crutch

My wife shoots video for my tandems. I have taken one of her brothers and one of her sisters on tandems. I have also taken two of my brothers and my sister on tandems. My son is going to start AFF this summer. blue skies, art

Definitely a case for a go-around, getting out into a known thick cloud........geez, what were you thinking! These are the jumps I don't understand, just remember the sun is going to come up tomorrow and you can jump again then. blue skies, art

Call the people at strong enterprizes, at one time they had several shots of line dump with their tandem canopies. blue skies, art

Well, let's see, there is a little bit to this although a half-marathon really isn't that bad if you are in any kind of shape right now. I have run five marathons, several half-marathons and a couple of ironman races. The key is to have fun, if it becomes work, no matter how hard you train, it may become ineffective. First and foremost, don't start running too far, too fast. One should only be increasing your weekly average by about ten, maybe fifteen percent every week. Second, you need to do a long run every week. Doing a half-marathon, you should problably be working your way up to 10 or 11 mile runs on these. I always like to do my long run at the same day and time of the week that the race is. Also the long run should be at a nice comfortable pace, so that you are still able to talk while running, no faster. You should also either take the next day off or only do a short maybe twenty or thirty minute run. Third, hills are definitely optional, but do build speed and strength. Only do hills maybe once a week, followed by a day off. Well, that is about it. You might want to go on to the Runner's World web site, they always have lots of good info. Good Luck!! blue skies, art

I don't wear any head gear, too much to worry about. blue skies, art

Oh, I forgot about Johnnie. He is still a very active jumper, was on the last SOS (Skydivers over sixty) record in California. In fact he came down for Tim Webb's forty-way jump the first weekend in Jan. He lives in Tenn. now and comes down to Florida every so often to make a few jumps. blue skies, art

John and Marty, I can maybe patch up a few of the holes in the history you are trying to put together. Art and his wife went to Australia tio work after the strike by the air traffic controllers. Tom Harvey and I were talking about them recently, I believe they may have come back to the states recently. Vance took his life a number of years ago. Left no note or anything, so no one is sure why..... Mike (Mad Dog) is in Deland and is jumping periodically since his accident several years ago. He had been one of the premier tandem masters and base jumpers in the country. Roger is in South Florida and still jumps every once and a while. I saw him as recently as a year ago, he hasn't changed much at all. Yes, there was a drop zone there in Amelia Island for about a year. The owner had some personal problems which eventually ended up with the closure of the drop zone. We still use the airport for many demo jumps that we do in the area. Hope this fills in some of the blanks for you. I didn't ever jump at either of the drop zones, although my instructors of the mid-eightys often told many fond tales of jumping there. blue skies, art

Lights, your suppose to wear lights? I have made about a hundred night jumps over the years, very few of them we wore lights on, then again, few of them were done with much preparation. Me personally, I usaully wear a glow stick strapped to the outside of my leg, more so other people can see me other than anything else. If you prepare your eyes in the plane, there is almost always enough light at night to read most of the large face altimeters. As far as lights on the ground, most of the time they end up getting people confused, plan the landings as if a normal jump day, pick a direction on the way up and stick to it! blue skies, art

To tell you the truth, my favorite rig is not up there, but then again you are on the West Coast and the times I have been out there I haven't seen many of them. I jump a Racer, always have and always problably will! But, to tell you the truth, it is about what you feel comfortable in. Try some different harnasses, how they feel in freefall, in the plane and under canopy are all important. The jumpshack has always treated me very well and made me some beautiful rigs. Have fun, don't let anyone put the hard sell on you (some people are more rabid than NASCAR fans when it comes to rig selection) and be cofortable with your decision, then most of all enjoy! blue skies, art

Hey, chrissie, i can pack when i am not jumping, but then again i would rather jump.......oh well, i will ask around for you! blue skies, art

Ron, this is where I learned to skydive, it is a great place with a great people. Hope to see you there! blue skies, art

I am really not sure where this thread is going, it started as someone questioning Mr. Bush's wartime record. An account of the mission is in the new book "Flyboys". This author is very meticulous about his research, and has the personal account of several other pilots who were on the mission. One of his best friends in the his squadron (a pilot) had asked to replace his regular tail-gunner so they could fly one last mission together. He was hit on bomb run, continued the attacked, dropped the bombs, then headed out to sea. This was an attack on the island of Chica Jima, which is in the chain that includes Iwo Jima. The gunner (his buddy) and radioman bailed out, the Mr. Bush. Mr. Bush was picked up by a submarine about 3 miles from the island. Nothing was ever heard from the other two crew members. Mr. Bush then spent many weeks aboard the sub before being returned home. He was also the youngest pilot in his squadron, 58 strike missions, 135+ carrier landings and 1300+ hours of flying. So why are we bashing him again? blue skies, art

Is Christina jumping with Gary this year? blue skies, art

As with Dave, size has always been the main reason, not someone actions. Although once a large guy we might have worked with got loud, so we said good-by. There have been several that after a couple of jumps we persuaded to give the sport up. You can only deal with someone so long before you have to say "hey, the bowling alley is right around the corner and they are having a special today". blue skies, art

Let's see.....there was the three times I have done tandems into a stadium, that was stupid. But seriously, the girl who at a whole bowl of strawberries on the way out to the DZ. Out of the blue (you usually know it is coming) projectile vomits staright out in front of us. I am ducking my head behind her as it comes back and hits her full in the chest. The rest of the way done she is apologizing and I am trying not to puke down her back. Of course the first question from her friends is what is all the red stuff all over your chest? blue skies, art

You tell him Ron! There are people in every sport or discipline of this one that think they are "gods". Hell, there are a couple of people who may think that way about me (they haven't figured out the truth yet). The problem with this thread is not the "gods", but you wrongway! You, I take it had a run in with some TM's at some drop zone, so everyone with a lot of tandem jumps is a "god" trying to impede some knowledge on you???? Dude get a life and check that attitude at the door. Oh, just a quick note, that attitude is why you are having trouble, not the "gods". blue skies, art

Actually, the reason the landing is the way it is, is because the mascot is reaching for the ground, something we could all use a lesson in. Thanks Sid for the complement! Although at some point above the stadium that night, I sure did'y feel like the man! blue skies, art

But Bobby, your a naval aviator, you don't have to skydive to score cool points with the ladies. Plus, my kids friends don't think I cool because I skydive, they say I'm "tight". blue skies, art

I have one that is less than 3 years old, only because everyone kept giving me a hard time about the one I was using. I have put close to two thousand jumps on each of three rigs before this one. All are still being jump to some extent somewhere. How long a rig lasts has nothing to do with jump number, but with the love and care that is given to it. blue skies, art

When I was young and stupid, 750', on a bet, something about my manhood of course. On my main of course, too, only a wussy would have used his reserve. It was a cessna, doing about 100 mph, right over the DZ. Another time was in the hills. Lost a motor in the Southern Cross at about a thousand feet. The pilot said he was making a pass of the the DZ, anyone wanted out, get out. I would say about half the lane exited (about twenty people). blue skies, art

Ron, you hit the nail on the head so to speak. But, with me it is when you quit walking into a reataurant, bar, etc. and think everyone who doesn't skydive should bow down and worship you because you do. It is when you quit skydiving for all the other people and how it makes you feel and start skydiving for yourself. You also become a much better skydiver and person soon after!

I had to pay him big bucks. He told me about your little talk with him back to the stadium from the airport....... Here are some more pics for everyone blue skies, art

I honestly doubt it. We recently had a canopy done for a sponsor and checked several options before actually doing it. The sponsor had money though, so a new canopy was made with the logo sewn in (PD). The cost was $2000 above the price of the canopy, although this varies depending on the amount of artwork. There is also a guy in Jacksonville, FL who actually "paints" the logo on canopies. I don't know his name off-hand, but he charges in the $700 to $1500 range depending on the logo. blue skies, art

Keeping Bobby out of trouble is a job in of itself, but we did assign you a good babysitter that night

Chuck, yes there is a wire for the net behind the goal posts so you have one of two options, and I have done both in my three jumps in Alltel. One is to sit in brakes over the wire until you can't take it anymore, hold it another couple seconds and then make your move. Although this only works if there is some wind in the stadium, now that it has been bowled in, it is not as easy. The second option is even scarier, but actually works better on no wind days. Running along the wire in brakes until you get really scared, then let up on the outside toggle, swoop in across the field, bury the brakes and pray. I do have a question for you though. Rusty Vest once told me he thought the heat from the people in the stadium yelling caused a noticiable updraft and causes you to float. I really feel it under the Sigma, more so than the other canopies I have jumped into stadiums. Your experience/opinion? blue skies, art