GTYS 0 #1 February 23, 2011 I got a question for the experienced jumpers. I have my A I have about 80 jumps in witch I got about 9 years ago I just got current again in December I did 4 jumps if you can call 4 jumps being current. Everything went very well just like I never left. I just finish a project that I have been working on for 8 years (building my own airplane) now that that's done I'm looking to go back to skydiving. Now that I'm older and hopefully wiser, I see that I'm more of a tourist jumper, as in I like going to different DZ and doing fun jumps mostly alone or 2 way. And would probably only jump enough to stay current due to time and money. Now the question is should I be jumping the 5-10 jumps every 60 days or should I say no pack it in and jump more when I got more funds. Thanks for your time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #2 February 23, 2011 side bar: If I had built my own plane - you can bet your arse that I'd want to know how a parachute workedI personally don't think there is a problem being a 'tourist jumper' - provided you and the folks that you jump with, are aware of your experience level and plan accordingly. It's all about being safe and having FUN. Good luck. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yeyo 1 #3 February 23, 2011 Quote side bar: If I had built my own plane - you can bet your arse that I'd want to know how a parachute worked ohhh yeah, very true! Also, you are talking about an average of 1 jump every weekend, thats not bad. Just do it and eventually you'll find a way to jump more, being a packer or eating less or both HISPA #93 DS #419.5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #4 February 23, 2011 Heck yes. Jump. Be safe. Have fun. There's nothing about that low level of involvement that is inherently more dangerous than participating at a more frequent rate. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #5 February 23, 2011 What did you build? Long time EAA member, just curious... ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTYS 0 #6 February 23, 2011 Thanks for all the info. I built an RV8. And just loving it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #7 February 23, 2011 was there ever an AV8? Whoops - that's what the Americans called the Harrier - [doh] (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jrmrangers 0 #8 February 23, 2011 Lets see some pictures!Wait , I pull what first? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ufk22 33 #9 February 23, 2011 5-10 jumps/60 days=30-60 jumps/year If you can do about 100/year for 2 or 3 years, 30 or so/year after will keep you somewhat current. 30-60/year starting out, especially solo or 2 way will mean you'll never get good at it and is a little low. Just like flying a plane, the most dangerous pilots are the ones that stay sort-of-current. If this is going to be your plan, I would recommend a full EP review in a harness at least once a year and be very anal about your gear checks and maintanance.This is the paradox of skydiving. We do something very dangerous, expose ourselves to a totally unnecesary risk, and then spend our time trying to make it safer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raftman 12 #10 February 24, 2011 was there ever an AV8? No but there is an AV8R. And to the OP: What JOHNRICH said. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Liemberg 0 #11 February 24, 2011 It could be a problem if you were not aware that it could be a problem. Obviously you are, so there is no problem. Just use the trusted 'Echternach procession' approach - review your EP's before your jump weekends, take a step back from where you were 60 days ago and you'll be fine... "Whoever in discussion adduces authority uses not intellect but memory." - Leonardo da Vinci A thousand words... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mghanco 0 #12 February 24, 2011 There is however a slightly greater danger in constantly jumping with people you don't know. I learned that lesson quickly. I now prefer to get one relatively lax jump in with a person before launching a linked exit, turning points, trying something new, etc. That way I can check out their fall rate and/or deficiencies and compare them to my own. My warning is to take a little greater caution on the first jump with a stranger. I still look forward to visiting more and more DZ's as well and jumping with different people too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #13 February 24, 2011 Quotedoing fun jumps mostly alone or 2 way That's the key right there. You can be safe, and jump infrequently, as long as you act like a guy who jumps infrequently. Right now you're fresh off your break, and the currency and low-time thing is fresh in your mind. The trick is to keep it fresh in your mind, and not let it slip. Sometimes, the guys who show up once a month will get a little 'big for their britches' after a year or so. They get up to 100-ish jumps, and start to feel like they've been around for 'awhile', so they stop acting like a low-timer, and start to think of themselves as something more, which they're not. Being a pilot, you should be familiar with the basics, review the weather before each flight(jump), a good pre-flight on your plane (rig), a review of airport (DZ) procedures, use your checklist, etc, and keep the jumps small and simple. Remember that people with zerp jumps make safe skydives everyday, it just takes hours of prep time to make it happen. Dial that back to the appropriate prep time for your experience level and currency, and you should be fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTYS 0 #14 February 24, 2011 Thanks for all the good info. Now i'm in Tampa for the day and no rental cars to be found. Dam! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #15 February 24, 2011 QuoteThanks for all the info. I built an RV8. And just loving it. Nice! A friend of mine bought one about 20% done at Oshkosh last year, he's thinking 5 years to build...how long of a project was yours? ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #16 February 24, 2011 without looking it up, i think he said 8yrs!?“Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #17 February 24, 2011 Quote without looking it up, i think he said 8yrs!? Long time to wait for a 100 dollar hamburger! My wife set the speed record from Denver to Oshkosh in a Glasair some years back...when she got down, she said that was the last time for her in a home-built! We just rent these days! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #18 February 24, 2011 i may sound like a wuss, but i'm generally scared of flying if i'm not in charge. but gives me much more confidence to actually have a rig on my back.. i think i'd shit my pants in one of those home-builts! “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Niki1 1 #19 February 24, 2011 I can't think of a nicer way to spend a weekend than to fly my airplane to a DZ and make a few jumps. I'm adding that to my "Lottery Dream."Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossilbe before they were done. Louis D Brandeis Where are we going and why are we in this basket? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #20 February 24, 2011 Quote i may sound like a wuss, but i'm generally scared of flying if i'm not in charge. but gives me much more confidence to actually have a rig on my back.. i think i'd shit my pants in one of those home-builts! Don't get me wrong, some are quite nice...and I do like the RV8's, nice performance and plenty of room for what they are. On the speed record...wife went up to play with the airlines, REALLY high in a non-pressurized cabin. The thing didn't fit together too well up there in the chill etc. and wasn't much better when she landed! It was about junk after the race, I just pointed to the 'Experimental' placard and shook my head...and SHE thinks I'M nuts!! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #21 February 24, 2011 to each their cup of tea, but yea, those "experimentals" or ultra-lights are pretty much forbidden around here.. i couldnt care much less tough.. “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #22 February 24, 2011 FYI - the RV-8 is far from an ultralight. It's a 200+mph aircraft that's actually fairly sophisticated. The 'experimental' catagory just means that it's not a certified airplane, and can't be flown commercially for hire. Some in the catagory may actaully be 'experimental', but most, like the RV-8, are proven designs that have been around for years. http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/rv-8int.htm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #23 February 24, 2011 Quote FYI - the RV-8 is far from an ultralight. It's a 200+mph aircraft that's actually fairly sophisticated. The 'experimental' category just means that it's not a certified airplane, and can't be flown commercially for hire. Some in the category may actually be 'experimental', but most, like the RV-8, are proven designs that have been around for years. http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/rv-8int.htm Yup...I've seen some that would put almost any commercially manufactured aircraft to shame, and as long as they are flown within design parameters and maintained well they certainly ARE the future of avataion...affordable fun and transportation so to speak. That being said, I've also seen a few 'projects' that I was tempted to break into the hangar and take an ax to...in the interest of saving lives! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #24 February 24, 2011 Quote Quote FYI - the RV-8 is far from an ultralight. It's a 200+mph aircraft that's actually fairly sophisticated. The 'experimental' category just means that it's not a certified airplane, and can't be flown commercially for hire. Some in the category may actually be 'experimental', but most, like the RV-8, are proven designs that have been around for years. http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/rv-8int.htm Yup...I've seen some that would put almost any commercially manufactured aircraft to shame, and as long as they are flown within design parameters and maintained well they certainly ARE the future of avataion...affordable fun and transportation so to speak. That being said, I've also seen a few 'projects' that I was tempted to break into the hangar and take an ax to...in the interest of saving lives! misunderstood the term then dave.. looks like it climbs like 8 times faster than our skydiver-carrier.. twardo, kinda reminds me of that video of a guy flying with his homebuilt helicopter, with no ratings.. cant seem to find it now tough.“Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTYS 0 #25 February 24, 2011 QuoteI can't think of a nicer way to spend a weekend than to fly my airplane to a DZ and make a few jumps. I'm adding that to my "Lottery Dream." Thank was the plan from the beginning! If i won the lottery it would just happen quicker. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
