dreamsville

It's not always just the spot, if the first group has it right, but also how fast they get out. We try to move out as best we can so as not to hose the rest. 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

Depending upon the direction, we have some section lines. Most of us are regular jumpers at this DZ near I-80 and the Fox River in Illinois, so we have more confidence that we have it right, but it may be more important were it to be a less familiar 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

There was mention in one of the letters in the August Parachutist about jumpers spotting by looking down at what appears to be directly underneath the aircraft. The implication was that this could be in error, even if the winds were known. The writer also suggested a method of looking at distant points to assist with spotting. I would have PM'd a well known jump pilot about this, but I though it was worth posting this so we all get an answer that might help us to avoid pasture walks in some situations. Any elucidation on this (that's Chinese for, "can you help?", pilots)? 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 can connect from a Win2k box to the IIS but not the apache page. If no one else can help you on the domain-joining issue (if you still need this feature for some reason), you can open a case with Microsoft. I realize that this is a last resort, but I 've done it once in a situation where a 3rd-party product could not deal with Windows "sockets". It turned out to be a directory security problem with IIS internet guest user that intiallly appeared unrelated. ANYHOW, my point is that they can be helpful. Remember to try to set the case up as an individual rather than corporate to save money. Again, this is a last resort. I searched for join, domain on the MS support site and nothing comes up for XP. Sorry. 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

Swooping is a learned technique just like anything else. If you have little or no experience with free flying you can be dangerous, and swooping, especially in that pond, is the same way. Number of jumps for faster, riskier aspects of our sport is no indicator of success if there is little practice in the given area, as I understand is the case for this jumper in swoops generally. I have about 1150 jumps but don't practice performance swoops. I'd never think to attempt what Ron did without way more practice than I have in that stuff. Harry Higbie 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

Actually, Roger himself has cautioned against radical moves under canopy for one with limited experience in such techniques, both in person and through writings in the past. In this particular case, Ron had asked for advice on the place ride up on doing pond swoops, and was cautioned against trying it by those on the load. Thant he chose to anyway was a shame. He narrowly missed two friends of mine on the way past the dock. 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 touching the team prior to exit. The last times I have done or seen this is in a tailgate aircraft on a bigger way. It's just a light touch and one more cue to help the vidiot get a tighter, cool shot of the tailgate exit (he/she is on the side of the tailgate) without interfering with the group. Another thing I learned from those who know much more than I. It's really fun. 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 regards to exit timing of the video flyer in 4-way, I changed my exit last year to leaving WITH the team rather than slightly before. It's also true that some people leave slightly afterwards. In any case, since I changed my exit a bit I am able to get a better view of the exit for the tape (the wing suit helps keep you from hitting the group, unless we should miss the count (oops!)). This is especially important during practice if an exit should funnel. For this reason, it is also good to be used to the exit cadence of your group. 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

Please all, just work at improving your skills and trying stuff at a level you can handle. I left early to take a USPA director to O'Hare, and that was the only thing that saved me from otherwise staying seeing this awful event. Please, no one forget that if you make a move you can't handle, that prayers, memories, and grief will be all we have left of you. In the long run you'll have more fun, and you'll get over not having made the attempt at something that is beyond your CURRENT ability. You'll find stuff you can do and love to do soon enough, but remember you already have some of that. That's why we jump. Thanks for your thoughts and update Chris. Keep us posted. 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

If you get to Chicago in the summer, it's no trouble jumping. Plenty of Otters. Welcome. 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 time goes by we learn what battles are worth fighting. Sometimes the lesson is things to avoid more than anything else. Save the contention for the important stuff and it may have more impact and credibility. 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 agree with the part about hitting 1001, especially as I am working on headdown and it has been a challenge. There will always be those at the large DZ's around here who are better, so enjoy your time in the air and relax. Now I am having jumps recently where I am getting control, but it has taken a bunch of jumps since last fall, and of course some jumps are RW camera, sitfly, etc. For this reason, without setting an actual goal in the beginning, I am ending up at about 400 jumps per year to handle all this with some degree of progress and currency, although when I begain nearly 5 years ago it wasn't that high (now at 1133 total). To my fellow jumpers, I'd say that it's good to have a goal on which to work, but it's also nice not to be working on a challenge on EVERY jump so that you can't as easily have fun and enjoy the beauty and friends. It's OK to coast once in a while. 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 am just now getting head-down after a bunch of jumps. Last year it took a bunch of jumps to be steady sit fly after a few hundred RW jumps. Be versatile and be patient if you have the time to jump different styles. Big ways in RW, 4-way flat fly, and group free fly are all wonderful. RW has been around longer and there is more structure to the formations, and so maybe more of a standard by which to be critical. Free fly will evolve too, it's just a few years behind. Let's all keep an open mind and relax. Free and flat fliers all need a good and STL. 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 think it's great that you posted this as a means to draw everybody into a debate, although I observe that this is never very difficult where my Anglo-Saxon buddy John Kallend is involved (he is a noted skydive physicist and philsopher). As for politcal correctness, it is a sometimes self-defeating attempt at enforcing decency where it may be lacking. The world's not always fair nor does it always speak kindly, and people ought to be prepared for this and not present too soft a shell. However, I believe there is hope. As we learn to better get along with each other (through our religion or what ever else we have chosen), maybe the didactic aspects of political correctness will die of their own weight. I cite the skydiving community as a place where many different kinds of people get along well, are largely honest, and present a good example. So here's to all you altitude addicts! Be safe and prosper this weekend (no, I have not started drinking yet). 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

You're quite serious? 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

To the rest of this I would like to add: PD did not recommend rolling the nose when I talked to a rep from there . The unfurling of the nose when rolled puts stress on the center cell, and, if rolled unevenly, may cause a spin. Also, some packers recommend stow lengths of a couple of inches or so (quite short). This works for me. Lastly, make sure that there is ample line between the last stow and the bumpers, which will depend upon the riser length you are using (usually less than 18 inches). This is so there is no tension upon the risers when the bag goes in the tray. Tightness in this area can cause irregular line release with the result of a hard, line twist, or off-heading openings.

I have seen pictures of Empuria, but only jumped at Lillo, Spain, which was quiltwork arid land. The prettiest DZ in my experience is Sebastian, with the view of Lake Okeechobee at Skydive America near sunset coming as a close second. When it's clear at Perris the view of Mt. San Gorgonio and San Jacinto to the east is great also. Night jumps near Chicago with the city and the moon were also unforgetable. Want to do Marathon key for sure. 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

Thanks for all the work on this site. I know it's a lot of work, as I do Web work as well. No Apache, though, just Microsoft world. 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

Answering the 2nd issue first: I didn't start spending serious time freeflying 'til about jump 500-600, first starting with a sit. When I asked Steve Utter (coach) at Pahokee about desirability of any RW skills before free-fly (even if you don't want any more RW), he said that it is a good idea to know how to be stable and do some movement on your belly as a safety/skill set thing. I can agree with that. Also, I am one who loves sit, head down, and RW, but for somewhat different reasons. The more you can jump, the more choices you have, since it keeps you current with time to practice more things. On the jumpsuit, the first ?: For RW, if you're thin or other wise have a body shape where you have trouble moving forward as well as you would want, get booties, they're a big help. If you are floaty (again for RW), get a tighter suit and, yes, get good grippers, as the others say. The only thing you may want to consider is that a #10 grip (one of the big sizes) will slow you down if you're floaty. If you're not, obviously that doesn't matter and your suit will probably be looser as well. I used Tony Suits, since they do the job, look good and they are durable (but can be pricey). Free fly suits (again, my experience): I am not a sky god, so I got a compromise Tony Suit that is baggy around the arms and legs, and tighter in the middle. When you are new to sit the leg bags may seem like they are trying to make you unstable, but that will disappear in time. The baggy legs will help you to get stable in head-down, which is the threshold that I am just beginning to reach now (but more work is definitely needed). Hope this helps. Smile and relax in freefall and the world can be your oyster, Harry

The gal that hit them was a real dumbelina. It helps to really watch out on that bridge at night, even when sober. There are all kinds of drivers on it.

I had to get my Skytronic serviced, and then replaced about 3 years ago. Since then, it has performed reliably on audible warnings always, although I always check the warnings on the way up. Incidentally, I have also seen it go dark on the way to altitude when the batteries became too pooped to participate. It fits in a helmet pocket and has easy controls. All this having been said, I have recently bought a Pro-Track to get the history of jumps and more detailed fall-rate info, which also happens to be able to be set to miles/hr. If any of the above seems inaccurate, I am jumping a 3-year-old Sytronic Pro. Harry

Depends upon the canopy whether or not to roll the nose. I have always rolled the halves of the nose towards the center on my older Saber 170 (as well as the tail), but never on my Stiletto 135. Should I jump something new, I always ask. Harry

16 jumps, including 11 head down/sit (a couple of fun docks when not solo (obviously)), 2 4-way r/w, and 3 4-way r/w team practice video jumps. The variety is lots of fun, as were the cook-out and the fireworks at the DZ!