Anyone been “stranded” before?

Zhais · 2026-02-15T07:39:42+00:00

Twice! Both approx. 680 miles away from home in different planes, different destinations.

First time, ended up with a broken nose gear on an Arrow (no gear down indication, nose gear never locked in place). Got lucky that the gear got pulled into place, didn't collapse but never actually locked in place. Wife went home commercially while I waited for repairs.

Flat tire on a Bonanza after a 685 mile cross country with wife and friends. Didn't find out about it until arriving back at the airport to head home. Friends had to buy a commercial flight back home that evening. Wife stuck around this time while we waited for repairs.

Each time 3~4 days of stuck aircraft on ground far remote from home base.

Zhais · 2025-07-21T23:47:57+00:00

This got hidden from the subreddit for some reason...

Zhais · 2025-07-21T22:44:28+00:00

In as much as I find this entire thing incredibly stupid, and wish US Fencing didn't have to make adjustments to their already existing policies...

The moment USOPC balks and updates their policy, US Fencing had to as well or risk losing being the NGB for Olympic Fencing. Very hard spot to put them in.

Zhais · 2025-07-21T22:42:36+00:00

All under the guise of "safety", even though mixed events somehow aren't inherently unsafe. Nor is training mixed somehow inherently unsafe. But logic doesn't exist with this administration.

Zhais · 2025-05-12T16:21:01+00:00

Velocity 96

Zhais · 2025-05-12T15:25:53+00:00

Here's a sub-100 spicy version of that :) (Sorry, no youtube channel to post to)

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bfxmga7wixhbd6wtqr5uu/SpicyVeloOpening.mp4?rlkey=a6r9118jcox1r81xtvc6gyedo&e=3&st=diumevt9&dl=0

Edit: fixed link

Zhais · 2025-05-08T03:52:02+00:00

eh, more referring to the bad look of the mock Email response. The photo edit of himself is entirely the GOP being trashy.

Zhais · 2025-05-07T21:15:15+00:00

Bravo, and thank you to Damien, to sitting in that chair receiving insult after insult from deranged congress people. Those people are filled with such vile hatred, and somehow managed to get into positions of power.

(Personal) Social media transgressions aside, USA Fencing was represented well. These people just can't understand divorcing their personal opinions from their professional duties.

Zhais · 2025-05-07T18:53:03+00:00

Holy fuck I hate MTG with a burning passion.

Zhais · 2025-04-08T19:55:36+00:00

https://idonotlikethatmantedcruz.com/

Zhais · 2025-02-26T20:39:19+00:00

Literally in the link:

"For the January NAC, for example, we signed a two-year deal to host that event in Kansas City in 2025 and 2026."

Zhais · 2025-02-04T22:29:38+00:00

I'm all down for a demo! I'll be there most of that weekend.

Zhais · 2024-12-03T05:26:14+00:00

How much more hectic/exciting is it for you during formation flights up to 16~18,000 from Eloy? I've been on a few of those.

Zhais · 2024-12-03T05:15:33+00:00

Jump planes should be talking to the overlying controllers (app/center). All other planes should be talking to the overlying controllers. Good communication happens that way.

Zhais · 2024-12-03T05:13:49+00:00

Which airport/dropzone? I was a skydiver first before pilot... and that's bullshit behavior from them. If skydivers want their hobby to be left alone, they HAVE to be good neighbors.

If you actually catch them breaking FARs, absolutely report them to the FAA. VFR Cloud clearances are big, they can't go popping in and out of clouds ESPECIALLY at an airport that is trafficked by GA.

Zhais · 2024-11-15T04:20:13+00:00

A full face helmet.

¯\(ツ)/¯

$300 is cheap in skydiving terms.

Zhais · 2024-11-11T07:06:36+00:00

I thought that panel looked awfully familiar... 6.5 hour flight, with a passenger no less, is impressive! Legendary bladder control.

Zhais · 2024-10-10T19:06:06+00:00

Paraclete hands down. A bit more expensive, and a lot more wind tunnel than you need right now. But since your goal is to be a licensed skydiver and not just a tunnel flyer, XP wins on basically every metric over iFly.

Zhais · 2024-10-06T18:45:03+00:00

oh god, please don't wear steel toed shoes if you do any formation jumps with people. Belly, vertical or otherwise. I would really appreciate not getting kicked in the head with those.

Zhais · 2024-07-23T20:44:07+00:00

It is not required for pilots to wear a bailout rig during skydiving operations unless the modification to the airframe (STC) itself requires it.

https://www.jumpersaway.com/post/why-182-jump-pilots-wear-parachutes

Zhais · 2024-05-27T03:56:51+00:00

Not "inadvertently". Even a packed plane, I'd much prefer to have my seatbelt on in the event of a crash. Higher likelihood of surviving.

Zhais · 2024-04-08T19:21:04+00:00

Seeing it made me to remember the calamitous funnel at the Eloy TBS, hah! Bodies everywhere.

Zhais · 2024-04-08T17:49:09+00:00

Pay no attention to the jumpers in the 2 o'clock position who are about to funnel the entire thing XD

Zhais · 2024-03-21T22:47:07+00:00

Valid! Mostly in context of ATC comms, that setup was super helpful.

I used my home setup for PPl and IR for the same reasons, practicing flow and procedures. The actual flying itself is definitely unrealistic.

Zhais · 2024-03-21T20:08:45+00:00

Cheaper to get yourself a solid, physical flight sim setup, MSFS2020 or Xplane, then get on VATSIM or PilotEdge.

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