gjh@krebs.acc.Virginia.EDU (Galen J. Hekhuis) (04/30/91)
There are folks who gain altitude but choose other ways to return to earth
besides a parachute. They tend to regard a 'chute as an emergency back-up
device rather than primary equipment.
I know I felt a *lot* more comfortable about exactly what to expect a
parachuting experience to be like after I made a s/l jump nearly 20
years ago in Alabama. (I was in the air force at the time, and our
company commander put the jump zone "off limits" not because it was
a disgusting place or anything, but because he didn't want his troops
"in the air," so to speak. Go figure...) I know the sport has changed
quite a bit since then, and a lot of experience and wisdom has to have
been gained.
So what would you folks recommend, given the above? I know the FAA
encourages a "pinch hitter" course for people who often accompany
private pilots. Is there something sort of like that for folks
who might have occasion to use a parachute or might even find themselves
falling through the sky but don't intend to persue that as an
avocation? And assuming that such exists, is there someplace near
(within, say about 300mi of central Virginia) me that I could contact?
hang gliding mailing list: hang-gliding-request@virginia.edu
Galen Hekhuis UVa Health Sci Ctr (804)982-1646 gjh@virginia.edu
Shhh. Just keep it under your cat.robie@umbc2.umbc.edu (Mr. William Robie; POSI (GRAD)) (05/01/91)
In article <1991Apr30.145140.23439@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>, gjh@krebs.acc.Virginia.EDU (Galen J. Hekhuis) writes... > >So what would you folks recommend, given the above? I know the FAA >encourages a "pinch hitter" course for people who often accompany >private pilots. Is there something sort of like that for folks >who might have occasion to use a parachute or might even find themselves >falling through the sky but don't intend to persue that as an >avocation? And assuming that such exists, is there someplace near >(within, say about 300mi of central Virginia) me that I could contact? > > hang gliding mailing list: hang-gliding-request@virginia.edu > Galen Hekhuis UVa Health Sci Ctr (804)982-1646 gjh@virginia.edu > Shhh. Just keep it under your cat. You are in luck! There is a very good DZ at Orange, Va., just about a half hour away from you. One of their jumpers is a UVa student - bet he'll contact you if he has not bolted for the summer. If he has, go down to the airport in Orange (on the hwy East of town) and look for the ppl in funny coveralls. You will be welcomed.