RichyR
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Everything posted by RichyR
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I can get the rig delivered anywhere, so can choose where to go. I'll probably be out for 5-7 days.
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I've been out to a few Algarve Boogies this year with 25-150 jumps. There are lots of low-jump people, as they run AFF courses out there. You can really build your numbers, 10+ a day, and there's plenty going on, but most of the organised groups are FF or tracking (200 jumps min). So you'll probably mainly be doing solos. Coaching is around £30 + coach slot as opposed to just the coach slot at most UK DZs, so you're probably best leaving that to the UK. Planes are fast - 10mins to 14k. Weather can be hit or miss in Winter, but same everywhere in EU. If you're happy with the above - go for it.
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I'm visitng the USA next Feb to collect a rig. Would like to get some jumping in. Where's best at this time of year - Florida? Arizona? California? Cheers
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Does anyone have a photo of a container with Desert Digi cordura? I'm just about to order a new container, and UPT haven't got any photos? Cheers
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New jumper - what to do when spotting safety issues
RichyR replied to RichyR's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
Twice yesterday at my DZ, I saw questionable safety issues. Firstly a JM was instructing people to leave 45 degrees between jumpers - which I understand has been proven pretty useless. Secondly, a girl almost half my size was instructed to jump before me on the basis she was on a smaller canopy 170 vs 190, ignoring the fact I was on a much higher wing loading, and would fall faster. What would you do if you saw the above - ignore, confront, report? -
Thanks everyone. Now signed off to pack, and have packed a couple unsupervised that both opened great. Still takes almost 30mins though!!
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Thanks for all the great advice. After I first got it back from being setup by my rigger, it looked like an ironed sheet it was so neat! One thing I have realised is my container closing loop is around 10mm shorter than Sunpath recommend. Both packers have commented on how tight it is (but said it is safe). I've just bought a replacement, so at least that part should be a bit easier.
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Right. This packing lark is totally doing my head in. I've been on a packing course, and practiced packing my rig dozens of times, including watching packers pack it, and getting tips, but I still can't get it anywhere remotely close to what I've been shown. I can bag it almost every time, however the bag folds aren't neat or particularly symmetrical, and I pretty much end up 'stuffing' bits in. My question is, as long as it comes out the bag vaguely symmetrical, with the canopy wrapped, and the slider is still tight against the grommets, should all be well? When I unwrap the bag via the pilot chute, it comes out looking good. For info, I have a ZP canopy with around 70 jumps on, and already reverse s-fold pack, so can easily ensure the slider is tight. Thanks
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Just received my Altitrack. Does anyone know what the small scale and numbers -1, -2, -3 running underneath 12k to 18k are? No mention in the manual, or forum search. Cheers
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Totally normal. EVERYONE I've spoken to has been fearful. I'd also done tandem, bungys, etc. IMO. It takes balls to do a full AFF, it won't be easy at times, you'll probably wonder what you're doing it for, you may consider coming back down in the plane, you'll be secretly glad when the weather stops you going up. The fear won't suddenly disappear after the first AFF jump either (I assumed 2nd jump onwards would be easy). Before you know if you'll be jumping with one instructor, then solo, then doing unstable stuff, then hop & pop. Each time you'll be pushed psychologically. It does slowly change to excitement though. I'm getting there after 15 jumps, though there is still some fear. To me this is part of the personal challenge, and just needs grit to get through. And, of course it's all worth it....
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Cheers. I make sure I jump with the same school rig every time. And already make sure I'm regularly practicing pulls when waiting around rigged up. Check on plane, going to the door etc. I've decided to ditch the reasonably thick cycling gloves I've been using, and go with some thinner ones. I've always had slight doubts about how much feel they let me have, despite instructors saying they should be ok if I can feel the handle, which I have been able to. I've been drilling visualising two reaches then immediately going to EPs (also drilling with hard pull). Think it's just made me realise the thought process of panic that can result in the event of a possible high speed mal, when I wasn't expecting it. Good lesson. Doesn't help that I listened to a podcast the day after talking about someone that went to AAD fire trying to find his PC.
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Thanks Last night I thought about things, and came to a similar conclusion i.e. using two "reaches" rather than a count. I'll practice some dummy pulls on the next few jumps to build more confidence. Usually I don't have a problem finding it instantly, and the split second not finding it sort of through me.
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BTW. Planned pull is currently at 5k
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I haven't asked them yet, but will when I next get to the DZ.
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Last jump I fumbled for my PC, felt like around 5s, but was probably more like 3. Big moment of panic and possibility of going to reserve flashed before me. I know general advice is to reach for it twice, and if not go to EP. However I find feeling around for it can't really be measured in number of "reaches". If I used a count to maintain awareness, what would you recommend as a decent limit "searching" for it before going to EPs....5s? Also, can anyone see anything wrong with this?
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Thanks everyone for the time taken to reply. As with quite a few things, it seems answers are not that clear cut, and it's best to weigh up the options beforehand, pick a method and stick with it. What I find interesting about this sport is the variety of opinion and teaching. Eg. I know some DZs teach two handed cutaway and reserve pulls, and others one handed. Some teach cutaway for every mal, others only for stuff out etc. For a newbie, I think it's a balance simplifying procedures with perhaps the slight increase of further complications, versus a more flexible assessment at the time, but with the risk of burning altitude / inaction.
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I've just been reading Parachuting: The Sky Diver's Handbook, and it mentions that following deployment of the PC, by the time you've finished your count if you don't feel the tug of the parachute you should be into your EP. Taken literally, is this a valid course of action, without assessing the deployment or type of Mal. I'm not sure I'm able to see the deployment clearly from belly down in arch, and there's the potential to become unstable if I tried to twist myself around to see clearly, not to mention time factor. It seems a very neat, fast EP, however obviously it would require cut away before pulling the reserve every time, where in some cases a cut-away wouldn't be necessary e.g. total mal. Doe's anyone see any problems with this? .