MichaelBess

Fly free Kurt!! My condolences to his family and friends, he will be sorely missed. In all the years I knew him I do not remember one time that he was ever in a bad mood... A real inspiration.

My prayers are with the crash victims, hope they are all safe! Michael

If I dont make it you can drive over but I have to warn you, the other side is much more fruitful!!

How could I miss it.... Hmmmm.... NOPE, just cant! alanab Amazon Bigsky BirdWoman bozo Clownburner DBCooper Ggggia IanHarrop & Maria livendive mach2 madjohn McBeth MichaelBess monkycndo ndfallrate Nightingale NWFlyer Rex & his people Rkymtnhigh RobV Shell666 Soulshine Stitch TravisJones UntamedDOG

Just for you Michelle I will try as hard as I can, and you know how hard that may be As for the dress? I have NO IDEA what you are talking about. I can neither confirm or deny the existance of said dress! Hugs and kisses!!! Boy toy

I can not believe that no-one submitted any footage from the Chorus. All I had was the girls (of course...) because I shot it. This year (if I am able to make it :) I will try and make sure someone gets it!

Hi Kim, Hope you and Ron are doing great. You did get your tape in the mail yes? Yours was shipped on 3/19/05 and should have been there already... Michael

It's... Lost in the mail? I ran out of tapes just before I copied yours? I lost your address? Your order form had water spilled on it?...

I know you are just giving me a poking and prodding in a friendly way I do have good news, all ordered tapes were sent out yesterday and are on their way. Please give me some much needed feedback when you do get your tapes and let me know what you think of the completed project. And as for you Amazon... Since I had something to do with you earning that "BEER" I should get it on it when you deliver to Camp CANADA Michael

I was thinking of Chris when I mentioned it. There was a guy in Florida (Wes I believe) that was doing all custom stuff. I am still doing a bit here and there but I'm still pretty slammed with current projects. Sounds like exactly what you need when you get into the small and below (Xs, XXS etc.). There are definite advantages both weight and size to being in the small head size category... just for grins send me an E-mail with what your needs are and I will give it some more serious thought. Michael

Thanks Lori, David is a pleasure to work with (both times) and I am very happy to call him a friend and have him promoting my work. Excellent videographer as well but don't tell him I said that! I too have the same setup as David for my multiple camera setup, and a smaller custom built side mount for tandems without stills and fun jumps. Have you thought about having a custom built for you? I thought there was a guy doing some custom work in your neck of the woods? Michael

You should check out Brent Finley's web site at: http://www.brentfinley.com/ and look at the bracket on the "Skydiving Aerial Cameraman Equipment Store" link. Then checkout his Newton ring sight. I use a custom setup on my big helmet but my Optic has this setup and I could not be happier with it. Michael

Of course I will be there, this will be my 14th year in a row. Never miss the prairie.... Can I get an AMEN! Amazon Billvon Girlfalldown Karenmeal (with Jeff in tow) SeaKev Shell666 sunshine TallGuy vdschoor Wingnut BirdWoman (come join the flock!) Michael Bess

Check the following link to assist you in determining what you need. Consider size as well... http://www.softieparachutes.com/html_files/choosing_a_parachute.html

Call Dan at Para-Phernalia, Inc. Toll Free: 800-877-9584 http://www.softieparachutes.com/ He is a great guy to deal with here in Washington. Tell him I said hello.

I have mounted many hook knives for people over the years. My recommendation on placement is always where it feels the most comfortable and allows the easiest access. If you have ever had lines wrapped around you will understand the need to keep the knife where you can see it, even if you are all tied up. Behind the mud flap mounting is my first choice. Remember you do not have to be a CreW dog to get wrapped, canopy collisions can and do occur. A few precautions with mud flap mounting: You have to be careful as not to allow your knife to be mounted where the tip of the knife protrudes too close to the three rings (This problem is only relevant with rigs that have a short mud flap). They can interfere with a cutaway. Be sure to get help with this from your rigger. Another thing you may think about is protecting your gear by having your rigger make a pouch that fits inside your mud flap. Here are a few reasons: Your mud flap can be sliced when you pull out your knife. In the event you rip the knife out and you have soft housings they can be severed thus not allowing you to cut away. Another thing to watch out for is your main lift web can work its way behind the knife blade (depending on how much room you have inside your mud flap, and how you handle your gear) you can find yourself in serious trouble. I am not trying to scare you just to make you aware of what can happen so you can avoid those situations. Just some things to check... As for a lanyard, IMHO just say NO. If you think you are going to drop your knife get two, three or what ever makes you feel comfortable. You can introduce more problems than it’s worth, and hook knives are cheap. Just my two cents…

Doh! ... You do get what you pay for sometimes Thanks for sharing your design, I for one will keep using my "Newton" Ring. Your method will work but you really should study the benefits of using true optics. Quade wrote a very good article on this very subject, and worth reading.

Just so you know, between the two types of lenses available (Ring and Cross) the “Ring” sights are all called "Newton Rings". The rings are a series of concentric light and dark-colored rings observed between pieces of glass. This phenomena was first observed and documented by the English physicist Sir Isaac Newton. Hence called "Newton's Rings". Brent makes a very high quality "Newton Ring" sight, and a Cross sight just to clarify…

My most memorable balloon jump… Although not the record any more… A few years ago Burner, of "High but dry balloon co." took out his 400,000 Cubic Foot monster balloon, attached cables holding scaffolding to the outside of his gondola on three sides, a metal stair on the fourth side, and lifted 28 of us to 12,000 feet over Eloy. We were going to set two records (both unofficial because we needed judges and the folks from Guinness etc. and were not prepared). The first record was the most people lifted by a balloon, and the other was the most jumped at one time (doing a 17 way). It was during a Christmas boogie, and I would have to go through my old logbooks to find the exact date. Some of us were standing on the scaffolding, Sean Hill and myself were sitting on the stairs, and the rest were in the gondola. The funny part was he allowed 27 for the record lift, however when we got to about 7K we started counting heads only to find out we had a stowaway. I cant remember who (I think it was Coop) was wearing their top mount camera and had it melted from the heat. Consequently we lost the footage of the 17 way. It was not a very pretty launch any way... We got to 12K and Burner started descending so the balloon would not head up for the stars when we all left at the same time. When got to about 10K and tried to link arms all the way around to launch the 17 we found out that we could not reach. There was too big of a gap where the scaffolding met the stairs so we decided to freely the launch. Most everyone went a$$ over teakettle for a grand or two but we did manage a jungle rules round. What a blast! Was there anyone from DZ.com on that load?

Thanks guys! I am very glad you like it! Look out for next year...

Before you log out, just order another... The great thing about the Internet is that you can find nearly everything you want or need, and they take credit cards!

Very nice paint work!

Good one!

Brent Finley makes a heck of a good sight. He makes both Newton Ring, and Cross sights. http://www.brentfinley.com/store.htm Once in a while he has slightly blemished ones that are in perfect working order if you are short on cash. Additionally he has the Schumaker Articulating Ringsight Brackets that work excellent. As for choosing between a Cross or Ring sight. I use the Newton Ring. They are significantly better IMHO. Just my two cents...

Both Greg and Brent are not only excellent sources of information, great skydivers, and stand up guys (no pun intended), but more inportantly they are both wonderful people that I am honored to know.