Ron

Feel free to risk your life trying new stuff. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Care to expand on this??? Something got lost in the translation. The problem with new stuff is it is new....New can be very bad (NOVA, Crossfire 1, Catapult, RSL's on old racers, Micro Ravens...ect) or just be inconvienant (CYPRES 2 screen going blank and having to send it back on your own dime, Neptune needing all kinds of software additions.) I don't want "issues" with my skydiving gear. I have seen a few folks die due to the new neat gear...I have seem many more discover issues with new designs and a few of those were great dissapointments. You may think its more important to be "cool" with the new toy....I think being "cool" is being safe. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Ask a riger to look at it. If a rigger says its good to jump...Jump it. I have a PD113 with 6 rides on it. (I chop a lot). Its fine. I had a Raven II...years ago a Raven could be used as a main or a reserve...I put 370 jumps on it as a main. It worked fine all 370 jumps. 4 or 5 jumps is nothing to a good canopy. Have it inspected and if the rigger says its ok...buy it. Find a way to jump the same type and size reserve as a main once as well. Edit to ADD: After 20 years I would get new gear...Not that there is anything wrong with 20 year old gear...but think about cars for a second...A 2004 Mustang is better designed than a 1984 Mustang. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yes, just tuck them up and forget about it....No need to rubberband, tape, glue, staple, weld them up.... I understand his thinking...but don't agree. Did he make you jump nakid first so you could fly your body? Did he then let you jump in just socks and underware? Did you get to work your way up to a regular jumpsuit? At 28 jumps you could wear booties. Now thats just MY opinion...And while I am AN instructor, Im not YOUR instructor. and I have not seen you fly. But for the average 28 jump wonder...Booties are fine. But as always listen to YOUR instructor over some jackass on the internet. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

As I have always said...Never be the first on the block with a new toy. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Go/No Go is a personal choice. I NEVER try to force people to jump. Great post. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I would check to make sure that he is putting it on correctly, and that it is the right size for him. If he was putting it on right, and it was the right size...Then I would have him get something else...For whatever reason it is clear that this helmet does not fit him. As for not seeing the handles....I would have him train wearing the helmet. You can see the handles if you turn your head slightly. I look at my right handle (Turn my head to the left slightly) and grab it. Then look at my left handle (Turn my head to the right slightly) and grab it. I then ARCH like hell pull right, then left. A one handed cutaway procedure would need to bee REALLY drilled, and a straight reserve pull needs to be trained like hell...Its not normal to look away from an object you want to touch...But looking right at it will obscure it.. So the answer is to recognize the issue, devise a workable training plan, and drill it like hell. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

On the Vector tandem the RSL has a big round clear ball that is attached to it. Pulling this big round clear ball will disconect the RSL..Pulling it up away from your body will pull the pin on the reserve. Kinda like another ripcord, but on the right side of the harness. Crystal ball sounds neater to say, and it is shorter than Big, Round, Clear Ball that disconnects my RSL and that can be used to deploy the reserve. BTW it is the reason I like Vector Tandems better than any other...You can pull the main or reserve with either hand. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You don't KNOW that...you are assuming that. You may be right, but you may also not be. He is not bad mouthing it...He is saying that this helmet on this person has issues. I personally don't like the Havok since it looks to me to be a snagged line waiting to happen. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Dogs are a joy to be around. Cats...I like cats. I can't eat a whole one by myself though. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have been in two wrecks on the West coast. Not something I would suggest to open water folks, but with the right tech gear and training they let us. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Where is the answer: Skydiving does not make me cool, skydiving is just something that I do that I enjoy. If people want to think its cool...Thats fine, but it does not cross my mind, and I would never do it cause I want people to think I'm cool. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Thats just wrong....Not the marriage, congrats on that but this: What the hell is that? I got married ON the DZ. (Well, I was actually on a skydive at the time)...My Ex-wife was getting the papers signed and met me in the landing area with a kiss and said..."were married". I kissed her back, and then had to pack..I was training. (Notice I said EX wife?) You know the rules...No video and it didn't happen. Congrats. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

We used to skip out all the time and go to Taco Bell. Cool High School story I was in acting class...And we would take like 3-4 of us to go get something that the class needed. If caught the story went something like this: Teacher: What are you doing here? Us: getting batteries for the microphones. Teach: Why does it take 4 of you to get batteries? Us: Well, Bill drove cause he has a car, Mike knows what types of batteries to get, Laura has the money, and I'm here to make sure they don't fuck off. The teacher would just look at us with a dumb look. We used to go to Taco Bell so much on these trips that the teacher sent a runner to Taco Bell to tell us to get something else also once. I college I used to smoke a pipe with my History Professor. (Not a crack pipe) "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yeah, but they don't post here The key being CAN. I can't see a saftey benefit...I can see a cost benefit, but not a saftey benefit. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

No....Lets look at these quotes. You said: I said: Then you said: And I called BS on the 0.2 seconds. Which you agreed was a BS amount of time. Then I mentioned that an RSL is best used when low...Thats what its good at. I also said: Then you said: Which I took to be that you didn't think a Tandem reserve would open in time....But I found it funny you thought that a strong wind could open it....I have never been jumping in 40 mile an hour winds...And you will have that in a little over one second from a cutaway. You replied with Still 900 feet MIGHT be enough time to save your life with an RSL....But you think it should be disconnected. So you eliminate the benefit of it. Then you said: Now which is worse? Getting drug while under the reserve canopy...Or impacting at terminal with the reserve in the bag? I vote to get drug under canopy in the small chance that the reserve would inflate. Since no one has said they have EVER seen it, but there are pages of impacts before the reserve can open. I just don't get it....you think its safer to disconnect the RSL as you get low (When it works best). For fear of getting drug by a reserve that it *might* (But NO ONE has ever seen) deploy and cause you to get drug in high winds. Just the level of risk between the two is enough to keep the RSL on...On a low cut away it might save you from impact...And the worse it could do on the ground if it opens is scrape you up and damage gear. And like I said there are PAGES of people not getting a reserve out in time...And I have never heard of ONE case where a reserve inflated on the ground and drug some one. I really just don't get your thinking. Trading a way to reduce a known risk that will kill you, for a risk no one has ever heard of happening that will just damage gear and scrape you up some if it ever did happen. that does not make sense to me "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I think the "birdy" said ONE cutaway were you pulled both handles. Thats kind of the way that little birdy thinks. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

OK so lets recap. You think a Tandem Reserve will not open from a cutaway from 800-900 feet with an RSL, but you think it WILL open and drag a tandem pair in a good strong ground wind? Who cares about uninjured if the option is death? Something is better than nothing Passenger survived. Main, but Student survived. Main, but Instructor survived. And "something" out is better than"nothing". Agian I ask if ANYONE has EVER seen this? I would bet they have not. I have seen guys cut away with RSL's and it open the container...but never have I seen it open and start pulling a guy. Not going to bother staying in this thread...Unless you can SHOW me where a reserve has been pulled on the ground and it opened and started dragging a guy. You would be much more logical if you just said "I don't want to pay 40 bucks for a repack." And I still say 40 bucks is not much for the added benefit of having an RSL when you are low. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I would NOT disconnect it if I jumped one...The ONLY reason I like RSL's are the fact that if you have to cut away low it will start the opening faster than most can pull handles. It is the best reason to have one....To disconect it when you are low is taking the best benefit that it can provide away. If you choose to jump one. (Another thread) I would never disconect it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well with all the people on here....SOMEONE has to have seen this happen ONCE right? So I will wait till they tell me it has happened. Almost/might have is not the same thing as HAS. Anyone? Like I said the chances of it happening are SMALL and the risk of undoing the RSL is IMO not worth it....Worse case it pulls the pin...That does not equal an open canopy... to quote you: So you don't think the RSL will open the Reserve in 900-1500 feet, but a good strong wind will? That makes no sense. And to answer this. I have seen collisions with tandems...I have a buddy that DID collide with a tandem, I have had people cut me off while I was doing tandems. So I know of TWO collisions with a tandem and not ONE reserve opening up and dragging a guy. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The freebag did not come off? So how do you know it would? Im waiting for someone to tell me they had seen a reserve deploy and drag someone... You have not seen that then? I'll wait till someone tells me it HAS happened, not that they THINK it would have happened, or it COULD happen. The only time I have seen one open was in a movie...Terminal Velocity....And in Dropzone it did take that kid off his feet, but it did not open. So anyone SEEN a reserve get pulled and it inflate on the ground and start pulling a guy? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

It would be closer without the RSL than with it. The chances of a reserve opeing on the ground is VERY small. If fact anyone know know of a pulled reserve on the ground inflating and starting to drag a guy? Anyone...EVER? I have never heard of it...Now that does not mean it has never happened. So I ask again....anyone? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Really? Got any proof of that? Or you just quessing? Ya gotta open the container to open the reserve...So if the container opens faster after a cutaway than pulling the silver...Guess what? You get a faster reserve opening. Im not going to tell you how to do a tandem...Im not an examiner. It is foolish to waste the potential life saving benefits of an RSL to save 40 bucks. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

No one wins a low pull contest..the best you can do is tie. How about a Mr Bill to a two stack and downplane? Or two way to a two stack then cutaway to a two way again? Not ballsy enough to do CRW with a reserve. HeHe. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I know more skydivers that are broken or dead than SCUBA divers that have been hurt or died. I know more skydivers that have had CYPRES fires than divers with shark attacks. Its just a FEAR...Just like some will never skydive...It does not make it safe or dangerous..Its just the perception. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334