megamalfunction

I read this Bill Dause quote in regards to continuing to fly loads after a fatality at his dropzone, and was just wondering if the quote is real. It's probably the most horrible thing I've ever read, and can't believe the FAA didn't shut down his operation after reading this: "We didn’t stop because we didn’t like the guy, we didn’t stop because we weren’t interested in the guy, we didn’t stop, because life goes on.”

Don't book with a 3rd party like Rush Cube or 1-800-Skydive or whatever. Just go through one of the dropzone's in the Austin area. Skydive San Marcos has really nice facilities, Skydive Temple isn't quite as nice but is still an option. There's also Lonestar, but I haven't been there before. A fourth option is Texas Skydiving in Lexington, but I don't think I'd recommend them. They were involved in a sort of sketchy student fatality in recent years, so I'd avoid them.

What is Rush Cube?

I have one but haven't jumped it yet.

I made about 150 jumps in 10 years from 2005 (age 18) to 2015 (age 28). I know there are a lot of big spenders that make hundreds or thousands of jumps a year, but you don't have to compare yourself to those people. I've had to take a little break from jumping, but I'll be back in the air soon. One thing I wish I had done along the way was pay for video. I only have 4 or 5 videos of my jumps, even though I know video was taken on more like 40 to 50 of those jumps. But the 1,000+ jump wonders don't necessarily care about sharing the video they shoot. So yeah, pay people to shoot video on some of your jumps. I've been on so many cool jumps, and really wish I had more of that video.

I've seen wingsuiters use some sort of communication device with noise cancellation technology. Those particular wingsuit pilots use it on every jump.

I'm working on building an app to track skydivers and monitor off-dropzone landings and would like to know if this is something people would be interested in? I myself am a horrible canopy pilot, and land off all the time, so I thought this might be something people would be interested in. Users would either have to use their own phone, or a phone provided by the DZ, and attach it to their arms with a Velcro arm band. Anyway, if there's any interest in something like this, please let me know! My contact info: Christopher Pedersen (469) 261-0727 [email protected]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone! It sounds like the DC3 I jumped had a very similar paint scheme as the one in the movie, but isn't the same plane.

I took my first packing class when I had around 10 jumps (maybe less). But 8 or 9 year later, I'm still the slowest packer I know. Some people just like to do things quickly. Doesn't mean you have to pack fast. You know I've seen really nice pack jobs done quickly, and I've also seen some really shitty pack jobs done quickly. Just do your best, it's not a race or a competition.

I just got done watching the movie "Dropzone" with Wesley Snipes and one of the planes featured in the movie looked really familiar. Does anyone know if the C-47 "Southern Cross" was used in the movie?

Figure out who does the most tracking dives at your dropzone and ask one of those people to take you up on a tracking dive. Then you'll be well on your way!

Do it!

Luke Aiken's a wild man, you know that? He's a wild man. I want to shake his hand. How many low pulls has he performed? 873? That's got to be a record. What would he say is the best way to go low? The way you don't die? That's good. Spoken like a real wild man.

Boots are probably the way to go. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HMdioj6kng

Where the hell is that dude skydiving? Over a mountain???

O good one! "Read the Manual" Very informative post. Obviously the manual says to use the "student mode" for students jerk. If you talked to people like that in real life they'd fucking bitch slap you.

Vigil jumper here. Is it still not recommended to use "student mode" while wingsuiting? I've never switched over to "student mode" because I've heard that its not a good idea. But wouldn't "student mode" work well for wingsuiting? Or would there be significant risk setting off the AAD under canopy even under a lightly loaded canopy?

"No shit, there I was, I thought I was going to die..."

My wife had our first child recently, and I was really worried that if I kept jumping I might burn in and leave my wife all alone to raise our child. Then one morning my wife fell out of bed... she had a stroke. So keep jumping man, because you never know how much time you have left. You could drop dead at any moment. (My wife survived BTW).

If you really want to jump you can always try again. It can be scary when you first start jumping! But it's usually not scary once you leave the door... because then you're @#$%ing flying homie!!!!

Thanks BIGUN, I tried "bumping" the thread but I didn't get any replys. O well, its not that big of a deal. It's just nice to keep up with incidents so you know which risks you should be managing. For example, I know from reading the forums that low turns and high wingloadings are the biggest dangers in skydiving. So after gaining some weight, I've decided that I should no longer continue jumping my 160, and need to upsize before jumping again. Who knows? Maybe I saved my life!

Does anyone know what happened with the incident at Skydive Dallas on Feb. 7th, 2016? There's very little info in the incidents forum. Was this a free fall collision that some how resulted in a two out? I've made the majority of my jumps at SDD, and this is the first fatality to occur there I believe since I started jumping there in 2010. I've had to take a break from jumping so I haven't been able to ask anyone about it in person at the DZ. Anyway, keeping up with incidents is important to me. Sure, dangers are covered in first jump courses, but nothing beats keeping up with the incident reports in my opinion.

After skydiving for 10 years, I realize now that the only difference between a student and a current/licensed skydiver is how much money one has to pay to jump, and how much freedom one is allowed while jumping. Actually, there is also a third difference: Students have to wear very ugly jumpsuits! And that's probably the most important difference. So just make sure you buy a really kick ass jumpsuit and helmet before your return to the DZ. Here's a pretty kickass looking student suit I happened to stumble upon: http://www.intrudair.hu/skydivesuit_studentsuit.html Hint: Make sure to get your suit in black/grey so that it goes with whatever hideous rental gear you happen to get stuck with.

Congrats!

It's okay Maverick. You can still buzz the tower every once in awhile.