InfiniteSky

I've used one this winter and it's been great. Mine only comes to the nose, but that's all you need. Keeps the face nice and warm.

I did a 8 jump AFF program in 7 jumps. I did 15 minutes in the wind tunnel after jump #2 and combined 4 and 5 together. The wind tunnel made a huge difference for me. I had already learned to fall stable and turn in the tunnel, so when it came time to do it in the air it was easy. I did my tunnel time with my AFFI, which was also helpful, since he knew where I was and everything.

Just recently bought a complete used rig from him and everything went great. I'd buy stuff from him anytime.

I'd like to see that Docu if it ever came out. I've chased scrappers off before. Be interesting to see it from their side. But they're a bunch of idiots to be playing around on the receiving end of bombs.

I'm like Harmless. I'm active duty and started jumping while in, but I've never made any military jumps. Just signed up for AFF one day and haven't stopped jumping since.

If you want vids off youtube and if you use firefox you can also use the Greasemonkey addon. There's a script for it that adds a download mp4 button to all youtube videos. Very handy feature. There's a few out there, but this is one. http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/39167

There's a link to the Blue Skies article on the Seven website linked above.

I'll second that. I have a couple Sorz and they are very comfortable. I haven't had any problems wearing them for long periods of time.

I felt a bit the same when I was doing my AFF. But it's really not that hard. And to tell you the truth during AFF the flips are more about getting you unstable and seeing you recover your stability than they are about seeing you do a perfect back flip. My AFF backflip sucked (was more half flip half barrel roll), but I got stable right away and passed the level without a problem. You'll have plenty of jumps till your A license check dive to practice getting flips down right and on heading. Just relax, tell yourself you can do it, and have fun. From what you say AFF has been going well for you, so just enjoy the last few jumps and don't put pressure on yourself. And if you repeat, it's not a big deal. I usually learn more from my mistakes (and I've made plenty) than I do from doing everything perfectly.

What I wish we had while freefalling.

I'm in the military and only get home a couple times a year. I call home fairly often, and email every once in a while. But my parents got on Facebook a few months ago and it has definitely been nice. It lets them keep up with my life (and vice versa). Now when we talk it's not just about catching up since they're pretty caught up from FB. It gives more time to just chat about whatever we want to. It's about how you use it. And used right it can be just another great tool to communicate.

-91 -1 -knot in steering line

My first and only cutaway was on jump 83 and I followed my main and freebag down (they were falling straight down very near each other). But before I did I performed a full canopy control check. I then checked the ground and saw I had literally dozens of places to land below me and wouldn't make it back to the DZ anyway. So I stayed safely away from my gear. I kept one eye on my gear and also made sure to fly a pattern that would set me up for a safe landing. I identified the general area it would land in and then focused completely on my landing. My main was 75yds away in the same field I landed in. My freebag was in the yard of a house bordering the field. I wouldn't tell someone they should do as I did, but I think it can be done safely (even for someone without high jump numbers). It's something for a (low jump number jumper) to talk about with their S&TA and respected instructors and decide whether it's something they could try at their skill level (and only if the circumstances make is safe to do so).

Noob here, take with large grain of salt. My first mal was a tension knot. Had it sometime between 25 and 50 jumps. I unstowed the breaks and knew right away what the problem was. Checked my altimeter and had the time to work the knot out before my cutaway altitude. All I thought about was fixing what was wrong and keeping an eye on my altitude. If it had happened while I was a student there's a good chance I would have chopped when I saw the mal. I've had a cutaway since then due to a knot in the steering line. Tried to fix that one too, but decision altitude came and I cut. I'll admit as I cut I was pissed that I was out $70, then I was more concerned with making sure the reserve was good and landing safely. After I made the decision to cut and reached for red, I actually thought cutting and the reserve ride was pretty fun. Not something I'd do on purpose, but kinda fun all the same.

A huge part of it comes down to the fact that when you're stuck out training, you're living in close quarters, sleeping next to each other, baby wipe bathing, seeing each other naked, ect. Most straight guys (atleast those who join the military) don't like the idea that the guy next to them might want their dick. If the rule changed and gays were allowed openly in the military any guy who admitted he was gay would be outcast. He'd lose all friends and be made fun of constantly. The higher ups could try to police it but it would just happen when they're not around. People call each other racial slurs to their face and its fine. It's a different society where you're constantly one upping each other and trying to "burn" anyone and everyone in the worst ways possible. The military (especially the infantry which is where it would be the worst) is a very macho organization, and being gay is considered weak. That's life in the military. Whether or not they make it ok for gays to be open it'll never work. And yeah, most guys do want to be in Afghanistan. They train to go fight and that's what they're happy doing. You strand them over there they'll just fight their way back here and stage a revolution.

'95 Nissan Pathfinder. It gets me to the DZ and back and isn't too bad to sleep in at boogies when the bunkhouse is full, and that's all I ask for.

I love my Neptune. I find the digital display much easier to read, and it's super easy to measure your altitude in hundreds of feet which is handy while flying approaches under canopy. And they have amazing customer service as well.

A few from me.