headcase

Same for me. No fear at first. The fear built over time as I realized how risky things could be then it mellowed as I gained further experience. Hope that helps....

I am always amazed at why people are so anxious to downsize. You can learn just as much on an appropriately sized canopy. Well that's not entirely true----you won't learn as much about wound management....

Enough said!!!

Personally IMHO we need less regulation not more. I applaud the original poster for going through the aircraft with an eye toward safety. 182's in aviation are aging, 182's in skydiving are old AND bruised. Having said that inviting more regulation? For a sport already on a tight shoestring I would worry about asking for more regulation. Besides most accidents by a long shot are pilot error.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/ww2-airplane-crash-chicago-man-jumps-out-482419101.html[url]

It's amazing how much effort is being put forth to "screw" GA oops I mean sodomize oops I meant privatize ATC. The next onslaught starts in 3, 2, 1, ..... bastards

I witnessed a dustdevil "grab" a high-performance landing at 20 ft AGL and literally turn and swung him so he was now above the canopy and the canopy started to collapse but then it pulsed and reinflated. The turbulance and airmass had pushed him high enough that as he pendulum swung underneath he gained control at the last second before he slammed in just a few feet above AGL then slid it in across a soft sand/pond. Amazing to watch. I wish I had video. The jumper walked!!! back and basically said he was done with skydiving as it scared the poop out of him. I was speechless and humbled by the spectacle.

Packing

A few weeks ago I landed out on a really long spot. Found a good plowed field and landed parallel to the rows. Nice easy flare and landing until just upon putting my back foot down caught an uneven clump. No injury except a roll in the dirt. I felt very lucky not to have gotten injured. It reinforced 2 lessons I should have already known: check the spot before leaving the plane and when in doubt especially when out plf!!!

Sex takes less time than you think. Packing takes more time than you think. Both are usually better if you take longer.

Make sure your gear is tight. Short story. Downsized canopy Seemed like an "OK" fit in the container which was already just a little "wiggly" on me. Had two rigs one tighter than the other. Would pack both so I could get more jumps at times. Long story short used the downsized canopy loosly fitting container and went head down. Luckily I saw the riser cover start to open. Got flat in time to avoid a wrap but had to cut away and do a reserve ride. Feel fortunate it wasn't worse. Long winded way of saying you really do want your gear tight enough so things don't come uncorked at high speed.

Must be the same elastic in those dropped panties.

Is that the origination of the "Mr. Bill."

It was explained to me that during deflation that you can buy a car or an apple or gasoline or a house for $10000, $1.0, $2.00, or $100K today. But if deflation is occuring then 6 months or a year from now you could buy those same items for $5000, $0.50, $1.00, or $50k. Therefore since they cost 50% less no one spends money knowing they can buy many items much cheaper if they wait. The problem is cash flow is how the modern economy works. Businesses fail like dominos as they money stops flowing and the downward spiral continues with further deflation as failing businesses and individuals are forced to sell assets in a downward market at bankruptcy prices. Whereas inflation is the opposite. If you know you're money will be worth less 6 months from now and that car now costs $12k instead of $10k and that house costs $120k instead of 100K even though you can but less with the same amount of money the economy doesn't implode. Again I am no economist but I believe that is why the world banks start printing money like crazy at times like this to avoid massive deflation.

I'm no economist but I believe the reason for printing, pumping, and pimping BIG dollars is to avoid further deflation of which we have been subject since summer. Deflation kills inflation maims.

That's why these discussions are so helpful. They provide a cumulative experience greater than any one individual's. I agree that most of the time just schlepping it thru security unannounced with no fanfare works best until it does get flagged, then the risk is of a juggernaut exists. I have tried all most iterations including: checking the rig into luggage (announced and unannounced), carry-on (announced and unannounced), in a duffle or not. What I have found is that a simple heads up and as a carry-on although not the easiest is the easiest if security gets a boner for in depth screening which depending on where you are can get interesting. If you are somewhere they have seen rigs typically no problem but if you happen to travel somewhere uptight and without exposure to rigs in the past combined with paranoid security personnel it can get annoying at best . The input by all here is great. Good luck!!!

I have traveled frequently with my rig as a carry-on. Tips. 1) Place rig by itself in a soft tight fitting duffle bag. 2) Bring a laminated Xray-card in the duffle side pocket and/or in a luggage tag attached to the outside of the duffle. Bring a paper copy of the x-ray card to give to security. 3) Before putting the rig through the x-ray machine quietly get the x-ray operator's attention and show him the x-ray card and explain you have a parachute. He will x-ray and then pull you aside and the supervisor will show up and usually about 5 other people as well (Security personnel are usually intrigued and helpful). 4) When asked pull the rig out of the bag yourself (If they start to do it explain you would prefer to assist them to avoid an inadvertent reserve deploy or cutaway). 5) They'll swab for explosives and you'll be on your way almost before you get your shoes and belt back on. Lastly, if you are in a hurry at the beginning of the security line well before you get to the X-ray machine if you let them know you can usually get to the front of line via the side entrance used for secondary inspections which is where the swabbing and closer scrutiny of carry-ons occurs. This can save you 30 minutes if the airport is busy. Security personnel like the break from the usual routine of angry, farty, stinky, rude travelers. With a bit of luck and savoir faire you will find yourself treated quite nicely---at least that has been my experience for the most part. Cheers

Lastly, Don't sit next to your farting bean burrito munching buddy as the gas from him and the plane are making you vagal...

3 ways to help distinguish. 1) Paper bag rebreathing will rule out hyperventilation as your CO2 will not rise even with hyperventilation. 2) You can put an O2 tube into a paper bag therefore you'll be enriching your oxygen content whilst maintaing your CO2 pH level on the ride up. 3) Pulse oximetry on the ground and ride up to see if you're hypoxic. If performed in that order you'll get a quick assessment of the cause but most likely it is just hyperventilation and adrenaline together and will improve as you learn to relax.

Most likely causes in order with the information posted. 1) Hyperventilation from a combo of excitement and relative hypoxia. The pH change associated with hyperventilation can cause the exact symptoms you describe. 2) Adrenaline 3) True hypoxia. Perhaps you have a small anomaly in your circulation or excessive cardiac shunting previously unrecognized until rapid ascent. --check a pulse oximeter at sea level to detect shunt. All other causes are a distant fourth.

The shoulder joint is arguably the most complex joint in the human body. Skydiving puts odd pressure on the joint. A dislocation in the air can be very problematic. Most shoulder joint injuries are correctable but there are many types and the optimal management of one type of injury versus another varies. Often times medicine suggests conservative management as this will render many with a functional shoulder until it is not. The problem with shoulders in skydiving is they are essentially mission critical and therefore good till there not is not safe. I would say a better approach would be as good as possible and then if not stable move on to a different sport. Short answer see a shoulder specialist and outline your activity as a skydiver this will yield the safest and best long term results IMHO. Remember most injuries are correctable but some require surgery to obtain adequate stability. The sky will be there when you're better. Blues

Isn't lynching legal in the Republic of Texas? Not that I advocate vigilanteism but I'm just sayin' law enforcement is likely in this instance to empathize with the victim.

WOW. a new AFF Level 1 advance. A BIG net strung across rubber poles mounted on a spring with an emergency release over a pond with a foam rubber bottom. They'll still be a figgeren' ooot a way to be hurtin' four certain.

I was fortunate enough to attend Johnny B West's (JBW)respiratory physiology lecture series in the 80's. JBW is the father of high altitude physiology. He suffers from long-term sequelae as a result of all of his physiology testing in hypoxic environments and will be the first to tell you it is stupid to mess with hypoxia. Even small doses can have an effect on watershed areas of the brain. I think too many skydivers are cavalier when it comes to the effects of hypoxia and tightening of regs with regard to O2 in the context of sport skydiving would probably be a good idea.

Nice post. Thanks for that---Truth in posting as well as somebody equally crazy....