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Everything posted by Alexg3265
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Squirrel Snatch pilot chute -- use in skydiving environment?
Alexg3265 replied to evan85's topic in Gear and Rigging
I am not sure about that. In the snatch the apex of the "top skin" might reach the apex of the mesh before being fully collapsed. Actually, because of being preshaped, I am not sure you can fully collapse it. It doesn't matter how much you pull down the apex, the edge of the "top skin" will always protrude a little bit. As it's designed sure, but extend the mesh a little bit and it'll collapse like the best of them. Imagine before you attached the top and bottom halves together, you hang them from their respective centers. If the mesh skirt hangs shorter, it will stay partially inflated, since the zp/f-111 will hang below and curl up to form a ring that will catch air. A larger bottom opening and shorter kill line will collapse it further and allow the apex and handle to pull into the skirt opening. when you hang the pilot chute collapsed from the attachment point, look at the bottom edge. If you see mesh curling in, you're good; if you see fabric curing out and up to meet the mesh, then it's not collapsing all the way. Swing it around and you'll see it catch air around the "ring" A round sketch is attached. 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... -
Advice on core strengtening exercises?
Alexg3265 replied to gunsmokex's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
You went to the wrong place. -
Yeah basically! Except I imagined them closer together towards the mouth and using milspec bands. Hmmm so It has been done! Interesting setup. 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...
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Maybe because rubber bands don't really like grommets when the temperature goes up ( like the rig left in the trunk scenario ) I was under the impression that milspec rubber bands were developed and tested to be resistant to the older grommets. Not sure if the grommet material had something to do with it. Brass does weird things. Saying they do break down.... Ok so then I could say the same thing about the two locking grommets then......... Also isn't this partly the reason for the 180 day and the "fix" of the safety stows. I think that if they did melt and bind, we'd be seein a lot more bag locks than we do. I do like the idea of maybe 4 locking stows (first 4). But like the bag is set up. So you'd have 2 rows of 2 grommets. Either a shorter inside flap or even use an loop of tape you could put a rubber band on and get it to the inside grommet. I think that makes sense. I'm sure something like this has been tried and I more want to know what was the problem or con to this? 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...
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When to start working on turns bigger than 90
Alexg3265 replied to evan85's topic in Swooping and Canopy Control
I learned to swoop on a Safire 2 159 @ 1.4:1. I found anything over a 180, I'd have to do a carving swoop along the turf or I would pop up. My coach was laughing at me cruising along at 10ft desperately trying to keep my fronts down. If you're not exact, you'll be high or low. Not much adjustment time once you come out of your turn. I was able to get long carving 270s and 360's even and keep them level at the ground. There seemed to be a speed limit before I would swing out and pop up. Most of it was my transitions I'm sure. I got a nitro 150right now, and it's a little better, but same kind of thing with popping up. The katana I demoed on the other hand, I could come out 50 ft high and just pull the risers down some more and viola! Anyone wanna trade me a katana for my nitro? 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 been wondering... Why not a row of grommets instead of tape edged holes. Weight shouldn't be an issue..... Bulk doubtful and if they're set line snags should be at a minimum. Only thing I can think of negative is it'll be harder to line them up and get you hand in there to feed the rubber band through.... also the edges of the grommets could require more space than the current design has in between stows, but maybe stagger them.... From what I've seen, the knot in the rubber band lodges itself into the corner of the top flap opening and the canopy trying to expand keeps tension on it. Haven't tried a pull test but did notice a slight hang up, but it popped right open with a quick tug. 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...
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They're advertising it as a 4:1 glide "flattest seen so far in bla bla bla""" light toggles... Above me, "doesn't take much flare, plenty left" Sounds flat trimmed like a stiletto to me, minus the front risers, which I'm skeptical how light they are and stay. The katana I flew had the heaviest toggle pressure and lightest front riser pressure I have yet to encounter. The katana and stiletto are two very different canopies and can't really be compared other than to show two opposite ends of the 9cell elliptical class canopy in my opinion and limited experience. I loved the katana and hated the stiletto. Crossfire2....Meh I only put 6 jumps on it. Then I tried the katana :) and saving for one..... Wanna buy my nitro? If you let me borrow your 152, I'll tell you what it's closest to. ;) 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...
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Advice on core strengtening exercises?
Alexg3265 replied to gunsmokex's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
I got t boned on a bicycle by some asshole doing a test drive a day after Christmas last year. 2 bulging discs, thoracic tear, severed nerves and pinched nerves. Fun shit. My body did $8,000 worth of damage to the SUV. Caved the window in and everything. I Hate painkillers and was going to invasion the next day so I toughed it out before getting an MRI and found out after. The first week I felt like a wreck anyways, then all that pain subsided and my back didn't. I tried a chiropractor, muscle relaxers, tens units, traction tables and all kinds of shit. I've been doing yoga for the past 8 months and Yoga has made all the difference. It still bothers me from time to time, but I'm able to self realign everything and it's all good. I actually had a few days recently that I forgot all about my lower back. Yoga only seems gay at first..... Go to a class. ;) 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... -
Main lift web? 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...
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What should I look for when searching for my first rig?
Alexg3265 replied to holeydel's topic in Gear and Rigging
I don't know what you have been jumping, but you're going to hate the flare on a 25 year old f-111 main. Have you tried the classifieds on dz.com. There's a ton of stuff in your sizes. Talk with people at your dz and see what they fly and instructors for what they recommend. Personally, I wouldn't waste your time with that setup. It's old and it's bound to be needing somethin. Look for something less than 20 years old. Take this for what you paid for it but it's my opinion. I've seen 25 year old rigs, that were still airworthy, but you have to remember that most reserve manufacturers put a time limit or require porosity and strength testing after a certain time. Some put a pack job limit and or jump limit. So keep that in mind. Read the scams forum and see what to watch out for. If you do see something, get their information, and any references they may offer. Ask for something weird with pictures.... Like ask for a close up of the bridle attachment. Then you'll know they actually have the canopy and not just a few pictures. You need to find out jump #'s, for the main and reserve and container. You are literally putting your life in your gear's ummmmmm hands, straps,....? So stop being a cheapskate and save up and get something that's up to date. I personally spent $2400(about 1500 gbp) on my first rig. No aad and no rsl. Added later. It was a 6 years old, with a sabre1 170 but looked new 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... -
Reserve is fine. Leave it. You could do more inadvertent damage messing with it. Open your main and store it in an unpacked manner. Bin, pillow case, whatever. Chain your lines. You'll thank me in the spring. Zp has a tendency to hold folds over time. Most manufacturers will recommend unpacking for storage if any longer than 6 months. F-111 will be fine for years. Put it all in a closet, inside in air conditioning, or "climate controlled" environment. I've personally pulled a sabre 1 out of a bag that was packed for 3 years and it was brick. It required my actually physically unfolding the packjob. It probably would have worked, but I was fairly amused. As a disclaimer, for all I know, this rig had been sitting in the back of someone's car for the last year out in the sun. 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...
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Squirrel Snatch pilot chute -- use in skydiving environment?
Alexg3265 replied to evan85's topic in Gear and Rigging
It's the bridle that makes a pilot chute collapse. And there aren't any collapsible pcs in base. At least that I know of. Add a kill line and viola, you have a collapsible snatch. I also requested the files and less than 2 minutes later i had them. Ditto for where I'm buying a wingsuit. Maybe two years ago I built a 6 gore semi-hemispherical PC and had to shrink it because when I hit line stretch it was like getting kicked, at 24" it worked great. Went back to 2d double circle for bulk reasons only. Lots of extra seams..... 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... -
Talk to some instructors that fly with you. They'll tell you where you are neutrally. You should develop a good range completely independent of suit, then if you find you have to work harder to keep up or down you can tailor a suit accordingly to make your neutral fall rate match or try to match who you're flying with. Ripstop is fast, taslan is a little slower, and polycotton is slower yet. Cordura adds drag. Handles add drag. Booties add drag. Bagginess adds drag. Double layered fabrics add drag. Try different suits at your dz and see what feels right. Baggy or fitted ect. 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...
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Sloppy packing... and either the d lines and or the brake lines worked their way around and in front of the nose. Line over in my opinion. 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...
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If anyone cares, I went last Saturday to take my practical with Nancy at jump shack. She was very nice and everything went smoothly. I'm officially a senior rigger! Yay! Thanks for all the recommendations! 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...
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Student Etiquette-Getting Own Altimeter
Alexg3265 replied to GrayAnderson's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
On my second tandem and ground school day I bought goggles. Then halfway through AFF I had my own helmet and altimeter and goggles. The only comment any of it queued was, "ok! Well at least I know you're serious!" And a chuckle. Besides it sucks using different equipment each jump. That applies to way more than altimeters! 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... -
Binding corners with a single needle machine
Alexg3265 replied to BrianM's topic in Gear and Rigging
Or pre fold your corners before they get to the foot. 5-6 stitches before. Obviously it won't work if you're using a right angle feed. 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... -
Binding corners with a single needle machine
Alexg3265 replied to BrianM's topic in Gear and Rigging
Back up a few stitches to behind where the corner will fold over. Then you'll have to lift the foot with the needle in, then I use a metal ruler(small ass one) and line it up with the edge from the underside. Then lift and fold under the edge while pinching the tape to keep it neat. Sewing to the edge and making a stitch or two out that will be under the fold helps as well. Once you have the fold drop the foot and complete one or two stitches until you are even with the next line to sew. Actually I just got done with a dbag and I can take pictures or try to when I get home. I put a 2 sec crude sketch. Should make sense. Hope that helps. 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 has a safire2 139 in an I-4. Pilot had a 159 in an i5 and it was as small as I felt comfortable, maybe a 149 but not a 139. Depends on conditions and all that but this was a new canopy. My closing loop was just long enough to go from the tab it's in through the grommets. The one time I had a buddy pack for me, he laughed and asked if it was a joke. It's a 2005 icon so maybe it changed. But that's my 2 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...
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I've done it. I only stowed my locking stows and neatly coiled the rest of my lines. I was having the occasional already line twisted snivel. Opened great. Now I use large bands on the non locking stows and put just enough line through to keep them organized. I noticed the bags tendency to rock side to side and flip when the outer non locking stows are tight, so I figured by loosening those it should help. Openings have improved dramatically. I've had some 90s on inflation, but not one line twist. I'm making a semi stow less bag in the meantime. 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...
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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...
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Parachute riggers handbook. You can download the PDF here http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aircraft/media/faa-h-8083-17.pdf 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...
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Ice-Bucket Challenge – Skydiver Edition
Alexg3265 replied to RMK's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
So where's the video?!? 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... -
Like paragliding risers? Look them up. What for? 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...