Rhonda66

hehe - not a bad idea but I'd still like to keep it legal - especially around here... Rhonda PP ASEL

Yeah, I think that's what my husband wants to do, but in light of 9/11, I'd rather not get shot down Rhonda PP ASEL

Yeah, I figured he'd know...I'll email him if he doesn't see the post... Thanks. Rhonda PP ASEL

Hi - I'm learning to fly in a C-152 out of Bedford, MA and I should be soloing this month after I get my medical certificates on the 12th. My husband asked me today if I would be able to let him jump from the 152 after I get my PPL under any circumstances. My questions are - 1. Would he be able to jump with me as a certified private pilot if we filed the appropriate paperwork with the FAA? Would I need a minimum number of hours or a special rating? I'm sure there are all sorts of issues involved here so any info. would be appreciated... 2. Is it possible to get out of a 152 that doesn't have a door that's modified for skydiving? I'd have to find out if they would even allow it in a rented 152 and they probably wouldn't, but I'm just curious if anyone has ever flown jumpers somewhere other than a drop zone or demo event and how complicated it is to do that legally... Thanks, Rhonda Rhonda PP ASEL

Condoleneces to family and friends. You never expect something like that too happen - Rhonda PP ASEL

What a great thread. I thought I was alone...and no one close to you ever wants to hear about the bad stuff because it's easier to just avoid it. I was such a screw up during my young 20's and I'm still making up for it now. My grandfather died and that killed me and I broke up with a guy who was really good to me for nothing because I was depressed and didn't know what I was going to do with my life. I couldn't afford college, but I bought a stupid expensive sports car because I thought I had to prove something to the world and, of course, then I fell into massive debt. While I was moping, I met the guy I love more than anything in the world and I didn't even realize it because I was so busy feeling sorry for myself so I cheated on him with the ex I broke up with for no reason and we broke up for a while. Then I went to a local community college and I swear that move saved me. I got my AA and the guy gave me another chance when he saw I was trying to get my life back in order and now we're married. We started jumping together and that gave me a confidence I never had before and since then I went on to get my BA from Wellesley and I'm learning to fly now. I'm still working to get my finances in order, but most of all I'm trying to watch how I treat other people and to just be happy with myself for who I am. I still hate the person I was when I was in my early twenties, but now, in my late twenties, I couldn't be happier - life seems to have a way of working itself out sometimes...I try not to have too many regrets because I learned so much from the mistakes I made about the kind of person I want to be...life is by no means perfect now, but at least I feel like I have some purpose and direction in life. Can't wait to get my MBA... I think we've all been in your shoes at one point or another Rhonda PP ASEL

I buy and sell a lot of stuff on EBay. Recently I sold my first canopy, a Falcon 175, and I got what I wanted for it and all parties involved were happy. The price did go up steeply near the end as well. However, I've been ripped off too - I've sent checks that were cashed and never received the item and I've received items that looked and were described one way and then were total crap when I got them. So, you're taking your chances on EBay, but I've found my experiences to be much more positive than negative so I've stuck with it. Rhonda PP ASEL

Same here - life started after I started jumping - I think it gave me a new confidence that I didn't previously have in myself. There's so much to do and so little time and money to do it now... I was always into bass fishing with topwater lures mostly - now I fly as a student pilot, shoot, fly R/C, anything that will give me a rush...At this point in my life I'll try anything once and if I don't like it after I try it, then I don't have to do it again... Rhonda PP ASEL

Is flailing considered RW or FF? Rhonda PP ASEL

No worries - you're not alone. I did AFF in 1997 and only have 200 jumps now. There's just so many other fun things to do in life and not enough time to do them all... Rhonda PP ASEL

Hell yeah - My husband and I have done several balloon jumps in Eloy at 65 bucks each - well worth it...The heli has to be just as good if not better so I'm definitely willing to shell out the 75 bucks to try it once (or twice...) How often do we get the chance to jump out of helis (or balloons here)? Rhonda PP ASEL

Tandem in 1996 at Pepperell, then another one in 1997 and AFF the same year. Rhonda PP ASEL

I just emailed Paula to reserve two slots too. What a treat! I can't wait! I always wanted to do a heli jump... Rhonda PP ASEL

Here's the article since I couldn't get the link right... Skydiver Killed After Accident While Landing ELLINGTON, Conn., 7:31 a.m. EDT July 19, 2002 - There has been another parachuting accident near Ellington. State police said that a skydiver died at St. Francis Hospital after being injured while attempting to land near Ellington Airport at about noon Thursday. Ray Lavalee, 34, of Manchester sustained serious injuries after the landing. Authorities said that LaValee victim was an experienced jumper and that his parachute did open. Witnesses said that he landed hard and tripped. In May, a 47-year old instructor was killed in an accident at the airport. Robert Bonadies died after helping a student pull her parachute cord. An investigation showed he was not high enough above the ground when he finally pulled his own rip cord. Rhonda PP ASEL

http://www.msnbc.com/local/WVIT/A1260735.asp Unfortunately it seems to be true - my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved Rhonda PP ASEL

Wouldn't that happen to students then too? Rhonda PP ASEL

I did the same thing on my first tandem jump. I had no intention of jumping because my sister was supposed to jump first with her TM and she had never even flown before so I was positive she'd back out and then I'd just have to ride the plane back down with her. Well, guess what? She gets right into the door of the Otter and before I know it, out they go. I just froze because I didn't even really listen to how the jump was going to go on the ground because I had no intention of actually making one that day. My TM gets in the door and says, "Are you ready to skydive?" I just remember making this horrible whining noise (I sounded just like the character "Pat" from SNL), but my TM completely ignored me and out he went - I jammed my eyes shut and pretended it was a carnival ride and I could actually hear my TM yelling "open your eyes" in freefall and me crying "I can't"...lol - what a loser...I'll love my TM forever too for doing that because it got me past that initial fear...The next tandem (a year later with the same TM) was so much fun I signed up for AFF right afterwards. Rhonda PP ASEL

That scene in Fandango rocks - My husband and I bought radios to talk to each other under canopy and around the DZ when we went to Eloy, but we never used them...I wonder now if they'd cause interference with the plane's communications or students who might be using radios... Rhonda PP ASEL

Depends, what's her cup size? Ok, but that's the only time we'll accept being "busy" with a tandem student a good excuse for not knowing what else is going on in the aircraft at 1500 feet... Rhonda PP ASEL

at the time he was busy with a tandem student. How "busy" can you be with a tandem student at 1.5K...??? Rhonda PP ASEL

hehe - definitely do not worry about it - you call that screwing up? And you already know you shouldn't give a crap about what anyone else thinks of you as long as you stay safe and hopefully learn from your mistakes. Some jerk at a DZ other than my home, and one I don't normally jump at, told me to get the pilot's attention as if there was some big emergency - so me and another dumbass across from me urgently try to get the pilot's attention - the pilot turns around and this guy, an instructor too, starts to lick his nipple like he is just so f'n funny. The pilot retaliates by pushing the Otter into a dive and everyone on the plane gets pissed at me and the other guy for bugging the pilot!!! Thanks a lot buddy! On the next jump, I'm starting to feel like the odd man out now and, distracted, I forget to properly fasten my chest strap and someone on the plane fortunately notices so I didn't die that day... I don't get that thing about unbuckling your seat belt if the door is open - shouldn't everyone do it and not just the guy by the door? I don't even think we do that at my DZ (or at least you don't get chewed out if you decide to leave your belt on) - it's more important to make sure that your PC is properly stowed and not vulnerable because it's still going to suck mighty bad for you and everyone on board the plane if your PC comes out in flight with the door open, whether your belt is on or not...I make it a habit of holding my PC handle whenever the door is open so I know it's stowed nicely and not going anywhere. Anyway, if "Craig" is so cool, why didn't he point it out earlier instead of chewing you out later about it? I think we all have a responsibility to teach less experiences jumpers because it is so easy to forget things when your mind is crammed with so many thoughts at once - but you don't teach by chewing someone else out. Shit happens - just deal with it and move right on... Rhonda PP ASEL

It's not typically that the puppies get bad treatment at the pet store, but if one gets sick, they all get sick. Also, you don't know where they came from and the parent's history. They are usually kept in cages and no training is initiated. The wire grates they stand on in the cages are often damaging to their hips as well, especially for larger dogs although I saw a pet store pug develop hip dysplasia once too. My pugs came from one of the stores I worked at and they're in great health, but I would still recommend you stay away from it if you can. I remember once when I had to pick a bunch of pups up at the airport and there was like 3 or 4 stuffed in each crate and they were completely covered in poop with no food left and the water dishes all spilled - it was too sad. Checking out shelters and the different breed rescue organizations is a good idea too... Rhonda PP ASEL

Let me just say, do not buy your puppy from a pet store - I worked in pet stores as well before the vet. clinic and I would not recommend you buy a puppy from one, even as cute as they are. Find a good local breeder... Rhonda PP ASEL

I've never had an off DZ landing except during a balloon jump and I don't think that counts. Rhonda PP ASEL

Dogs can be great pets with the right training. I was a veterinary technician for 4 years in Newton, MA. The most popular breeds of large dogs we saw were definitely the goldens and the labs, both wonderful dogs. For smaller breeds, the most popular were the bichon frise. shih tzus and lhasa apsos and terriers. Some nice breeds with less dander include the terriers (cairn, wheaton, scottish, fox, west highland, yorkshire), the bichon frise, poodles, maltese, schnauzer, but none of them are completely non-allergenic.... I'm a pug person myself, but they are very hyper and mine were difficult to crate train...still, the cuteness is worth it... If you want a dog, get one, but training can be hell if you don't have a lot of time to spend on it and your parents don't want to deal with it. Rhonda Rhonda PP ASEL