sky20yrs

I asked Bill if he was in need of some help the past few months, and he seemed intent on doing things himself. Of course, he also seemed to think he'd be around til next year with the treatments. Not sure if he made any arrangements. Hopefully someone will pick it up and continue the tradition. Told my latest recipients what had happened as they received paperwork, in case they did not get anything back in a timely manner.

I'm really sorry to hear this...last I heard from him, he expected to be around for quite a few more months.

I was a on a jump MANY years ago with someone named Forest McBride, just an old jumper and great jump pilot. That jump he had his 50th reserve ride, according to several sources on the load. I remember we all told him he earned his B-license on reserve rides! I have had 4 chops in my 21 years and 2700 jumps. None since the mid 90s, it's been awhile.

I am so sorry for your loss. I have had a miscarriage as well, and know how shocking and hard it is right now. You are both in my prayers.

Not really answering your question, bu thought I'd share my Batwing experience. I used to jump a 134 and then a 116 from about 1996 til about 2001. Hated the openings (too slow, had to pump the brakes to help it out usually) and the landings...but loved the in-between, fun to fly. I tried to land one on just risers in no-wind due to a broken steering line about 13-14 years ago. I still can't sit on anything firm, my back hurts too much when I try. Shoulda been cutaway #5. After I gained a lot of weight during a pregnancy and was probably about 165 lbs. (body weight) jumping my 116...it scared me enough on landing to retire from it permanently. Jumped a Spectre someone had, was so impressed that it opened all by itself that I bought one, lol. I am a little curious about the modern ellipticals now.

That was my first canopy once I was certified in 1991.

For those interested in joining VETS (Veterans Engaged in Team Skydiving) while the membership #s are very low (still in the 20s right now), we have a link to a membership form available online at skydivingveterans.com. For folks that haven't heard about us...this is a new organization for veterans who are skydivers. Due to some unfortunate life events with the person in charge of the website work...that work has had to be postponed for now. But at least folks can print off the membership form and send it to Skydive Dallas (check payable to VETS) and get a membership card and patch. We are also hoping to start work on the incorporation phase in the next month. Please send me a message if you have questions. I'm not on DZ.com very often, but will be notified via email if I get a message. Thanks and Blue Skies! Cindy

Another thing to consider...I've seen people blow eardrums and I've blown my sinuses up twice when I thought I was pretty much over the cold, was fine jumping low first so thought I'd be OK. Just had a little bit of lingering stuff and that was all it took. My sinuses are apparently small and sensitive. I'm also with the poster that said it's not cool to share germs with your buddies. Since I'm down for weeks if I get a cold, I really don't appreciate it. cc

I'm no longer an instructor, but was for over 14 years. I will say I was really surprised to see how easy the AFF course had become when I sat through one, by comparison to early-mid 90s. Lots of coddling, hard to tell when it was one of the many practice jumps versus an eval dive. I know of more than one person that I felt couldn't have possibly had the skills to do it yet get a rating (folks I jumped with regularly), and sure enough, they got the rating, and then I saw vids of them posted where they were far away from a stable student later. No where close enough to help if it had gone bad. I guess we just hope they get lucky til the build up the skills now. And coaches, yeah. There are some great ones, no doubt, but there are some that cannot even stay close enough to really fly with a student, or have the awareness to give good feedback. I feel like those students are getting ripped off sometimes. Not to mention, it seems I still often have to teach them to track decently at all, and do very basic stuff when they start doing organized jumps with me. I'm happy to help them learn, I miss teaching, but it's hard to understand why the skill sets aren't better after all the coaching jumps. Just my opinion. I really hope they get back to making the AFF rating harder to get one day, ensure folks really have the good flying skills they should to do AFF. I mean when there is a 100% pass rate at every coach and AFF course I've seen...it does make me wonder.

Hey Ron, No reason, just habit of liking total stability prior to pulling reserve, did it on all 3 prior cutaways. Wasn't especially low from that, it was more the several hard pull attempts that really got me down in the basement. Guess "healthy" isn't a good term, though, lol. More like took a second or two to be belly to earth, rather than immediate pull. And no, I did not land on target exactly. I did make the edge of the airport we were landing on, did one turn to avoid power lines and landed. Pretty sure I didn't stand up that landing, and was probably shaking still from everything, so it's probably best I didn't land on target.

I'm sure there are more, but these are the top ones I remember: 1 - Probably around 500-600 jumps, got stuck in a downplane. Yes stuck. Ankles locked together. About 1 1/2 seconds (maybe) from impact, my ex did a 180 by using his risers and managed to pull both of my shoes off. Twisted both of my ankles, saved both our lives. 2 - Got open just below 300 feet under my reserve on a DEMO jump. Cutaway a bit low, took a healthy delay after chopping, then had a hard pull on my reserve, took both hands about 3 tries to get it out at the last second. Didn't get invited back on that demo the next year. 3 - Rode on a creeper going 55 mph down a paved runway, holding a rope tied to the back of a pick up truck. At least I chose a tandem with a friend for my first ride, and we wore Pro-Tec helmets. 4 - Intentional low pull on my main below 1,000 feet, doing a 3-way after a 10-way (on the same jump). Stupid. Edited for typos and to add: On the downplane, his canopy did not do a 180, he used the risers to flip his body from face down to face up temporarily in the downplane, and in doing so, managed to get us apart.

I have two young kids and try to do what I can to be as safe as possible in the sport I love...Here is what I do to try to avoid canopy collisions: 1 - Head on a swivel, fly defensively. 2 - As an organizer, always find out from pilot about upper winds/needed exit separation and TALK to the other groups on the load so everyone will hopefully take that seriously and minimize risk of collisions between groups. 3 - Land in an alternate area, it's actually closer to the hangar (I need to try get back quickly since I pack for myself and organize) but not a lot of folks land there. 4 - Talk to ANY person I see do anything under canopy I don't think is wise and be sure they understand why it's a bad idea (using brakes in pattern, spiraling low or into traffic if they are lightly loaded, etc.). I also watch everyone's track and talk to anyone (regardless of jump # experience) if they are lazy or diving in their track. 5 - On my loads, stress flat tracking with the newer jumpers and always be sure I have a good flat track and always signal the break off at an ample altitude. There may be other things I do, but those are the ones that come to mind.

Honestly guys, I hate that others would see vets in this light, arguing with each other. We may not agree about everything, but we all served. My intention was to bring unity to the vets. Might be time to delete this thread, doesn't seem too useful at this point.

Think your response was uncalled for honestly, Nick, but whatever. I owe no explanation, but feel the need to get this off my chest so I am. I am sorry that your friend was injured. I know a lot more about Vietnam than most people my age. My dad and my ex-husband were both in Vietnam. I'd say I'm actually in a way a casualty of that war, lost my father at 3 years old far as I'm concerned. He couldn't deal with being a family guy after he got back. Said he never wanted to see me again, and that was it....not even a freaking single birthday card, phone call, nothing. And no child support, I sort of lost my mom as well since she had to work 2 jobs. One day when I was 16 years old, he called out of the blue and asked me to come meet him. Got a friend to ride with me and went to meet him at the airport. He reeked of alcohol (I actually had a drink with him I was so freaked out) and he STILL spoke of seeing certain horrors with his Special Forces unit, described them in detail to me, a 16 year old. I never saw him again, and found out later that he died of a brain aneurysm. My ex-husband never spoke to anyone before me about the stuff he endured and witnessed over there. He woke up swinging for years, I had to watch out for it. There is a reason I am honoring the POW/MIA vets at my first event. It is close to my heart. I spread awareness whenever I can about those vets in particular, as THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN to me. I also gave a welcome home party to all of the Vietnam vets at my DZ a few years ago. I found out who they all were, we had about 6 of them. Got their wives to be sure they'd be at the DZ, and gave them a welcome home more like the one they deserved and never received, although on a smaller scale, but the whole DZ got into it, and the vets really seemed to appreciate it. I did it because it pissed me off how the country acted back then when they did come home, (I was only what 5 or so years old at the time, but heard about it later). Some of us really do care, Nick. Just because we might have to make guidelines for membership does not take away from that fact. I'm starting this organization so I can do more do help vets and their families, not to blow sunshine up my ass or anyone else's, just so that is clear. I know my heart is in the right place and I don't need to justify it to you, but I wanted to set the facts straight. You really shouldn't be so quick to judge, Nick. You were dead wrong about me. And you still have my thanks, whether or not you want it. I certainly never meant to offend you. I wish you the best, and hope you find some peace in the midst of such hostility you seem to harbor. Cindy

We also consider currently serving vets in the Guard/Reserve eligible. Thanks for clarifying, Jim...and my apologies for not being clearer in my original post. Hopefully this erases concerns that some raised, however I realize we will likely not be able to accommodate everyone that may want to be eligible to join VETS. I'm very excited about getting this going, and being able to do something tangible to help veterans and their families, while also sharing a bond with other jumpers who are vets. Those who are not veterans will be able to be involved and help support our efforts, so feel free to tell your non-veterans friends about our organization. Cindy