DougH 270 #1 January 11, 2007 I have a new pilot chute and deployment bag compliments of Karl @ Aerodyne. (Great service btw). And a recent bag lock that another jumper had while was competing in collegiates got me thinking, if the dbag is black, the pilot chute and hackey are also dark, you are going to have a hell of a time finding it all after a cutaway. Has any one ever though about having a rigger sew some high visibility fabric onto the bag itself? I was thinking a thin safety orange fabric, or maybe some of the 3m luminescent fabric. Thoughts, concerns?"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #2 January 11, 2007 Reminds me of a similar experience 25 years ago. I suffered a bag-lock and had to cutaway. We spent the rest of the afternoon searching - among young trees, near the river - for an emerald green pilot chute and jade green d-bag. Fat wiser to order a garishly-ugly, neon-orange pilot chute and a d-bag in the ugliest shade of neon yellow. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ms.sofaking 0 #3 January 11, 2007 I wasn't even thinking of that while stuffing my canopy with a green pilot chute into the black d-bag of my first rig.Good point."I'm not sure how it's going to turn out, except I'll die in the end, she said. So what could really go wrong? -----Brian Andreas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nitrochute 2 #4 January 11, 2007 as someone who grew up in the sport( and as a kid hunted down hundreds of cutaway canopies and other miscellania) it would be a great help if the d bag were a brite color. however,nothing beats having someone eyeball it all the way to the ground and perhaps take a compass bearing on the canopy just as it touches down.then just walk straight to it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaerodyne 0 #5 January 11, 2007 QuoteI have a new pilot chute and deployment bag compliments of Karl @ Aerodyne. (Great service btw). Doug As much as I would like to take all the credit, I have to say it's the entire Aerodyne Family that allows us to offer good customer service to you and fellow jumpers who choose to FlyAerodyne. Blue Skies Karl Meyer Sales Representative Aerodyne Research Office: 1 813 891 6300 Mobile: 1 813 841 2149 karl@flyaerodyne.com www.flyaerodyne.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #6 January 11, 2007 Quoteit would be a great help if the d bag were a brite color. however,nothing beats having someone eyeball it all the way to the ground then just walk straight to it. Ding ding ding! In the "old days" we looked out for each other's gear, and someone would follow it down, retrieve it, and hike it out. The favor would be returned to you some day. Nowadays, everyone is afraid to land off-airport, and says "to hell with it" to other people's gear. You reap what you sow. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ripcord4 0 #7 January 11, 2007 AMEN, John! I have several times landed 'waaay out chasing someone's sleeve ( I'm dating myself here), d-bag, canopy, etc. Now it's everyone for himself and the Devil take the hindmost, I guess. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ms.sofaking 0 #8 January 11, 2007 I thought it still was common practice.Or is that just because I learned from someone with 25 years in the sport?At this point, with me struggling with canopy skills, I probably wouldn't follow a d-bag.But, once I'm more comfortable under canopy I most certainly would.That's just common courtesy.I still think a bright color would be helpful."I'm not sure how it's going to turn out, except I'll die in the end, she said. So what could really go wrong? -----Brian Andreas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MagicGuy 0 #9 January 11, 2007 Glad you (finally) got that PC, Doug It does seem to make more sense to have a brightly colored D-Bag. I don't know if a rigger could alter the bag, though. I don't know if riggers can make alterations to the components of the container. I wonder why they aren't made in bright colors? I've seen bright pilot chutes, but the bags are always dark. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #10 January 11, 2007 QuoteI thought it still was common practice.Or is that just because I learned from someone with 25 years in the sport?At this point, with me struggling with canopy skills, I probably wouldn't follow a d-bag.But, once I'm more comfortable under canopy I most certainly would.That's just common courtesy.I still think a bright color would be helpful. I'm glad to hear that "watching out for other's gear" is still being taught in some places. Leave the act of intentionally landing off-airport to those with more experience, for now. Having an orange deployment bag makes a lot of sense. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ms.sofaking 0 #11 January 12, 2007 Sometimes the basics of camaraderie that have been instilled in me, I don't always see here.I don't know if it is seen more with experience or smaller DZs."I'm not sure how it's going to turn out, except I'll die in the end, she said. So what could really go wrong? -----Brian Andreas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ncfitzge 0 #12 January 12, 2007 Better yet, I want to connect a micro transmitter on them hehe. When it separates it would pull a little piece of plastic between the transmitter and battery.#148 Sonic Scrat "Have you ever kissed a rabbit between the eyes?" Woodpecker pulling out his pants pockets to the waitress Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #13 January 12, 2007 That sort of canopy-locator electronic gadget is already available via George Galloway at Precision Aerodynamics and several other leading parachute manufacturers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #14 January 12, 2007 QuoteThat sort of canopy-locator electronic gadget is already available via George Galloway at Precision Aerodynamics and several other leading parachute manufacturers. $$$$$$$$$$$ Perfectly in the range of a large dz like eloy to purchase the reciever, but for a smaller dz I don't think it would be cost effective. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chrisky 2 #15 January 12, 2007 I paid a little extra to have my Main PC, main bridle, reserve PC and freebag in bright neon yellow (custom color). After all, the only time you see them is the time when you also want everybody else to see them easily. Rob also hinted me to writing a "Return to airfield for reward + my name" on the freebag bridle. I designed my canopy colors so that they'd be visible under pretty much any visual conditions. I used to jump at a DZ basically IN the forest where searching cutaways was a must team effort (Spa/B).The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jkbernstein 1 #16 January 12, 2007 This is not an intent to hijack, just a cool little tangential anecdote: One of the dz's where I jump shares the airport with a helicopter flight school. Recently, there was a tandem cutaway. I tried to keep my eyes on both the freebag and the main, but ended up diverting my attention - and breaking into a sprint - toward just the main when I realized it was headed for the runway. It landed just shy of the tarmac (whew). As I was gathering it up, a helicopter flew over and hovered near me. I looked up; the instructor was holding the free bag and pilot chute! I gave him a big grin and a thumbs-up. He flew back to the landing area and dropped the stuff off at manifest. Very cool. Okay, sorry for the tangent - as you were... BTW, Dougie, after all you spent getting a jumpsuit that matches your rig, don't you think you ought to stick with the same color scheme? I think you should get a bright purple D-bag, and a green pilot chute. May the (relative) wind take your troubles away... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
