dreamsville

Remember that for some, being a skygod (note lack of capital letters) means being a legend in their own mind. I regularly get to jump with people whom many would call skygods, but the ones that truly are would often be the last to say so. I have a couple such people in mind as I write this. If a ten-year old loves the sport and wants to wear a closing pin necklace, let him do it. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I had a similar impression about Eloy, but it could be that tandems are less obvious at Eloy if there are a lot of experienced jumpers around AND they put the tandems out on different aircraft because a busy day allows for it. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

You might as well rename this thread. It has no relationship to its original self. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

This has happened on at least one occasion with which I am familiar when the mains were likely switched without removing them from the bags. The jumper in question was flying backwards at Sebastian after it happened, someone else having connected the risers backwards. Edited to add: he cutaway and landed his reserve. No one ever owned up to it. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Quote: A local DZ here in Cali sets it weight limit at 500lbs, total weight, but never takes any tandems over 215lbs up beyond 6000ft. The intent for exiting at 6000ft is to never take the tandem to terminal. /quote> Although I can understand wanting to reduce stress on the tandem system, this is the first I have heard of a specific tandem hop and pop procedure. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

In years past this building was a popular BASE jump venue (it's all secured now since 9/11, so those days are gone), being over 80 stories. When I brought my altimeter up to 66 it registered a bit under 800 feet, so there's a fair amount of altitude here, from the standpoint of a BASE jumper, anyway. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I think it diminishes our sport in the eyes of others when one DZ bashes another, particularly on safety. We learn about safety records of DZs. One DZ may criticize another for their record. Then that same DZ has an accident/fatality. I've seen it happen. It's best to tout the virtues and market honestly. Getting in a criticizing match just results in a destructive spiral. Edited for spelling. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Skydive Chicago has a regular Christian service on Sunday. It is attended in varying degrees, and is another option (not the only one). It co-exists with everything else. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Policies on spaceballs vary. Many DZs allow them. Some, such as Skydive Arizona, have a specific area near the airport to which they restrict ball jumping, and the pilots will drop said jumpers above this open area. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Back about 4 years ago at ZHills. We were on an 8 or 9 way RW dive. One was an older guy about 80. He had jumped with us before without a problem. We exit the plane at 13.5 and build the formation. The older guy is now missing, and for the longest time no key is given for the second point. We break off and track, and after opening we see the older jumper under his reserve. What happened: after exit, the older jumper ended up in a spin on his back, saying he was unable to get stable. The jumper had been directly behind me during his ordeal. I couldn't see what was going on but some of the others could (edited to add this). Finally, at about 8,000, he goes for his reserve and lands uneventfully. I never saw him after that and don't know if he is still jumping. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Some of us went through this when we lost our friend Roger Nelson. I had arrived at the DZ about an hour after the incident. The mood was subdued, with loads still flying. People were hoping he'd pull through. At about 6PM his father came through and stopped to touch the prop blade of one of the otters. Then moved on. It was a sign of something wrong: he shortly said that Roger had died. There were a few jumpers that cut back or interrupted jumping for a few days or months (that I know of), either through feelings of loss of a friend, disbelief that he could be gone, gear fear, just to name a few feelings expressed. It is still important to separate the causes of the accident from the emotions of the situation when time and sentiment allow, and learn from them. That's one of the ways we stay in the air after things like this. Other things that we learn about are how much someone meant to us, and that some things about voids created by the death of friends are not meant to go away. Nothing takes the place of the good memories, or should. We had an open-slot skydive for our friend the day of his funeral at the DZ after many of the 500-odd people had started to leave. We move on, swoop lane procedures having been changed partially as a result of this accident. We still keep the memories, our friends, and our skydiving (most of us), and we learn in hopes that we may avoid future incidents and share our bond in the sport. BTW, I was touched by the comment about putting the rose petals in the jumpsuit after the memorial jump. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Sometimes you can get too wrapped up in the technical aspects of getting out of a spin. If the others are involved in orbiting as well as you, one initial thing to try would be to pick a point on the horizon and try to steady you or your piece to a heading on it, because stopping an orbit can be as simple as one of the players taking the first step towards stopping the spin. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Phree, surely you jest (I assume). Please don't jump that thing, in case you are serious, or anyone else. Who wants to take a chance by evaluating this canopy? | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I have noticed that jumping with certain people at certain places increases my chances of getting my photo featured somewhere so I can feel . | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

How much are those canopies, and how ground hungry? I jumped a 150 Samurai (don't know if it was Signature or not) and it performed like my Stiletto 135, but had more on-heading openings. You can PM me if you wish. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

The more you relax, the more you will be able to feel the wind for what it is. Try relaxing as much as you can on a solo and see what the different arm, hip, and leg motions cause. The less "statuesque" (meaning stiff) movements become, the more fluid they will become. Sometimes free-form experimentation can help. When you think about it, that's how the early free- and RW- fliers probably learned. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

As usual, a technicality. We still know that it happened, the FAI notwithstanding. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

This must be a post for the foo-foo crowd (hot shots). I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Just practice your emergency procedures, maintain your gear, and remain composed. Trust it. When/if it happens you will find the handles and make it happen. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

I can attest to everything that ccowden has said. I am just in the last few months able to hold a head-down and do some simple movements and docking. It took me a long time to get to this stage, mainly because I was trying to OVERANALYZE and FORCE the position (like a 2 by 4). When you get in the door, take a deep breath, put relaxation in your body as best you can, and KEEP BREATHING. It will help relax you. Think about breathing if that helps, or you may forget. If you stop breathing it will be harder to relax. As you go down the hill, you may want to think about merging eye-contact with your friend and kind of finding the horizon. References help. RELAX AND ADJUST YOUR HIPS AND FEEL WHERE THEY SHOULD BE. Again, you can't force it. If you are driving to much or going unstable, you may not be relaxed. Keep at it I know it's easier said than done. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Maybe while you're at it you could do a pie chart, regression analysis, and a scatter graph. Then you'd REALLY have the answer. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Use a human intermediary when it comes time to actually do the transfers. Make sure it's a trusted rigger, DZ, or gear store that either party can verify. It may work out OK without this, but I wouldn't want to take the chance. Either party can get bitten. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Those who hold a position towards one end of the spectrum may get upset when the other side starts playing a better game at publicizing than their side is. It seems to cut both ways. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Monarchy also has its bad points. He bulldozed our lakefront airport in the dead of night. A few weeks ago the city was fined just $33,000 for this act. Of course, Daley isn't the one paying. | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143

Those who are often grateful for special things in their lives and have a positive attitude may be more likely to experience good health. Happy Thanksgiving! | I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143