mmacro

Is there any way to get a DZ list in a CSV document with the Lat; Long; name; phone number so we can input them into a GPS?

This may be the wrong forum to ask this... but I did not see a technology section. Tom Tom has a way to make a list of places of interest (POIs) that can be downloaded into Tom Tom GPS units. Some enterprising individual took the time to build a European list and publish it (it's free) on their web. When your traveling and away from the computer you can pull out your Tom Tom and it will list the DZs in order of closest to farthest from your current position. It even lets you embed a phone number in the data so it shows up on the Tom Tom. I would be glad to jump on this, but until they fully support Mac computers I can't. Any ideas (other than buying a PC) or volunteers to work with on this project. Matt

I got a freebe with a rig I just bought - a jumpsiut. It's a AirWear with booties. It has the turbo pockets stiched in at the booties, thumb loops/cords down and out the sleeves, and a spandex back. I need to get it let out a little to fit the way I want it to. Does anyone know who makes this suit, or who does alterations to jump suits in the northeast?

I jumped my "new" used Sabre 2 today. As reported in many other posts, I jumped 3 times and had end-cell closures on all 3. The second jump really got my attention when the closures caused the rig to go into a very high rate spin. But knowing the cause and the remedy it was not difficult to get them open. Once open, the Sabre 2 was extremely responsive to both toggle and body position input. It dove and turned when I wanted it to and returned to straight flight right away. The landings were surprising... It really pops up mid-flare. It will catch you by surprise if your used to jumping student/rental rigs or older F111 mains. This is a great main if you know what to expect and how to deal with it. But under uneducated or uninformed hands it could easily get away from a jumper.

I thought a lot about this thread after I went home yesterday. I wanted to add an additional thought: A lot of people are pointing fingers – some are trying to blame another person, others are defending themselves, and still others are saying that it was just an accident. The reality is that all parties have an equal share of responsibility for an incident that, if not for an extreme amount of luck, could have been disastrous. Here’s how I see it. This is who’s responsible. 1. The student – not realizing his limitations 2. The TI – not realizing the student’s limitations and jumping gear he acknowledges, in hind-sight, might not be maintained as well as it should have been. 3. The DZO – putting the TI in a plane not really suited for his body size (we have weight restrictions – not because a person is too fat, but because the equipment is not generally safe for their weight. The military can drop in tanks and Hummers. Substitute height for weight and you get the same result.), for not realizing the students limitations, and possibly not maintaining the BOC as much as possible. 4. The other jumpers – for not stopping the jump when the drogue came out or raising questions about what happens if they have a mid-air emergency with this student. And lastly… 5. The pilot in command – for not stopping the jump since he states that he knew the TI was dangerous (I’m not saying that he is dangerous. But if the pilot truly thinks this then he has a responsibility to act and he did not) and for not realizing the student had limitations that could endanger the plane. In the end, it’s a lesson that we all become complacent in our sport. We go up and jump over, and over, and over. We assume that the next jump will be like the last. We think that because we are safe and pack carefully, the next guy will do the same. We become complacent that all DZOs are there for the love of the sport and money is not an issue. We all assume that the pilot that takes us up is always the most experienced pilot and will never have an error in judgment. All present that day have ownership in the accident. (Yes it was an accident; it just did not result in injury or damage to equipment.)

If you will read the original and following posts - we are talking about gear checks, not just pin checks. As a student, and now as a license holder, I have found riser covers and other things that needed attention. None involved hands on inspection, just a casual glance before boarding a plane. And it helped me a lot to have licensed jumpers ask me to check them. It got me in the mindset that I should be looking at everyone no matter the comparison of license ratings. Students respond to attitude - both good and bad. How you treat them is how they are being groomed to behave. If you scowl and tell them to get away your breaking them down instead of building good habits. That person that you just said no to may already be seeing something that could be dangerous and be trying to "break the ice" since your an experienced jumper. If your unconfortable with them having hands on - that's understandable. But your response should be "Sure, give me a visual. But please, no hands-on check." Your reply sounded very abrupt and if that's the way you reply to students or strangers you could come across poorly.

You always have the option of renting a main from the mfg. Most of them have a program that allows you to rent the main and have your rigger attach it on your container. You pay a fee for the rental and shipping - but have it for the whole weekend. But for sure, NEVER just buy something because it is a good deal and you think you might grow into it. Make sure it is right for you, that it is in your capabilities and your comfortable with it first.

OK, there were mistakes made... but there is one factor I see that has not been brought up. Was it such a great idea to do the tandem if the student was so limited in mobility? If your so tall and have a hard time in a Cessna - why compound it by attaching what amounts to a person with the flexibility of a 2x4 to you for a jump. Had there been a mid-air emergency or other problem you put anyone else in that plane in danger. If the drogue got away from you and snaked to the door, how could you have even considered beating it out? There are a number of scenarios I can think of that would have put the whole plane at risk - due to this persons inability to get around. This is a factor that till now nobody has brought up or considered. Just because a person has the cash for a tandem and a DZO has space doesn't mean that it is safe to put the student up. It's great you are looking back and seeing where changes can be made to be safer in the future. But be sure to examine all the factors involved - and this student was an apparent factor that has been ignored till now.

We all act as informal safety, because I hope thet the jumper next to me is doing the same. But also, there are mistakes that if left uncorrected could do more than injure that individual - it could hurt a me or the others in the aircraft. So its not the selfless act that a lot may profess - its also an act of self preservation.

I'm a new jumper (A lic) and active military. We have a saying... Just because you can, does not mean you should. I've had a lot of advice from Golden Knights, SF jumpers and others with way more experience under their belts. First is that with a new main you should be opening high and learning its stall points. Brakes slowly pulled to full extension do something radically different than a fast, full- brake application. And again, half brakes to full brakes (fast or slow) is another matter all together. Without seeing how you flare nobody can really give you really accurate advice. What was posted before my 2-cents is the most important... open high, play around and learn stall points for various brake application and then try them out at landing during the weather you will most likely be jumping in. (landing at noon in Texas desert at is night/day to jumping in Alaska at noon - I've done both). Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Take it slow. Don't let people pressure you. If a team wants to push you outside your safety/comfort zone, maybe that's a team that's not so intereasted in your personal progression/safety.

I needed some information about a used container. Wings was more than helpful. They stand behind their products - even if you are the third owner. They were eager to work with me to compare my measurements to the original measurements of the rig. Responses were returned within minutes of my e-mailing them. A great company to deal with no matter if you are buying a new or used container. I'll post again once I jump the rig.

dragon2 Your reply kind of hints at the old saying, "if you have to ask... then you just would not understand." I have found that Apple makes a very stable computer - in the last 8+ years I have only bought two computers. One was a desktop and the other a laptop. Both run fine to this day - including the 8-year-old desktop. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Also, compared to a PC which has thousands of viruses, Mac has only a few hundred known viruses. Software MFGs are slowly getting the message that they need to start writing software for OS X. Neither Neptune or Pro-Track (or any other ditial I know of) has native software for OS X. Paralog supports OS X with native software, but their newswest version (Paralog 5.0) only works on OS X 10.5.2. I would have to use a generation older version of the software. As you can see, I would would probably want to find out what digital has what pros/cons - and who has experience with them and OS X. And a post written a year ago is outdated.

Can I get some input about digital altimeters? I use a Mac at home and want to get a digital to use. I've read a lot of posts in the gear section - some good, some bad for all the different MFGs. I was hoping to get a feeling for what people prefer overall. I already have a mechanical altimeter. I was just wanting to have a redundant system, and digital is a good "upgrade." Thanks Matt

Thanks for the info. What about the shipping box? I was guessing that a 30"x24"x24" box should fit it with enough room for protection and padding.

What's the shipping weight (average or actual) of a complete rig? I'm looking to buy my 1st and I'm trying to estimate box dimensions and shiping for a Wings/Saber2 190/PD176/AAD. Thanks, Matt

Does anyone know if any audibles' software is compatable with Mac computers

Go to an old fashioned shoe repair shop, or if you live in a rural area a cobbler/blacksmith. Either should have stiff, heavy-grade leather to put on the bottom. If you want to do it yourself, never tried this, but contact cement from Home Depot would work

The reason that they can get away with it at the airports, if I remember correctly, has something to do with the fact that you get searched before your technically on "U.S. soil" (the Customs area) and a different set of rules can be applied. That's why they can detaine you without probable cause and a lawyer. Women have been detained coming from latin america countries and not given any of the regular rights offered once they pass Customs control. I don't care that an American invented it. Good for him. And there are times that it would be good to use; court buildings, police stations etc... But I agree that without probable cause it's unethical.

I've jumped over in Kiev before. As a matter of fact that tandem was what got me back into jumping (former paratrooper). I was told that they are hurting for any kind of good condition rig and canopy. I was told that their Special Forces are hurting for them so bad that they are sewing them. The last time I was in Kev you could jump for $7 with good rigs (Javelins etc...) And I have been told that a pilot and plane can be rented for a very reasonable rate if it's only a few people jumping. There are summer cottages about 6 kilom. from the DZ that rent for something like $50 a week. And as a bonus, on down time... beer is $.70 a liter!