DeNReN

OK...that didnt look anything like mine.......way to firm and no kitten fur at all

Holy frig you guys type fast...... Ive drivin a Hondamatic civic and bike..... swore I'd never tell anyone

The Chrysler minivan is noted for its transmission problems...and that is one of the things requiring a proper inspection (yes Jim the MAIN thing)..BUT....most ppl. have a tendency to believe a salesperson about the quality of the vehicle to be purchased("our mechanic checked it over last week and its in great shape") cough cough ack! There are many other parts/systems that should be looked at before shelling out any $$$$....Where the brakes inspected??..a brake pedal that feels fine and a van that stops well and evenly does not mean that the brakes are not near worn out or worn out....every day i bring vehicles into my shop with great working brakes.....take the wheels off to see pads and rotors near metal to metal/siezed sliders,calipers,wheel cylinders etc etc.....What about that ball joint that is about to fall off???...The belt tensioner that will soon let go or throw the belt(another common problem with dodge minivans)......What about the 3.0l burning more oil then gas????....I could go on but I wont Soccer Mom(hehe)....I dont think it necessary to have a Chrysler dealer check the trans(not a bad idea but..) A Qualified/Certified mechanic.should look at the van as a whole looking at all aspects of it...including the transmission(road test for shift/delays/shudders etc.)...the condition of the tranmission fluid is also key in a inspection....is the fluid its proper color?(look at new fluid...chrysler fluid is slightly darker than dex/mercon)..but should still be a reddish pink(pinkish red)..if its black and smells burnt...thats not a good sign(most ppl neglect servicing there transmission)...if in doubt about the transmission of a dodge minivan when doing a prepurchace inspection...run away screaming! Btw..I do agree with the rev that the dodge minivan (besides the trans issue) is a semi rock solid vehicle...but as with any 13 year old,prob high milage used vehicle...it should be checked over completely...to either warn you to STAY AWAY or at least give you a idea of what upcoming repairs and or maintance will be required...possibly giving you some bargaining power in the price battle... RevJim are you a "Qualified Tech" or a "backyarder"? Blue Skies and Service your Trans regulary

Tonka's were the best!!!!...they of course led to Tonka surfing....which lead to skateboarding(I'm talking the early skinny ones)....that of course lead to skiing....and that to dirt bikes(going up the ski hill).....that to car racing...then to Skydiving!!!!! Bet mom never thought buying me Tonka Trucks would start me Skydiving

Congrats on finding a vehicle that ill suit your needs.....BUT....did you have the van checked over buy a mechanic????? "Looks to be in great shape..yada yada" Usually means that you havent. In my humble oppion(class A interprovincial,ASE Master Mechanic,ASE Advanced Engine Performance Specialist) buying a 13 year old dodge minvan without haveing it properly checked over will prob. lead to some rather expensive "suprises" and could also leave you on the side of the road stranded when on the way to pick the kids up from soccer A few dollars spent getting it checked out could save a lot of headachs in the future.....Btw...ure sisters friend ralph who works at the computor store and claims to "know about cars"...prob knows shit. I you have any questions, feel free to pm them to me or ask me in forum. Blue Skies and Never do a low hook turn with a minivan

May I suggest that before you spend a lot of $....to just purchace a cheaper skateboard, snowboarding type of helmet untill you have more experiance and figure out what will suit your needs best. I bought a cheap $20(Can) skateboard style one, just so i wouldnt have to wear the sweaty student gear ones.....it works fine and will do untill I have figured out what will suit me best........skydive specific helmets tend to be fairly pricey...so its best to buy one that will keep you happy for awhile....btw..flexvision goggles are cheap and work great. Blue Skies

Grrrrrrrr....ACK....Grrrrrr...sry man...I just spent 45 mins typing out a detailed description of the exits from a c-182 that I'm familiar with....just as I click on "post reply"...my comp locks solid...Grrrrrr.....I'll try and type it again once I calm down

I can explain exits from a c-182 if thats what your looking for.(hanging,poised,dymanic,diving,ride the slide and woops!) The "woops exit" is always fun

What exactly are they saying is the cause of the fastener coming loose?...improper installation is a pretty vague term....have they ruled out mechanical failure...if so..how? I didn't read all of the articles...but there seems to be a lack of info as far as the details go....maybe you could point out a specific report with more details......I'd love to help out if I can....sometimes a outside review from a non aviation master mechanic could provide some helpful insight. Best of luck and Blue Skies

Got a call just before leaving the house on the way to the DZ........both planes grounded....someone must have pissed off the transport canada gods

To spend the extra cash or not??? AFF will certainly get you a bigger rush compaired to a SL/IAD program...well freefall wise...and a much bigger drain on you wallet! The choice is going to be yours...depending on a few things...money, patiance and money. I did a IAD/PFF program and my costs were quite a bit less than if I had taken a AFF program...however...my FF skills are lacking,where my canopy skills are quite good(results may vary with individual students)...different people lean at different rates...with SL/IAD's ppl will learn there canopy skills faster(SL/IAD's get old real fast) and most will find themselves playing with the canopy to feed the rush.........AFF ...poof...40 to 60 sec FF...the rush is in the FF...the canopy ride dosent mean near as much....(I do my best canopy play after a hop and pop)....learn FF skills fast=AFF...have a upperhand on learning canopy control=SL/IAD.......you land the canopy...not the arch. Depending on your own agenda and skills, you must decide what will best suit your needs....wether it be continuing or switching (SL/IAD or AFF)....there are "pros and cons" to either....The almighty $ being a key factor. Thats my 2 cents...as a IAD (student)...AFF students are welcome to give there $1.02 worth . Who cares how ya do it as long as ya jump.......Blue Skies

Its quite common for a group planning to go jump to drop from 20 ppl to just one or none....only the truely determined will go once its crunch time.....On that note...CONGRATS!!! As far as friends to hang out with.......even at a small DZ you will find new friends , let alone a huge DZ like Perris......couple that with being female and damn cute..... your sure to be bombarded with new "non horney" guy friends...hehe. Old friends or not...keep at it.....I am sure you will meet ppl that will become your "bestest" buddies as you explore and become a skydiver. Blue Skies and watch out for guys that swoop

WOW...same last name as me....Welcome to the forums and Skydiving Bro Blue Skies and see you at the family boogie

I enjoyed reading your story.....Welcome to the forums and mostly welcome to skydiving. Blue Skies and keep at it

Congrats on finishing your new house

D 312 (CSPA) Santos Rodriguez

lmao...you gave him all the threads?....I only hope he didnt read them all....that post got a little out of hand(still getting worst).....Congrats on your clearance to pursue this great sport

Been there done that.....although I have not gone through the AFF program, I can relate to your relaxation problems in FF....To be told to just relax didnt work for me at all(even though I really tried). It just wasnt gona happen ....I backed myself up in my progression and started doing "fun" jumps...just went out with no agenda and did what I wanted to(stay belly to earth and try and be stable!)...That helped with the relaxation somewhat but I still wasnt there.....seemed a little too much like work Holy shit...one of the things in my progression was to do a "ride the slide" exit.....hmmm...sounds like fun and I was quite sick of hanging exits....unfortunally my instructor thought i was supposed to do a sit exit and again it seemed like work.....I tryed to do a sit....almost got there...but not quite...questioned another instructor about that exit and was told NOT to ever sit fly in our student gear and that i was supposed to go out like i was in a "lazy boy" chair.....did that next jump...poof...its not work anymore its just fun.....went belly down after a few and had a great jump.....relaxed and happy. I think the advise behind my rantings are to loose the tasks for your lic and progression and to find away to make your jumps fun(relaxation will come from there)...only then proceed back to the tasks at hand and they too will become fun jumps

TY Rob....did u look at the requirments for the"solo lic" or not before ure assement.....where it is a new "pre lic"... would you expect a solo lic jumper to be asked to complete a AFF course at a U.S. DZ before being allowed to make a "solo" jump?? Personally...I plan on having my "A" before i venture out of my c-182 skydive world into the "hussle and bussle" of the large/frantic(seeming somewhat cut throat) DZ's.....(plz take that term loosly). But on the other hand, I take great pride in my newly obtained "solo lic" and feel quite cofident in my ability to self supervise myself..and apart from making a trip south to find out, I would dearly love to hear form some instructors or DZO's about there view on this subject. Thx and Blue Skies (edited to try and lessen the "solo"...ack!!...cant do it )

OK...I just retook the test and answered ever Q wrong and got a 80%.....talk about being graded on a curve

80%...seem to be on par ...some Q's are familiar some are...well old and from the year i was born....Damn Mom for not reading me skydive manuals as a fetus...hehe

I even have a habit of shouting "DOOR!" and checking the "spot" when parking the van at the store. Hmmm...sounds like fun...think I'll try that next time im a passanger in a van/car full of wuffo's. Only thing is...How to exit???

Cool...come back to Hali and buy me beer!!!!....hehe....I'm working on a mighty FF weight. Hopefully we will hear back from some all knowing USPA type ppl who can answer your Q(and mine) about the Can solo lic holder's and there qualifications in the eyes of U.S. DZ's...or maybe a Canadian jumper such as Remster can try and field this Q

clicky TY good sir