Clownburner

Para-gear sells a lot of that type of stuff. Look under 'raw materials.' 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

I'm not qualified to answer that question, but personally I bought PD Slinks on the recommendation of three riggers. Actually, most rigs use soft links for the hips - what's your main lift web made of? Remember, it's strength and flexibility that are important, which is why Titanium isn't used much (that and the cost, I imagine). 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

You're sort of right. The weak point of a Rapide link isn't the steel, it's the threading and nut, and once that's gone the link distorts easily. And Spectra isn't really a fabric.. It's actually a polyethylene (plastic). And it's 10 times stronger than steel by weight. The makers of Spectra (Honeywell) recently developed a special kind of rope for mooring deep-water floating oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, with a breaking strength of over 1,900 TONS. You could reel in quite a fish with that! Now back to your regular scheduled topic... 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

The word was they were supposed to start shipping around the beginning of May, so I'd guess it'd be any time now, if they're on track.. I'd like to see one also. 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

I also have a brand new gravitator - well made, inexpensive, and good customer service. I recommend them. 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

I think if the rigger hooked up the main backwards, I wouldn't trust his reserve pack job enough to jump with it. 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

Michele, I've recently gone through the same thought process, so perhaps explaining my decision will help you. I'm a big fan of new technology in general and am usually the one to always want the newest shiniest toy. I thought long and hard about the reserve question, asked around on these forums, and spoke to some people at the DZ whom I respect. I think Aerodyne is a good, reputable company that will do everything they can to make sure they are producing a safe and reliable product. I even bought a Triathlon for my first main, so I obviously like them, and the customer service I've had from emailing them has been superb - they even offered to perform all the current upgrades on the canopy for only the cost of shipping. However, I decided on the PD Reserve; I found a used one (2 jumps and about 10 packs) that I bought. When it comes to parachutes, I'm not a test pilot - and I don't want to be, at least not for the next 1000 jumps or so, if ever. This is doubly true of a reserve canopy, which is obviously your last chance all-or-nothing canopy. I even liked the idea of a reserve that's been used once or twice - at least you know it's worked once before. You could perhaps talk to the folks at Aerodyne and see if they'll provide a Smart hooked up with standard attachment points so you could demo it as a main, but my feeling is that until it's been in the field for a few years and has some saves under random and less-then-ideal conditions, I'll take a pass, for now. I like what they say about it and will certainly be keeping a close eye on it, perhaps in a couple years when I want a new/smaller reserve I'll be more comfortable with it, but in the meantime, I'll stick with what works in the field. I'm not sure what size reserve you're looking for, but Square1 often has reserves for sale from their demo rigs in larger sizes and they're usually the same (or a little cheaper) than what the Smart goes for; you might try calling them - that's where I got mine. Hope that helps, and good luck! PS: Won't get to see you next weekend as I'll be out-of-town, but FYI the 240 was no problem. 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

As for Disability, Yes, it probably means that they'll cover it - but chances are you wouldn't get coverage at all if you were a skydiver when you signed up. I've been calling all over and can't find a disability insurance company that'll even TALK to you if you say you're a skydiver. That's the 866 number USPA gave me but I don't know it's 100% accurate... I found this web site for them http://www.sadlersports.com/ and it lists a different number... (800)622-7370. Good luck, and let us know what you find! 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

Why does that happen? I'm curious... 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

Actually, many life insurance policies _will_ cover skydiving, if you have the policy _before_ you start skydiving. You'd have to check your policy to see if it's specifically excluded and you might want to bounce it off a lawyer. Personally, I found disability insurance that covers skydiving a LOT harder to find. What company is your disability insurance through? Another company to try (this is who USPA recommended to me) is Sadler & Co. Sports Ins. - 1-866-711-7233. I haven't called them but I'd be curious to hear what they have to say if you call them. 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

I'll be at Elsinore this Sunday, and I'm hoping to find someone who would be willing to introduce me to freeflying. My A-license stamp is just drying, and I've done some RW coached jumps, but I'd like to at least try freeflying before I decide what I want to spend time learning. Since I'm just in 'try-before-you-buy' mode I don't want to spend several hundred bucks on a badass coach yet. I've never done any kind of non-belly flying (at least not intentionally ), so I'm looking for someone willing to share a little knowledge and help out a total newbie jumper. I'm certainly willing to pay for jump tix and pack jobs for a couple/few jumps, if anyone's going to be out in Elsinore on Sun and doesn't have plans... Thanks in advance! 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

One of my instructors told me "Skydiving is not expensive. The first jump is a few hundred dollars, and then it's just 40% of your income for the rest of your life." Welcome to the club. Having just graduated AFF not long ago*, I can tell you that the faster you go through it, the more you'll learn. Wind tunnels are an excellent tool but I think you need the jump experience more right now, personally. Get through AFF as quick as you can, then spend money on wind tunnels later when you cant to hone your freefall skills. *Note: This makes me clueless and unqualified so don't listen to anything I say. 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

Yes, there is a bunkhouse at Elsinore, although you'll need a sleeping bag (or at least a few blankets) to use it effectively. I'm in Irvine and will be going out there too, but at this point I'm not sure if it'll be Sat or Sun; I don't think it'll be both at this point. If it turns out to be Sat, I could give you a ride out there, but you'd have to get another ride back on Sun or return Sat Eve. 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

I also just got my Gravitator suit in the mail. Looks nice, fits pretty well. The cordura reinforcements are very stiff, so it's a little awkward around the knees, but I think it'll be very nice once it breaks in. Seems well made, and the price is very good. I recommend 'em too. 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

Here is a nice comparison of A vs. B vs. G. A and G can both do 53Mbps, and some B equipment can do 22Mbps in a proprietary 'turbo' mode. Yes, some 2.4Ghz phones (especially DSS phones) might cause interference with B or G, but it's unlikely to be a serious problem. 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

Terrified, I am All true skydivers love beer! The bunghole is nice. 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

Solution occurs, I'll just buy him a few beers. Wrath is averted! 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

A wise man said once, when asked for his sage advice: "Get her drunk quickly." 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

Not political, comments made in fun, not hate Just a friendly jape. Looks like good weather in store for this weekend here Hope your skies are blue! 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

Not intending offense, Hope his sense of humor holds. He seems a nice guy! 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

Twin otter flies fast; GPS is out; clouds fly below my vision. Can't see the drop zone, Hope the spot is not too bad. Go Light wingloading! 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

Purile haiku; If poems were like skydiving, Your poem is a mal. Don't feel too bad though, skydivers aren't good poets. Don't quit your day job. Not that I could do all that much better, but then I don't skydive well. No offense implied; I hope your skin is thick here. Just yanking your chain. 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

IMHO, I think it depends on how much you're going to be jumping... It's better to buy gear if you're jumping a lot, but at $25/jump (less if you get packages) for gear rental, you have to jump 100 times to justify the cost of that $2500 worth of gear, if you can find a reasonable used kit. If you're going to be jumping only about 20 times a season (Heaven Forfend!), it may not be worth it by the time you add in the cost of repacks and cypres maintenance. Having said that, I just bought a set of gear that I'm going to have to jump like 400 times to hit breakeven. But I wanted my own gear... Priorities, priorities. 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

Perhaps the best way to signal this is the middle finger - the universal sign that 'You're F****d - pull now!' 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

Yes, I think different DZ's sometimes use slight variations; so they show a few different ones. They're not all equally clear. I know during my AFF they used slightly different ones for some of the symbols - 'arch' (they used the thumb down), 'practice touches' and 'check arms' were all different. Personally, I don't like the pull signal. It's hard-wired to mean 'look over there' in most people, and the first time I got it (AFF1), that's exactly what I did: I looked where the AFF/I was pointing - at the reserve side AFF/I. It took about .5 sec for me to realize what he meant (when the other AFF/I pointed back at the first one) and as I reached for my pilot chute, I felt him grab my wrist and start pushing it back there. But who am I to question the wisdom of those better at skydiving than I? 7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth