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I did the requisite three crossover jumps to get my Strong Tandem Rating on Saturday. I made the jumps at The Skydiving Place in St. Pauls, NC. All were beautiful, and I came home with the rating. This coming weekend I am taking two of my best friends up on their first tandems (using the Sigma rating this time). :) Respectfully, SP

Answers: 1) I would gladly let Paula pack my reserve under my direct supervision IAW FAR part 65 (I know I'm opening myself up for a hailstorm here). What other Riggers would do I have no idea. 2) If she were "apprenticed" to me (such a formal word), and she rode her own reserve, I would likely share a portion of the bottle of her favorite tipple. RIght now, I am toasting my dear friend's long departed father with a glass of "Barcelo Anejo" rum from the Dominican Republic. Works for me! :) Respectfully, SP

If y'all will come down to Raeford, schedules permitting, I will gladly make a currency jump with you for nuthin. All it will cost you is the price of your own lift. It will be my pleasure. I'll even introduce you to SkyMonkeyOne if he remembers to take his medication that morning! I'll PM you my phone numbers . . . Respectfully, SP

Jimbo, Not intended to start a debate, nor am I trying to change your opinion. Just applying mine to your scenarios. It's a judgement call . . . absolutely. It's up to the pilot . . . absolutley. Both of those are true in every emergency situation. In your scenarios: 1) 200 jumps, lightly loaded Sabre - landable with rear risers, agreed. 2) 2000 jumps - highly loaded Velocity - I've never jumped that fast a canopy. In that situation, I would cut the other line, see how the canopy reacted to a rear riser flare, then make my choice. I have seen swoopers land with rear risers before, although I don't recall what canopies they were jumping 3) 1 jump, AFF student. Yes, I would rather they land the canopy with rear risers than cut away a fully open and otherwise operational parachute. Several things are in the student's favor: a higher opening altitude (plenty of decision time), having recently been trained, drilled, quizzed about this scenario in his first jump course (they should do a controllability check), jumping a big, docile canopy, and being on a radio with an instructor on the ground. The life and limb saver available to all of those scenarios is the good old PLF. Thanks for your reply. I look forward to the next, if you choose to do so. Respectfully, SP

Absolutely fabulous! Thanks for the addition, it's like a 1-stop shopping place for Rigger stuff without the broken links I have found in other places. Respectfully, SP

I have been a Rigger for a long time, and have had more saves than I can count. It always feels good. I remember the first one. I was there, and watched the whole thing. I even went and picked him up when he landed out. I remember his name, his reaction, and what he bought me as a liquid thank-you note. I have also had two malfunctions myself. I packed one of those reserves. It was a definite confidence builder . . . first the success of the cutaway in general, and second the knowledge that I had relied on myself to save my own life. I don't know what happened with your container-locked main, but I can say that if you trust your Rigger mentor enough to apprentice to him, then you should seek his counsel with regard to your feelings posted here. After all, he will be the one supervising you as you repack your reserve, right? Look at it this way . . . you just fulfilled a prerequisite for becoming a Tandem Instructor! Check that block! Respectfully, SP

I am a US Army Rigger and an FAA Master Rigger. I have personal preferences about gear. I have professional opinions about gear as well. Like the analogy in the earlier reply, I am in a manner of speaking a parachute mechanic. I also have the choice of accepting a rig to work on or not. If I have a fundamental belief that handles should be a certain material and a certain color, I can choose not to work on the gear if it shows up that way. I choose here to share my professional opinion and my personal preference about your newly acquired Javelin, then I have a suggestion for you. (Notice I did not say "order") :) My personal preference for cutaway handle color is red. If I ordered a brand new rig, I would order it that way. My personal preference for reserve handle material is steel. I see definite advantages to having a soft pillow, but my skydiving activity doesn't bring those advantages into play. My professional opinion about the rig you bought (assuking complete airworthiness sight unseen) is that the handle color is just fine if you are comfortable with it, and can train yourself to execture proper emergency procedures in every situation. The soft reserve pillow is also fine if you are comfortable with its use. Be aware that it does require something that the steel handle doesn't - a GRIP. You can hook a broken hand into a d-handle reserve ripcord and pull 22 lbs to deploy your reserve. You would have difficulty doing that with a pillow. Now for the suggestion: call Aggie at Sun Path (813) 782-9242. Tell him about the situation with your rig, and ask his recommendation. He is a FANTASTIC guy, and is super helpful in answering questions. Also, if you give him the rig's serial number, he can research whether your handles were deliverd with the rig in those colors, or if someone changed them later. Nice to know, maybe? After you have gone to the "mountain" of Javelin knowledge to seek counsel from the guru, then you can explain to your Rigger what your decision is. If he chooses not to work on the rig, then just find another Rigger who'll work on it! The Tandem Vector I jump has a green cutaway pillow and a red reserve handle by the way . . . and I accept the reason behind the manufacturer's design choice. I am completely comfortable with its use, because I have pulled both handles multiple times in a suspended harness. Respectfully, SP

Pssssst! JJ! Please don't tell them that I, too, have a huuuuuuge noggin! (The Freak) Respectfully, SP

This can be landed without incident. It is a minor malfunction. If the canopy is turning because of the tightness of the other steering line, just cut it with your hook knife (you ARE carrying a hook knife, aren't you?). Your Rigger is going to replace both of them anyway (never just one side). Remember to go easy pulling down on the rear risers when you flare - you are pulling down the entire back half of the canopy instead of just the trailing edge. I have never had one . . . I replace mine before they get to the breaking point. Prevention is my most effective emergency procedure. The bottom line: I do not want to cut away a fully open canopy just because of a broken steering line. I jump a Silhouette 210 @ 1.18 to 1 Respectfully, SP

-Wallace Closed, I believe. They are still listed in the DZ directory here, but the link is a dead-end -The nearest one to New Bern, I think, is The Skydiving Place in St. Pauls (due South of Fayetteville next to I-95) http://www.theskydivingplace.com/index2.htm -Next closest would be Skydive Raeford (my home DZ). It is a little farther West http://www.jumpraeford.com/ -Carolina Sky Sports is just North of Raleigh http://www.skydivecss.homestead.com/ -Down the coast is Skydive Coastal Carolinas in Long Beach http:// www.skydivecoastalcarolinas.com/ PM or email me when you get settled and plan to come to Raeford! Respectfully, SP

Get your Rigger or a knowledgeable instructor to show you how to do a "continuity" check on your main. It's good to know, and will confirm as previously posted that your main has been assembled correctly. Then he can show you how to do what I call a "six" line check (2 front, 2 rear, 2 steering). Note that if the canopy was assembled correctly, nothing should pass over the steering lines when the canopy is in proper layout (a rule of thumb). To elaborate on the earlier post, when we "PRO" pack, we are in fact doing a line check by walking four distinct line groups and two steering lines separately from the risers to the canopy to begin packing. This was a great question! Respectfully, SP

Initially I sent for the Strong packet last year to work part-time for Brian (all he had at the time were Strong rigs). Of course, things have changed in several ways since then. I followed through with the rating to finish what I started. My intentions are to work part-time for Tony and Kate doing mostly tandems, some AFF, and demos. For now, I plan to jump the Sigma as much as I can. If it is in the air, I can now use the Strong rigs. Once they convert completely, I will use the Sigmas primarily, jumping a Strong often enough to stay current. I hope Tony keeps one just for that purpose. I will help John out when I can; they have great airplanes and a nice spot. I am really not interested in the clubs any more. Respectfully, SP

From "The Parachute Manual, Volume II:" A ram-air canopy with a lower surface lip, upper surface pressure relief vents, droop tips instead of stabilizers, available in four sizes: 140, 160, 200, and 240 sq ft. Actual measurements are slightly less; it is difficult to measure a shaped canopy. Th Evolution has "three-legged" risers and the Spectra suspension lines attach to every rib instead of every-other-rib. A long Spectra reefing line extends from the slider through the canopy to the pilot chute. In late 1990, the deployment bag was moved. Apparently the pilot-chute controlled slider was not descending completely, usually because the pilot chute bridle and deployment bag were interfering with wach other. This resulted in a shorter control stroke or control problems. The deployment bag was moved where it cannot interfere with the bridle. Requires pilot chute 32"-34" in diameter. Super Evolution: The Evolution was changed in early 1991 to include zero permeability fabric on the top skin (only) and deletion of the pilot-chute slider reefing system. Respectfully, SP

First, I am not from Louisiana - I live in North Carolina. I have read several things about all of the DZ's in the State of Louisiana closing down in the last year or so. I also talked with Paul Cozic (DZ.com username: "jumpercozic") jumpercozic@netzero.net while he was here at Raeford last week, who said the same thing. He is on staff at Gold Coast Skydivers in Moss Point, Mississipi http://www.goldcoastskydivers.com/ PM or email him; I'm sure he will give you some ideas. Have a great trip! Respectfully, SP

I need help with a computer problem . . . I use MSIE v6.0, and when I go to the Happy Hour page in The Pub, all I get is a blank square with the little picture icon in the upper left hand corner. This also happens on the Square One Used Gear pages. I tried playing with my Java settings to no avail. Can anyone help?? Respectfully, SP

After having the packet for a year, and working through schedule and examiner availability issues, I am finally a Strong Tandem Master! I made my three crossover jumps yesterday with John Hayes at The Skydiving Place in Parkton, NC. Thanks again to John and Kellie for the hospitality. Respectfully, SP

Dan Poynter's "Parachute Manual Volume II" should have a description of the Evolution. I have one at work, and will look the details up and post them here on Monday unless somebody beats me to it. I remember it as a 21-cell canopy on forked risers (three forks per side) and a funky reefing system. A good contact at Para-Flite is Joe Andrzejewski, the marketing VP: joe@paraflite.com He is a great guy and will get your questions answered. Another more immediate source is to PM SkyMonkeyONE. Chuck would probably be familiar with the Evolution as well. Respectfully, SP

Congratulations, my friend! You can change your name to Hugh Daman! You have a beer coming from me! Respectfully, SP

I watched Beezy Shaw's Psycho Pack demonstration at PIA Symposium 2001 in San Diego. He said that part of the pack job is not like rolling up a sleeping bag; rather it is making three distinct folds. I use this pack job sometimes and it works wonderfully for me. Respectfully, SP

I highly recommend Sky Kat in Raeford, NC. Tony and Kate Thacker will take good care of you. Their customer service is without equal. Give them a try! http://www.skykat.com/index.html Respectfully, SP

Terry, The folks at PD are great. They will be glad to help you: Performance Designs 1300 E. International Speedway Blvd. DeLand, FL 32724 Ph: (386) 738-2224 Fax: (386) 734-8297 support@performancedesigns.com Respectfully, SP

Is this posted anywhere on the internet that you know of?? Respectfully, SP

Thanks Chris. I actually found what I was looking for here: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_02/14cfr105_02.html I appreciate your effort! Respectfully, SP

Does anyone have a link to the new FAR Part 105 as a .PDF or .DOC file? Respectfully, SP

Two jumps on the Sigma 370 today - what a sweet canopy! I had a friend of mine ride on the front with me for a couple of "training" jumps, which went beautifully. I will take my wife up this weekend and let her enjoy it! Respectfully, SP