chutingstar

.................................................................... Apparently, the Relative Workshop/UPT tried soft links on Sigma tandems with Dacron lines, but ran into problems with hot slider grommets melting soft links, so they discontinued the practice. ... similar to the problem Lou Diamond mentioned on military freefall rigs. I suspect that half the problem is friction from Dacron lines. Try sliding your hand quickly down a Dacron line. You will only do it once! I wolnder how long soft links last when used with smoother lines like Spectra? We still use the Reserve Slinks around here on Precision, Aerodyne, HOP and Icarus tandem mains without issue. The HOP's and Aerodyne's have Spectra lines and the Slinks don't get any abnormal wear. The Precision and Icarus mains (some Vectran and some Dacron) have the same result, although the slider seems to ride a little bit above the Slinks on these canopies during normal flight. We did try recently the reserve Slinks on the Sigma mains again except with the main Slink bumpers inverted to keep the slider up higher, but the slider still was pushing down too much and quickly started melting the outside of the Reserve Slink (in 30 or so jumps). The slider on the Sigma mains rides solidly against the risers/Slinks. So we're back to the metal links again on the Sigma mains. Mike ChutingStar.com

I have one in the loft. Let me know a fax number for you and I can send it Wednesday. If I can find an electronic copy, I'll post it later. Mike ChutingStar.com

Slightly smaller main container tray. At the shop I have the container measurements, but I believe the MX-1/2 is a 1/2" shorter main container tray than the MX. ChutingStar.com

By S.A. REID The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 07/31/08 A metro area YMCA plans to name its climbing tower for a Georgia Tech student and former camp staffer killed in a skydiving accident. The 60-foot structure will become the Reid Ashe Memorial Climbing Tower on Tuesday when the Cherokee Outdoor Family YMCA at Lake Allatoona in Woodstock is scheduled to hold a 7 p.m. farewell to Olen Reid Ashe III. Toby Bramblett, YMCA executive director, described Ashe as a "rock for this facility" in his role as action learning coordinator. For the past two summers, Ashe, of Richmond, Va., managed the YMCA's climbing towers and lead off-site climbing trips. "This is a way for us to remember him," Bramblett said. "He made an impact on that wall. That's a way for us to continue the tradition of Reid." Ashe, 23, died Saturday after an apparent parachute malfunction caused him to fall to his death at SkydiveTheFarm in Rockmart. It was a 299th career jump for Ashe, who was involved in the sport since his freshman year and was once a member of Tech's student skydiving club. Polk County police and the Federal Aviation Administration are examining Ashe's parachutes and helmet camera for clues to the cause of the accident. ChutingStar.com

The G4 MT is what you'll want. Mike ChutingStar.com

Awwww...shucks...being way too nice. I can also be an a$$*&(^ if I'm buried in work. HA! ChutingStar.com

Dealers aren't all master riggers, so no, this won't be able to be installed by most dealers. But depending on demand, Ward at Mirage has said the company will allow a Mirage Service Center, such as ChutingStar, and/or possibly master riggers in general (after visiting the factory for instruction such as those allowed to install the Skyhook) to do the install. But my understanding is that when it is first released it will be a factory-only install. I will get setup to do the installs as soon as it is released and they will allow it out-of-house for installs. Mike ChutingStar.com

They've had a couple of "release dates" that haven't happened. But your best bet would be checking this site regularly: www.miragesys.com. It'll be posted there as soon as it is. Mike ChutingStar.com

The DRX system is being designed to be retrofitted/ordered on new/old G3 and G4 Mirages. But as of today, it's not available to purchase for any of their systems. Mike ChutingStar.com

www.chutingstargear.com Click on used gear. Mike ChutingStar.com

No problems on the shrinkage with the Nitro linesets either... But there are a couple of differences between a Xaos and Nitro jumper/lineset. First, the line is slightly different. I never found out exactly from Beezy what that was before he died, but he always said the black on Nitro lines wasn't a coating, but part of the chemical makeup of the line...and that it was definitely different than other HMA. He also changed suppliers for the line about a year before he died...so the new line hasn't been around long enough to see if it is better, worse, or the same as far as durability. Second, there are some differences between "usual" Nitro and Xaos jumpers in that a Xaos jumper would more likely put the slider below the toggles (or have a removable system) after opening, reducing wear on the lines near the links. Many Nitro jumpers (lower experience level needed) may leave their slider above their toggles and may not even always collapse their slider, which adds more wear to that area of the line per jump. Most of early wear issues on Nitro linesets seem to be at that area of the lines. Since taking over the lineset portion of HiPerUSA for relines and building new canopies, I've found there have been some inconsistencies in HiPerUSA's slider grommets. I have found several that are not set flush and may be contributing to early wear on some linesets, especially if the slider is left at the top of the risers after openings. Resetting the affected grommets has helped solve that issue. Lastly, the black HMA line on the continuous lineset is smaller compared to most standard cascaded linesets, so it doesn't take much damage to render a line in need of replacement. No issues if taken care of and treated with care...but a small snag becomes a bigger deal on the smaller line. Mike ChutingStar.com

We are getting Nitro canopies in for relines at anywhere from 250 jumps to 500 jumps. I know some jumpers are getting 600+ on their Nitro linesets, but that is not a common occurrence. Mike ChutingStar.com

Aerodyne makes cascaded HMA linesets for the Pilot. You can order your Pilot new with HMA or Spectra...and you can replace your Pilot with either when due for reline. Mike ChutingStar.com

Ned Luker / PISA Tel: 011 27 32 533 0333 nluker.pisa@wol.co.za I still order linesets from Ned Luker of PISA for Hornets, Skymasters and the like. Mike ChutingStar.com

If you already have the blackbox, each one is made for only a certain range of cameras, see here: http://cookiecomposites.com/shop/blackbox/index.htm If you don't have the blackbox already...see that list again for the type of cameras you can get a blackbox for to fit your Cookie camera helmet. Mike ChutingStar.com

Active military discounts Mirage containers: 35% off base price Wings containers: 40% off base price Aerodyne containers & canopies: 30% off base price of Icon, 30% off canopies FCI: 30% off if you buy main and reserve UPT: Call direct, they do offer a larger military discount with direct orders Mike ChutingStar.com

Me too. I forgot about these. Billy, you already ordered and paid for one. Thanks for the update, Jaye.

Me too. I forgot about these. Billy, you already ordered and paid for one. Thanks for the update, Jaye.

Hey Chris, The brake lines attach to the top of the toggle through the same loop of material that the straight pin is attached. See some of the attached photos. And as for the slider grommets and the dive loops, Sergey says it was working for him. Mike ChutingStar.com

Thanks for the comments Sergey! Here's what I did for Sergey: A set of SunPath Risers with Easy Grip Dive Loops (red dive loops, black risers) were combined with a set of toggles from a Russian manufacturer. The toggles have a straight pin for the brake setting stow. It has two tabs (one pointing down and one pointing up) for the lower toggle stows. All the type III for the SunPath toggle stows was removed from below the guide ring. The excess steering line stow was removed from the back of the riser. New type III to fit the new toggle stows was sewn below the guide ring. Excess steering line stows were sewn on the back side of the riser. The type III toggle stow above the guide ring was sewn to hold the straight pin. Mike ChutingStar.com

And we flew two inaugural loads in that Twin Otter today at Skydive The Farm...no need to collect on the insurance yet. All went well! Looking forward to many more jumps from that plane over the next several years... Thanks Greg!!! Mike ChutingStar.com

You only mentioned measuring the BRK-TOG measurement of this canopy. Before just adjusting that section, I would recommend doing a full line measurement check on the LSTs, USTs as well as the A, B, C & D lines. You'll more than likely find that you are out of trim on everything...but just adding to the lowers of your brake lines won't automatically fix your problem. You may also need to retrim or replace the LSTs and/or retrim other parts of the canopy...or it is possible (but not likely at 140 jumps) that the whole lineset may need a replacement. Anyway, just wanted to make sure you do a full line trim check... And the scaling part of your initial question has to do with the lengths given for each size don't always scale up...just to make sure you don't assume a misprint in the numbers on the chart. Mike ChutingStar.com

Sunrise Rigging just sent out a service bulletin for its mid-flaps of the W1-1EXT, W5-1EXT and W4, as well as a main packing addendum. It's in a .pdf file that I can't upload as an attachment and it's not on their web site yet. Anyone out there can help get the .pdf file uploaded if I send it to you? Here's the cover page text: Date: 31 March 2008 Service Bulletin #: 08325 # of pages: 6 Subject: Mid-flap stiffener update and main packing addendum Status: Recommended Identification: • Recommended: W1-1EXT, W5-1EXT, W4, Background: Following two incidents with the same canopy pilot wherein a small diameter line was caught under the mid-flap plastic stiffener resulting in a main malfunction and line on main to not release from container. Sunrise Manufacturing recommends updating the mid-flap pin protector to increase flexion on the mid-flap. Service Bulletin: This Service Bulletin removes the tip of the plastic stiffener contained in the mid-flap pin protector. Authority: Henri Pohjolainen, President Sunrise Manufacturing Inc. 5260 Fort King Rd. Zephyrhills, FL 33542 (813) 788-1910 Distribution: All registered owners affected by the service bulletin All Sunrise Manufacturing, Inc. Dealers Parachuting Publications There is also photos and directions to complete the work as well as photos of stowing the main canopy lines. Mike ChutingStar.com

The G3 and G4 use different reserve freebags and main deployment bags. The G3 has a white freebag that is not sewn in the center, while the G4 has a black freebag that is sewn down in the center. In general, the G4 has more bulk at the top of their containers than the G3 containers. The reserve pin cover flap is shorter on a G4 than the G3. The G4 main containers have a taper to the bottom of the container, while the G3 main container is more box-like. The G4 reserve container is more box-like, while the G3 has a taper toward the top. The G4 comes standard with stainless hardware, spacerfoam backpad/legpads and inset stabilizers. Unless it has changed recently, you can't get spacerfoam on a G3. Unless you are purchasing a Mirage without any options, it's now usually cheaper to buy a G4 due to some of the options being included on the G4, but costing extra on a G3. Mike ChutingStar.com

First week of April is the latest from SkySystems. Mike ChutingStar.com