I started skydiving because I made the containers and the chutes and wanted to see how they worked. The owner of the place I was working said he'd pay for it if I really wanted to go through with it. He paid for the 1st tandem and I loved it! This was in 2003. To get it done, I neglected my kids on weekends to get AFF done and got my A license. Then I met a skydiver, left my abusive husband to be with the skydiver. He and I lived together and jumped almost(some weekends the weather was bad) every weekend. Again, neglecting my children, I got my B license. The skydiver became a tandem instructor, met some other woman and proceeded to cheat on me and lie to me for over a year so I threw him out. Because of his dalliance with a paid customer, he got kicked off the drop zone that he and I went to but I still go on occasion. Because I was a licensed skydiver and have a senior riggers ticket, the company where I worked used me as a tester for new chutes. We used dummies(not me! Lol) to make sure they were flight worthy and then my manager(a World Class skydiver, myself and our sales manager(a member of the U.S. National Skydiving Team) would work the bugs out. The last time I jumped was a month ago. I'd like to go again in a couple of weeks but first I have to get my reserve re packed.
Eleaf iStick : part 2
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Skydiving seems to have been mostly good for you, excepting for that two-timing SOB. That's one of the things I never did was become a certified rigger. Fortunately my best friend did. I got so spoiled. The first time I had to pay to have my reserve recertified, I was like, what?!? If I had had to pay for all the instruction and 1400+ jumps, it never would have happened. After my day at the DZ, a coupla weeks ago, I looked at used rigs. The ones I needed and/or liked were selling for $11-13k. Not happening right now... Fortunately, vaping is a somewhat more affordable hobby.
No more than I jump I just use rental gear. The guy who owns the DZ generally lets me rent for half plus only charges me $20 a slot. But still it's a pricey deal. The owner of the company I used to work for gave me a rig but it's a Style and Accuracy system so it's slow coming down. The container is ok but I'd love to put a PD in it! Lol
The sales manager at work was an ex Golden Knight so he called in a favor and got me a space in a completely full riggers clinic. I spent a week there to get my riggers ticket! I packed a helluva lot of reserves that week! Lol
The sales manager at work was an ex Golden Knight so he called in a favor and got me a space in a completely full riggers clinic. I spent a week there to get my riggers ticket! I packed a helluva lot of reserves that week! Lol
If you ever come to NC, I'll take you to the DZ. and if you or anyone else go to Myrtle Beach, stay away from Skydive MB in north Myrtle, that's where the ex SOB works part time. 
I jumped a couple of times with the GKs when I was in ROTC. There's a job I would have loved to retire from at 47yo!... My 9cell was an accuracy rig. You could definitely hang for hours. I had an old, patched 7cell that was my "field burner". It was under speced for me by about 60 lbs (it was typically a lady's canopy). It was fast. We didn't have a real "drop zone". We jumped into a farmer's field about 3 miles from the airport... Darnit. All this skydiving talk just makes me want to throw it all to the wind and jump back in. I've had a helluva three years that have left me very unhappy. I can remember, I was about 21, looking at guys who were my current age thinking, man I hope I don't turn out like that; kinda like a mid-forties surfer-dude. Now, it looks really appealing. But I have no children, SO or responsibilities that I can't sell off... Life... Choices...
That's why I added the video
I wondered what happened after seeing just the gif. 
I haven't figured out how to add a link to a video without the video showing up on the post yet
If you ever come to NC, I'll take you to the DZ. and if you or anyone else go to Myrtle Beach, stay away from Skydive MB in north Myrtle, that's where the ex SOB works part time.
I'll go do a tandem with him if you want. It's amazing the accidents that can happen in mid air.
Is your local DZ a big operation? Do they have more than a single 182 to get jumpers up in the air? That's what I deal with around me. All the good DZs are down south, in the mid/south-west or on the west coast...
ETA: If you have an in at PD, do share, pretty please... I wonder what your former employers would think about you jumping a PD...
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I have children and a grandson but I honestly don't think I could become a full time skydiver any more. My heart just ain't in it anymore.
Btw...here's where I used to work...North American Aerodynamics, inc. | Home of Jalbert Parafoil.
I've heard of NA Aero and their parafoils. I could never afford them, just like PD's gear... Now that's a real DZ, a real jumpship, and not terribly priced. I guess I really need to get out of the northeast.
The owner is a super, super nice guy!! As are all the folks at this dz!
GK jumped para foils and centaurus's for years! I've met most of the older ones. When Mark(sales manager at NAA) made the U.S. Nationals Team, the chutes they were jumping were PD Zeros but Mark told his coach that he just couldn't work for NAA and jump a PD so it was agreed that Mark could jump a Parafoil Gold. I have a 154 Parafoil Gold. Navy blue/light blue and white. Made especially for me, by me! Lol
I have jumped a PD Zero as well.
Mark also jumped the PF Gold in the World's. As did Xiaoli Li, my manager when I worked there. She placed 2nd in the worlds when she was still in China.
You could be right. I think I replied to a post from you suggestin I buy one or it could be my bad memory...
Anyway, I don't need one, don't care for sillycone skins. But I do have a Shark Skin on my Vapor Shark...
That's perzactly my recollection.
I vote for Bike (for the credit). I recall that discussion and remember it being rather fun.That's perzactly my recollection.
Covered everything else, why not? Nice to learn something new...even if I have no clue what you are talking about
Covered everything else, why not? Nice to learn something new...even if I have no clue what you are talking about
Oh you ain't heard nothing yet! Lol wait until we start talking about wing loading and jump runs or wind direction or front risers or back risers!Covered everything else, why not? Nice to learn something new...even if I have no clue what you are talking about
Thanks for the peak into you world, the skydiving is absolutely fascinating but not for me. Heights and I don't get along and jumping out of a perfectly good working airplane is sheer madness...
But, I am amazed that these jumpers can hit a 3cm disk with the heel of their boot.
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