rickfri59

I found the discussion you referred me to. Looks like I'll save the $ 100 and put it towards a FF rig. Thanks

Does anyone know how dated a Mirage M2 is? I've on;y seen Mirage containers with a "G" designation (G3, G4). Would this be a good FF rig?

Great link. Thanks !!

How long have the Super Otters been in service since? Is it a late 50's machine, 60's etc.? Is it a plane that's been in continous production? Do they have other popular uses other than sprinkling people across the sky?

Let's say a jump ticket to 13,500 from a Super Otter costs $20 (US Dollars). Generally speaking, how is the $20 allocated? Does a set amount go to the plane (owner or leasing company) per slot. I'm assuming the planes are leased (right/wrong). And does the DZ make the majority of it's money on the fun jumpers or Tandem/AFF? During my AFF I had plenty of standing around time waiting for the weather to cooperate. My education being Accounting and Business Administration, I found this to be a very interesting looking business. Looked like great cash operation. Do the owners life day-to-day, meal-to-meal, or are they (the seasonal DZ's) able to spend winters laying on a tropical beach?

Gotta' love my Z1. Big bucks, but it's warm (I jump in Maine) and quiet. I've read about all the complaints regarding the liner coming loose, so I really baby mine by not ripping it on or off. I got it right off of student status and have 13 jumps with it.

I spoke to a Rigger about the possibility of making a Vector 2 freefly friendly. He said for $ 100 the ricer covers would be made bigger, beefier velcro would be used, elastic fabric would be added to keep the main pin flap closed, and an additional flap to cover exposed bridle would be added. Claims he's done a few dozen of these mods and hasn't had any issues. Anybody have experience with making the V2 a freeflyer?

I'm sure I'M not the first to pull this blunder......... On AFF #3 I took position in the door of the Otter, and bailed. Was concentrating so hard I forgot to check in/out, and didn't do the out/in/out swing. Furtunately the JM's have a firm hold of students whenever there's movement in the plane. They also went out the door unexpectedly. The rest of the dive rocked.

If Skyslut is the same instructor who helped me through AFF this summer at SDNE (BW?), he's walkin' the talk. Definitly helps to calm the student nerves when the instructor isn't in fast forward mode with the rest of the DZ on a very busy weekend. I complemented this guy several times for taking the extra time to explain things way beyond what was necessary for my understanding. Kind'a like asking someone for the time, and they tell you how a watch is made. But it made me feel good and calmed me down a couple notches. I felt good getting debriefed by this guy because I always had his undivided attention the whole time. I'm not saying I ever felt I was ever in the hands of any instructor at the DZ who comprimised safety, but runnung at high speed from student to student creates more anxiety, when the goal is to get the student to relax (or at least try). Taking the extra time makes a big impression on a student (customer). This goes for the rest of the DZ Staff. How about those Packers, getting paid by the job, who would stop what they were doing to help me out while learning to get the big mess into the tiny little bag. Skyslut is right on.... Slow down, spend the extra time, make a BIG POSITIVE impression. It's all about exceptional customer service, and RETURN customers.

Anybody know if the riser covers on a vector 2 ( mfr date 5/95) can be converted from velcro to tuck tabs? And what can be done to bolster a marginally secure main closing flap? I want to progress to freefly this coming summer. I got a pretty good deal on the rig and would rather not have to replace it.