tbrown

I carry my cell phone with me and consider it an extra piece of safety gear. If I'm hurt, or someone else is hurt, or if someone has a cutaway and is landing out, I'll follow them down in case they need help - knowing I can call for help if it's needed. Last winter I had to land out on a sunset load. A lot of the Perris dropzone was flooded, so I couldn't just walk back and the usual recovery pickup truck couldn't reach me either. I had to call the dropzone and arrange with them how I was going to walk out to the nearest road in the gathering darkness, so someone could find me and pick me up. SO glad I had that phone ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Aw hell, I'll bite. Due to my own stupidity - I could've slid and walked away - and would have nowadays - I stupidly put a foot down, looking for the ground. I found it, April 24, 2004. Twisted my foot a full 180 degrees, tearing my ankle apart. The energy continued up my tib, breaking it in two places. That was not the problem, as the doctor said it would virtually heal itself in about 3 weeks. The problem was with my ankle, which without a pin to hold it together for a while, would be a "floppy" foot for life. Had a pin installed and mercifully removed after 4 months (two seperate surgeries). It never hurt that much, but only when it was removed did I realize how GOOD it felt to have that damned pin GONE. Since then, I've been a bit smarter about my landings. Hint: As nice as it is to stand up, or even run out a landing, it isn't really necessarry. Sliding and walking away with a few - or a whole bunch of - mud & grass stains is okay too. Trust me. Lesson learned ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

For now anyway.... THANK YOU JESUS !! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Maybe - IF there are no kids AND the woman's not pregnant. But 2 years is a pretend marriage. Marriage is marriage. Do it or don't. Nowadays living together doesn't carry much, or any stigma, depending on where you live I suppose. But marriage is a commitment - for more than two years of just screwing like bunny rabbits. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Married 30 years to one woman - we're still in love and enjoying an empty nest now that we've finally booted the kids out. Marriage is who you choose and what you make of it. Nobody gets this far without some real work - somewhere around the 17 year point we weren't sure we were going to make it, or even care. But we stuck with it and it's only got better ever since. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I'm actually genuinely sad to hear this. At my age I'm getting used to hearing about people kickin' the old bucket on a regular basis. But this guy really changed our world a lot - and in mostly good ways. He had a creative intelligent mind. And he was exactly my age (yipes). Blue skies Steve ! Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

The PD guy I talked to yesterday said that in Deland they often get a run on Optimum demos anytime a bigway project is coming up. The video camera jumpers all want them so they can pull out quickly once the bigways start to break up. According to PD, once you put a bridle attachment on either one of their reserves, you void the TSO. But I don't see why a master rigger shouldn't be able to do that for you, or you could always inquire with PD about buying a used, or even new demo model. PD's in business to make money. If there's enough interest, I don't see why they shouldn't offer a version of the Optimum (or a hybrid version, ala the Pulse, in 7 cells) for sale. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Okay, I'll bite. The softest openings I've ever had were from the PD Spectre and Aerodyne's Pilot, both of which I have owned. The opening is like falling over backwards into bed, though both involve a good snivel. The Pilot's snivel is not so bad, the Spectre's is infamous (as in take along a good crossword puzzle....). My Pilot seems to open in 500 - 600 ft, the Spectre might take up to 800. While we're on the topic, think about your reserve at terminal. PD makes two excellent reserves, the "old" PD Reserve, and the new Optimum. I've dumped both at terminal (a PD Reserve after a pilot chute in tow malfunction) and the Optimum as a main canopy for a demo jump. Both give you very quick, but quite comfortable openings, which is what you need from a reserve (the Optimum is incredible by the way and worth every penny of the higher price - you may change main canopies often, but a reserve is usually a long term keeper). Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I recently bought an all new rig and went for a 176 Optimum as my new reserve. Yesterday at Chicks Rock, I decided to put a demo jump on one to see what kind of a canopy I've got "behind Door # 2". After a few quick formalities, the PD team quickly and cheerfully installed the 176 into my main container and I was off on my next skydive with a double Optimum rig - one way or another, I'd be landing under my current reserve ! The jump was a casual "boogie" 8 Way belly load, so I threw it out at terminal. The opening was quick, really quick, but quite comfortable. Just what I'd want from a reserve in a real emergency. The canopy flies like a snappy 7 cell (possibly because it IS a snappy 7 cell). I checked for a stall point, and found that I could indeed stall it; briefly repacking it, but it re-inflated smoothly when I let the toggles up a few inches. I flew the canopy downwind, towards the landing zone, but encountered too much "boogie traffic", so decided to head back upwind into the wide open spaces of Elsinore. The canopy covered more ground than I'd even expected. The landing was stupendous ! Now the 176 is the smallest canopy I've jumped (my main is a 188) and the 7 cell glide path is steeper than what I'm used to with a 9 cell, so I found it comparatively "ground hungry". But I was no more than halfway into my flare, in light & variable winds, that I started laughing out loud. Touched down on one foot and walked it out. I've never had such a sweet landing in my life, under ANY canopy ! In summary, I'd like to thank the PD crew at Chicks Rock for their wonderful friendly assistance - and to thank PD for creating a reserve that gives me a tremendous sense of confidence for the next time things go wrong.

Never jumped a Comet, but I do remember them when they started showing up around Perris in 1980. Lots of people bought them and really liked them. The thing that surprised me was just how populat the 300 ft Comet was. Especially nowadays, when so many people have downsize mania. Back then the Comet 300 was extremely popular with a lot of the "hip" crowd. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Sure ! I've got lots of women friends. The only one I have sex with is my best friend. We've been married for 30 years. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Gloves will definitely protect your hands from all kinds of cuts and abrasions. Here in SoCal, thin Neuman type gloves are all we need year 'round. I also use them for jumps when I'm in certain climb out positions that require grabbing hold of metal hardware. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

My new Infinity rig has a soft pud cutaway handle. It has an extra plastic stiffener inside it to help prevent it from turning under the main lift web. Which is not a sure thing, but is better. I still use a metal D ring for the reserve handle, because I like being able to hook my thumb into it, even if/when I can't see the thing. I don't trust a soft pud for my reserve handle. In principle I like the idea of two hard D rings for both emergency handles. But I've never had a problem finding, or PEELING a cutaway handle on four cutaways with a 3 ring system (3 were in the old days). Bottom line as I see it is that the 3 Ring has been around for so long, and proven itself so reliable, that it really doesn't need to be changed. There will always be an occasional failure of some system, because nothing works 100%. Adding a second hard ring ripcord DOES double the snag hazard, especially on exits and for floaters who climb out. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I'm on my second Pilot canopy (a 188), and have been jumping Pilots for the past seven years. Love 'em. Since I'm buying an all new rig, I decided to be open minded and demo a couple different canopies. Tried a Safire 2 and didn't care one way or the other for it. Demo'd a Pulse and did NOT like it. After two jumps, I turned it in to the store. I'm waiting now on a 188 ZPX Pilot to arrive - someday.... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Elsinore rented me gear when I had about 35 jumps and it had an AAD in it and they checked to make sure I had turned it on before I got on the plane, so maybe they were just being safe with a newbie. At Perris, they'll make you turn on the AAD on rental gear before you even leave the gear shop. My personal rule is to turn mine on (Cypres2) in the parking lot, before I lift my rig out of the car. Ditto for my audible. I know two highly experienced jumpers, each with thousands of jumps and one a former world champion, who were saved by AADs when they were injured too badly to pull any handles. There was also an instructor killed at Elsinore when he couldn't find his reserve handle after a cutaway - an AAD may or may not have saved him, but as his rig didn't have one, he never had that chance. In the old days, too many people went in with no pull for reasons known only to themselves. That almost never happens anymore. Arguments against using AADs are based on either a macho mentality, or a misguided cheapskate approach to economy. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Worst date was my first one, back in 9th grade. Took a girl out to a concert and the bitch snuck out to go off with some older guy. What a conniving witch. Best date was my first date with my wife. It was a double date, my brother and I took her and her roommate to Scripps Beach in La Jolla. The brother and her roommate weren't interested in each other, but that wasn't part of the plan anyway. After the beach, Beth and I went to dinner at a neighborhood Italian restaurant. The next night we went out to see the second Star Wars movie. Still together after 31 years and two daughters. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I think the picture speaks for itself. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Mike, I don't have the picture (hint, hint, nudge, wink....), but I seem to remember a pic of you modeling Hank Asciutto's sexy new rig around 1980. Cost somewhere in the $300'ish range, not counting canopies if I recall..... Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I cannot believe that with all the macho bravado replies nobody has mentioned the time honored signal that was universally taught back in the old days. It's a very simple wave off, done with both hands, then you turn and track. This comes from a time before people had audibles and breakoffs were at lower altitudes than nowadays (typically 3500 ft, 4000 ft for bigger 16 Way size stuff, and 4500 for the truly big 30+ size formations). Even now, I still use this sign if my Pro Dytter goes off and nobody else seems to be leaving. I give two quick little waves, then I turn & burn. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Uneventful jump, dumped at 3.5 as planned, normal feeling as the PC reached extension, lines reached extension, then....freefall. Looked over my shoulder, saw a fully extended PC and bag. Said "F*CK", then looked at my handles. Put a hand on each, looked at my cutaway, then exactly at that point, I felt opening shock. Let go of my handles, looked up, saw my canopy deploying with several linetwists. Kicked one out during the snivel, and thankfully, the rest were able to be kicked out as my Katana flew nicely. Looked at altimeter...1540ft. Landed uneventfully. 1) I should have looked at my alti before attempting to kick out of the twists. For all I know, I could have been at 1000ft, only to find out that it starts spinning, then I chop at 800 ft... or less. First, the baglock had to eat up a lot of your altitude before it cleared. Second, you really should have checked your altimeter as soon as you saw the line twists. USPA says chop it if it's not good by 1800 ft, personally I set my hard deck at 2 grand. I only say this because I once opened my Pilot at 2 grand with a bunch of line twists and proceeded to kick out of them. As I kicked, the loading shifted and the canopy started a wicked spin. I stupidly persisted, knowing I could clear it, which I did - at 1200 ft. I was so angry with myself that I went and confessed what I had done to the DZ Mgr and we had a talk about it. Some three years later, I had a similar line twist. But this time I checked my alti, saw about 2200ft and made up my mind that if it wasn't cleared by 1800 - or started to spin at all - that I was pulling my handles. Got it cleared just a few inches below 2 grand, and knowing that I was in control of the situation and not the other way around. The altitude above you is useless. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

2. I might have been a bit hasty to pull my reserve. I probably should have attempted other efforts to correct the malfunction, until I reached the 2500 ft altitude. Although, I do not believe that any other attempts would have been successful, but I do not know that to be 100% true. No need to wait for minimums, especially if you're in trouble. I had wondered just how much time & altitude you had used to get the p/c off your arm, but it sounds like you did it rather quickly and high enough. Even with the malfunction, you got the main off your back so that you could cutaway and not have to take a frightening chance with launching your reserve through a horseshoe. But a bad canopy is a bad canopy and if one or two quick attempts to clear it haven't worked, then you are well rid of it - the sooner the better ! Too many people have died because they got obsessed with trying to fix a malfunction, when two quick pulls on their handles would've solved their problem. Minimums are MINIMUMS, there is NO obligation to ever take it down to a minimum when you already know you've got trouble. I'm also very happy to hear that you went right on jumping and have since completed your AFF. You've already got a newfound confidence that emergency procedures really do work, something most of us have to wait hundreds, or sometimes even thousands of jumps to experience. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

I'm amazed to be hearing this kind of comment. I'm a survivor of 40 T-10 jumps, and a veteran of 450 Paracommander jumps. My T-10 landings were all thumped in like a sack of potatoes. The T-10's had the TU cut for steering. Paracommander landings usually stand-ups. I'd usually just face it into the wind, prepare for a PLF, and take the stand-up. I only learned to flare it much later, and never saw much difference from that. Maybe the T-10's at my student drop zone were ragged-out or something... But in my experience, I'd take a Paracommander any day over a T-10, for both maneuverability and softer landings. Me too. The amount of sheer mythology and misinformation about Paracommanders simply astounds me ! The PC I owned and jumped for about two years was an old ragged out 1964 original. I probably shouldn't even have been jumping it at all, but it seemed to hold up with liberal amounts of duct tape, but then that's the way things were back in "the day". I got consistently soft stand up landings with my PC, so many that I stopped wearing leather para boots and switched over to sneakers for the first time. Also switched from a motorcycle helmet to a hockey helmet. But I only weighed about 160 lbs in those days. Nowadays at 204, I'm not so sure I'd want to jump one again. I'll just settle for many fond memories. If the Paracommander was such a bone crusher, it would have never lasted on the sport market. There were plenty of sport designs that came and went because they didn't fly or land nearly as well (Crossbow, Thunderbow, Piglet, ad nauseum...). But it had a long run, as long as 10 - 12 years, as the most popular sport canopy in the world. It finally got pushed aside by squares only when the slider came along and made square openings acceptably soft and consistent. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Would you mind defining "master". Is that 100 flat jumps? 1000 jumps? Being good enough to get on invitational big way jumps? Breaking a 20 point average in 4-way? Winning the nationals in AAA? What? How about making smooth consistent zero momentum docks. As a belly flier, I don't do hybrids anymore because I'm sick and tired of being gut slammed by too many freefliers who can't seem to slow down before they dock. It not only hurts, it's dangerous. The best freefliers are also graceful belly fliers, I'm just talking about the kids who skip ahead to skidding around on their asses and think they're skydiving. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Sarge, First of all, I'm glad things turned out as well as they did, it could have been so much worse. Secondly, my apologies for too many people in this forum who are so eager to tear you a new a-hole for being man enough to bare your soul and share the problem you had on your first jump. As you discovered, holding a toggle way down is hard work that can reduce a strong arm to jelly in just a minute of two. By the time the ground comes up, you have no strength left for a flare, aside from being likely to stall the canopy. "Low speed" malfunctions are seductively dangerous. If you experienced a wild piece of shit, you'd have gone into overdrive to pull your handles, believe me. But a canopy that's almost open and almost controllable triggers what I call the "Titanic" response - fear of leaving the big "safe" ocean liner for a tiny little lifeboat in the middle of the night. You actually have too much time to think about it and it gives you more time to be scared and more time to want to trust a less than acceptable canopy. Then before you know it, you're too low to safely cutaway and have no choice but to stick with what you've got. Finally, as John Mitchell said, THANKS for not cutting away too low. We had a recent fatality at our dropzone with a woman who had 2200 jumps who dicked around with a spinning canopy all the way down to about 250 ft. - then chopped it. She went in groping for her reserve handle. So - no flame, glad you're okay, I'm sure you learned a lot from this (including what a hostile place dropzone.com has degenerated into) and I encourage you to get back in the saddle ASAP. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

My reserve handle is a steel D-ring and from time to time I'll reach and touch it. So far, it's always been right where I expect it to be. Which came in handy when I had a PCIT mal back in January. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !