every drop zone in the Region, I have just about all of the signatures of those who attend regularly. If I missed you, I would appreciate your signature as an extra margin of safety. USPA members from NC, SC and VA, please print out the attachment, sign and mail it to me. It will be a small amount of trouble, but will be greatly appreciated. Ed Dixon 4233 Byrnes Blvd. Florence, SC 29506 I sought advice as to whether or not this was a proper post, prior to posting and received permission. Thanks for your help !!! Ed .

Greg, When and where is #1000 planned?? Ed .

Pretty simple. They weren't breaking even, much less showing a profit. Ed

Southern Comfort Skydiving in Parkton, NC has closed. That makes two turbine drop zones within 1 1/2 hours of my home in the last 8 months. Blue Sky Adventures was the other. Really sad to see so many close. There were more DZs in South Carolina in 1969 than there are today. Ed

Arvel, I'd be happy with the quality of your shots any day !! Here are two of mine. Ed

I understand. I believe many Incidents are not reported because some posts are out of line and the potential poster doesn't want to deal with it. I have seen a couple of incidents that I didn't report here for that reason. Ed

Very helpful information. Thanks. Ed

Thanks for the input. I enjoy and learn from your posts. Most Board members won't post !!! Yes, it can be done, you did it. See below for my real point on this subject. I just wouldn't waste my time on that idea because it doesn't tell you whether they are members or not. I did try that to determine whether Washington, DC was in my Region or not and it was confusing. It looks split !!! I still don't know. My point gets missed here a lot. It doesn't matter that the playing field is level. (It isn't, because the database is available to some and not others. We just disagree on its value.) The point is that people will not even attempt to run because it is too difficult. We have to deal with things that can be changed to lessen the problem. If the secrecy were lifted, it would be so much easier and others might offer. That is just one thing that could be done !!! With all of this said, I am opposed to complete elimination of the petitions. Thanks for your posts on this and many other subjects. They are appreciated. Ed

I am a week-end jumper and have filed an intent to run for Mid-Atlantic Director. I can understand why more people don't file. The petition process as spelled out in the Governance Manual is not as difficult as the USPA and the Election Committee implement it. They stack the odds against week-end jumpers in favor of a DZO. Example: A DZO has access to the USPA member database and I do not. They will tell me nothing about membership status of those who have signed the petition. It is important when gathering signatures to know whether the signatures are indeed valid, in region signatures. They are trying to keep me in the dark as much as possible. There are things that can be done without a proxy to make the system easier. I am surprised the Committee has not already looked into these problems. They seem quite oblivious when contacted. The DZOs and members have been fantastic as I travel around the Region, but USPA has just put up hurdles. I soooooo want to be on the Nomination and Election Committee !!!!! Concerning time and expense: The travel to drop zones is VERY expensive, but it is what I do anyway. It takes a lot of time to do the job as spelled out in the Governance Manual. Most Regional Directors do a poor job at "making a visible presence throughout the region". I wouldn't even consider it if I were not retired. Blue Skies, Ed

BUT, you're still leaving???????? I suppose a couple of turbines within 100 yards beats two in 25 miles !!! Ed

Have printed out the messages for Bill. Here is his landing. Ed

Here is a better shot of that blue suit and black frap hat. Steve....pie???? Been there done that. the "IN" thing now is silly string. Bill is my South Carolina campaign manager. He knows everybody !!! Ed Trying to get skydivers to stop long enough to sign a petition is like herding cats !!!

Bill Wood of the Flying Tigers and Chester drop zones in South Carolina made his jump #2500 at the Chester DZ on Sunday. Bill is 75 years old and is Top JOS #1 (Jumpers Over Seventy). ESPN may air the jump on Tuesday or Wednesday (that is the best they could tell us). Quincy Kennedy and I shot video. Attached is a still from my Canon. Ed Getting Skydivers to slow down long enough to sign a petition is like herding cats !!!

It is likely your computer will not have a firewire input. You will need to get a card for it. It is called an IEEE 1394 card. Ed

I bought a used one, it arrived in a few days !! Another bonus is that I didn't have to cringe when I drilled the first hole in it. Ed

Same rulebook, same guidelines. Who the controller is and how he thinks, matters. I now believe Skydive Deland will be just fine when this control tower is in operation. It will be worked out. Ed

Yes, this passed, but it may not be as bad as originally thought. First, it is going to take about two years to come to fruition. Second, I understand the tower is going to be built with federal assistance and the controllers will meet federal requirements, BUT they will be paid by and employees of the City of Deland. Whether or not skydiving operations are slowed will depend entirely on the mindset of the City of Deland and who they choose to run the tower. Ed

The authorities who may be in charge of implementation of this have no idea of the financial impact to their community. After all, when they hold that twenty in their hand, they have no idea that it came to Deland through the skydiving business. If Deland gets a tower, will the last skydiver to leave please turn out the lights. Ed