topdocker

Lanceav8r, why not do some of your own testing on this and get back to us? I don't have access to the type of helmet you are talking about and you seem very determined about this topic. Specifically, take your rig and hang it up by the links or slinks in the approxiamte location of your slider grommets so that your risers are under tension (I would bet a garage with exposed joists would give a suitable location.) Stand on a chair and put the rig on, put on the helmet, move the chair and hang in the harness. Record your field of vision by having someone set beer bottles (or some other suitable marker) out at the extent of your vision horizontally and vertically. Move your head along all major axes to find the limit of vision and movement. Now repeat with the helmet off. Have your friend move the chair back so you don't have to cutaway to get down. Is your field of vision limited by the limit in the range of motion? Also, I wonder about really large helmets and risers strikes on opening. And, with a larger helmet, can line twist pin your head even further down? Not trying to shoot up your discussion, just want to know all the hazards before we decide something is "safer." top Jump more, post less!

Definitely an AN-2. Couldn't pay me to stay in that thing any longer than necessary! top Jump more, post less!

I think the collisions should be seperate from CRW wraps. Opening and colliding or colliding low in the landing area is different then having a CRW formation funnel around you. Granted the outcome may be the same, but the root causes are different. Other than that, it's a very good analysis and mirrors Bryan Burke's report. top Jump more, post less!

You don't even come close to holding the record in my office for "Time Between Visits." The greatest TBV we have is 45 years.... The patient had his last exam as he was discharged from the Navy at the conclusion of WWII and we saw him in 1992, nobody else. We manages to save what was left of his teeth... in a jar. Ask your new dentist for something to calm you down... Valium, gas, etc. "Better living through chemistry." top Jump more, post less!

Cheap, durable, fits reasonably well. Used is always a good route to go for a beginner. Not too dorky looking. top P.S. Don't wear it off the dropzone to look cool.... Jump more, post less!

The 21st Annual West Coast CRW Challenge is coming!!! Mark your calendars: July 22-24, 2011 Parachute Center in Lodi, CA Hosted by Redline Last year Redline paid for all the jumps in the meet! This year we are probably not going to do that, but we will be making it a great time and a great deal. Do not miss out on this chance to tune up for the Nationals. We will adhere to the National rules for judging. Probably have some IPC or nationally-rated CF judges warming up too. Mark those dates on your calendar now! And watch for updates... top Jump more, post less!

Maybe your d-bag needs to be smaller than a size eight also! top Jump more, post less!

I haven't jumped them together, but I have lots of jumps under both. My gut feel is that the Fury won't have the forward speed of the Lightning. top Jump more, post less!

Your "vision" may not be restricted by a FF helmet, but your range of motion might be. Meaning that while you can still see what you are looking at and around it, the ability to pivot your head is restricted by the front of the helmet hitting the risers, thus limiting your field of vision. "Head on a swivel" may not mean as much.... top Jump more, post less!

Jump 25, Nov 1, 1987. Collided with another low-timer at 1400 feet, no set pattern (Cessna DZ, and back when "High Performance" was an all F-111 nine cell loaded 1:1). Both cutaway and walked away. Short reseve ride under a round. Corrective action: Took up CRW and learned to avoid other canopies. Fly a predictable pattern, minimize turns in traffic. Of course, I have induced some "collisions" doing CRW, but we just call them "docks!" top Jump more, post less!

You fly better than you rhyme, right? top Jump more, post less!

The key to good writing is rewriting. Write what you want to say, then go back and write it the way you want to say it. Very few people can write well in one or two drafts. Get used to the idea that you will rewrite something several times as you polish your material to its best presentation. top Jump more, post less!

$20, in case you land near the liquor store or a bar. top Jump more, post less!

Finding out Shah doesn't want to have kids is about the best news I've read in this Forum in a while. top Jump more, post less!

Gentleman Jack! top Jump more, post less!

The goats helped me do the brakes! They are generally a higher class of people than the skydivers! (smell better too) And easily distracted by food! top Jump more, post less!

What do you tell people with better canopies and hundreds of jumps who can't stand up 90% of their landings? 1) Get more coaching 2) upper body strength training 3) lose weight 4) different canopy There is no excuse for regularly falling down (competition canopy fliers excepted) any more than there is for an aircraft to regularly blow tires. So no excuse for not standing up that tandem... top Jump more, post less!

Actually, you best be moving your ass to the hardware store, fixing the shower, taking out the garbage and rubbing my feet! Naaah, I'm leaning towards "Nap." top Jump more, post less!

There was a short period of time when USPA was doing away or scaling back the CF awards, but that has been reversed. Email or call HQ and see if they can send you the sticker/patches now. There might be a charge, I cannot remember. If that doesn't get what you want, PM and I will see what I can do. top Jump more, post less!

Wish we had the other jumpers view of this jumpers face! top Jump more, post less!

Before you have this surgery done, have a dentist check all your teeth. Infected teeth can give a lot of the symptoms of sinus problems (and vice versa) and won't be helped by the surgery. The roots of upper teeth can actually be in the sinus area. I had a patient that had surgery done several times with no improvement, until I took out one tooth...all got better. Might be worth a quick trip to make sure. top Jump more, post less!

At least the level of the roof of the hanger! top Jump more, post less!

Just out of curiosity. What does your liking them have to do with them being kept as a requirement of any sort? I probably won't vote to change it unless a huge number of people in my region convince me that is what they want. Because once its not a requirement, very few people or DZ's will ever do them. top Your own words tell the whole story of why they're not relevant. What you wrote is just "because that's what we've always done" using different words. Night jumps are relevant: they are needed for a D license! Also, we still have the NCCS and NCCR, night freefall records, etc. Night jumps are still part of our sport. "Just because that is what we have always done," does not make something inherently wrong. It is reviewed and discussed constantly. top Jump more, post less!

What??? Nothing I've said rings true? Nothing? Am I that far off base? Please point me in the right direction. How about these reasons then (yes, I'm not a happy camper right now): 1. It's stupid to make a requirement for somebody who has no desire to do it. 2. It's stupid to hang on to something only because "that's the way we've always done it". 3. It's stupid to make it a requirement only for D-license when sub-licenses will potentially be facing the same emergency situations with no training. 4. It's stupid to constantly throw out calls for reasons when plenty of them have already been provided by numerous people over a long period of time. Makes people think "lip service". USPA has some smart people in it. All it takes is actually listening to them. So...on the flip side: How about you providing valid reasons for not changing anything related to night jumps. 1. Just because you call it stupid does not mean that it is. The rule has no brain, so it can have no intelligence. If someone has no desire to skydive, can they still earn a D-license? No, the jump numbers are a requirement of the organization. If you do not desire a night jump, stick with your C-license, there is nothing in life that says you have to earn a D. 2. This rule is probably second to the age requirement for the amount of times it has been reviewed for possible change. We don't keep it "just because," but because we think it is still a valuable requirement for our membership. 3. I agree. I think it should be a B license requirement. A licensees have a lot on their plate and are crammed with requirements, I think the B licensees could handle it. Not my call, however. 4. I use chapstick so I do not need "lip service." I thought that is what an intelligent discussion is all about: The exchange of ideas so people could make judgements based upon the merits of the arguments. Not everyone has been around a long time and maybe they would like to hear the pros and cons. I concur, USPA does have some smart people in it. I am here listening, are you? Sorry to hear that you are not a happy camper right now, but if this one issue has totally ruined your mood, then perhaps we should step away and let calmer thinking prevail. I never said I didn't want to change it. I would love to see a larger number required, and at an earlier stage in a jumper's license stage. My reasons for keeping it (this may be repetitive): 1. Jumpers push the envelope with regards to sunset. If you have already done some night jumps when you expected them, then doing dusk jumps will not be so daunting. 2. Like balloon jumps, jet jumps, water jumps, night jumps push the comfort zone of those involved. For some people that is fun, for others it is a great learning experience as to how they will handle unplanned emergencies. Many D license candidates have been jumping for years and getting a little complacent with jumping. The night jumps help put a little respect for the seriousness of what we do. 3. Unlike water jumps, jet jumps, and balloon jumps night jumps are very easy for ANY dropzone to do. A 182, some chem lights, some brighter lights, and a few cars in the landing area. Probably, it is the one area where a smaller DZ can outdo the bigger turbine place. 4. D-license holders can do demos, and some of those demos are at night. Yes, we could move the night jump requirement to the PRO-rating, but then members would be upset that it would take a PRO rating to do any demo. (This would be a good argument to move the night jump requirement to the C-license). 5. D-licensees are most likely those that go on to get Instructor ratings. If they are going to teach about night jumps, then they should have done some. Yes, I think water jumps are very valuable too, but making them a requirement would damage a lot of gear. (the whole water jump thing would have to be a new thread) 6. A D license should not be handed out like popcorn. The requirements of that license have been hammered out through hundreds of hours of meetings by the Safety and Training Committee and the full Board of Directors. To have that license is to have earned it through your demonstration of skills, the number of jumps, time in the air, and commitment to the sport that we feel is important. I used to think it is a little silly that each new D license is approved by the Regional Director, but it also signals just how important that milestone really is. 7. Isn't "they are fun" enough? top Jump more, post less!

Just out of curiosity. What does your liking them have to do with them being kept as a requirement of any sort? I probably won't vote to change it unless a huge number of people in my region convince me that is what they want. Because once its not a requirement, very few people or DZ's will ever do them. top Jump more, post less!