IronMike

(sorry, I'm reposting this to the proper thread and took out all the queston marks that appeared when I cut and pasted from Word) This jumper had closer to 250 jumps. He and I started AFF at the same time at Perris in December. We kind of joked with each other about how many jumps each other had and made it into kind of a 'race'. I have 210 now. We both are very aggressive types, I know he is very intelligent and I consider myself to be no moron. We are both professionals, same age, weight, and both fell hard and fast for this sport. We are both averaged 20 or so jumps a week and both downsized rather quickly. I have been unable to think about anything else but him for the past 2 days because he is my friend and it is easy for me to imagine myself in his situation.. I am experiencing many emotions; the most prevalent one at this time is anger. I believe that there are a few reasons that it happened to him and not me. I do not believe it was the size of canopy that was the problem here. You would hook a 190 in if you do it at 75 feet. I believe education, or the lack of it, was the primary factor. First and foremost, I have taken Jim Slayton's canopy course. Not more than a month ago, I was on a freefly with him and we got a long spot. We both were jumping Sabre 2 150's loaded at 1.4. I made it back and he didn't even come close. I asked him what he was doing and he told me he was in half brakes thinking this increased his glide ratio. I know he was uneducated on how to fly a canopy. He didn't start on front risers like I am still doing; he went straight to trying low hook turns. I remember that windy as hell non sky-diveable Saturday 2 months ago that I decided not to go to the lake and sit all hung over in Jim's class. I tried to convince him to come too. He didn't and went to the lake instead. What I learned that day was the most valuable training I have ever received. I have over 1000 flight hours in high performance aerobatic aircraft and have a low level air-show waiver but I learned things that make perfect aerodynamic sense but things that I would have not figured out on my own without breaking things. I am convinced, had he taken the class and got some jumps in with Clint Clawson like I did, this would not have happened. Furthermore, a class of this sort should be mandatory for an A license. Canopy flight is such a huge part of this sport and it is woefully unaddressed on the yellow card. Second, I am a weekday jumper and he is a weekend jumper. I believe that the knowledge, advice and oversight I have received due to the fact that people like Eli, Jim, Craig O'Brien, all the staff at Square 1 etc...are on relaxed mode and have time to watch me and offer free advice. I have gotten tons of it and to have someone like JC come up to me and compliment me on a dull front riser landing makes me know I'm being safe. Third, he hangs out with a group that had considerably more experience than he did and I feel he really wanted to 'catch up'. I just hang out with 'whoever' and end up jumping with anyone from beginners to world champs from jump to jump. Please Please Please.....If you know someone attempting things that they have not been trained to do, STOP THEM!!! KICK THEIR ASS! whatever........You do not want to feel like all of his friends and I do right now. I told him a month ago that some people had said he was being too aggressive and he got mad at me and them for saying it. If ANYONE ever says anything like that to you, step back and reevaluate.

This jumper had closer to 250 jumps. He and I started AFF at the same time at Perris in December. We kind of joked with each other about how many jumps each other had and made it into kind of a 'race'. I have 210 now. We both are very aggressive types, I know he is very intelligent and I consider myself to be no moron. We are both professionals, same age, weight, and both fell hard and fast for this sport. We are both averaged 20 or so jumps a week and both downsized rather quickly. I have been unable to think about anything else but him for the past 2 days because he is my friend and it is easy for me to imagine myself in his situation.. I am experiencing many emotions; the most prevalent one at this time is anger. I believe that there are a few reasons that it happened to him and not me. I do not believe it was the size of canopy that was the problem here. You would hook a 190 in if you do it at 75 feet. I believe education, or the lack of it, was the primary factor. First and foremost, I have taken Jim Slayton's canopy course. Not more than a month ago, I was on a freefly with him and we got a long spot. We both were jumping Sabre 2 150's loaded at 1.4. I made it back and he didn't even come close. I asked him what he was doing and he told me he was in half brakes thinking this increased his glide ratio. I know he was uneducated on how to fly a canopy. He didn't start on front risers like I am still doing; he went straight to trying low hook turns. I remember that windy as hell non sky-diveable Saturday 2 months ago that I decided not to go to the lake and sit all hung over in Jim's class. I tried to convince him to come too. He didn't and went to the lake instead. What I learned that day was the most valuable training I have ever received. I have over 1000 flight hours in high performance aerobatic aircraft and have a low level air-show waiver but I learned things that make perfect aerodynamic sense but things that I would have not figured out on my own without breaking things. I am convinced, had he taken the class and got some jumps in with Clint Clawson like I did, this would not have happened. Furthermore, a class of this sort should be mandatory for an A license. Canopy flight is such a huge part of this sport and it is woefully unaddressed on the yellow card. Second, I am a weekday jumper and he is a weekend jumper. I believe that the knowledge, advice and oversight I have received due to the fact that people like Eli, Jim, Craig O?Brien, all the staff at Square 1 etc?are on relaxed mode and have time to watch me and offer free advice. I have gotten tons of it and to have someone like JC come up to me and compliment me on a dull front riser landing makes me know I?m being safe. Third, he hangs out with a group that had considerably more experience than he did and I feel he really wanted to ?catch up?. I just hang out with ?whoever? and end up jumping with anyone from beginners to world champs from jump to jump. Please Please Please?..If you know someone attempting things that they have not been trained to do, STOP THEM?? KICK THEIR ASS?whatever?.You do not want to feel like all of his friends and I do right now. I told him a month ago that some people had said he was being too aggressive and he got mad at me and them for saying it. If ANYONE ever says anything like that to you, step back and reevaluate.

Car: Aston Martin Vanquish www.astonmartin.com RV: Newell Custom Motor Coach www.Newellcoaches.com Plane: Pilatus PC-12 www.pilatus-aircraft.com Copter: Sikorsky S-76 www.sikorsky.com Yacht: 231' Feadship (Under Construction) http://www.yachtworld.com/listing/yw_listing_detail.jsp?checked_boats=943305¤cy=USD&units=Feet Anyone want to give me a loan?

I just had my second cutaway at jump 194. I reviewed my video and realized my excess brake line was stuck in my s-link and riser grommet before I ever released my brakes. Had I paid attention and realized one of my excess brake lines was not feeflying upon openining I could have cleared it. When I went to full brakes on the line in question, it stayed in full brakes. I willtry and post a picture of my mal later. I am now having my s-link tabs tacked to my risers and I will check my risers for problems before I unstow my brakes next time.

Infinity kicks ass.....all of the new freeflyers at Perris are getting them. They stay closed and are very comfortable. I will never own another container.

Im the Silly Frenchman - You don't frighten us, English pig-dog! Go and boil your bottoms, son of a silly person. I blow my nose on you, so-called Arthur-king, you and your silly English kiniggets.I don't want to talk to you, no more, you empty-headed animal, food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. You mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries

I had a stuck toggle a month or so ago. The excess brake line was wrapped around the toggle grommet somehow (demo gear and I didn't pack it). Of course, I had unstowed the other toggle. I messed with it till 1300 or so (You aint gonna get it unstuck) then decided to practice a rear riser flare or two. I could tell by the sound of the wind as I flared that I wasn't going to get hurt too bad so I decided to keep the canopy. (It was jump 130 or so on a Sabre 2 loaded at 1.4 on a zero wind day) I wrapped the other brake line around my hand until it mached the locked toggle. On final, I noticed Craig O'Obrien on the grass filming something so I yelled at him to video me. At least I would have cool video to show my friends if I broke something. I slid in on my butt but I could have stood it up. The only mistake I made was trying to mess with it and not paying attention to my altitude. I would recommend practicing rear riser flares on whatever you are jumping before you have to do it for real. I would do it again on the same canopy but would have to rethink anything with a higher wingloading.

Go with the Sabre 2. You can resell it easily, it doesn't have any nasty habits and you can fly it conservatively or agressively well. I just got my new one in last weekend and it is my first main also. On the size, I would ask the opinion of all the experienced people at the DZ that have seen you land and know your capabilities. I didn't find alot of difference between the 190 and 170 but the 150 (loaded at 1.4) seemed faster. Im 205 out the door. My canopy size progression was: 1-8 - 230 some lame ass school rig 8-20 - 210 Spectre 20-91 - 190 Spectre & Sabre 2 92-106 - 170 Sabre 2 107-175 - 150 Sabre 2 Be conservative. Im guessing a 170 is what you might want to consider. Im going to stick with the 150 for quite awhile. I had the privelidge and abundant advice of being on one of the best DZ's in the world and having taken Jim Slayton's canopy course (the best $ in skydiving I have spent) and canopy flight training with Clint Clawson. Buy one from stock too. I ordered one all custom and couldn't wait when everyone was going to a boogie last weekend but me. I cancelled and got one from stock. Mike

I need a lens for my PC-9. What do you use and where did you buy it? I want it yesterday. I bought the Bonehead box for a Mindwarp.

I started Skydiving in December at Perris. After AFF, I had to be pro-active about what to do next. People told me about Square 1's demo program and it seemed to be the way to go for someone that was ignorant about all aspects of skydiving such as myself. I Plunked down the 3 grand and started the demo program. I had other people telling me to buy used gear and I wondered whether I made the right decision with square 1. It didn't take long before I knew I made a good decision. I can guarantee the staff at Square 1 has saved me a broken bone or two with their advice on canopy type and size and when it is time to downsize. Yes I bought all new gear and mabye could have saved a hundred dollars off the internet but the service and advice from everyone at Square 1 has more saved me so much money in the long run. One, I love having new stuff. Two, I bought a canopy that will be easy to sell when I want (Sabre 2) and a container that will be good for smaller canopies. The staff would actually watch my landings and tell me whether they thought I was ready to downsize. Buy stuff from your local pro-shop. I am a big fan of buying stuff off the net that does not require retail service buy for stuff that my life depends on, cost is no object. Retail Service is an understatement from what Square 1 has done for me. Not only that, they made it easy to become addicted to this sport. I already have 147 jumps.