Alexg3265

Sounds like you're getting into a routine. If you feel comfortable with your present routine, after you point with risers where you wanna go, reach up and pull the drawstrings. All the way. Done. (It helps to pull them at the same time out to each side. Imagine grabbing them and pulling them apart. People seem to want to pull one using the other hand as a stop and then the other. Just something I've noticed.) Now you may continue as normal. Release brakes, check, ect. You can mess with it after, but it gets harder. I had to break myself of the habit of grabbing a ripping toggles as soon as I had a good canopy. If you have toggles, that means your in full flight or almost so you're going faster and that slider is gonna be flapping harder. Every reach and pull will be reflected by your canopy. Once you get comfortable collapsing it you can start stowing it. It was clumsy and a pain in the ass at first but then it becomes a non-event and routine. I jump a removable one now so it's even easier. Just rip it off and done. When I had a normal slider I'd dump, visually inspect the canopy while avoiding traffic and pointing where I want to go. Then collapse, stow, grab toggles and then undo my chest strap. I used to undo the chest strap before the toggles until I saw a few videos of people trying to find their handles with flopping harnesses. And I promised my wife. The reason I undo my chest strap after my toggles is because if for some reason the canopy looks good and you go to release the brakes and then something happens (knotted brake line or whatever) and I chop, then my harness will still be tight. You don't have to worry about that yet. The only reason I bring it up is to demonstrate a situation where safety is directly related to the order. I've collapsed my slider many times with toggles in my hands. It's just a bigger pain in the ass. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

I've flown both at the same loading. Get the sabre2. Longer recovery arc, steeper full flight glide. Not much, but noticeable. The Safire likes to pop up as soon as you get out of the turn. The sabre has a smoother transition. In my limited opinion. Safires openings were nicer overall, but I actually liked the flight of the sabre better. Risers seem about the same at first with a hair slower build up on the sabre. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

I agree with dvk. From a physics standpoint, the risers are linked by a single point, the three ring, so there's no messing with risers loading. Leaning forward decreases a little drag, but actually if you watch some good snoopers you'll see more of a swing effect with the canopy as the upper anchor point. They wind it up, and then in the corner and while planing out they swing forward. That small weight shift will push the whole harness back, using the whole System as a lever to tip the canopy ever so slightly forward arresting the recovery of the canopy and flattening it out. And then they swing back under it tipping the canopy up to land. Same thing kind with changing the recovery arc of a canopy by changing the line lengths. Longer lines =longer recovery arc (provided aoa and everything else identical.) It's a bigger swing and takes longer to get back under. I have no idea what I'm talking about but it sounds good. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

Collapsing your slider cuts down on noise and wear at the bottom of your lines where the grommets bounce around on the lines. Decreases drag and it opens up your view. If you go one step further and bring it down over your risers and behind your head, it allows your risers to spread, effectively giving you a canopy that actually acts larger. As your slider pulls in in the top of the risers it brings the edges down and in. This does 2 things, it directs the lift of the wing on the outer edges, onto a diagonal vector decreasing vertical lift(and flare) and shrinks the usable area because of the bend. The sides are essentially trying to fly away from each other giving you less up lift. The flatter you make the canopy, the more efficiently it flies and especially lands. As wing loading increases, the benefits become more and more evident. Someone loading at 1:1 or less may not notice any difference at all. Just as importantly, an experienced jumper with a lighter loading will notice it more than someone who's relatively new. If your comfortable with your post deployment procedures, then why not take a second (after you evaluate and clear your airspace) to collapse and maybe even stow your slider. It's done it's job, now it's just in the way. If you're planning on pulling your slider down over your risers, it's much easier if you do it before you release your brakes. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

Um, wow. Nice I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

Can't say where I heard it but I always liked the saying, "If the windsock looks like it has a hard on, someone's getting fucked" I drove 2 hours yesterday to hang out in the hangar and drink beer after 6 hours of clouds & wind. :( bad start to the workweek. I did watch 2 tandems get dragged and have to chop on the ground. Always entertaining...ish. I guess I opted for being on the ground, wishing to be in the sky, instead of the opposite. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

We could have made it back several times over. Yes he shouldnt have chopped it that high. He had a line over according to him. I'm sure the oh shit response happened and he just chopped it without thinking about his altitude. He had just completed his canopy course which consisted of a farther spot, so I guess nobody really thought it was that terrible of an idea. Give you an idea we found him and the main about a mile away. So from 9000' he drifted most of the way back. Yes he lost the free bag. He only did one jump this weekend apparently because his back was hurt. He came down hard under an old raven 218? Don't quote me on the 218. But coming in in deep brakes and then not doing a plf seemed to have hurt a little. He seemed fine last week but now his back hurts. After watching the dzo's reaction on video, my wife doesn't even want to jump there anymore. She's a little sensitive to that kind of stuff. I can understand the dzo's frustration at an almost certainly lost main, but hey at least pretend like you care if the student is ok. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

I got bored and made one, well like 12 actually. Sliders are annoying as fuck. Once it's done it's job I want it off. And it gives you a bigger looking package once you stuff it. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

Here's a 360 at the end of the video on a safire2 159 loaded at 1.3. The recovery arc was very short. Harder to dial in but it'll do the job if you fly it right. Anything is swoopable. http://youtu.be/M2OKm5fF7DM I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

When I had maybe 50 jumps, I was flying a sabre 1 170 and packed myself a line over. It was on a hop and pop at 5. I pulled, slam and then I looked up and fuck! I packed it. :( I immediately looked and grabbed handles. Then I stopped and looked at my altimeter. I was at 4500' and not spinning, just a slow lazy turn. I remembered seeing some video that basically said its most likely a brake line and to try two full flares. I figured fuck it why not so I grabbed my toggles and released them. I had a good canopy by 4000'. I was apparently being yelled at while fixing it by a coach I was jumping with. This last Sunday, 3 of us went for a sunset cross country. The one person with rental gear packed himself a line over that started spinning. We were at a small 182 dz and about 4 miles out with strong winds to bring us back. I was first out, and once I got situated, I turned around and counted 4 canopies... Or 2 and one spiraling down. I thought oh shit. The person who chopped had 20 jumps and was now circling his chopped main following it. We we're both torn on whether to stay with him or to go back to the dz and show the video and go searching. I stayed kind of in between the dz and him trying to take some useful video. (Can be invaluable on cutaways IMHO) and headed back and barely made it back. When we landed and the other jumper told the dzo what happened and we watched the video and went searching. The dzo's reaction was "well that's a lost main!" She was very irritated at first. We expressed we didn't really know whether we should have come back or landed with him and she said very matter of factory that if we felt comfortable landing with it then please do. Long story short, he landed a reserve, hard, in some lady's back yard, next to the main and kept his handles. He used her phone to call the dz with the address. He didn't bring a phone. Apparently I was the only one with a phone! Come on people! Bring a damn phone. If you land off in a field and break an ankle, then what? Anyways I am not a coach or anything fancy but I found out what the mal was and asked why he risked landing with it under an unfamiliar canopy. You should have seen these damn power lines everywhere! It would pucker my ass to try it. He landed a half braked sinking approach and didn't have any flare. His reason was he "couldn't afford to lose the main" I know it was long winded, but it shows that exact situation where he landed in a very sketchy area, when we was under reserve at 9000'. Just to chase a main. He's ok and walked away, but it was a very dangerous situation escalated by the fear of losing a canopy. (The dz is very clear about licensed jumpers bringing back or paying for gear. Period. Once you check it out it's your responsibility and no-one else's.) In retrospect I should have tried to tell him to get back and I'd chase it down but we all know how well communicating under canopy works. Or at least maybe land with him. Or make sure he has a phone. Well that's my 3 cents I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

Slow from track, look around, wave off and lock onto spot on the horizon. Pitch Keep looking at spot on horizon, feeling the opening. Look up, usually to see slider coming down. Look around, evaluate traffic. Riser towards holding area. Rip slider off, stuff in pants, gain large package. Release breaks, if everything is good, releases chest strap. Get in deep brakes, evaluate traffic, take a moment and breathe. Let it rip. Not faceplant on landing. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

I4. My wife has a PDr 143 in it. It's easy enough for me to get it in and closed. It's actually easier than my i5 with a firelight 175. I'd say a smart 135 would be perfect fit. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

Yes, everything said here. +1 couldn't have said it better. I also like knowing that if I ever have to pull silver, I'm the only one to blame no matter what happens. I'm a control freak. What? I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

+1 I actually enjoy canopy flight more than the free fall most days. I do a lot of full alt hop & pops. I enjoy really trying to get a feel and master everything my canopy can do and is capable of. I built myself a removable slider and it has enhanced all of this. I love the view and the solitude of just sitting in deep brakes and taking it all in. I like being comfortable landing my canopy in any condition, anywhere I want. In my opinion, the free fall doesn't mean shit if you can't land, comfortably and confidently every time. I fly a Safire 2 159 loaded at around 1.3 I watch all these people go from sabers to nitros and cross fires, 20ft smaller and they can't reliably land what they were flying. Now it's comical watching them land these. Learn your canopies people. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

http://youtu.be/vFzUCBVRdIQ Some more recent tests... I think I've found one that works well.. All the openings have been 5-900ft and smooth... Responds well to trash packs as well... Sloppy opening but acceptable. The latest one I made has the rings pulled in from the edge about 1.5cm. I went back to a double pull release which seems to allow the fabric to bow and cup the air better. The cross in the center with the single release looks like it's splitting the air instead of catching it... Probably a manufacturing defect. Lol stupid shrinkage! Anyways this latest one is flat and 43 sq inches larger than the stock size and works well... I'll continue to use this for a whole and see how it hold up. Blue skies! I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

Yes! +1 I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

Very cool... I guess the three letter drop down menu is for locations. Any key of any kind? I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

If you're going for most visible, go with contrasting colors to the surrounding. So the bottom should be the complimentary color to the sky... So orange, and the topskin should contrast the browns and yellows of the desert, (I assume these colors) would be a purplish color. I'm assuming you don't want this color scheme but it's the most visible. I'd say just pick something that shows up well on sand in case of a cutaway. And I'd rethink that white bottom. White and deserts don't play well together.... It'll look dirty way faster. Besides imagine looking up at a cloud with a white canopy under it..... I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

Looks the same... Order a yard from paragear and a yard from there and compare them... They're sure a lot cheaper. Let me know what you find out! I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

http://youtu.be/nhspLmjtHIY here are a few of the openings from 3 different sliders. the one that is only 2" bigger than the stock slider had 1 openings that was decent and then 2 that looked like the video. One was on a 10 second...ish delay with no camera and was pretty much the same as the last part of the video. So i think i found the size that works... but i still think the openings from the stock size with pockets look better... I'm going to try a few things. Also i did with the help of Frank from Lookma Paraphernalia (who has been very helpful and informative through this whole experiment) I realized i should have been putting the tape on the top of the slider vs the bottom where i was putting it. As soon as he asked me why i was putting the tape on the bottom and loading just the seams it all made sense. So next is to make it properly. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

New one worked well, but it still snivelled 1000ft and then surged open each time. I've got some videos and I'll get around to posting them. I put 7 jumps between Sunday and today on it and I'm still not entirely happy with it. I think I can stick with flat construction at least and I'm shaving another 2" off this one and will be testing Sunday. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

My wife and I both skydive and when either of us are having a shitty/great or anything in between type of day/week whatever, then that's a good enough reason to go jump... Pretty much leads to jumping all day, every day off. Work and jump. Neither of us are complaining and can't get enough. Yes, you can be jealous. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

Larger and skinnier new one to test tomorrow. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

At my home dz they run beefed up 182s that are more than capable of carrying 5 plus pilot... It's even equipped with 5 seatbelts. We run loads of 4 for spacing reasons alone. 5 is way too cramped... Especially when it comes time to turn around... The one with the wingtip extensions will get to 13 in a little under 15 min... I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...

I actually ran into someone with a safire 149 with a removable slider on it and compared it to the larger one I made and it was about 3" shorter front to back... I think I'll use those measurements and try an orange one that size. Start from the beginning and hop and pop it then more to terminal and hopefully it's all good. If not I'll try different sizes... I'm happy with the openings on the existing one and I know a pocket is a fix for flawed design, but damn they work well at increasing drag without sacrificing reefing. The flaps on the jvx I guess would be kind of similar in concept. I'm going to stick to the plan of making a domed one and a flat one at 29.5x23 and testing those. I was that kid jumping out if his tree house with a bed sheet. My dad wouldn't let me use the ladder to try the roof...