3mpire

I searched the forums and google but didn't find anything that defines "NSTIWTIWGD"...?

very cool!

Just out of idle curiosity, how many pilots who are also skydivers wear a parachute when they fly? I know that FARs require the pilot in command of an aircraft used for skydiving have to wear a rig, but if you're just a private pilot tooling around on your own does anyone wear a rig just for fun/just in case?

which issue? i'd be interested in reading that article

looks more like a tank top than a t-shirt judging from the nice cleavage

That makes a lot of sense, I wasn't interpreting the information I read correctly. I have some ear plugs that I'm going to try next jump. Thanks for breaking that down, it was very informative! Given that it is pretty much a given that you are at risk of hearing damage, I'm surprised that it isn't mentioned in the SIM. Does anyone know if the USPA has ever spent much time on this issue?

haha. i need that guy to sit in the back of the caravan so when someone with a full face helmet on tries to tell me something I can hear wtf what they're saying.

They were specifically putting them in after we were almost to full altitude. I recall seeing the same thing over multiple jumps with a few folks in particular. About the time that everyone was putting their goggles on and securing their helmets approx 1-2 minutes before door, they would open a cargo pocket on their suit, pull out ear plugs, put them in, put on their goggles, and then secure their helmet. They were not wearing them prior, including boarding and take off.

wow I never really felt like the aircraft or even free fall was all that loud--maybe i've been to see too many loud bands in small clubs? so from that PDF it appears that in the cabin it is around 95dB, and free fall can spike up to 120dB. according to this web site CDC says that "for every 3 dBs over 85dB, the permissible exposure time before possible damage can occur is cut in half." 85dB is permissible for 8 hours. Their chart shows that 90dB is ok for 60 minutes, and 115 is ok ~30sec. So at most, it looks like during free fall you're potentially at risk, but it's not that far out of acceptable standards. I guess over many dives and many years it could add up, but unless i'm looking at this data wrong, it doesn't sound like it is a *huge* risk. I flipped through the SIM and I didn't see anything in there regarding hearing loss related to skydiving. It never came up in instruction, but it might be interesting to see if someone who is more medically inclined knew of any research that has been done on this specifically (in english, lol)?

I was last out on my 3rd solo dive, and got a really sweet view of the caravan diving away. made me want to be last out every time.

I've noticed a few licensed jumpers and instructors who put in ear plugs approx 1-2 minutes before door. Is it a personal preference re: noise or is there some other reason that isn't obvious to me?

when I started this spring I had the same approach to scheduling. but if you really want to get licensed before the end of summer, you'll need to pick up the pace. I went from being "well, I suppose I could wait a week and then get a few in" to being "put me on every single plane you can friday, saturday, and sunday" that change came right around... the moment I landed after my 5 second free fall jump. especially now that it's full bore summer madness at the DZ with dual caravans and lots of students you are going to have a few weeks where you'll have to fight for every jump you can get. doing multiple jumps in one day was always better for me, too, because I could self-critique my jump, talk to my instructor, think my next jump through, and then immediately put that into action. I felt like I learned a lot more that way. when you have big gaps between it feels like you lose a lot of momentum. not that you forget, but that you aren't as sharp, so you don't fully maximize your potential for improvement on each jump. just my experience, i'm sure it is different for everybody. cheers!

right on! if you see me around say hello!

Thanks, Joe--good stuff! I noticed you're out of Kaukauna, WI. I grew up in Green Bay, but have been living in Seattle since 2000. What is the skydiving community like in NE Wisconsin? I don't get back much but once I'm licensed I was planning on making a return trip.

what really blows my mind is when you talk to a kid like that and you say something along the lines of "yeah, you know, when 9/11 happened, shit was crazy" and they look blankly back and you and you realize they were in elementary school in 2001.

airathanas - thanks for the tips -- sweet 3 ring necklaces, btw. that's pretty cool!

hmm. i was counting on my dashing good looks and stunning personality to really carry me. i guess i'll have to rethink my approach thanks for the tips!

Ha! Hey Mike! That's funny that you're on the forum. For some reason I didn't think many people from our DZ would be on here, but shows what I know! I'm SO STOKED to be on solo status. I think the last time I saw you it was in the east field after one of my 15s. Now that I'm on the caravan I think it'll be easier to get to know more licensed jumpers (though I've met a bunch of cool students along the way, and I'm sure a good crop of them will be coming up behind me, too). My goal is to try to get 3 or 4 or 5 jumps in a day so I can really get to work on practicing maneuvering in free fall. Have you had any trouble getting that many loads in a day? Have you had your checkout dive yet? Have you run into many others from our DZ on these forums?

Thanks for the advice, I like the idea of finding people on both ends of aggressive/conservative and splitting the difference. i've already experience a little of that through my instructors (some teach you to do something one way, another will say "i never do it like that, I do this instead"). Ive totally noticed the wall between students and licensed jumpers, but I understand it. I'm not put off by it, because I know I'm learning. I'm going to focus on getting better with each jump, and hopefully people will respect that.

Hello world -- I was just cleared for solo status and am ready to start practicing for my checkout dive, which I hope to make before the end of August. I've had a great experience so far! Since I'm about to graduate from the small student pond and jump into the pool as a licensed skydiver, I wanted to ask everyone the following question: What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were about to get licensed? My instructors have been great and I feel like I have a solid framework to go from, so I'm confident about the basics of maneuvers, emergency procedures, canopy flight, etc. I'm more interested in the intangible stuff that isn't in the SIM or the DZ student manual that I've been reading. What customs or courtesies do new jumpers unknowingly violate? I know there are a lot of informal rules or etiquette that i'm totally ignorant about, and i'd rather learn about that here than at the DZ after pissing someone off! Any pointers would be great.