Skydiving rig for my BASE canopy

[jdatc 0]

Hi all.

I have a spot in late may in the apex base course and have ordered some new gear.

One of the things I am looking to do is to put some skydives on my BASE canopy. Since my Mirage is too small to fit it, I figured I'd probably just rent a student rig at the dropzone a few times and make some jumps...

But then today I saw this on ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Complete-Skydiving-Rig-Parachute_W0QQitemZ7222539914QQcategoryZ106980QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I was wondering if it was worthwhile to buy? I figure for the price it's worth while to keep around...

My Base canopy is a rock dragon 266 withVTEC...


Thanks all

-Justin

[skyflyingbecca 0]

There are a lot of great points by MUCH more experienced people than myself in another thread in this forum. You can find at: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2109154

I am not an experienced BASE jumper or a professional but would like to share some thoughts from my limited experience.

Consider the option of getting a smaller 7 cell F-111 that will fit into your Mirage. Depending on how big or small you go, you might not be able to take it to terminal, but it will help familiarize you with the way those types of canopy designs fly and flare. You could use that rental for a couple jumps on your BASE canopy, but you'll probably end up not wanting to put too much airtime & wear on your RockDragon, however that could vary depending on a lot of factors, your dedication, local scene and personal desires/habits. If you invest in extra risers it will be very quick to swap canopies if needed.

I am in the same position and just bought a Cruiselight 220 for $100. I coincidently have a Mirage M5 and yours is probably an M5 or M6, right? Well, the cruiselight fits in there fine, and I will be jumping it with my wingsuit shortly.

That was my decision, for my own personal situation, but read the other thread and come to your own conclusion.

Extra costs:
1. Keep in mind the repack you will have to pay for every 4 months. Or maybe less, whenever you feel like pulling out this puppy.
2. A rigger will have the final say on the air-worthiness, they could say the reserve canopy is too old to repack, it is their call.
3. It could possibly be difficult or more expensive (locale dependant) to have a round repacked because they are less common maybe? (ask your rigger, I have no idea, just a thought)
4. If you have to use this reserve once, the components could wear past the point where the rigger will agree to repack, potentially costing a lot of money in extra parts.

Price:
1. This rig is already a BOC=good.
2. The Manta alone could be worth +/- $200 depending on it's condition, I was recently in the market and that seemed average.
3. I believe the Sweethogs are pretty popular and you still see them, they are tough and sturdy and will last. be careful with the B-12 snaps though.
4. The AAD is probably not worth much if anything, in my personal and probably soon to be flamed opinion.
5. Notice in one pic, the closing flap grommets do not come close to lining up no less touching each other. The Manta might be too big for this rig to take terminal in my opinion, but if you are only going to do BASE canopy hopnpops, that's not an issue. Plus your Base canopy is smaller than this Manta so it might pack smaller. The Manta is 9 cells anyway, so not much use for you to jump, 9 cell dimensions are diff. and fly and land differently than 7 cells.
6. The system pictured isn't the exact one you will be getting, so ensure you get the right pics before you buy.

If you do end up wanting to buy an extra rig, as far as this particular one goes, it seems like a fair deal, as long as you don't mind having an extra rig hanging around the house. I think it's a good thing, you never know when you might need it.

Collecting extra gear can develop into a habit though, and I was up to 4 rigs, 10 canopies and 3 wingsuits at one point, but thankfully sold a few recently.

My related exerience FYI - I had a Talon back when I was new to skydiving and I spent a lot of money on converting it to BOC from ROL and made it "modern" AAD-compatible. I was not a license holder and was required to have an AAD.
On my 28th jump, before I was packing regularly, a local dz bum(no mo Mo!) was helping the packers and his 50 jump wonder self knotted up the pc and bridle and shoved the whole mess into the brand-spankin' new tight spandex resulting in a hard pull. Three tries and I went silver, resulting in a very expensive jump.
I was told the RSV PV needed replacement and that was about $300 due to its age and some other factors I don't recall at the moment. Sorry for being so long-winded

"I know it's friday night, but come on. Surely there's something better to do than yell at people on the internet?" - Tom A.

[blitzkrieg 0]

just put your BASE rig on underneath your skydiving rig... pack your BASE canopy into a trash bag (slider up of course), hop out with your back to the relative wind and toss the bag. i can neither confirm nor deny that i've seen this done. sorry for the litter.

[jdatc 0]

Thanks for your reply.

Since I already have the canopy (I bought one from their stock list and it should be here soon), I'm not really looking to buy a similar type of 7 cell canopy to skydive on... This rig would be just for some hop & pops on my Rock Dragon....

I want to get real familiar with the canopy I am going to be using for base jumping....

Yeah, as for the AAD on the rig, well, if I decide to get it, it would come right off... could make a fun science type experiment with it I imagine though...

More-so I was just curious what most thought of the rig... Is it worth it to buy just for nothing more than hop & pops on my base canopy...

Thanks for your opinion and experiences...

4 rigs, 10 canopies and 3 wingsuits?!!? wow, I thought I collected a lot of sporting equipment....

Thanks again... Off to work I go...

decisions, decisions...

[TomAiello 26]

Quote

just put your BASE rig on underneath your skydiving rig... pack your BASE canopy into a trash bag (slider up of course), hop out with your back to the relative wind and toss the bag. i can neither confirm nor deny that i've seen this done. sorry for the litter.

Actually, this sounds like a pretty good idea. You don't even really need the trash bag--just pack up a SmartTARD and you're good to go.

Lots of advantages to this setup: it's legal, you get to have solid skydiving gear as a backup, and you can still cut your BASE canopy away. You might have to get a new cutaway handle (with a handle) depending on your gear.

I've also seen "unpacked" BASE rigs (i.e. just the harness with the 3 rings, and no container) that would be ideal for this (or for intentional BASE cutaways).

I'd probably use a sail slider, and direct control, to help stage the deployment and make it nicer from an airplane.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[riggerrob 643]

Most old student rigs are large enough to accommodate BASE mains and allow you to practice LEGALLY from airplanes.

As to the rig in question: Sweethogs used to be popular for student containers. Now, the real question is how many times students used and abused the container by dragging it through the weeds, etc. Only your local rigger can answer that question.

That round reserve might be a problem because few young riggers CAR about round reserves, much less remember how to pack them. Replacing it with a square reserve might require some sewing and will definitely require you to buy a freebag.

The Mk 2000 AAD is a hopeless antique. Try asking your local Master Rigger how much he will charge to sew in a modern electronic AAD (Cypres or Vigil).

[VictorSuvorov 0]

This is brilliant! i will try it on safety day!
on the second thought, why not just cut the main and hook up the base canopy instead? the rest is the same.

[blitzkrieg 0]

yah, you could do it either way... but i figured since you're slightly more likely to have a malfunction... it's easier and less expensive to cutaway your BASE canopy and throw out another skydiving main, rather than cause an unnecessary reserve repack.

also, a bag just helps make sure nothing gets away from you on the ride up. pre-mature exits are a bi-otch!

also - intentional cutaways when you're bored.

[waltappel 1]

Quote

just put your BASE rig on underneath your skydiving rig... pack your BASE canopy into a trash bag (slider up of course), hop out with your back to the relative wind and toss the bag. i can neither confirm nor deny that i've seen this done. sorry for the litter.

I've done it, but it was with a round canopy. I haven't seen it done with a square, but I don't see any problem other than a whole lot of line twist maybe.

Walt

[hookitt 1]

That must have been pretty fun.

The trash bag is ok for kicks and would pretty much open on heading by putting it into the air on heading. Here's another good way usin the BASE harness under the skydiving rig idea.

-Take a standard deployment bag with inboard line stows and put a small handle on each side of it for ease of handling

-Sew a Pilot chute pouch on the bottom of the bag.

Pack the canopy up like normal into the deployment bag. and then carry it in front of you. Expose the cutaway handle to the outside of the BASE rig harness enough to grab it in case you need to or want to cutaway.

Just leave the airplane back to relative wind and throw the pilot chute and let go.

Have fun!

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[iwasinkheson68 0]

does anyone know if the BPA or any english DZs will let you jump with a base canopy? i've read a couple of threads talking about jumping ravens, furys and parafoils, which i guess could be a happy alternative, but ideally i'd like the practice on the real thing.

i don't know why, but the forum isn't letting me do any searches whatsoever today, so if i've missed the a thread that spells this out, sorry.

[Sean621 0]

the bpa will let you jump BASE canopies...subject to CCI approval...some dropzones will let you jump a BASE rig so long as you wear a chestmount reserve..you just have to ask..your jump numbers in my oppinion will exclude you from doing this at most uk dzs but you can try...however jumping the canopy in a suitable container shouldnt be an issue if you get a proper breifing.

[iwasinkheson68 0]

i haven't updated my profile in a while, i'm now around 180, which i guess still isn't enough, but i don't think i'd be too keen on jumping with a chestmounted reserve for a while even if they would let me, i'll keep my eye out for a container. thanks for your help dude.

[Faber 0]

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i figured since you're slightly more likely to have a malfunction... it's easier and less expensive to cutaway your BASE canopy and throw out another skydiving main, rather than cause an unnecessary reserve repack.

huh?
Just pack the BASE canopy as a main and jump it as so,theres no need to cut it away..
All you need to do is:
Get papers on your BASEcanopy(any rigger can do so)
cut the maincanopy from the skydive rig and BASe gear
Now simply attach your BASE canopy whith the 3 ring system
pack your "new" main as you usaly would for a skydive
go have fun..

I dont see why its more likely to get a mal on a BASEcanopy than on a skydive canopy..

Quote

intentional cutaways when you're bored.

you dont need to trash your BASE canopy(think if that babe lands in a tree)just to cutaway.. i would cut my skydive main foirst anyday(note as i skydive i borrow gear)

Stay safe
Stefan Faber

[Faber 0]

I have direct bagged myself out of a Cessna 182t whith out problems.
Wear the extra harness below a skydive harness,hold the d bag in your hands while exiting facing the way the plane flyes,the bag will be pulled out of your hands,how ever hold tight or your pilot might wont be happy if he gets a canopy into the tail..

i think my vid is out there somewere..
EDIT: the above jump were whith a round canopy

Stay safe
Stefan Faber

[blitzkrieg 0]

you just misunderstood me Faber...

not saying you'd be more likely to have a mal on a BASE canopy...

just morelikely on any canopy throwing it out from a trash bag.

the reason i would choose to do it like that... my 280ft canopy will not fit in my 120ft sized d-bag/container. and why the hell should i buy a whole 'nother rig just for that?

[blitzkrieg 0]

Quote

you dont need to trash your BASE canopy(think if that babe lands in a tree)just to cutaway..

i totally agree! i definitely would not jump a nice BASE canopy just to cut it away... that's what rounds are for!
just talking the setup in general.