How does this Complete System Sound

[markovwgti 0]

I put up a post in the container classifieds that i need a complete system for a beginner, and that im 6 feet tall and weigh 185 pounds, I just got this email today how does this sound>

Comments => Have a PERFECT rig for you,
Dolphin D-3, Safire 210, Tempo 210, all GREAT condition and Main has
BRAND NEW lineset.
Kill Line p/c, kill line slider, Cypres ready, 0 rides on reserve, I
keep this rig CLEAN and WELL taken care of (it's an Airborne thing) and
have BUNCHES of pics for you if interested...
1800 bucks U.S. and it's sold...

[billvon 3,116]

I can't comment on its suitability for you, since I don't know your skill set/experience/size. Someone who jumps with you would be a better choice, and you will be the best judge on how well it fits. But in general:

>Dolphin D-3

The Dolphin is a low-end rig, but it's built well and I have had no problems with it. I'd ask to see whether it has tuck tabs or snaps; the snaps are a bit of a bother. I had one for about a year and liked it.

>Safire 210

I would tend to stay away from the Safire. I had an earlier Safire 1 that didn't flare well until I modified the brake lines. Safire 2's do not have this problem and fly quite well. If the "new lineset" has the brakeline mod I'd consider this, but otherwise not.

>Tempo 210

A decent reserve.

[brits17 0]

Hi,
The date of manufacture on the Dolphin would be helpful, to see if its velcro, riser snaps, or tuck tabs. Also make sure the BOC spandex is nice and tight. If you're planning on doing anything other than RW, then you need tuck tabs. The velcro can also be replaced by the manufacturer.
You should also find out how many jumps are on the main.

Overall, sounds ok thus far. Don't compromise safety for price :)

_______________________
aerialkinetics.com

[riggerrob 643]

Funny, I jumped a couple of Safire Is, and both flared fine.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Safire I-149, but the 129 was too fast for me.

[billvon 3,116]

> Funny, I jumped a couple of Safire Is, and both flared fine.

I had a 129 that I didn't like one bit. Then I got Derek's line mod put on and it made a world of difference. (I think that was back when a 129 was really a 119.)

[Loonix 0]

I'd say you borrow it for a while, let a rigger have a look at it, test-jump it, and then decide. If this is possible, of course.

[bwilling 0]

Quote

The date of manufacture on the Dolphin would be helpful, to see if its velcro, riser snaps, or tuck tabs.

Keep in mind that Mike Fury will update the older models to the newer design, including full length tuck tab riser covers! It's not cheap, but it is an option!

I've seen some of the older Dolphins (in great shape!) go dirt cheap, so spending a few hundred dollars to update them is a pretty reasonable option... and you'll get great service from Altico!

Edited to add that those canopies will be tight as shit in a D-3! I had a Sabre 210 in a D-4, and that's a much better fit. The D-3 is sized for a 190 main and a 170 reserve!

"If all you ever do is all you ever did, then all you'll ever get is all you ever got."

[Tonto 1]

I have a Safire 1 119 that's really a 109. It's one of the finest canopies I've ever jumped, and it easily outswoops my Stilleto 107.

(But I think we've had this conversation before..)

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[icevideot 0]

I think one needs to be careful of buying something cheap and then spending a lot on it to make it acceptable. When it comes time to sell the value often doesn't reflect the investment. Just my opinion but try to find something acceptable as is. If you end up needing to reline the main it will add another $200 to $300 but that should be about it.

"... this ain't a Nerf world."

[bch7773 0]

find out jump numbers on main and container

MB 3528, RB 1182

[pastramionrye7 0]

I'm hardly an expert, but I have some experience with a larger-sized Safire 1 that I can share. I've put about 200 jumps on a Safire 1 195 (DOM Aug 2001) loaded a little under 1:1, and I'm very happy with the canopy. It opens smoothly without burning up too much altitude (normally about 600 feet for me, although it can be hard to estimate). It flies nice, it has good glide, it's predictable, and it puts me down softly, even on days with light wind or no wind. The flare is adequate, but depending on brake settings, riser length, your arm length, and some other variables you may have to go to full arm extension to get all the flare out of the canopy. Experienced jumpers have noted that the Safire 1 has a deep flare, and this has been the case in my experience. By now I've landed my Safire crosswind, downwind, and off field without any trouble. At my wing loading it also flies straight with 720 degrees of linetwists (I can't comment on what it does with any more linetwists because *knock on wood* I haven't experienced more than two complete rotations). It even behaved nicely during my first few packjobs, not all of which were neat. I will happily keep my Safire 1 for many more jumps.

Of course, as others have recommended, talk to someone who knows what your canopy control skills are like before deciding on a main and reserve, and make sure you follow a sensible progression if you're downsizing to your new gear.

You can also do a search, as many aspects of the Safire 1--including its flare, possible modifications, and the characteristics of the vectran lineset (if this particular Safire has a vectran lineset)--have been discussed a lot in the past.

I recently put 6 jumps on a Safire 2 169, and--among other changes--the flare is definitely improved, but that's also been discussed in other places quite a bit.

[riggerrob 643]

During the 2001 PIA Symposium, Icarus announced that they were changing from the PIA canopy measuring system to that used by Performance Designs.
So that an old 129 measured more like 119 under the new system.
Since then, Atair (Cobalt) and Aerodyne have adopted PD's canopy measuring system.