TampaPete

Additional infor on ZPX. http://www.flyaerodyne.com/fly/zpx.asp Also, e-mail aerodyne, they'll help.

Puzzles were always big in my family growing up. I didn’t notice it until atard mentioned it. Just couldn’t pass up the challenge. The jpg’s are from page 20 of the Jan 2011 issue.

Didn’t notice it until you pointed it out. I’m betting the 65th logo is the secret message. edit: 2nd photo is the portion shown on the magazine spines.

I'll see your Gimme Gimmes and raise you a Dash Rip Rock.

What's the band's name?

Water is not compressible. It is not used in your breaks because it causes corrosion and turns to steam under high temperature. Steam is compressible. That is why your breaks are mushy when they have water in the lines.

How many times do you dirt dive the jump? I bet I did dozens of dirt dives before each AFF jump. Practice on the ground so it’s more instinctual in the air. Dirt diving rules.

Some of you’re a license jumps need to be witnessed by other jumpers. At our DZ the senior jumpers will do two ways with the students foregoing any coach jump cost. Ask around. Your seniors may do the same.

clicky http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbh5l0b2-0o

So that's a pass right? Congrats!

Sounds like more went right than you recognize. Relax and enjoy the ride.

That’s why the military practices real situations in extremely stressful conditions. These are my two benchmarks for not freezing. Both jumpers are right at the point of no return and make it out. The double mal is an experienced jumper. The cadet jumper is on his first jump. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpOCsQCKi7I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6klvGVtw-HA

Nigel – Just my opinion, but if you love your wife and she wants to be part of skydiving, teach her to pack. Military training, as Ridestrong points out, is done in a stressful environment to condition those who will not freeze how to complete the task under pressure. Those that repeatedly freeze during the training do something else. Mghanco, I too watch the Youtube cutaway videos. I want a library of mals in my head so I can look up and quickly say “this has got to go.”

Fun video to watch with various odd packs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i16HryVyRaI

Dave – A little business math: If I am going to pay someone $60k a year I need to collect $180k. $60k goes for salary and the other $120k goes to overhead (building rent, electric, water, companies portion of health insurance, paying the cleaning service, professional insurance, etc.). So, $180k per year equates to $30k per DZ.

My reaction too. The jumper in the video was very forthcoming with what happened. He’s in the thread. At our DZ everyone learns to spot. This thread reinforced checking the spot before you go.

Here’s a previous thread discussing spotting and what happens when you go on the green light. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=3934990;page=3;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25; Video of the incident. Watch the shadow of the deploying canopy against the mountain ridge. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiGdqPfztsc

Something you may want to ask is if your arms are long enough to properly flare the canopy on landing. I’m pulling about 45 inches of brake line on full flare (from reaching the toggles on the risers to full arm extension below me). Blue skies, be safe.

It took six weekends. I did two consecutive Saturdays, skipped a Saturday and then three consecutive Saturdays. Dirt diving is practicing the dive on the ground (in the dirt) in the same sequence you’ll be expected to complete in the air. I dirt dived every AFF jump lots of times. Watch these videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_XpWCh8djc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_XpWCh8djc Blue skies, be safe

I’m closer to AFF than most of the others. Here’s what I did. One level per day mid morning. Spent the rest of the day reviewing the jump, practicing EP’s to develop muscle memory (as was stated earlier) and dirt diving the next jump lots of times. When I ran out things to do, I grabbed a chute and start learning to pack. During AFF I would pack next to a senior jumper and they would give me lots of instructions. Also, while you’re sitting there you’ll get lots of instruction through stories from the other jumpers. You learn a lot just being there and participating in the goings on at the DZ. Blue skies be safe

Hey Craig – Don’t be in such a hurry. You can get your A in a week (and safely), but I would recommend finishing your AFF in a week with about another 10 jumps max. If you pass all of your AFF jumps first time, that’s 15 jumps in 5 to 6 days. You’ll use one day for your FJC and your first jump. If you need to retake a couple of AFF jumps you’ll use more time dirt diving jumps. Say 17 jumps in 5 days. That’s good number of jumps. Take your time and enjoy the progression more. And do several dirt dives of your jumps during the week: from the plan to your EP’s.

18 - August 1976. 5 SOLO freefalls.

My DZO teaches the same pack method. I also did what Brian recommends in the video: pack the pilot both ways, pull on the bridle and watch which method clears and which method does not clear. His method cleared every time with ease. I also e-mailed Brian and he was quick to respond and discuss it with me. Try packing both ways and you’ll see for yourself.

The write-up from the Cypress saves list is below. This video was originally posted with sound. In that video you could hear a guy on the ground say something like “Holy $h1t” and the jumpers video camera picked up the voice. Why only one attempt at the silver handle is anyone’s guess. 24.May 2003 Germany, Gera Expert CYPRES After a normal freefall with separation in 1200 meters the skydiver attempts to pull his BOC pilotchute at approx. 900 meters, but does not find it. He decides to pull his cutaway handle. The first and only attempt to find the reserve handle is negative. At this moment the jumper decides to go into stable box - position and to wait for his CYPRES to activate. The skydiver was wearing camera and was filming the DZ hangar, which became bigger and bigger. 12 sec. canopy ride after CYPRES activation.

I still remember swinging in the harness going through hand deployment of the reserve while two instructors screamed at you. I bet I can still hand deploy a belly reserve.