Leaderboard

Pfft. The professor recently admitted that he taught quantum 'stuff'. Quantum is the study of really small stuff. Nano particles are really small stuff. Coincidence? I think NOT!!!!!

While there might be a bit of difference in the toggle pressure (and thus the force required to flare it) between a larger and smaller canopy, the difference is fairly minimal. In my experience, different canopy types can vary more in the required toggle pressure than a step down in size will generate. In general, I would recommend against downsizing. It's overrated, especially to 'solve' landing issues. The effect of small errors in asymmetry is magnified when you are under smaller canopies, and doing it right is a matter of technique much more than force. If it's an issue that pops up only after ~5 jumps that day, and combined with general body fatigue, it might be your body saying that it's been enough for today. Listen to it, you won't get hurt by not doing the final jump of the day. (Or plan ahead if someone is organizing an awesome sunset jump, and take a breather in the middle of the day).

I still give students a "complete" score if they pull the dummy handle during line-stretch. I emphasis that the goal is pulling the handle DESPITE distractions like deployment.

Absolutely. And I think it's a fair argument that the reason our allies get by spending so little is owing to our spending way too much. That we did to ourselves, no doubt about it.

I like to grab and peel red before swinging my eyes to look at silver. Then I keep my eyes on silver as I pull red. Toss red. # Put both hands on silver and pull silver to full arms' extension. Resume arch. Look over shoulder to confirm that reserve pilot-chute is leaving. Footnote# I teach students to toss red to confirm that they have pulled it to full arms' extension. The only difference with my personal gear is hanging onto red. With tandems, I just toss handles with gay abandon until I have a landable canopy overhead. The School can worry about replacement handles.