tkhayes

Cracker Barrel corn bread rocks dude,

Actually it was pretty much a nightmare here and it was the reason that I (and many of my friends) completely stopped coming to Zephyrhills for skydiving. Not only finger-pointing, letters of complaints being filed at all levels of government and the FAA, but unsafe practices on the runways and in the air. - there were deliberate attempts to put people's lives in danger hoping to make the other side look bad. I was actually on those loads. "Some go rounds due to conflicts" was/is an understatement We left and I returned only once I think just to visit some friends until after Phoenix packed up and moved in 1994.

In my earlier posts I clarified this Freefall Express is NOT suing Skydive City or any of the partners, Bill Richards is.

20 years is a long time. At our DZ, we would ask you to sit through an AFF Ground School. But we would charge only $50 for the refresher training. That way you would get a recap of all the stuff about equipment, aircraft, safety, canopy control and a good review of emergency stuff. Then we would probably invent a skydive for you, a 1-on-1 AFF jump would probably suffice. Our expectation would be that you perform pretty well and before we cut you loose, we make sure you can perform basic aerial stuff, and safe canopy control and landings. If you are a flailing geek, then I expect that we would recommend further training. If you had only 400 jumps over 13 years, you were only averaging 30 jumps a year anyway, barely what anyone would call 'staying active'. A lot of it would depend on what you want to achieve.... what do you want to achieve?

I have 3 full time and 5 part time planes on site, no problem - Skyvan, Otters, etc

January 18 is Independence Day at Z-Hills - regular jumps all day long are $18 with RW, wingsuit and freefly organizers playing in the sky!

And for what it's worth, I would rather not drag Guy into this either, he is not party to anything here. Guy may have relationships with Billy/Freefall/whatever - I hold no grudges against Guy Wright. He is also welcome at Z-Hills any time he wants to come.

Is that all you got?

That's all I got? That's all I need. People reference one video on YouTube and it is supposed to completely change the world and prove the existence of God? Wow. I would thought that Fox at least would have picked that up. Not interested in writing down (again) all the arguments (AGAIN) that have already been made over and over (AGAIN), so yes, That's all I got ;-)

I already posted that Ranch skydivers are welcome at Z-Hills, no one has said otherwise No it has not - not sure where you get your info from, but we have done the same number of jumps, the same number of tandems, the same number of customers, etc as we have for pretty much the past 5 years. Incorrect. Bill Richards is suing Skydive City, The Sunshine Factory, Joan Murphy, Susan Perkins, and me. Freefall Express has filed two lawsuits, one against Tadpole Aviation LLC and Marko Jaakkola. Freefall Express is NOT suing Skydive City that I am aware of, and believe me, I have been directly involved with all of this since day one.

RUBBISH!

In case you have no noticed my avatar, I HAVE BEEN on the receiving end of those greedy bastards....

'death panels' already exist and act on people every day. families and doctors make life and death decisions and some people live because of it and some people die because of it. Exactly the way it should be. I am all about it. And if the government implements any program that helps families and doctors deal with these difficult decisions, then i am all about that as well. Anyone who thinks that death is something that cannot be dealt with or should not be dealt with is in serious denial and out of touch with reality.

Personally I would not put any more time into preparing for 'death by skydiving' versus 'death by getting drunk and drowning in swimming pool' or 'death by whatever' DNR? really? From your post, I thought you were going on vacation.....

I think a lot of people worry too much about the insurance thing. If you get hurt, you will get the best care going and when you get home, they will send you bills which you can choose to pay or not to pay. Since you live in a different country, they cannot collect and no, it does not affect you ever getting back into the country again. Having said all that - there is insurance out there to cover you, shop around. A temporary USPA membership will get you $50K of third party liability and property damage, and that is a good buy as well, probably required by the DZ you go to anyway

I remember in Calgary, a drugstore owner shot a fleeing robber in the back with a 12 gauge in the parking lot. He was charged with all kinds of stuff and the trial went on for a very long time. He was found not guilty by a jury as they decided 'his life and his family's life was in danger at the time' Armed accomplices were still in the store with his family and they were still 'in danger'. No one in the general public really disagreed, but it polarized the population I remember and was the talk all over the country for a while. But it showed how the systems vary even within Canada. While the trial was underway in Calgary, a Quebec convenience store was robbed and the storekeeper shot the robber in the back of the head while he was leaving the store. No charges were even filed. After the Calgary robbery which was blocks from my house, I substituted my shotgun in the closet for a baseball bat. Shoot someone in Canada, for whatever reason, there is a pretty good chance that you are going to face some trouble. Beat them with a baseball bat until they stop twitching, and you can always say "Hey, the guy took a swing at me and I overreacted" Strange indeed.

There needs to be a new word beyond Atheist and/or agnostic. I don't believe in any of that crap, period. Or elephants in my trunk

Everyone at the Ranch is welcome to come to Z-Hills any time. Come, buy jump tickets, get on loads, jump, have fun, drink beer, relax, repeat. As always.

yep - it's a great reason to celebrate.....ranks right up there with the anniversary of the opening of Auschwitz....

uninformed? I beg to differ - you have no idea of the Christian training and upbringing that I received. I am more that adequately informed to make the intelligent decision(s) that I have made.

You may very well overcome it just as well by studying Dawkins, Leonardo da Vinci and Darwin. But you chose to study the Bible. THat could be construed as rather narrow minded ;-) I like the comment earlier "You are a good man, Ron" I have no doubt that Ron is a good man. But I also know MANY men and women that are good people who are that not because of some spiritual guidance of any kind......myself included.

absolutely! - and at ANY expense too, no matter WHAT crisis might be going on at home - even if we are self-destructing.....!

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/12/17/united-states-government-spending.html Way to go guys....

that is a reasonably accurate summation.

I expect it would be this one for me.....