First used rig after AFF

[eightate8at8 0]

Is buying a used Mirage RTS that was previously used for AFF students a decent idea? Pros cons?

[mrbiceps 0]

As long as its in good condition then i dont see a problem. I can see a possible issue regarding the size of the main tray as aff students usually jump big parachutes and this may effect the size of the canopy that it can take for when u downsize in the future.

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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Is buying a used Mirage RTS that was previously used for AFF students a decent idea? Pros cons?

At many DZs it'll be bigger than you want unless you're interested in classic accuracy which calls for larger parachutes or you're a larger person.

How big are you?

What canopies is it sized for?

Are there any special circumstances we should know about, like a missing leg that keeps you from walking on landing, a desire to get into BASE jumping as soon as you meet the requirements for a first jump course, or trying to get on your universities' skydiving team which jumps into the football games?

[councilman24 37]

Student gear is usually pretty beat up. Should be relatively cheap.

Student gear is also often NOT ZP canopies. Non-ZP canopies have a definant life. If the canopy has 600, 600, 800 jumps it's probably close to dead. (The fabric becomes more porous, more air goes through the fabric and the canopy doesn't give as much lift.)

It may have some special adaptations that you don't want on your personal rig. (Cutaway PC pouch, etc.

Remember it's sized for someone's FIRST jump. It's likely too big even now and certainly soon. Not that you have to downsize at all but to really progress into the sport, which includes canopy flying even if your just landing from fun freefall, you would probably want something smaller.

All of this is without knowing the equipment size and type or your size. And assuming you buying a whole rig.

Why are they selling it? Upgrading to better equipment. Or is it worn out? Or downsizing student program and have too many rigs. If it was still good for students or had much life in it they probably wouldn't be selling it.

Only a couple of people bought old student rigs from our old DZ. And that was when the DZO decided they were worn enough to replace them. The really never served the people that bought them very well or very long.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[eightate8at8 0]

Thanks for the replies.

A quick bit about me.. I'm 5' 11'' and I'm a beanpole at only 135. Yep, I started on a navigator 200, then moved to a sabre 2 190, now I'm on a sabre 2 170. Within the next few weeks I might be on the next lower, not knowing my canopies is this a 150?

They aren't beat up, the DZ takes real good care of them, and like some of you had mentioned I don't believe canopy size will be a problem as they have a 170, 150, etc.. not all 200's. Also, I haven't learned much about ZP fabric or whatnot but sabre 2's are ZP aren't they?

The DZ also buys new student equipment every 1-3 years. So nothing is that old.

What exactly is a 'cutaway PC pouch'? Is that worded wrong or?

[AllisonH 0]

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What exactly is a 'cutaway PC pouch'? Is that worded wrong or?

It means that the pouch the pilot chute goes into has a cutaway system on the left side (the side opposite your pilot chute handle) to allow a reserve side AFF instructor to deploy the student's main canopy.

[eightate8at8 0]

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What exactly is a 'cutaway PC pouch'? Is that worded wrong or?

It means that the pouch the pilot chute goes into has a cutaway system on the left side (the side opposite your pilot chute handle) to allow a reserve side AFF instructor to deploy the student's main canopy.

Ah gotcha, never heard of that. These RTS's don't have those..