Imanewdiver

Google Road ID - I use it for racing motorcycles, sky, and scuba diving.

As an EMT I always check in with the DZ and let them know I'm willing to help with anything.

I have had the oppertunity to fly in SF, Montreal, XP, the outdoor tunnel L1, Las V, and N Falls. Best coach I know is Chris Dixon in Orlando. Really great flyer and super guy.

Perhaps, however i did not provide her the oppertunity. In this case I made a horrible choice, one I will regret for a long time. I was stupid, and very unfair. I jumped this year and she visited Deland once to watch and photo but it was painfull. I normally dont admit i was wrong to often but in this case I was.

Started jumping in School with T10's and now just got back into sport last year. Long gap (55 now).

yup, I was a dummy. Was tunnel flying a lot and had my jump suit and helmet. When in Orlando I ordered a Mirage/PD/Vigil. When it was completed I flew home from a two week work trip 3 days early right to Orlando. Picked up my gear and did my AFF. Would have got away with it if a nice guy I met (Captain) had not posted on my facebook page. I was stupid and regret my actions. Really hurt my wife of 26 years. Nothing funny here, just a very bad mistake that I wish I could take back. Met the greatest people at Mirage, and PD, and a fantastic coach.

Visited SkyVentures in Orlando. Met two guys who were very patient and got me belly flying really well in the tunnel. They suggested AFF. Im a big guy (295 out the door) so I went over to Mirage with one of them, and $7K later I had a rig on order. Peter and Chris are FANTASTIC coaches and really nice guys. Got 16 jumps in with Peter and cant wait till I have time to complete my A. Trust and confidence in how I was taught really made the journey a great one. Also received some great info from TK on being a larger jumper, and dropped 24 lbs to make my jumps safely. Great sport. Great people.

My last jump I came in on 1/4 breaks from my final turn. When it came time to flair I shoved the handles as far as I could but still hit pretty hard. PLF was not pretty but I got up and walked away. So on my large Navigator (student) it appeared to rob me of some energy. I will not be doing that again.

Take a look at Galls.com for first aid kits. Suggest a 1H-TK095 which is a good basic first aid kit. It contains all of what you may want for “good road rash”. It contains CPR microshield, burn pads, MANY types of bandages, elastic bandages, triangular slings, eye pads, petroleum gauze antibiotic ointment, cold packs, space blanket, gloves, eye wash, first aid book, shears, pd cuff and stethoscope. That will cover you for most situations. To that add (2) SAM splints $10 each for wrist or ankle damage, and several ace bandages. Add some Benadryl ($4) for allergic reactions, some glucose (tube) for low blood sugar ($3) and your golden. Like skydiving, you can own a parachute and not know how to use it, so add an American Red Cross first aid, or first responder class. As a medic I carry additional O2, AED, neck brace, pulse oximeter, and some other thing a ma giggies that help. If you have additional skills at first aid please be sure to let manifest know when you check in, you never know when you may be able to help one of us….

As a returning jumper to the sport (T-10's in 1979) I greatly appreciate the opportunity to jump with a Coach. I passed AFF quickly due to a great AFFI and a bunch of tunnel time. I still hire my AFFI for every jump for several reasons. Each jump we dive a new plan, maneuvers, types of landing patterns, adjusting landing patterns, and canopy work. Each jump he plans something new for us to try/learn, last jump was long spots, before that rear riser emergency turns. We do landing work, full flairs, 2 stage flairs, wind shifts, other jumpers. I accept the fact that I am responsible for my own safety, and the safety of others around me. I will continue to utilize my AFFI for as long as I can because my life is important and you can not possibly learn all that is available in your AFF class. I hope to jump with this coach for a good 50 jumps, then move over to some of the other great coaches for a different prospective on jumping, and techniques with the ultimate goal of learning to wing suit, and fly a camera as the rules and the coaches advise. Perhaps it also makes me feel a little better knowing he is watching me do my ground checks, plane checks, spots, and EP’s each time I leave the bird. I missed a wave off on my pull last jump, and after a good long talk about the ramifications of that I don’t think it will happen again. With out his eyes and that would have gone without notice. I am fortunate enough to be able to have all my own gear, and be able to afford a Coach. I believe it will help me progress safer, and faster than with out a coach. Yes, I understand that with 15 current jumps I know nothing about the sport, this is just my prospective.

Tunnel time?

Great book called "how to tell if you need Bach surgery". Great diagrams showing nerve routes and what tests are required. GREAT explanations with diagrams. L5 surgery here and jumping next month.

Did my static line in Messena NY at a place called Richards field. Jumped T10s with Belly reserves. That was a long time ago when I was superman. Now I am actually studying this sport from ever aspect and it scares me what I did not know back then when I started this adventure we call life.

I am no expert with only 10 jumps but when I did perform my AFF and jumps I had this note in my Skydiver log. I am at this dropzone by my choice. I have undertaken the sport of skydiving knowing that there are risks involved with what I am doing. I trust my AFFI to do his best to keep me safe, but at the end of the day, all that I do has been my decision. Ultimately I am responsible for all that I do. If it ends today please note that I am a skydiver and have fulfilled my desire to fly. Please note that if it ends today I am a pretty crappy skydiver, but none the less, I am a skydiver…. The $100 dollar bill attached is for the beer that is due to get me into St Peters…

My family and I have flown with Peter Bany in Orlando Sky Venture as well as Chris D. Both do a great job. I did my AFF with Peter and can tell you he was very professional with his tunnel prep work and all my gear checks, and pre jump checks. Very patient and just a great teacher. He also helped me order my rig, jump suit and helmet and was great with whats good and whats just for show.

I had TonySuit build me a super slow fall suit. Big guy and I wanted to reduce my velocity. Tony added "winglets" with vented armpits to inflate the suit. Also added booties that are fully vented as well. In tunnel I get great drag as the suit inflates, in freefall the rig stops any back inflation but the arms and legs do fill. If you youtube (Hagenemt) in the subject you can see how it looks and flys in the sky and tunnel. Best of luck to you.

Even at this legal weight the landings can be interesting. Sticking with weight watchers and my new goal is 23 more pounds down. Simply feel better with more energy. So next post at -23 lbs or my 200 jump and a video of wingsuit class. Thanks TK for making it simple. I appreciate your advise.

Hi all, I just wanted to end this thread on a positive note. I listened to all comments and followed Mr TK Hayes words of wisdom. Why put anyone in danger regarding weight. I dropped my weight down to 252 Lbs, put another hour in the tunnel in, and made my AFF jumps all with in the legal weight limits of my gear. My PD 281 R & 280 Nav main, and Mirage G4 worked fine. Got through my AFF program quickly due to all the tunnel time I accumulated (about 7 hrs), new gear, and a great coach. I got a total of 10 jumps in and had a blast. Couple of interesting landings (early flare and late flare) but for the most part easy landings. Thank you all for your encouragement. Here is a video of jump 8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOmPocA9ltk&feature=related) Plans are now to complete my A with my coach, take some more packing classes with the great packers I met at the DZ, and learn as much as I can about the sport. I am fortunate enough to be able to hire great coaches to teach me the correct way to play. I will never stop tunnel time as its a GREAT way to practice. Dream now is my 200th jump and a wing suit class... Thank you all for your contributions to my thread.

Dubais new Mall just opened this week with TWO huge tunnels unlike any I have seen before. The tunnels are under construction and will not be done for 6 months (they said). Heres a photo of the side by side tunnels.

Sorry - cell phone photo its kind of poor but you will get the idea.

Just visited the wind tunnel in Abu Dhabi. A slow tunnel that would not fly a 200 lb flyer with experiance. Went to Dubai after that and WOW the two side by side tunnels being built will be really cool. Solid plastic sides 360 degree view. Tunnel will be done if you listen to them in 6 months. Cant wait to try. Heres a photo of the two tunnels. There is a private tunnel in Dubai owned by the guy that ownes Emerates Airline. This is a SV type tunnel thats really fast but private.

Wow, found out at weight watchers that some people only eat 3 meals a day, with out a burger king or mc donalds stop in between. Down 9 lbs, lots of water, lots of treadmill time. On my way.

Hi, and yes your son and I had several privt chats. I am trying to cover all the bases, the tunnel time (8hr), small wing (winglet) about half a typical camera wing that I fly in the tunnel, and yes now weight watchers. my navigator, pd reserve and mirage g4 are new and so the shape should be fine. I am hoping to get 10 to 15 lbs more down (got 5 since I started) before my jumping (equipment done next month). Hate to be up against the max so i will work on the weight. Greatly apprecite your note and cant wait for this day to come. THANK YOU!

OK Ok Do you know what its like at a weight watchers meeting.......... Paid my money and counting my food. Gotta be safe, wish me luck.