TXSkydancer

Yeah, worse for me as my partner was around 250 and I was right at 200 at the time. Talk about hauling through the skies! I wouldn't have a problem getting out at 8K (I think). We were trained for emergencies at 4K, so? We had one student (now a former jumper pilot) whose first jump had to leave at 4K (plane problem), second jump at 8K (clouds, I think) and decided he'd go through AFF. Blue Skies and Safe Landings!

The guy passed out on me at about 1500'. He had talked smack about all the adrenaline sports he had participated in on the way to altitude. His girlfriend and a couple of other females with them did fine. Had to ride him in pretty rough as he was approximately 6', 220 and I'm only 5'9. DZO realized he was passed out and was there to "catch" and help clean him up before the women got there. The side spin we caught on video. Another tall guy, Thank goodness it was on my left side! As we began to accelerate I made the decision to throw, it cleared and we had a great dive after that, but believe me I became more aggressive with getting the drogue out quicker! Blue Skies and Safe Landings!

I posted my "riser slap" in response to the question about hard helmets and frap hats for tandems. I had a brisk opening on a Strong Tandem rig with a riser slap so hard it bloodied my ear and bruised it into the inner ear. This was with the frap hat on. I now where an open face hard helmet. I've also seen the other tandem instructors at the DZ receive some nasty slaps to the neck and a good friend lost his pro dytter off his helmet from one. Blue Skies and Safe Landings!

I had a similar experience with a tandem. She came out in a group and luckily we were in the Super Otter, otherwise it would have been worse. But get her attached and we're heading to the door and I hear a "NO!", this was after asking her if she was ready. I brought her back to the bench and allowed the other tandem instructor and his student to depart. She wanted to ask me a question.. Would she feel like she was falling! I assured her a most definite no and she nodded and said she was ready. I don't think she'll ever jump again, but I wouldn't have forced her for anything. We always tease our passengers on the ground that NO and GO sound a lot a like, but in the air it's a different story. I did pay my beer for the first refusal, even though she jumped. Blue Skies and Safe Landings!

I wear a Hurricane with the students wearing Frap Hat! Blue Skies and Safe Landings!

After a really bad opening and a nasty riser slap to my left ear (with a frap hat on), I purchased an open face hard helmet. The riser slap bruised and bloodied my ear into the inner ear! If you look at tandem instructor's hard helmets that jump frequently you can see nice nicks and grooves in their helmets. Also, I have no problems conversing with the tandem student. Blue Skies and Safe Landings!

I where one of my "older" RW Bev Suit with booties. I've about 100 tandems, but have been down since elbow surgery in March. Blue Skies and Safe Landings!

Our DZO didn't allow us to take paying customers until after we had completed our 10 with experienced skydivers. Blue Skies and Safe Landings!

It's 10 jumps with a licensed skydiver. I got my Strong rating and USPA rating a little over 2 years ago. You have to be certified by the manufacturer to even jump their equipment. Anyone doing tandems without that certification is opening themselves and any DZ that lets them do it to law suits. USPA tandem program ratings are not mandatory but the tandem master has to have a current USPA license. We were lucky enough to have an instructor who did the course and then followed up with the USPA course the same weekend. Blue Skies and Safe Landings!

Plans aren't complete yet, but doing the ceremony except for the I Do's on the ground. Do the rest in the air.... Blue Skies and Safe Landings!

How true.... Blue Skies and Safe Landings!

My fiance popped the question, ring and all Tuesday evening. We are planning a skydiving wedding and I'm looking for a cake topper or anything I can convert into a wedding cake topper... Also Skydiving Decorations.... I'm very good at designing and making things if I have an idea... Any help would be greatly appreciated... You can reach my email at [email protected] Blue Skies and Safe Landings!

Mine was custom designed by an Tattoo Artist who brought his wife-to-be and bridal party out to do tandems the day before they tied the knot. It's of Tigger flying a canopy! Had it done on lower back where the top of the canopy just peaks out above my shorts... Tigger's tail hurt like crazy as it was being done. Thanks to Bear and Tammy from Burning Desires in Waco, TX for giving me a great deal (I was one of the tandem instructors) Blue Skies and Safe Landings!

Will have my rigger tack them down before the weekend! Thanks for the suggestion. Blue Skies and Safe Landings!

There is an European version, but yes the one with the metal ring.. My previous canopy had the "tab" version of soft link, and never had problem one with it. Blue Skies and Safe Landings!