sundevil777

Why are premature brake releases so common now? It seems like it was so much more rare back in the days before people had sliders designed to pass over toggles, and this was before people had the little pocket/keeper for the toggle nose. I've never had a premature release (I also have never used a system that allowed the slider to pass over the toggles). I am very careful about setting my brakes, is that all it takes to not have this occur? Of course if one side of your catseye breaks that would also cause it, but I don't think that is causing these incidents. I had a Paraflite Astrobe that required releasing that toggles to get it to open, that was interesting, kinda like a trigger. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

The classifieds of this site: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/page.cgi?g=Altimeters%2Findex.html;d=1 Keep looking and you'll find them. New ads every day. No need to pay more than $100 for an Alti II Galaxy in excellent condition. Wait a little longer and you'll find one in a color you want other than black. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

If you're having to 'save up' for an altitrack, I suggest you instead get a used altimeter from the classifieds. Many alti II galaxy altimeters (a very good model, a std in the industry) can be had for $75-100, sometimes even cheaper, and you'll be able to sell it for that much later when if you still want, and can afford to get an altitrack. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

You still know how to have a good time! People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

Way back when, we also didn't have high wingloadings that would result in such violent spins. The canopies could still have spinning mals, but they were a lot less severe. Just another reason that I stick with a low wingload. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

It probably is worth saying for those that haven't checked out a soft loop handle in person - the cutaway cable is within the loop, so that gives it a level of flexibility/rigidity. It might be easy to assume that the handle is just fabric. Some of the loop handles also have other stiffener materials in addition to the loop. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

Mini risers are also a contributor to how it has become more difficult to cutaway under such high g scenarios. Mini 3-rings have higher cutaway forces than the std large rings. The difference is significant, and even the Aerodyne miniforce system doesn't match the low cutaway force (see attachment, I think it came from a post of Bill Booth many years ago). I don't know if the force on the chart is per side or total. For the sake of a little less drag and weight, it takes a lot more to cutaway. Add in the very real possibility that your risers may not be made quite to the standard (mfg tolerances are more critical for mini rings) and this can also increase the required force. So, I think it is important to talk about this as one of the contributors to high cutaway forces. My 2 cutaways with std/large 3 rings have been really easy to do with one hand, and can't understand how so few (especially heavier jumpers) choose the larger rings. Getting back to the original thread subject, I am a big fan of handles that have a big hole in them (such as soft loop cutaway and metal reserve). I also love my low profile reserve handle, it is much less obtrusive but still extremely easy to find and use (proven in battle conditions). I would consider such a handle for my cutaway if it had a greater distinction from my reserve (see attachments). Even if my hand/arm/body/brain is injured, using such handles is much easier. Even if I'm stupid enough to use ski type gloves with that are horrible for use with soft pillows, it is not such a problem for handles with a big hole. I find it interesting that freeflyers are so keen to not have a metal reserve handle, as they so seldom come in contact with each other. Interesting chart. I assume that having a higher cutaway force reduces the chance of an accidental cutaway with a D ring style handle. I would worry that a fabric handle could bunch up or twist in such a way that it is difficult to use - but I've only seen the photos. What benefit do they have over a metal D ring? Of course it is nice to have the handles feel different to avoid using the wrong one. As you imply, the weight of a metal handle has been thought of as a potential problem in that it might activate from being blown around by wind (when the 3-ring white loop isn't loaded) or from opening shock. The reserve pin has a more consistent load/tension on it and so it isn't as vulnerable to moving due to a loose handle. If you see someone that has a loop handle, ask them to let you check it out, I think you will be surprised at how they can stay in place well - not too flimsy/not too rigid. I think each rig mfg makes their own, if they offer that option, so I can only say that the Infinity soft handle is very nice. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

I believe you've got it right that the pad was considered at first because it was something different than the ripcord and not likely snagged. If you search on Bill Booth's posts, I'm sure you'll find him explaining the development and rationale in some detail. Mini risers are also a contributor to how it has become more difficult to cutaway under such high g scenarios. Mini 3-rings have higher cutaway forces than the std large rings. The difference is significant, and even the Aerodyne miniforce system doesn't match the low cutaway force (see attachment, I think it came from a post of Bill Booth many years ago). I don't know if the force on the chart is per side or total. For the sake of a little less drag and weight, it takes a lot more to cutaway. Add in the very real possibility that your risers may not be made quite to the standard (mfg tolerances are more critical for mini rings) and this can also increase the required force. So, I think it is important to talk about this as one of the contributors to high cutaway forces. My 2 cutaways with std/large 3 rings have been really easy to do with one hand, and can't understand how so few (especially heavier jumpers) choose the larger rings. Getting back to the original thread subject, I am a big fan of handles that have a big hole in them (such as soft loop cutaway and metal reserve). I also love my low profile reserve handle, it is much less obtrusive but still extremely easy to find and use (proven in battle conditions). I would consider such a handle for my cutaway if it had a greater distinction from my reserve (see attachments). Even if my hand/arm/body/brain is injured, using such handles is much easier. Even if I'm stupid enough to use ski type gloves with that are horrible for use with soft pillows, it is not such a problem for handles with a big hole. I find it interesting that freeflyers are so keen to not have a metal reserve handle, as they so seldom come in contact with each other. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

What is a "BWC"? Maybe the guy really wanted to experience ground rush? People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

About 20 years or so ago, at Snohomish, WA, it took the life of a jumper and damaged their twin bonanza. I recall another incident from these forums where the swaged ball managed to get snagged by a hole in the door frame, but I don't know if it went over the tail. I would expect there to be other incidents. It would be nice of the cable end of reserve handles was tucked away somewhere it couldn't get snagged. The pillow handles do have this advantage. I am so convinced of the benefit of the handle vs pad, that I also have a handle for my cutaway (it is a soft loop style). I've used it once and it was great, very easy and fast to use. Bill Booth can show testing where people had nearly the same grip strength on pillow handles, but I suspect that was not an extreme hurry-up scenario. Some pillow handles have pockets to make them more like a handle, and that is an improvement, but there is great advantage I think to being able to utilize my opposable thumb to its full extent. My setup is as shown with loop cutaway and low profile D-handle (much better than the triangular type handles I think). People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

I remember that incident from back when he first posted it, have known him since the early 80s, when he was free packing his main. I just have different 'weighting' factors concerning what I want to be in control of, and what I am willing to let be automated. I have used my reserve in a number of very different circumstances - high speed, low speed and total mals (damn tapewells!). After I'd made several jumps, I would even disconnect the RSL (stevens line) on my gut gear - I didn't want that big metal handle hitting me in the face! At least back then there was a cross-connector on the risers. I also would unplug the Sentinel (didn't trust that). I guess I'm not a very good example for newbies nowadays, but the gear was different (it didn't inspire confidence), and the expectation for knowledge about gear was different. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

Many don't think about the possibility of this scenario and how it can go very bad if a conventional RSL is used. No problem of course if a Collins SL is used as on a skyhook, or some of the other mechanisms that help to ensure both risers are gone before the RSL can pull the reserve pin. I realize that a failure of a riser is not likely, but it does happen and not just to those that neglect their gear. I acknowledge that I'm more likely to fail pulling my reserve than have the 'wrong' side riser fail and result in an entanglement, but it is part of the rationale that can lead experienced jumpers (for instance, with several successful emergency situations already) to reasonably conclude that an RSL is not for them. Anyway, some will say that CRW or camera are the only valid reasons for not using an RSL, but I think there are other valid reasons. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

Does the Fury have packing tabs? Cut them off and you'll reduce the pack volume. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

That sparked a memory, they use a diaper instead of a freebag, is that correct? People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

The best part is this... People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

My reaction is that you are likely better off staying with the Falcon, if as you say it is still landing you fine. Not much sense in spending money on a higher wingload that you know isn't a good idea. If you really need to replace the falcon and not spend much money, then you really should be able to find a low jump number F-111 canopy that is an appropriate size. If you look hard enough you'll probably find them, or save up for a more modern ZP canopy. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

That is not correct. It is very 'interesting' to see that they do actually pretend that it is so, but it is not. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

Can you explain how the RAX is connected to the bridle - how the 2 bits of webbing and the pin work together? People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

I've heard a case when someone died because she could not launch her reserve due to a bent pin. I found a bent pin on a friends rig after he had put his rig on. Ever since then I have thought that our reserve pins are too vulnerable to such damage. It should not be possible to bend them, no matter how hard we bash into a door frame or any structure in the plane or anywhere else. The service bulletins from several years ago should have resulted by now in an improvement. Even when the pins are made properly, they are too vulnerable to bending. A racer won't have the pins bent hitting the door, but they can still have the pop top snagged and so much force put on them that the closing loop might break, right? Probably less likely though. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

OK, so I understand you think I'm misinterpreting your point. I think I'm just more pragmatic about what can actually be done. What would you change? In order to prevent those that have teeny rigs from influencing the novice, it means that teeny rigs have to not be allowed or something like that, right? Perhaps a teeny canopy would have to be put in a large rig that has "filler" foam in the pack trays so that it isn't a teeny rig. However, we'd still have people doing impressive swoop landings to influence the novice, so we'd have to stop that, maybe make them go somewhere they can't be seen landing? Anyway, it isn't going to happen, there will be teeny rigs and impressive swoops to tempt the novice. So we are left with other less effective ways of preventing early downsizing. Perhaps a really ugly scared straight program should be imposed upon all jumpers. When you fill out your waiver (not first time students), you have to watch a series of videos of landings gone wrong, including multiple fracture/bones popping out/blood pouring out images, with visitations in the hospital, scenes of operations to fix hips and femurs, a listing with pics of those regulars at the DZ that have been hurt, etc. Make them watch it every month or something like that. I don't pretend to have the answer, really I don't. I'm just admitting that teeny rigs are appealing and even if all ridiculing of large rigs stops, the appeal will still be there. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

What are some of these reasons? The only logical reasons I have found for buying a real small rig would be because you fly and swoop a very small canopy and regardless what some jumpers think there are just a small number of jumpers that have the skills to do this safely. The other reason would be to look cool. This is just a guess on my part and would apply to belly fliers since I am not familiar with head downers, about 50% of people jumping tiny rigs also wear weights when they jump Since they mostly do 4/8 way, big ways or fun jumps they are not heavy into swooping. So why the tiny rigs, “looking cool”. How many jumpers have died behind “looking cool”? Sparky I am not burdened with the need to wear weights in order to fall fast enough. There is no downside for me to have less overall influence from gravity. I would rather have a rig that would not take up as much room while crammed in the plane, as much room in a door jam-up, as much room in my gear bag (especially when travelling). I would rather be able to fly with a less bulky rig. I didn't like the bulky gutter gear that I started with. When I first jumped a rig that had the reserve mounted on the back in 1981, I thought it was incredibly liberating. As the size and weight of what was on my back reduced with each more advanced rig I jumped and bought through the years, I very much appreciated the improvement. I haven't yet gotten to the point where I wouldn't want it to still be smaller and lighter. Perhaps if I had one of the teeny tiny rigs that are available now, then I may no longer wish it was smaller. But I've had to land in too many places where a low WL was very helpful to seek that improvement in size and weight. I will never be the one that influences others to jump high wingloads. I just think it is not realistic to deny tiny rigs are appealing. Influencing novices to not downsize too quickly will not be done by trying to convince them they don't want a small rig, it will be done by convincing them that high wingloads have inherent dangers and that they want to stay out of the hospital, walk without a limp. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

Quite right! At least I will never be guilty of that, of course others are. My rig doesn't look awkward or terribly bulky on me, but I certainly would prefer it be a smaller and lighter for many reasons, including that I think it would look better. Perhaps some novices are also pushed to small canopies because so many think that the logical WL to settle at within a couple hundred jumps is between 1.3 and 1.5 or more. Novices are so often told that is what they will want soon. This is a separate issue from the appearance aspect, although related. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

What exactly is it about large containers (or large canopies, for that matter) that make them so not cool that even people who think that novices shouldn't be jumping small stuff insist on perpetuating the myth that bigger rigs don't look as good as smaller ones? If we don't want novices flying 1.4 wingloadings, perhaps we should stop telling them that rigs designed to hold bigger canopies look like shit. The problem is that it isn't a myth. Of course we would have fewer downsizing so quickly if it wasn't so, and if smaller rigs weren't lighter, but they are. I jump a beautiful rig that is large, a nice soft landing that keeps me more likely to walk without a limp is what I want, so I jump a 210 main/220 reserve. If I could have bought canopies that could pack smaller, then I would have because I think my rig would look even better if it were smaller, would rather it be less bulky on my back, and wish it was lighter. The larger optimums were not quite available when I ordered my latest rig, I definitely would have paid extra for the ability to get the container smaller. If we're going to prevent people from downsizing too quickly, it won't be done by denying that smaller rigs have appeal. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

Admitting that it looks worse is very different than admitting that it will be very important to the decision of what size canopies to buy. People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

Are you feeling that you aren't getting on jumps/loads with others of sufficient skills to have successful/challenging/making progress on skills type of jumps? People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am