relyon

IIRC, circulation theory essentially combines the two. See Theory of Wing Sections for more detail than you'll ever care to know. Bob (edited to fix link)

The force that makes you and everyone else in the 50-way turn shit into diamonds when your slider gets quiet and the whole thing stops flying. Often accompanied by thoughts of "Mommy!" Bob

Wendy's list is the best place to ask. 143's tend to go pretty quick. Bob

I've always had a one on from airplanes, though I jumped from a Mi-8-MTV into a Finnish lake from 10 meters without a rig a couple years back. Logged it too. Bob

Yeah, the site rocks! I just checked out Kapowsin. For the Sep-Apr timeframe you could sum all NW on one simple text page: Conditions: windy, rainy, and shitty. Forecast: Increasingly shittier. Bob

Why not just steal that BraveHeart thing from Chris? Oh wait ... his has "Stolen from Chris Gay" embroidered across the back. Never mind... Bob

I don't like additional stuff either, but I disagree with "no matter how careful you are". Things tied to the reserve handle are really no different than anything else that needs checking (eg. arming a Cypres), IMO. Do it right and no problem; forget it and it could bite. I'm very aware of such things as I jump neither an RSL or a Cypres. I picked up a big red "Remove Before Flight" streamer I'm planning to zip-tie to/with my reserve handle for airline transport purposes only. If some TSA goon pulls my rig out of the gearbag by the reserve handle and that bad boy deploys, I'm going to have a really bad day and probably won't be on my scheduled flight. I'm hoping the RBF streamer will prevent that from occurring. Bob

Well, I respect Henny's opinion quite a bit (he's got multi-thousands of jumps more than I) and though I won't argue the point, I still won't recommend a Lightning at under 100 jumps. It's just a difference of opinion, but that might mean the difference between a stand up, a PLF, or breaking something. I've never broken anything yet and don't care to find out what it's like now. CRW with just over 100 jumps? Very good. Welcome to the "dark" side! Standard line lengths and low loadings are going to produce better landing characteristics in most any canopy. Shortlining (8') and higher loading (1.4+) a Lightning changes the landing characteristics and flight speed considerably. Heavily loaded Triathlons in particular are very different from lightly loaded ones. Aside from 2 jumps on a Sabre 150, I've not jumped anything but 7-cells. As far as the reserve ride goes, I'm very happy my Tempo 170 is smooth flying and relatively unresponsive. By the time I'm see it I'm usually not in the mood for any more surprises. Bob PS - Please say hello to Henny & Kees for me when you see them. I'm going to be in Amsterdam for 8 days in late July/early August. Perhaps we can make a few jumps?

These are all very dependent on flying style because the flight is accellerated. I believe I know what you are referring to and that is what I meant by saying the smaller canopy would be more responsive. Bob

Define "faster". Scaling effects on canopies cause minor (on the order of a few feet per second) differences at equal wingloading due to proportionately minor variations in lift and drag coeffiecients. I don't consider than "ALOT". If the difference were large, a jumper under a Lightning 193 wouldn't have a prayer trying to catch me under my equally loaded 126 to dock (I can assure you that's not the case). Any introductory aerodynamic text has all the derivations. Bob

I absolutely agree with this statement. This is incorrect. The freestream velocity (V-infinity) of both canopies will be the same. The smaller canopy will be more responsive (which may be what you are referring to), but they'll both fly at the same speed. The smaller canopy will be less efficient than the larger due to scaling effects. Bob

I've got quite a few jumps Lightning 126s in the 1.5-1.6 range. While I understand your frustration, I'm afraid I agree with the guideline regarding Lightnings specifically and the rest in general. It is not a sub-100 jump canopy at any wing loading. Ask Henny Wiggers or Kees Topps about landing highly loaded (2+) 7-cell CRW canopies (mention Imatra). Bob

not saying be dishonest, just don't offer anything more than you need... I'm in agreement with both of these comments and I don't think they're mutally exclusive. Example:TSA question: What is this (pointing to Cypres)?My answer #1: Personal safety equipmentMy answer #2: An altitude activated pyrotechnic deviceBoth of these answers are up-front and honest and neither offers anything more than necessary. One will most likely allow me to continue my trip. The other may very well get me detained, arrested, or incarcerated. Answer how your own conscience dictates. Bob (edited for clarity/grammer)

7 cutways in 1190 jumps, all following CRW entanglements and/or wraps. Bob

There's been CRW activity of one sort or another at Kapowsin, Richland, and Molalla that I'm aware of. PM me if you'd like to wrap at Kapow some time. Scott Petersen (homer) may be able to help for Richland and I believe Jim Straight (not on dropzone.com to my knowledge, but I can forward e-mail) has (had?) a rotation team at Molalla. Bob

Very true at one time, but alas no more. There are 5 or 6 us still, but the 16+ way pickup dive weekends are a thing of the past. That said, I'm doing everything I can to encourage a comeback. Stay tuned... Bob

All other things equal, his "interesting theory" is quite correct. Any beginning text on aircraft performance (eg. Anderson's Aircraft Performance & Design, chapter 6) covers this. Bob

Perhaps a little OT, but here in the northwest SL is the only practical way to learn during the winter months. The ceiling is often way too low for AFF. If not for SL, students wouldn't be jumping at all. Bob

It was pretty cool - I'm trying to get a copy of the video. The setup was all seven, line abreast entering the stall. The canopy collapses front-to-back but stays open left-to-right; there is no forward drive. Manuevering is done by carefully (ie. slowly) easing off the rear risers until the canopy just starts surging forward. Turning is done by easing up on only one riser opposite the desired turn direction (eg. let up right to turn left). Bob

I do this with my main (Lightning 143) all the time, mostly for fun but also for echelon positioning on bigger dives. My teammates and I called it SCReW (Stalled Canopy Relative Work). Believe it or not, there is a level of control even though the canopy is a sniveling POS. There's no forward drive and it's entirely possible to be face-to-face 10 feet from another jumper. On one jump we had 7 of us in a circle no more than 25 in diameter all facing inward. Bob

Misty Beethoven Bob

Ask Mike Muscat all about residual "pay" in the movie industry... Bob

Jessie Farrington is the USPA NW regional director. Bob

Be as careful of local advice as you would from any other source. A guy who started jumping at the same time and place I did was advised to buy a Tri-160 for his first canopy. He asked if he shouldn't try something intermediate first. The answer was that there was no need, so he went directly from the student Goliath (375?) he'd been jumping to the 160 after roughly 40 jumps. The person giving the advice was an accomplished skydiver, master rigger, IE, and the dz STA. Bob

Ironically, if I'd had an RSL on my first cutaway (25-way diamond that funnelled), I'd be dead. I did land with both handles.