solodude59

hehe....'breaks' In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

As of september '10 it was still required. I've been in afghanistan since december so it could have changed since then i suppose In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

I work in the ICU at a military hospital, and I'm active duty. When I first started watching wingsuit videos (yes, thats what hooked me ), people started asking me all sorts of questions like I was suicidal. Luckily, when I made my appointment to talk my commander, she had been skydiving in the past quite a few times. She was impressed that I had done my homework about AFF, ground school, and emergency procedures, and signed the "high risk activity waiver" that the military requires before doing such activities. If it had been another colonel, one that had no experience skydiving, they could have easily said no. I still could have went, but without that waiver, I could have been in trouble had I gotten hurt during the process. In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

saw my first wingsuit video around september. started AFF a few days later on the 28th, and i was hooked. In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

Any chance he got a coupon or something for a little more freefall on the next jump...? In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

Haha, definitely a snag hazard. I realized that before I even jumped the first time. It's the radio for use in canopy flight, it has an ear piece in the helmet. Not sure why they didnt just use a chest strap mount, maybe they had some radio drops in the past.... haha. In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

FAR from an instructor... But here's a few of my favs from when I started AFF before I deployed. In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

What i did, was buy a brand new custom mirage g4 to fit me (you know, i got a tight bod haha), and then i bought my main, reserve, and AAD lightly used. saved me around $1500 doing it that way. and ill have my container for a while, sized it just small enough to downsize twice. good luck! In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

I'm working in a prison at a FOB right now, where ANA soldiers almost outnumber the american forces. These guys are, for the most part, little kids that smoke pot. They run around chasing each other, play little games, they are loud and obnoxious, no military bearing, and bring hashish and other narcotics into the compound. These are the people that will soon take over control of a multi-million dollar facility. Here's the perk. We have to check our weapons before we come into the prison, so if anybody ever got a weapon into the facility, the only thing available is pepper spray (extremely weak, at that) which the cell guards have. We would be, for lack of a better word, fucked. Everything that happens here is highly classified, but if the general public could see what happens in one day here, the government would soon be remnants of a bloody coup. In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

a little camp called sabalu harrison not far from baf. youre at kaf? In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

I started purchasing my rig in december a little after i get to afghanistan. My custom mirage shipped today. And yes, my profile is current. In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

i apologize, just read the news feed. In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

has there been any word on as to why the statos project was stopped? In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

At least you missed the handle and didnt freeze up for 60 seconds like my buddy did on our AFF lvl 1. he failed completely, just locked on for the entire jump. they failed him, and he got so pissed he just left the DZ without a debrief, or getting his logbook signed. im sure the next time you go, you will be more than mentally aware to reach back and flick that PC, and i wish you blue skies! In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

awesome man! thats where i started my AFF, who was your instructor? i had joe and the retired AF pararescue guy (i cant remember his name at the moment, i think his name was brian.). and jc did my videos, great cameraman. In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

dude! hellz yeah! i live in destin, and a beach dz would kill! i go to gold coast now, which is a 4 hour drive, but it would be awesome to have a beach dz that close to my house for fun jumps!! In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

I forgot to mention that I'm deployed in afghanistan... sry, didnt think it was pertinent. since i originally posted, my instructor informed me that the dz is going to loan me a main until theyre comfortable with me downsizing to a 210 (started aff on a 260). so i will only ship my reserve and cypres to mirage, and one of my dz's riggers will rig the main when im FINALLY home to jump! woohoo! i timed the purchase just right, so it will ship exactly around the time when i get back! In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

Well, I came up with a compromise with him. I'm getting a loaner canopy for around 30 jumps or until he's confident in my pilot abilities. Still get to jump my mirage! In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

Hey mama! Your post inspired me to hunt down my instructors email address, and Im starting to inquire about my progression. Thanks for the idea! In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

I actually plan on heading down to the orlando area to hit up the windtunnel once I get back and get a few more jumps under my belt. Trying to continue to develop my current skills.... ANNNND theres a girl down there haha. hello skymama! ive read a few of your other posts as Ive been browsing these forums for a few months since I arrived in afghanistan. nothing but time to read on my limited time off . I wholeheartedly agree with you, and I have the utmost of respect and trust for my instructors since they taught me how to save my life 5 times now haha. just wanted something to help prepare me for the future... (so i dont throw a fit if they say I cant jump my brand spankin new g4 hehe ) anyhow, i appreciate both of your welcome posts, and i look forward to jumping/enjoying a beer with the both of you! phil In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

so you shipped canopies? Im about to send my main, reserve and cypres to mirage to be packed and assembled in my new container. Any suggestions regarding shipping techniques? Of course, I'm a bit paranoid at the astronomical odds of a puncture en route. Just curious, concerned.. Any insight anyone could provide would be very helpful! In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

hey there! glad to hear you enjoyed it! now freefall wont have such a "pucker factor" when the timely deployment is up to you. :) any chance you jumped at gold coast in lumberton? In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

Hello all. Started my AFF in october before i deployed, i just never thought about posting before now. got up to level 5 at gold coast skydivers in lumberton, ms. i have to say that its a great dropzone in my limited opinion, and i will definitely continue to trek 4 hours each way to jump there haha. just finished buying my rig, and i cant wait to get back and fly my new mirage g4. any opinions on a 1.0 WL pilot 210 for my 6th jump? open to suggestions, might jump a navigator 240 for the remainder of my AFF to ease back into canopy flight since im quite non-current now. In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor

good luck on your level 1 today! im a recent AFF student as well. started in october right before i deployed. i live in fl as well, up in the panhandle, eglin afb. got to level 5 now im hella noncurrent haha. but i just finished buying my new rig (no thanks to the govts budget problems). i will def be jumping every weekend when i get back, might even come down to zephyrhills and orlando for some tunnel time. maybe ill see ya! In freefall, you have the rest of your life to figure out what's wrong. -Joe, AFF Instructor