floormonkey

The other concern, however, is your reserve. It is generally recommended have a similarly sized main and reserve. Under your (what I assume is a) PDR176, you are at just over 20% difference in size. The actual important stat is the difference in the top of the leading edges, but just know you're getting close to those puppies not being comfortably compatable. http://www.pia.com/piapubs/tb/TB-261.pdf

Oh, I'm more than aware of all these things. I'm also aware of what people "say the manufacturer says." When I read the cf2 page, I see a manf who says "We recommend wing loadings from 1.4 psf to 2.1 psf." I do not see a manufacturer who says "this canopy is to be jumped at no lower than a 1.4 wingloading." These are 2 very different statements that mean very different things. I often see/hear people say things and do not understand what they have heard/read. As far as the Katana incident, does it not seem turbulence and a poor choice (jumping on a turbulent day while on a lightly wingloaded canopy) was a greater factor than wl? see PD's statement on minimum wingloading/wingloading in general: http://performancedesigns.com/docs/W-L_Interpretations.pdf And as far as restricted nose goes, I believe both my VX and Velocity perform better in turbulence than a conventional nose canopy, though that is solely personal belief and I've never looked for research to confirm it. And yes, I was looking for information specifically about a manufacturer recommendation or incident relating to a CF2, since that is what the OP is referring to. The recall was a line trim issue. http://www.nzaerosports.com/massive-information/service-bulletin Personally, I don't understand why someone would post in a forum where anyone can answer when they could easily email attila@nzaerosports.com, support@daedaluscanopies.com, support.chicago@icaruscanopies.aero, sales.usa@icaruscanopies.aero, icarusorders.eu@icaruscanopies.aero, or call (815) 434-6098 and have the manufacturer give them an answer that has plenty of validity behind it. And while this manufacturer doesn't tell you you can toggle whip it into line twists (though others do), that is taught in AFF. I'll assume that someone with 800 jumps (the OP) probably knows that.

Can you show me where the manufacturer says this? Or can you show documented instances of this?

Start by going to the DZ and watching landings. Go to your target and stand there. Watch canopies like yours (generally the last ones landing), watch where they turn and the results they get. Pay attention to jump run, where they exit, and where they open. Watch the windsock and compare what's happening. Pick a target. It should be the same target on every jump until you get your b license. Go jump. Look straight down (between your feet) at each turn, especially ckpt 2. Make a note of your location. It is important to look straight down. After you land, look where you are, look at the windsock, and evaluate what changes you should make to land closer to target the next time. Repeat. Often. Accuracy starts before you get on the airplane. Have a plan, execute it, and evaluate it. When you are making multiple jumps in a day, and are focusing on your targets and accuracy, you'll start to notice a big difference. Be sure you are looking straight down to note where you are turning. If you don't know where you turned, how can you adjust it? Checkpoint 2 will change on every jump-that's the point you adjust for accuracy. Be aware of your airspace, though; don't get so focused you lose sight of someone else. Also understand an experienced jumper doesn't mean a good pilot, and that some of their patterns will look markedly different than yours. You can still, however, watch and learn from them.

According to Airtec, there was not a "bad batch" of washers, but rather a batch that conformed to specs. The original manufacturer was making the washers to higher strength then required, and the new manf. made them closer to spec. Here is a letter from Airtec about it: http://cypres-usa.com/CYPRES_disc_update.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmxM_CknSZw

Stalls are related to your angle of attack, not just your airspeed. When you pull your rear risers, it changes the angle of attack sooner (because more of your canopy deflects) then pulling on the toggles (longer time/distance to change the AoA). Stalls also are related to the shape of the wing you are flying. Stalls are covered on pages 18-20 in The Parachute and its Pilot by Brian Germain. They are also covered in the SIM (http://www.uspa.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=eftnWLyVdVo%3d) on pages 50, 67, and 159ish. And, of course, there's the article here on dz.com: http://www.dropzone.com/content/Detailed/637.html That doesn't exactly answer the question, but with those resources and some clear airspace, you should be able to tell us on Monday.

The harness is an inanimate object. It does not shift your weight around, the individual sitting or hanging in the harness shifts the weight. Your chest strap does not affect different parts of the canopy. However, loosening (or tightening or not altering the tightness of) your chest strap will change the performance of your ENTIRE canopy. Please make sure you know what you are talking about before you give advice. Poor advice has been known to kill people.

contact your LOCAL dealer.

When I got my new Infinity, I had brake fire issues. JC Colclasure told me to do a better job stowing my excess. No brake/toggle fires since then. Make sure the bulk of the line can't be used by the slider to push down/release the toggle.

What about Flordia, Georgia, Spain, S. Africa, Washington, Missouri, Poland and all the other incidents? It's not limited to Texas, and the stuff reported on DZ.com probably makes up a fraction of what happens. We just start our season earlier/never end our season. Wait till the yankees start jumping in earnest.

RE: the "list" Are the details of these incidents hidden or in some way shrouded in secrecy? Could the average jumper comb past issues of Parachutist and DZ.com and make thier own list? Does it really matter which rigs it happened to or is it just important for everyone to know which rig it did NOT happen to? Is it really a conspiracy? Have you requested the information from the PIA directly? If you've been collecting this information, why not disseminate it yourself? Again, is it really a conspiracy or is the information in the public scope available for anyone who wants to find it? (Pablum-laced, by the way, is great. Thanks for adding it to my vocabulary)

I had to identify every material on my test rig and canopy, plus any material I touched during the practical.

No, I don't. With that said, allow me to clarify my situation. I don't rig as much as I used to. When I packed 20-30 rigs a week and was full-service, I implemented that policy. It allowed me to build a large customer base, and, since I saw the same customers gear often, I was able to do preventative maintance that saved me work down the road (relines, new p/c's, loose stitching that got worse, booties, etc). In essence, I did it so I could be lazy and not have to do last minute repairs on Saturday morning when I was busy making real money packing mains or Saturday night when I was busy doing important things like drinking. I was going to discontinue when I became a part-time rigger, but the local price went up by 50%. I didn't want to upset/undercut the "union scale," but I didn't want to charge that much. I don't advertise my "regulars" rate because I don't want to take money from the new staff rigger or other full-time skydivers and I don't have the time or inclination to do so much work for so little money right now. Most of my customers who don't use me either had a ride and wanted to jump the same weekend (if I'm not at the DZ) or both of us are traveling and can't hook up for a 3 week period. My fee schedule also includes a $10 pain in the ass fee (customer or rig), a $10 "I need it right now" fee, a $25 -MZ fee and a $50 ""I need it so I can jump in the morning so can you pack it after you just packed 80 mains when it's 100+ degrees?" but fail to show up until 12 too hungover to jump" fee. I also give a "living the dream" discount for pro's.

That is my SOP. Return customers get a discounted rate, and referals (pilot rigs, not jumpers) get the referer $10 off. I had one customer send me so many referals in one pack cycle they got 2 free packjobs. The rate has nothing to do with if the customer is passing through, only serves to reward my loyal customers.

Call and ask when you are on your way. The person who answers the phone can probably look out the window and tell you. 512.488.2214

and now for a helpful reply: the flyaerodyne.com site doesn't work for me either. Try thier mirror site. http://www.aerodyne-int.com/mirror/sport/

I quit tying links together when my buddy jumped his BASE rig with the links tied togather. Someone could leave his head in his ass and pack a rig with the links tied together. If I have to tie the risers together, I tie them at the 3ring. On squares where I dont' need tension, I just line up the risers and put a weight on them. If I need tension and there are rapide links or bumpers, I just run a dowel through the top of the risers and put that on my current tension board. Works like a charm, plus the dowel is useful to beat whiny-ass skydivers until they leave. I prefer to have tools with multiple uses.

I saw a group who bought about 80 sheets of florescent pink poster board and spelled it out. I was doing an AFF jump. When I looked down to check the spot @ 10000' or so, I saw the pink. When I was tracking @ 4 I could read the sign. By far the most visible I've ever seen. I've also seen "Marry Me" with two big circles, one "Yes" and one "no" made with flour. Make sure the askee is with an accurate instructor, though.

I spent 6 days at Nationals. There were no vendors to speak of. The "protected partners" did not have booths set up. Granted, it was raining, but they had nothing except empty tents. I repeatedly heard comments about how "small" the event seemed. I think it was because there were no vendors standing around talking and interacting with others. The social scene during the day at previous nationals seemed to revolve around the vendor tents. I only saw one protected partner while I was there, and he was talking shit about one of the other protected partners.

In "NASCAR (America's fastest growing spectator sport with the highest level of sponsorship in the country)", each team has a pit area where they can showcase and use all the things thier sponsers gave them. It seems this could have been avoided it there were a designated place for teams with non-official "partners" were allowed to set up. Of course, one would locate this outside of the main viewing area and spectator area, perhaps over by the trees near the parking lot or a short walk away from the hanger. Make it a little inconvient so there is no question they are not associated. The prime real-estate would belong exclusivly to the "protected partners." All the teams are paying to be there, so wouldn't it make sense for them to have a pit area where each team could set up thier equipment and sponsered gear? (Team rooms don't count in this question, unless you have enough for every single team and it is included in the price)

Pass on the container. Most anything you can cram a 9 cell 170 in will also take a 9 cell 150. It will just lose value sitting there, begging you to jump it. You can always sell or trade the 170 later, it's a high demand canopy. Every skydiver I've known who said "I'll just buy it now and wait until I'm ready for it" has ended up jumping it before they were ready for it, even the ones who swore they were different and wouldn't. Though much emphasis is placed on main sizing, you can't forget about your reserve size. After a malfunction, you don't want to be under the smallest wing you've ever flown. Too many people put themselves in that situation without thinking about it.

No. If you aren't comfortable jumping a 170 main, why would you jump a 143/150ish reserve? If you aren't comfortable landing a 150 under optimal conditions, why would you risk doing it when the shit hits the fan? You need to talk to an instructor at YOUR DZ who knows you, not an internet forum.

When buying used, you get what you get. Ask the seller and read the ad. There is no absolute on what you WILL get, only what people think you SHOULD get. Check with your LOCAL rigger and I'm sure they will be glad (or at least won't refuse) to help you, as long as you provide beer. Besides, you need to have them look at it anyway to guage it's airworthiness and tell you if it is a decent deal.

I like the design. However, on the Sigma main handle, doesn't the design protect the spectra from UV and dirt/debris since the handle "sucks" backs in, effectively covering the spectra line and blocking the housing? How is the spectra line protected from velcro wear from the reserve handle pocket should it somehow touch it? I can see it should never happen, but we all know how well skydivers maintain their equipment, especially when it is fool-proof.