Tandem systems

[aerialcameraman 0]

I just seen a NExt tandem system with all PD canopies in it. Was the NExt tandem system TSOed in the USA and if so What cross training do you need?

[diablopilot 2]

I can't find anything saying it has been TSO'd on Paratec's website, but it should say somewhere on the container.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[IanHarrop 42]

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I can't find anything saying it has been TSO'd on Paratec's website, but it should say somewhere on the container.

The NEXT manual says this:

"Operation Limitations
The NEXT Family of Harness / Container System has been certified
under ETSO C23d issued by the Luftfahrt Bundesamt LBA as a
member of the European Aviation and Safety Authority and under
the US FAA TSO C23d
CERTIFICATION NR.: LBA.O.40.014/06 ETSO
FAA design approval No : CB/vk/04/03:0056-03"

Look under Forms in the top menu bar and click on Manuals

"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy

[aerialcameraman 0]

Anyone in this foum jumped one of these tandem rigs and if so how did you like it?

[AggieDave 6]

What PD canopies? Are you talking about the formerly known as RWS canopies made by PD or have I missed something?

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[rhys 0]

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Anyone in this foum jumped one of these tandem rigs and if so how did you like it?

I have jumped a Next tandem quite a few times.

They are a nice looking rig, basicly a vectro 2 copy but with various improvements.

There is basicly no velcro, the harness is comfortable and not as wide on the shoulders.

The downside was the 3 ring placement (same as vecotr 2) which gives you that head down type position.

I would prefer a next over a vector 2 but a sigma anyday.

I am jumping strong at the moment but would probably prefer Next over strong but that is a hard decision.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[livendive 8]

It sounds like an Eclipse. Do the riser covers slap the shit out of your ears? And what's the student harness like...similar to the old vector 2 harness or more like the sigma harness? Cuz if the latter, well, I'd sure like to be able to jump sigma student harnesses with eclipse rigs.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[rhys 0]

I have never seen an eclipse.

I have heard they are very similar though.

The riser covers don't slap you in the ears on the next.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[riggerrob 643]

I have jumped a Next tandem quite a few times.

They are a nice looking rig, basicly a Vector 2 copy but with various improvements.

... not as wide on the shoulders.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

How wide is a NEXT Tandem - across the top of the reserve container?

How wide is an Eclipse Tandem - across the top of the reserve container?

[camamel 0]

Why anybody could want a tandem copy when you can buy the best and safest rig out there with the latest technology...the Sigma. I am buying some of those each winter since couples years and I always have them delivered on schedule.
Why chosing something else?
I am in the tandem business since the beginning in 1985 and I still don't understand why people,probably to save a few bucks I can't see anything else , are willing to go back with an old technology that have been improve since.
In my early years back in 75, some of our friends died because rigs,mains,reserves,opening and cut away systems were something new and no factory team back then.
So why going backward now when we finally have something like the Sigma?

Richard

When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

[rhys 0]

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How wide is a NEXT Tandem - across the top of the reserve container?

How wide is an Eclipse Tandem - across the top of the reserve container?

The Next is reasonably narrow across the top of the reserve container, It looks more like a student rig than a tandem. It was very tight with icarus 364 mains in it and eventualy burst a seam because the stupid packers put an EZ 384 in it.

A very comfortable system and much safer than a vector 2.

I agree that sigmas are a better system but the origonal sigma is far too wide IMO. the sigma micro however is a different story.

I have never seen an eclipse.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[riggerrob 643]

Exactly how wide (in inches or centimeters) is a NEXT Tandem across the top edge of the reserve container?

[diablopilot 2]

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A very comfortable system and much safer than a vector 2.

Not arguing your point, I just don't know much at all about the NEXT tandem system. Can you tell me what makes the above statement so, specifically the bit in bold?

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[livendive 8]

Imagine a weekend-only school with a 6 month season. How long do you think it would take them to break even on a half dozen new Sigma rigs? I'm guessing about 4 times as long as the same number of used Vector 2 rigs. I don't consider that saving "a few bucks", so much as making something economically feasible that wouldn't otherwise be.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[camamel 0]

At my place we jump only 5 months a year,3 of them full time. If you have enough volume for 6 tandems rigs(thats a lot) you should be able to renew yours rigs one at the time.
I think it is important to follow the market. A few years ago it was still possible to have some good money for a used V2. Then you can use that money to buy a new Sigma who was only a few buck more then a new V2.
Your rigs won't last for ever. If you maintain those well then eventually,on the long run, it will cost you more to keep it then to buy new ones. If you don't maintain them you'll run into trouble for sure and end up with something that has no value.
I think there is still a market for used V2 in south America.
Last October I sold 4 complete Sigma rigs for an average of $7000 each. With those huge DZ around we should see more and more used Sigmas on the market soon.

Richard

When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

[rhys 0]

The Vector 2 has lots of velcro. You could argue that velcro should be replaced etc. but too often it is not.

The handles are in a fixed position on the Next without the huge length of hard housing floating around everywhere (as seen on the vector 2's with two drogue releases)and the system is much narrower which makes it much less susceptable to snagging handles etc. on the way to the door in tight aircraft such as narrow body 182's etc.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[diablopilot 2]

Thank you!

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[feuergnom 29]

the whole arguement, that only bill booth has all the innovations in the industry and everybody else out there is just copying them and therefore other gear just plain sucks tends to get boring

one could argue, that the design of the sigma system is just an answer to inherent design flaws in vector 2 systems

The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle

dudeist skydiver # 666

[AggieDave 6]

I wouldn't disagree with you except for the fact that the Sigma is the only system out there that has addressed some serious design issues with the prior design generation. Strong doesn't have anything that compares, Racer isn't even close and the other systems I've personally seen were basically Vector clones so its all the same.

People can talk about velcro vs no tucktabs on systems, but it still comes down to drogue system, the reserve/RSL system and the simplicity of the intergraded collins lanyard in the Sigma.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[feuergnom 29]

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wouldn't disagree with you except for the fact that the Sigma is the only system out there that has addressed some serious design issues with the prior design generation.

i do not question this

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Strong doesn't have anything that compares,

i guess ted strongs philosophy on this one is: never change a system that has prooved to work.

i agree, that strongs don't look neat and tidy and when it comes to comfort, there is definitely room for improvement. but the value of a gear or design can't be measured by appearance

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and the other systems I've personally seen were basically Vector clones so its all the same

yep. nothing to add here

The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle

dudeist skydiver # 666

[camamel 0]

I never said that Bill Booth have all the innovations in the tandem market. I was doing tandems back in 1985 and never stop since so I saw all the évolution.
If Bill is not responsible for all of them he is for most of them...and the most important one's, the safety one's.
A rig is not safer because he has no velcro,look better or is more comfortable. But the Sigma have all of them anyway!
All the tandem system in the world have,from what I know, a three ring system to release their drogue. When first Bill introduce the three ring it was for a cut away purpose only.
Some tandems pair kill themself after an unstable cut away in the pass now with the skyhook this is history with the Sigma.I did chop a few times in the past and once with the skyhook so I can tell this is a huge safety improvement.
Yes I think the Sigma is there to replace the inherent designs flaws of the old Vector 2. But except for the look, comfort and velcros, most of the tandems systems on the planet are quiet like the V2.

Richard

When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.