riddler

Hey Beeron - nice avatar

Just wanted to say I checked out the weather report in Denver, and it looks like 70s all week and through the weekend. One of the local DZs is having a balloon and a turbine helicopter. I've got some coach jumps to do. One of my goals this year is to get 200 skydives, and I've only got 22 so far Gonna try to hit two DZs this weekend! Looks like spring is finally here. Skydiving weather directly ahead. Yeah to everyone. Life is good. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Generating money to help find a cure for cancer is a very noble sentiment. Eventually we will find a cure. But you should remind the organizers that many researchers have found links between alcohol consumption and breast cancer: http://imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news12.7.99.asp http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2445273.stm http://www.nelh.nhs.uk/hth/alcohol_breast_cancer.asp Maybe an ice-cream social would be a better way to raise money for this particular cause. Now, since every non-skydiving post I make seems to get me in trouble, I'm gonna run and hide. (sounds of Riddler running away)

Nice meeting you guys this weekend. JEannie and I will try to avoid bringing the wind with us next time. I was disappointed about only doing one jump, but it was a nice jump! Nice view over the bay

Although beer was created by God specifically for skydivers, it was really only released in Beta version for denizens of ancient egypt, and hadn't really gotten to other parts of the world where cave painting was popular because there was no beer. Of course, much beer was consumed by the egyptians, while figuring out a way to get enough altitude to actually skydive (the construction of the pyramids was a half-assed attempt at making a BASE platform), but it does explain why their paintings are far superior to other nomadic tribes of the time (that possessed no beer). *note - this post inspired by a great quantity of sushi and a large flask of Sake*

I should also point out that the rig had a regular (large) three-ring setup. My pics are of my own rig, which has only mini-rings. Large three-rings have less chance of getting caught up than minis?

I haven't ever seen a 160 - just 170 and 150. I looked on-line and see a few different manufacturers that offer 160 - triathalon, lightening, springo. But it might be hard to find a 160. Agree with others - collapsible slider is better for the lines, etc. I have a collapsible on my triathalon 190, and it doesn't make a noticeable difference in performance, but it's much quieter when collapsed. I also have a much nicer one on my Lotus 150 and it seems like I can feel a difference in performance, but that may just be a perception - I don't have any real way to measure it. I assume on a tiny canopy, it will make a noticeable difference in performance. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Take a look a the two pictures. The first (RSL_bottom_ring) shows the RSL improperly connected to the bottom ring of the three-ring system. My thinking is that this is definitely not a good idea. However, if accidently connected in this way, a cutaway would still be allowed. It's possible (I think) that the RSL ring could interfere with the release, but the chance is low. The second picture shows the RSL on the middle ring (the bottom ring of the actual riser). This is certainly trouble - if a cutaway happens with this configuration, the RSL connection band would wrap around the bottom ring, and not allow the riser to come off. If you're lucky, the band might break, but most likely, you will be suspended by your riser on this side. Any thoughts and/or opinions? The reason that I'm asking is that my coach evaluator had the RSL (intentionally) set on the bottom ring (the first picture), with the goal of my catching this problem and fixing it. I did catch it, but I told the student that it would still work. The evaluator felt that it would definitely prevent the cutaway. Obviously, my evaluator is correct about one thing - we need to let the student know that either configuration is bad - don't do it. But I would like to know - the first picture would most likely still allow a cutaway - correct?

Most of them make skydivers look like bad-boys. Let's see - dropzone; drugs, sorta, raids on FBI computers - terminal velocity; what was it? Gold smuggling and murder? - Gypsy Moths; death-defying (mostly) thrillseekers - Fandango was funny but you were left with the impression that you have about a 50-50 chance when you jump. I think the majority of the public can't relate to the excitement of actually jumping, so they have to make the story interesting with gangsters and fast cars. Personally, I'm disappointed that Hollywood can't take something as interesting as skydiving and turn it into a good story. You have equipment failures, near-misses with aircraft, tandem students that puke on you, broken planes, etc, etc. Seems ripe for a good story that's closer to the truth. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

As stupid as this movie was, and as poorly acted, I thought the story elements were probably more accurate than any other skydiving movie I've seen. There was the DZ operated on drug money (that NEVER happens ). Then there was the guy that quit his high-paying job as a lawyer to live at the DZ and jump. The kid that no one respected. Lots of elements that I recognized as a skydiver - not just the common media portrayal of our sport. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

*shameless bump* See you guys in Monterey! Anyone else going to Monterey or Santa Rosa this weekend?

http://www.skydivesantarosa.com/

Doesn't hurt to have two Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

My girlfriend and I will be in the bay area this weekend. We leave today and return Sunday. Saturday, we'll be at Monterey Bay. Look for the guy with bright blue hair and bright Voodoo rig. We'll be hanging with Jackie - the camera (now AFFI) girl. Sunday we'll be at her dad's dropzone in Santa Rosa. If you see me, stop by and say hi! Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Er - tomcat? Or is this a new name for an F-14 mod?

I chose this rig (used) specifically for the Lotus canopy, if that answers your question. It is a very nice canopy. Similar to Saber 2, and has airlocks. I believe in the theory of airlocks, but will reserve my judgement until I have a few hundred jumps and can experience it. Other than that, it opens wonderfully, handles nicely and lands like a dream. I also demod the Lotus 190. But I haven't flown a lot of other canopies - just Triathalon, Spectre, Saber, Navigator, Silouette, old PDs, a few others, so it's not fair for me to compare it to other nine-cells. Also - I don't do birdman, and I'm pretty sure that the previous owner did not. I am measuring from the base of the PC to the end of the black part of the bridle. If I also add in the length to the pin, it is more like 9'6", but I don't have the exact measurement. Can anyone think of any problems with having such a long bridle? Increased chance of main/reserve entanglement in a PC-in-tow scenario? More difficult to clear a horseshoe mal? Higher likelihood of dragging it through cow poop on the way back to the hanger?

I don't want to sound like I'm bragging or anything, but the bridle on my new rig is a whopping nine feet, 2 inches. I've never seen a bridle quite that long. The bridle on my other rig is about 6 feet. Anyone else think nine feet is unusually long? Main is a Lotus 150, container is a Voodoo.

You forgot customer service.

Your daughters are beautiful, Faber.

Has been posted, but we need more skydiving games. I'm not sure how well they translate to computer, but I'm sure someone could come up with creative ideas.

Err - bad joke. Not true. Snopes. Parody. Kind of funny, but not really. Sorry - didn't see your April Fools in white. Bad n2, BAD!! Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Any chance that would weaken the integrity of the riser? I'm thinking particularly of mini-risers, which are more likely to break under an extremely hard opening. Seems like punching holes in the riser for stitches would give it less tension strength.

Nice tip - my galaxy is pretty scratched up and I was thinking of ordering a new face, but I think I'll just wait for Rantoul

You forgot to add - preferably a Vector

I've only jumped at seven DZs , and all but one have this rule. For the six that do, the plane always flies the length of the runway (one way or the other). Big-ways (more than two) are given extra separation, since only two can track 90 degrees to runway. Does it work well? Hard for me to say, since I don't have a lot of experience with both systems. Separation seems to me to be the more important issue.