TampaPete

Skip it. Worry about three years from now three years from now. It will avail itself to you when it is time. If it becomes 5 years from now so be it. Focus on school.

succeed

David - Don't sell yourself short. I believe you can succeed. I've said a couple of times, it's going to be tough, but not impossible. Stay focused on school and enjoying school. Don't skip enjoying school but do study your buns off. If Purdue has offered you incentives then you are smarter than the average bear. Don't worry about the sky it's not going away. When the time is right it will avail itself to you.

blossom He told me a story about the battle. Imagine watching your 70 year old uncle telling you a story in complete tears. I asked my dad if he had heard this story and he hadn't. I was the only one he told. He showed me his box of medals and other things (captured map, etc.). My dad had never seen this either.

Looks like the makings of a win-win situation. David - You should discuss this with your parents. Skydiving in the finite is an all-day commitment that could interfere with studying. Having a club there can give you a place to hang out for a while if you are unable to jump. You'll figure it out as you go. Learn to pack. Seth - You have a technical degree, true?

David - I think you're seeing the true body of skydivers. They take genuine interest in each other. When you go to the DZ I bet everyone is helping you become better. Everyone has a tip or encouragement. Same thing here. Everyone is truly interested in helping you be better. Remember, it's going to be hard, but you will find productive ways to enjoy it also.

I agree with gowlerk to a degree (no offense just my opinion) and I respect his opinion. As a parent we are trying to teach you/ control you to keep you headed in what we feel is the right direction. Bribes do work and when applied judiciously can have the desired effect. That's all I read into their "we'll pay if you stop jumping" move. You have an opportunity to go to Purdue. Purdue is 9th for best undergrad engineering degrees. So its in the top 10 with the likes of MIT, Cal Tech, Georgia Tech, UC Berkley (tops in my degree), Stanford and is just in front of U of Texas (another great school in my degree). All good company to be around. Cal Tech, Carnegie-Mellon and Purdue tie for fourth best engineering schools in the U.S for graduate degrees. That's behind MIT (OK - #1) and ahead of Georgia Tech (WOW). As an engineer I understand the magnitude of this opportunity. Go to Purdue. Go with a positive attitude. I promise it will be hard, especially at first, but it will be very rewarding. Personally rewarding, professionally rewarding and financially rewarding. While you're there you will find friends and time to enjoy their company. I know people with engineering degrees that went on to other professions (lawyers and dentists - go figure). So you can do anything with an engineering degree. I think this adds up to my 4 cents worth and you were very brave to ask this in an open forum. Go Boiler Makers!

Don't mine everyone's responses for what you want to hear. Wendy P. is giving you real-world experience.

Uncle Buddy (He was there.)

Be patient. Go to Purdue and apply yourself towards an engineering, computer science, cyber security, etc. degree. It's a tough university to be admitted to, so you must be smarter than the average bear. A Purdue degree will beat your local CA degree when interviewing. USPA stats show many jumpers have technical backgrounds (engineer and CS). Get a good job that pays well. Take up skydiving again. The sky's not going anywhere but you have an opportunity to go somewhere unique: Purdue and beyond. Be patient.

nuts

and tussle

and tackle

The Inferno

Dutchman

kilter (I usually do a search within the topic to check for repeats. Step was used a few times but not in the same combination.)

Step I know Step is a repeat, but it's Step Brothers.

Here endeth the lesson.

Reaper Leviathan

I've seen this video many times and it scares me each time. I like to do math so let's do some math. Let's say AAD activation is at 750 ft. Exit was at 0:06 AAD activation was at 1:05 So 59 seconds Math will show the first 1000 feet takes 11 seconds (V0 = 0 MPH / V11 = 120 MPH) Terminal velocity is 120 MPH = 176 ft/s / Which equals 5.7 s/1000ft (59-11)/5.7 = 8.421 1000ft segments Exit Altitude = 750ft + 8.421*1000 + 1000ft = 10,171 ft (typical Cessna exit) Therefore: Normal jump run

ring my bell

Mommie Dearest

Squidward

Ketch

Betty