dove 0 #26 July 26, 2001 Hey! That's not fair! All of these other screwball stories and you've gotta pick on me! I have to admit though - it is pretty funny in retrospect. But at the time I was thinking - "Crap! I paid for an expensive skydive U jump and my damn alti doesn't even work!" Pretty sad! It was also before I got my audible so I didn't know what to do until I saw it start to climb some more. What a dope! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zelda 0 #27 July 26, 2001 QuoteHey! That's not fair! All of these other screwball stories and you've gotta pick on me! I picked on your story because it sounds so much like something I would do! I am, afterall, the one who put her helmet on backward! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClayFowler 0 #28 July 26, 2001 Funny you should mention the lighter fiasco. My Dad was telling old jump stories the other day. (last jump was 1965) Back in those days all they had were T-10's which they modified by cutting out panels at the back of the chute to provide the ever so cool forward drive. He was telling me about cinging the edges with a match after they cut the marerial. ( long before the days of hot knives) He didnt mention how many went up in flames. Did have a pretty cool story of a guy that deployed at pretty high speed and turned his T-10 inside out though. Talk about getting whacked!!!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #29 July 26, 2001 QuoteNot wishing to look foolish, I won't ask "whatinheck is a crossport...."Michelle, this is what I mean when I gripe about half-assed student programs. Not to say that you are getting inferior freefall training, but if you do not know the component parts of your equipment are (in some detail), then they are just giving you the bare minimum, which unfortunately is the case at most big DZ's. Is that the king of all run-on sentances or WHAT? LOL! I suppose they will maybe give you that at your $30 packing class or something. Ugh! FYI: in our standard FJC, which is covered over four evenings from 6 thru 9 pm, we do a "pull down" to demonstrate the deployment procedure. We then point out every piece of equipment in detail, from the top of the pilot chute to the bottom of the legstraps. Knowing this, a student will be better able to articulate his understanding of the "total package" and also know what he is looking at when he inspects his gear before and after every jump. Anyway, to answer your question: Crossports are cut in the ribs of parachutes in order to keep the canopy fully presurized from end to end. These holes cut in the fabric greatly diminish the instances of end-cell closure that occured before their advent. As the canopy is inflating from the center, the pressure building up in the cells does two things: it forces air into the outer cells through those crossports, thus inflating them, and that action forces the slider down.Hope that helps,Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #30 July 26, 2001 Thanks, SkyMonkeyOne. That does indeed help, and, as always, I can count on you guys to help me when I need it. I will admit that I want to learn more and more and more about the equipment, and as I am not yet packing a chute, I haven't had the opportunity to really poke around and ask "what's this" or "what's that". Which is why I ask here. And then I get great instruction, and further information here from people like you. However, I will say this: I, and *only* I, am responsible for my education, identifying holes (if any), and asking all the questions I can think of. When I do ask them, they are answered thoroughly and in detail, with visual aids if I need them. If there is a problem at my DZ, it is because generally the students there are NOT taking the whole AFF -they come for level 1, and then leave. Something like 85% of the people who come through the school do not complete the course. Therefore, again, I am the one responsible for asking, and getting, the information I need. (Sorry if this sounds defensive - I love these guys and will defend them to the nth degree). And I do understand your point. And I am sure by the time I get through the balance of the classes, I will have a thorough understanding. I also think that they have been letting me work at my own pace because of what I have been experiencing. They have bent school rules to make sure I am getting what I need, when I need it (not safety rules, mind you, just school policies...). As to your "run-on" sentence, you haven't read my stories, have you??!! I am the undisputed Queen on long, grammatically incorrect sentences......Thanks again for the information, I really love learning from you (and everyone).Ciel bleu-Michele Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #31 July 26, 2001 QuoteSomething like 85% of the people who come through the school do not complete the course. I guess I'm going to be bias here being a skydiver and all but I dont get why or how someone would want to go through a 4-6 hr class just to make one jump and then walk away. I mean good on them for wanting to understand our sport , but man how could you stop there. I'm all for people coming in and spending 15min of training and then doing a tandem and saying wow that was cool...whats next on my things to do list. But to go through all that training...I dont know diff strokes for diff folks!!! At least they know why we all love this sport! (or think we're just plain CRAZYjason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Albatross 0 #32 July 27, 2001 O.K. this is not mine directly but a few weeks ago I was jumping with a low time friend and looking at him floating above me on the hill (He left a little late) and I saw one of the big two tone canopies open just below the plane. I was shocked but finished the jump and got down. After running to the school after the student landed I found out that just like our friend here he thought that he was in the red zone and pulled at just under 13,000, which he thought was under 1000. I guess that was one one the longest student rides ever. I like the stupid us stories so here is mine. I was doing my Aff-2 I think and I was gearing up: checked my ripcord, checked my handles, my chest strap, put on my helmet and couldn't for the life of me get my goggles on. My instructors and the rest of the plane were in histerics but you know how hard it is to put your goggles on over a pro-tec. OopsChrisReady, Set, GOOOOOOOAlbatross Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #33 July 27, 2001 My idiot story:OK, my first jump was AFF1, with video of course. Somehow, (and not the fault of my instructors) I had the idea stuck in my head that at 5K I would wave off, the jumpmasters would leave, and I would pull. I mean, that just makes sense, right? Waving off is a signal for others to get away, right?? Of course, in the actual AFF1 they hold onto you UNTIL you pull!!So on the video you see me going through the AFF1 dive just fine. After PRCP & COAs, I had time to geek the camera, while repeatedly glancing at my altimeter. At 6K I lock eyes on the altimter & watch it sink to 5K, just as I was taught. THEN you see me wave off, look back and forth at my jumpmasters, wondering why they haven't left yet, and then you see me WAVING THE F%^K OFF MORE VIGOROUSLY, LIKE, HELLO, WHY THE F^&*K AREN'T YOU LEAVING SO I CAN PULL??!!And finally my right jumpmaster just pulls my ripcord off my hip, and I get hauled up into the air like a puppet.He passed me though, because it was clear to him that I was ready and able to pull, just a little confused re. the AFF procedure. Speed Racer"I think I think, therefore, I think I am, I think!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aviatrr 0 #34 July 28, 2001 Quote One of the J/Ms came over to see what was wrong. I told him the chute was ripped, when the hell did that happen it wasnt there when I opened!!! (I was pissed). I then showed him the hole and he looked up and laughed....Thats your crossport... all of you cells have them... see and then he proceeded to show me......DOH!!!!!! Awww, shit.. You mean sewing up all those holes was a bad thing? Damnit.. I guess that would explain only having 3 cells inflate before landing.. Ah, well.. The hook is more fun that way..Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xybe 0 #35 July 28, 2001 I would recommend fellow newbies to get a copy of "Parachuting The Skydiver's Handbook" (Dan Pynter& Mike Turoff) or a similar reference. I had read it twice from cover to cover before AFF1 (not that it prevented me from kicking, freezing and not deploying, mind you). It probably has more information than your JMs want you to know.Regarding quiting the sport, I would quote from page 178QuoteDuring your first or so jumps, you will have good days and some not so satisfying. While you enjoy a sense of accomplishment, some of these jumps are more work than fun. In fact if you drop from the sport prior to amassing 1,000 jumps and qualifiying for your Gold Wings, it will be most likely at this time, early in the game.Still shedding whuffo-nessCheck out the Hardcore Whuffo pages Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
