castrodavidd

To have fun, relieve stress, be free.

I have a suggestion, tell me what you think. Each DZ or even the USPA could have guidlines for canopy selection, sort of like Germain's. Any jumper who does not fall with in that chart would have certain restrictions on what kind of jumps they can do with that canopy. From the most basic to advanced. ie. Hop and pops only, normal paterns with normal landings, Straight in double front risers. and so on. It would be sort of a long canopy control class. Each manuver would have to be demonstrated with consistant results. Once an Instructor was satisfied with that manuver they would endorse the logbook. If the jumper is caught going outside of these limitations they could be banned from the DZ or busted back to the first level. A system like this would ensure a progressive canopy progression. While also allowing a higher margin of safety for him or herself and others. This would also place more infaces on the intructors critique, and wether the jumper has the ability to safely fly said canopy.

I don't know I don't skydive to compete with others. It's for my benifit no one else.

I thought that's what golf carts were for.

I would have said wherever I want but it seems now wherever I can. So far in 11 diferent states.

UM, Please read post. No where have I said I'm an "excelent canopy pilot." All I have said is I believe I can fly my canopy at my wing loading without harming myself or others. Do your homework!

WOW great assumption, the only problem is I'm married with two daughters and skydiving is my way to get away from the B.S. of females.

Trust me if there was any way possible I could do 150 jumps in three months I would. I dont think the DZ that I had been jumping at did 150 loads in the last three months. That was also kind of the point of me staring in on this thread, because I went to a large DZ and they wouldn't let me jump or get coaching because of my wing loading.

How about starting with something simple like traffic patterns and traffic flow. Or maybee about having an understanding of aerodynamics. What about Newtons laws or how lift is created. There is no way that the hand eye cordination of flying airplanes and helicopters could possible relate either. Not to mention critical decision making skills in stressfull situations. Nope none of this could translate at all. I have been told so many times that its just not the same, and most for the dumbest reasons like "well an airplane has power so they fly different." If you cant correlate your knowledge from one aspect of your life to the next then you realy havent learned the subject. If you take my 1800 hours of flying it would still be more time in the air than a 10,000 jump skydiver. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying i'm any near that good of a canopy pilot. Does any of that experence translate to swooping probally not. Where it does come into play are the some of the things I mentioned earlier. ie. normal traffic pattern and landing, identifing hazards, aircraft spotting, knowing if you can make it back from a long spot.

Ok, so you know how to use google. I just want to thank you for putting a link to site which I have to pay for and has a bunch of personal iformation on. If you read my previous post you would see that I havn't downsized untill now. I used his checklist prior to downsizing from my 190 to my 169.

I'm not saying its right or wrong either but remember I started jumping what would be equivalant to your 278 1/2 jump. A 190 canopy loaded about 1.1. In all of my jumps I have never really downsized just gained weight and wing loading. I also used Novaks checklist before downsizing. And truth be told I probally wont ever downsize again. I figure I have about five to ten years left of wanting to go fast, after that I'll be to old to run them out.

Ya I know but at a 150 hours I was flying a 23 million dollar Chinook in the Army.

Yes but some don't see that. In all of my jumps I have landed off the DZ once. By five feet. It was intentional because the dz is surrounded by barbwire. I could have made it over but my canopy would have bee in it. Its the same way in my job. Everyone thinks because I look younger than I am I must be a co-pilot, But the truth is that I am probally the only 1800 hour captin on a corperate jet in the US.

Had a correction to make. It was late last night. I Changed 2004 dates to 2009. Took almost five years off. OK my canopy progression and a time line Started jumping in 2001 2001-2004 made 39 jumps on a triathalon 190 loaded at 1.1 to 1.18 I had nevered stayed very current and wasn't licenced. Sorry gained some wieght. 8 of those jumps were at another dz on a pd 230. June 2009-did 6 jumps on a Skymaster 260 to get current and get my license. July 2009- current 100 jumps. 13 jumps on a friends Sabre1 190 wl 1.36. 1 jump on a friends hornet 170 wl 1.52, 86 jumps on a heatwave 190 wl 1.36 and 1 on my new X-fire II 169 1.54

OK my canopy progression and a time line Started jumping in 2001 2001-2004 made 39 jumps on a triathalon 190 loaded at 1.1 to 1.18 I had nevered stayed very current and wasn't licenced. Sorry gained some wieght. 8 of those jumps were at another dz on a pd 230. June 2004-did 6 jumps on a Skymaster 260 to get current and get my license. July 2004- current 100 jumps. 13 jumps on a friends Sabre1 190 wl 1.36. 1 jump on a friends hornet 170 wl 1.52, 86 jumps on a heatwave 190 wl 1.36 and 1 on my new X-fire II 169 1.54

I'm not one of those people who think others are out to screw me. I'm sure that they have serious concerns. However, I feel that if I take precautions not to endanger others it should be my choice what I fly. If we all just want to make this sport safer than should we just ban high performance canopies all together.

In the words of Chairle Sheen tonight. " There are no bad ideas, theres just a lack of will to execute them."

. Crossfire II 169 Loaded at 1.54. and I know the risk lord knows I've heard it enough. Don't think that I'm going to jump straight into this canopy and start tugging on risers. Doings some hop and pops and learning the canopy up high. Followed by flying it dosal in the pattern like "harnes turns only" isn't going to make me majically go into a steep turn just above the ground. Trying to get coaching should also show that I'm not a know it it all, and I still want to learn. I know my limits and I stay under them.

Yep, but you guys are being the canopy Nazis.

Thats the point its really none of your bussines. Untill someone starts to become dangerous to himself or others Under Canopy, who is anyone to judge what they can and can not jump.

Thats a pretty good example of the downfall that has become our sport. I was recently at a DZ "dont ask which one" with a new canopy. I couldn't get coaching becuase of my wing loading and jump numbers. I was then told I couldn't jump my canopy for the same reason. I was told because something could happen. Well no shit this is skydiving and something could always happen. At what point in someones life do they become so great, that they trully believe they have a responsibility to make decisions on what is safe or unsafe for someone else. Why don't we all just quit skydiving because that would be safer. First, I came to that DZ eager to learn more about flying that canopy. So that I could be safer under it. Second, Not one person actually looked at my logbook to see what my canopy progression was. Third, I was planning on just doing hop and pops so the danger to other jumpers line is B/S. Forth I would have absolutely no problem if they had let me do a jump, and if they saw anything dangerous grounded me. Fifth the whole jump number system has got to go. is is a unfair assesment of any jumper. I'm not trying to say that i'm some bad ass swooper or even a good canopy pilot for that matter. But I am confident that I can fly the canopy I have with out killing myself or others. Oh and by the way, the overwhelming majorty of fatal and serious injury canopy related accidents have come from high jump number pilots.

Dont forget the dumasses who thought they could open a reserve to see what the metal coil is. ps. One of these days I'm gonna let them lean over it and pull that handle.

Congrats! I just gave my five year old daughter her first lesson on Christmas eve.

Then why do you jump a racer?

Well I can't say that I have actual experience but my version of "the plan" includes a 70 - 100 foot sail boat so I can go to whatever island I want. When I get tired of living there I'll pull up the anchor and go some were else. When times get tight you can do charters on your boat to pay for the up keep and short of sinking it with out insurance you never lose your investment.