dreamsville

It was the load from hell. It happened 7 or 8 years ago. I still have jumper friends to this day who were on that load. One person on the load I was to meet years later and we would become fast friends talk about it. Conditions: Late fall, dropping ceiling, down to 1100 feet by deployment time. Winds in excess of 20 mph. Wouldn't try it today. Neither would this DZ now. Opened downwind of the DZ, trying to land in a plowed field. Wind pushed me back over a ravine with big trees on the banks and a creek and small pine trees on the ravine floor. Wind was dropping as I descended, partially due to the windbreak of the trees on the ravine crest, requiring constant adjustment. Had 70 jumps. Slid to a stop between two 8-foot pines with no damage, just a grass stain on my knees. No injuries on the load, but one parachute landing in one of the trees on the ravine crest by another jumper. One freeflyer had shoe laces come tied together in freefall, had to kick off a shoe on landing. Have picture somewhere. Harry I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I know of no limit on foreign spending by US citizens in other countries. I'm also not sure how many other countries fear for their currencies enough to do this. Harry I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Good advice to keep jumping and packing it. Postponing packing it, if you plan to continue in the sport, is not the answer. I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Unless i missed a post with this suggestion, try a bungee cord in the back of the leg straps. your rigger can help you with this. Many free-flyers have this, since radical changes in body positions, head-down, etc. can move the rig around. It really helps. Harry I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

"Freeflying" is colloquial at best, just a convenient and recognized term. Usually it means, sit, head-down, stand, maybe even inlcudes knee-flying. People just have a perception when the word is mentioned. Generally speaking, it can include a lot more things. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Interesting point about accessibility to activities shown on TV, from newbies' point of view. Maybe more stuff about tandems and elementary skydiving would be helpful. Would it be a good idea for someone to be shown stuff that they can do after a few weeks rather than after a few years? It's tough enough to convince people to jump, given the fear factor, time, and money. After I did my first tandem, I asked what percentage of people went on to do AFP (AFF at other DZs). The answer was about 2%. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Quote: In my opinion, if you're smart enough to figure out how to use Access to effectively and efficiently manage your dropzone, then you're smart enough to realize that you're better off buying someone else's application instead - since there are already a handful out there reasonably priced. In my experience, whatever you start to write, you will almost always realize that your true requirements were greater than you had initially realized. For example, during the course of this thread you have decided upon more information that needs to be kept, or so it appears. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

As long as the plane doesn't malfunction on the way up. ] I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

In 1997 I was trained on Sabres ranging from about 210 down to 170 by the time I finished AFP at Skydive Chicago. I don't recall any Stilletos being used, but wouldn't recommend it for students. The older Stilletos (c. 1996) were less forgiving canopies than some others, as far as poor body position on opening. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

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Yes. It's the association. I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I am curious about what kinds of music people tie to their jumping experience. I am a fan of R&B, classic jazz, vocal standards (Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, etc.). I was listening to certain CDs of this music on the day of jump #1, and hearing them again always reminds me of it. Now, jazz to and from DZ will cause me to think of jumping when I hear it later. The musical association lingers in a great way throughout the week. Anyone else have this experience? | Harry Edited to add: from 5 years ago, somehow Miles Davis got connected with doing 4-way team video.| I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Bright Orange top and bottom skins with purple in the center cells. Crossfire 2 129. BRAND NEW, and anyone can spot me! I need to be on my best behavior, as they will always know it is one of two jumpers on the DZ. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

It looks to me as if the main deployment would have to be modified somehow. Maybe a ripcord? | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Pin checks are still very much in vogue at our dropzone. Sometimes I find a pin that has moved 1/4 to 1/2 inch, so I push it back in and check the bridle window as well. On the latter, if the bridle has been readjusted and no new color has been painted on the kill line, or there is no window on the bridle, it may be hard to verify that the pilot chute is cocked. You may have to ask the jumper. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Is that an adjustable main lift web? Some people have been telling me those aren't such a great idea, due to fraying. Rigger comments or a new thread? | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Determine the cause of the problem first (body position,equipment). Your rigger may even give you a loaner if on premises. Then, GET BACK ON THE HORSE! My view has always been that if there is time, safe conditions, and gear, don't let gear fear fester. If you are up for it, getting in another jump where things go much better helps to put the negatives of a mal behind you and gives you more confidence in you and your gear. Side note: handles that used to cost $35-$40 are now in the $70 range (last I was told). When practicing emergency procedures, try to keep your hands lightly closed when doing a make-believe extraction, simulating keeping your handles. It's saved me some money by improving my muscle memory in this regard. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

As for the King Air, the door is narrower and the propblast a bit stronger than an Otter. It's harder to chunk something out of a KA and separation can develop faster if it doesn't go well. As far as getting back up to the formation, everything about diving to the side and turning the head is true. Also rememeber to de-arch as best you can once off to the side of the formation. I was on at least one RW dive this last week where someone did that and recovered admirably with limited effort on our part to speed up the fall rate. He got in and the dive went on to turn some points. I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I wasn't aware there was an incident near Chicago where jumpers were out over water. If so, the only drop zone near the city and the lake would have been near Hobart, Ind., if it existed then. There WAS an incident west of Cleveland at Huron, Ohio in 1967, where there were 2 passes over clould cover at 6000 feet. There was no GPS then, so the pilot would ask the tower if he could see the jump plane on the radar. The tower said yes. Perhaps it was another plane, because the first load was dropped 6 miles out over Lake Erie. Some were picked up by a boat, others unfortunately drowned. They were jumping rounds and had the heavy jumpers boots. Pass 2 was over the airport, and they were fine. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Different DZ's are fun. I have jumped at somewhere around 30, and you will find that some of those who are competing or instructing have probably been to many more. It helps with perspective on different conditions. Plus, you will meet good people that you may see again when you least expect it! That's the best. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I am almost shocked that we are having this conversation. I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Yes, it's all true. Fear does diminish over time, but it does return at the oddest moments, even for some regular jumpers (meaning just about every week during the season). In general, you'll be more relaxed and SAFER the more you jump, as long as you don't get too confident and push the envelope. I can remember doing a balloon jump with about 1700 jumps at the time. Chad looked at me and said that I looked scared, and I was. The total quiet and the setting was new to me, not like a chopper. I think I was worried about avoiding the corn and beans in a new area. Anyhow, landed OK. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

With some of us we just waited until we needed the rating, as for the Nationals. Some people at the DZ would actually joke about who had the most jumps with only an A license. I think the highest was 1500 or 1600 jumps. This person got his D license and shortly thereafter went on to medal in the Nationals. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

We have someone at SDC by the name of Dennis who used to be with a 4-way team. They used to say "bang, boom, pow!" for the exit count. Hence, bangboompow.com. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Not to get off the topic . . . why not? Creative on a weather hold one time meant some visitors from another DZ tying a cord to a chest strap of someone with an open canopy as they stood on the side of the runway (private airport, a few years ago). Two others held the open canopy behind him as the truck to which the cord was attached slowly accelerated. After a couple of broken tow line tries, the canopy did become airborn a bit. The first time the guy fell forward, and the next time he tumbled backwards in the grass from a foot or two. As the DZO was thinking of coming out to put an end to this, it began to rain again and the culprits scattered and got their truck off the runway. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143