howardwhite

Most DZs in my area (New England) have largely abandoned static line because it's inefficient. Mostly they're jumping turbos and you really can't put out SL -- because there are mostly no other Cessna loads. Some have implemented IAD -- Instructor Asstisted Deployment -- but most who have abandoned SL have gone to the hybred tandem -> AFF program. It seems to work...but what do I know? HW

Not to be too academic, but.... The FARs don't specify which airplanes can be flown with the door off. That list is in the Advisory Circular found in (among many other places) the USPA SIM. There's some paperwork involved. The Piper PA-12 (Super Cub) is on the list, but as others have suggested, why bother On my to do list....the smallest I've jumped from is a Tiger Moth, at the top of a loop punched straight down like a champagne cork. HW

Does it work? HW

There is a ~$50 gadget heavily advertized on TV a few months, and supposedly available at Radio Shack. It claims to detect telemarketing computer calls and "convinces" the computer it's talking to a non-number. Haven't seen it lately; maybe it went the way of "Ab Energizers." HW

Old MacDonald was dyslexic OIOIE HW

I jumped at Hollister a few years ago. Got there and the wind on the airport had to be blowing 35 mph and they were putting up tandems. Turns out the DZ is in a box canyon 10 or so miles away and the wind is less and predictable, HW

Well, as you're in New England... Skydive Pepperell (MA) Skydive New England (Lebanon, ME) Providence/Boston Skydiving (Lincoln, RI) Connectuit Parachutists Inc. (Ellington CT). All are usually turbine DZs. HW

ADVISORY CIRCULAR AC No: 105-2C Date: 1/2/91 Initiated by: AFS-340/820 Subject: SPORT PARACHUTE JUMPING..... APPENDIX 2. AIRCRAFT THAT MAY BE OPERATED WITH ONE CABIN DOOR REMOVED .... Cessna 150 Series... 23. AIRCRAFT OPERATING AND AIRWORTHINESS REQUIREMENTS. a. Procedure. Owners or operators of aircraft listed in Appendix 2, who are interested in obtaining authorization and operating limitations for these aircraft to be flown with the door open or removed, should forward a written request to the FSDO having jurisdiction over the area in which these operations are to be conducted. The request should contain the following information: (1) Name and address of the registered owner(s) of the aircraft. (2) Make, model, serial, and registration numbers of the aircraft. (3) Place where the aircraft is normally based. (4) Reason the aircraft is to be operated with a door open or removed. I agree she shouldn't do it until she's accepted your offer to train her; just saying I've done it safely and legallyand I'm not quite as skinny as her husband. I know both of them. HW

Rhonda I wasn't encouraging you , just pointing out that it has been and can be done. Years ago at Pepperell when the 182 was down, we had about 25 loads in a 150 -- 'course it takes forever to get to 2,500. (As I was running the place that day, I hogged and made two.) You will want to take the right seat out. With deference to skydiverdriver, I still don't think a 337 is required -- a 337 is an engineering form required when you make modifications to a plane. The paper you get from the FAA basically says you must placard the panel with a statement about operating limitations with door removed. As to jumping into a big open field, if it's in Massachusetts, it needs to be a demo jump registered with the state (Turners Falls would be a possible exception as it's still technically a DZ.) (Sorry to the rest of you for some local stuff) HW

I've jumped out of 150s several times, one an Aerobat with the door on but still easy to push; as I recall, it didn't have a window. If you want to take the door off, you need to get a piece of paper from the FAA that says it's o.k. ; there's a list in the Advisory Circular in the back of the SIM of planes that can get such approval, but I suspect the place you're renting would frown on it. HW

His name is Brian Bedermann (sp). He probably could have made a Level 4 recurrency which he would have to make anyway even if he had a logbook, as he was more than two months out. He's in New Hampshire for the summer for the Campus Crusade for Christ so I suspect he'll be back. If you have info, PM me here or fax to 978-433-8269 (Pepperell, MA) Skydiving Center. Trying to keep people in the air... HW

I would be idly curious to know. There was a kid at the DZ today -- a Purdue student, who had an A but no logbook with him. I tried to call Skydive Indiana but finally talked to the airport, who said the DZ went out of business. In the end, he couldn't jump, but he's around for the summer so it would be nice if we could verify his status and currency. HW

I talked to a lawyer/jumper today. She said that with your techie background, you should make zillions in intellectual property law -- after you survive law school. HW

When I was learning to spot, I had a very large instructor who would grab my helmet and move my head around. It stuck. For me, the trick is not to use *any* part of the plane as a reference, but to move your head around to correct for parallax. HW

I dunno what happened. I asked him what a "B licensed student " is, I said "laws" in the US don't govern such things. And I said I thought the punishment too harsh. Guess that's why I'm still a "Newbie."

Well, back to the real subject, the company is in Paraguay. Despite NAFTA, their labor is probably cheap. Why doesn't some DZ.COM type with disposable income buy one and report back. I've known jumpers from Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Venezuala, etc. but never Paraguay. But there is a web site for skyoscar.com. HW

Arizona. Places in Florida have advertised themselves as "the world's largest British drop zone," but they can be cold and rainy in January. On the other hand if you have a family there's lots of other (crowded) stuff to do in Florida and not much in Arizona. I don't have a good feel for Perris/Elsinore; I found that in Northern California, jumpers regard January as ski season, even if it's beautiful for jumping. HW

I don't much care, but you're saying that if I post 500 messages about Marilyn Monroe's boobies, I have more credibility than someone who posts a lot of more-or-less serious posts? Do readers pay attention to these labels? I post a lot more than Bill Booth. HW

To add to what's been said here, buying used is the way to go unless you've got a lot of bucks. You will want to downsize after 100 or 200 jumps, so buying a new rig that holds your present main and reserve is probably not a good investment. Like cars, they lose their initial value immediately. People at my DZ have gotten good deals at DZ.COM, but be sure it can be rigger-checked and returned if it doesn't pass muster. Sort of like buying a used car. I kinda recommend buying locally Make sure it's Cypres equipped or ready. HW

Who decides, and why, DZ.COMmers are "ranked.?" I don't really mind being a Newbie, but I'm not, either in jumps or here. HW

Adam Ignoring the content, which will evolve with your skydiving career, you need work/help on the design. Lose the Courier font. Ask Goose (Jumptown webmaster) and Slick (skydiveguy.com). for some design help. I am a graphic arts/design type and only secondarily a computer geek.

Aug. 21, Sept. 18, both Wednesdays with Thursday as rain date. HW

i did 3 before starting my IAF. but i have heard of people who have never done a tandem.. No shit, do such people really exist?

"My first night jump (for which I've already paid a beer 'fine') was a 3-way RW during where we turned 8 points. " Err... wasn't that "illegal?" Your first night jump is supposed to be a solo. There seems to be a high demand for night jumps in dark and dreary Massachusetts. More than 20 people were signed up for (in some cases multiple) night jumps tonight in Pepperell, MA. They can be wonderful or scary or both, but my vote would be to continue them. I wouldn't want to have foregone the New Year's jump where in 8-way freefall you could see the full moon glinting off Boston Harbor, 30 miles away. The harbor islands were in full profile. Wish I had video. Of course there can be (and is) endless debate about what ought to be required and -- this one has never taken hold in the US -- whether we should have more licenses, say E and F. HW