sapplegate

Just have another licenced skydiver either on the jump or who was on the ground, manefest, floating around and noticed that you got out of the plane, etc.. sign them. Been around a long time and never had anyone actually check or verify the signatures. We all trust each other for the most part to keep in roughly honest.

I never bring my young kids to the DZ. This has been brought up in the other replies but being honest, the language at the DZ is just not appropriate for kids. Also brought up is that it is really easy for a young child to go running in front of a plane, or towards a parent in the plane and hit the prop. I saw it happen to a dog once. Just not worth it.

Good point! Don't forget the Prenuptual Agreement.

This probably will sound terribly pessimistic, but we've all heard this story of skydivers dissapearing because their wives slowly force them out of the sport. One painful step at a time. So, get a good divorce attorney, go to the boogies, and when it gets too hard to deal with life at home, exchange her for someone younger and prettier. Repeat every few years.

Weres the fun in that ???? Hmmmm? Hanging out with women all day and skydiving........sounds like nirvana!

My nerves haven't completely gone in 19 years. Not scared, just a little anxious. I think it's good, it keeps me from getting too complacent. Getting control of the nerves???.....poop BEFORE you get into the plane. Just works for me.

Well, you just go make another jump. The disappointment is easy. All jumps are fun, go do it again. Nervousness, truthfully, the plane ride still makes me nervous after 19 years. But I do get a sence of calm after I get out and into the air.

Next jump, leave the brakes up after opening, turn with the rear risers to avoid any traffic, and then when clear, point the canopy cross wind, and see what happens. Let us all know what you think! Blue Skies!

I'm a single father of three kids , ages 8,6, and 3. In general, I don't bring them to the DZ. I skydive when they are with a babysitter or their mother (which I call the "baby mama" just to piss her off :-)). The DZ is a pretty dangerous place for kids. That meat grinder on the front of the plane called a propeller is invisible when spinning. An eager child running to give mom or dad a hug in the plane can easily run right into it. Scares me too much. If you had some VERY reliable help watching the kids at the DZ, and they were no where near the airplanes, you might be able to pull it off. But realistically speaking, from one parent to another, how many times have you had a child disappear for a minute or two, when around your house there's not too much to get into... the DZ is not really "child proofed". One of the best gifts you can give to your kids, is the happiness of thier mother. Take a little time, find a friend to watch the kids, and skydive. In the long run, the kids will appreciate your outlook on life. Blue skies!

You are all right, I have it 1/2 backwards. The Wing Loading is going to be wt of jumper plus gear divided by the sq ft of the canopy, and for beginners, the sq ft of the canopy should be at least 20% more. I had the fraction upside down. Another good reason to find a good instructor at your DZ to take advice from rather than me!

Quote Here're a few Q's : I have the opportunity to do the tandem jump(s) and the AFF series at one DZ over a period of time, or at a second DZ in a compressed 4-day school, where I would have dedicated instructors and priority slots. Would jump 8 times in the four days, and get to solo status quickly. The 4-day gig is an additional hour away, tho. Q - Is this safe to do? Should the time be stretched-out, or should one just blast through the training in a few days if possible? (discounting new jumper enthusiasm, of course!) Both are about as safe. More important than making jumps as fast as possible is to make new friends. So, Drive the distance, stay the night for the 4 days and make some new friends. Q - A REAL newb question - once I start to jump solo - what size main canopy is considered right for a new jumper? I know it should be a tame sheet, basically, but have a bit of response. Don't know enough yet about the choices, or the right path. Agree with the above response about the size being AT LEAST as big as your weight plus gear. That would be a loading of "1", you might seriously consider 1.2 ( this means if you take the square footage of the canopy and divide by your weight+gear, you get about 1.2). Most important, is not to take advice on this from us on Dropszone.com, ask your instructors for their best advice based on what type of canopy, what you strengths are, what type of skydiving you will be doing, your tolerance for turbulance, etc.... Blue Skies!

I still have an old jump suit with a "Flying Tigers" patch on the knee that he gave me 19 years ago when he was Top Pop! Congrats to you Bill!

No shit, there I was, 3000ft, nothing but a silk worm and a couple of knitting needles............