Ron

Oh good god! You would cut away a non-collapsed PC? That is so fu(king stupid. There would be no danger in landing a non-collapsed PC. The very small fraction of speed loss, and distortion it would be stupid to cut it away. Ever hear of a CONTROLABILITY check????? You would cut away a safe canopy to land for "whats behind handle #2? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Were Mortal?!?!?!?!?! Oh Shit! I planned on living forever...so far, so good. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Some teams go over the OC...I think the GK's do this. For most people, I would vert over the Tail while keeping my head in the center. Your results may vary. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I would put a Vector against any other rig any day for design. Now I am not saying that any other rig is bad, but if you want to talk engineering...I think Both and his boys have that down. Invented 3 rings Invented hand deploy Co-Invented Tandems Did a great study on 3 rings and GAVE it to anyone that asked (How many companies have done that?) Skyhook Sigma I am sure the list goes on. Name one from Infinity. And did it change the face of the sport? Or look better...Art is very subjective. I think it more comes down to cost and area you live. If you just wanted quality, and saftey. You could get an all black Dolphin. As for cost even...It is effected by where you live. I bet that the people in DeLand have more Vectors than Zhills. And I bet there are more Infinities at Kapowsin than anywhere else. So they LEARN how to do things, then start their own companies? If you want true knowledge...why not go to the source? And if they are the source of knowledge, and the top manufacturers (your words, not mine) Then why jump anything else???? Just because its cheap? Like I said you want cheap, get a Dolphin. How to buy gear...the Ron Hill way: 1. Go to your DZ.... 2. Look left, look right. 3. Notice what everone else seems to be jumping on your DZ. 4. Buy the same damn thing. If everyone seems to be jumping the same thing...I bet that there is a reason...Could be cost, availability, style...Hell, who cares. Its not about fitting in...It is a practical set of reasons. If you have a problem with it. Chances are others have had the same problem. And know the solution. If you cut away and loose something, chances are that someone has one you can beg, borrow ,buy, steal to keep jumping. Ever see a guy with a very odd container have a cut away and loose his freebag? Then he can't find one on the DZ, and has to wait till one comes from Timbucktu to get a repack. I had a reserve PC get torn on a recovery in DeLand, and I had a new one in like 10 mins. I have seen guys with rigs from France have to wait a week or more. And chances are that there is a discount out there. I bet I could buy a Wings or Javelin for less than I could get an Infinity....But I live in Zhills. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well I found another DZ with WL restrictions. Our own DZ Raeford. I will leave it to skyone to post it, but It was not all that bad. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Really? If I was told that I pull at the right altitude, or never jump at that DZ again...I'd pull at the right altitude. The "high" pullers we have now are due to equipment, and lack of low altitude exits. But the BSR has made plenty of people pull higher. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

He could have done them BEFORE the PRO rating existed. I did several Demos before the rating existed... "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I'll wear my greens with Tevas! "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Nope Rodneys wedding on Sat, then some stuff to do up there T-W-T. With the SOCOM guys. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I'll be there...thats about it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Michigan with the "EDGE" booties. Mikes suits last very well, and his customer service is GREAT. I have seen him fly accross the state to look at a guys suit. I like Bev Suits...And to be honest, If I was not on a team that has sponsorship from Mike...I was thinking of buying one to check it out. But we got sponsorship deals from both Mike and Bev (In fact one guy on my team does jump a Bev and loves it.) But I can't say I like something just cause its free, and I know I like Mikes suits. so I stayed with Mike. Merlin..Well three of the 4 on our team fell apart in less than 50 jumps...And her customer service SUCKED. Air time,and Tony I think is the same thing... As for Tony...Well, I like big nose personally, and I like his suits. But they are VERY expensive, and I just like Michigans. I don't know anything about the other suits... (My OPINIONS are based from RW suits...Its all I know.) I have had: 5 Tony Suits, One used, one paid retail, 3 sponsored. 1 Merlin, sponsored. 2 Michigans, Both sponsored. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

who said they were plain? Not me. I just asked if it is possible all his answers (Other than cost) are just opinions? I think the Vector is the best engineered rig out there...One trip to the factory is all it took for me to think that. Now this is just MY OPINION (thats why I put "I think" in this paragraph). So if you want something that is "like" another rig...why not just get that rig? I never did like the Infinity...but I am an east coast jumper, and there are not a lot of them. I don't like Racers or Dolphins either...That does not make them BAD...I just don't like them. And I will never claim that my reasons are FACTS...They are just my OPINIONS. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The problem is when these people think they are the exeption to the rule, and don't They think it will not happen to them. Again why accept them if they don't think they will screw up? Most don't, or I would not see an issue. Most don't...After all they are the exception right? And this is why I don't have an issue with you. But as freeflir29 said: And so he let traffic screw his hook up, and then when low still used his riser...And all this was in an area that he should have known had turbulance. Then he says I think 35 square feet is a big jump...You? Then he says sounds like he has a bad attitude about saftey to me. does not sound like he listens well, and it looks like he does not respect the wing...After all he has 200 jumps on it..He is an EXPERT now. And from this he still does not truely understand all the flight controls. And I personally think that a 1.6 is still extreme...The laws of physics have not changed. Perception has, and the accepted norm has with it. But it is still as extreme as it was when it was first jumped by you. You just don't see it as hard as it was. Not everyone is you, and most think they don't need to listen to instruction. So with respect, I still see 1.6 as extreme for someone with 300 jumps....when you think about it...A guy with 300 jumps has only landed a canopy 300 times. 300 times is not really much is it? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Maybe they are both your opinion? I like the Vectors design better. Again, I like the Vector better, so maybe this is just your opinion as well? this is a valid answer. But you get what you pay for in my opinion. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yeah, but what altitude? I have cut away at 600-700 feet before, and I have seen people cut away this low from collisions. And I would not recomend that you change anything below 1,000 feet. So I think its bad, but I am just asking those that do it to think about it some. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

While I agree with what you say, The same thing that made people start pulling higher when the Pull altitude BSR came out. Because we already do....Manditory training in a FJC, age limits on alcohol,and tabacco, min age to drive, skydive ect.... And some still will not,listen. The same thing was said about the pull altitude BSR. How about I teach those that will listen, and try to regulate those that don't? why not both? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

How would it slow you down? It will, but only a little before it stalls. You are only changing the attitude of the wing, and the glide slope. This is why it is a recomended long spot recovery trick. It increases your glide slope, but does not slow you down as much as brakes. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

OK there are some guys at my DZ that are putting their hands through the toggles,a nd wearing them on their wrists. They do this so they can rear riser with their hands. Now this seems like a good idea. You will never drop a toggle. However, you have also just locked youself to this canopy. If you have to cut away from a collision...You are screwed. You can't get them off fast enough, and you cant cut-away while you are wearing them. And you can't pull your reserve with a toggle on your wrist either. So, I have my doubts about this technique. Just a thought I would put out for those that are thinking about this, or are doing it now. Not trying to be your Dad. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Another reason I Love RWS!!! "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Between the two I say Wings... I like the Wings, and they have great customer service. If you like that about the Vector....Why not just get a Vector? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yeah it is. I have 3,000 jumps and I am at 1.68...I have jumped up to 2.6...And I found the 1.68 to be very extreme still. It is this attitude that makes 300 jump wonders think it is ok to go 1.5-1.6 ish at such low jump numbers. And this attitude is what caused many jumpers to fly a good canopy to their deaths....Look at the fatality reports. 300 jumps 1.5 wingload. Can it be done safely? Yes. With instruction and common sense. However a good number of people don't have the common sense, and most don't seek instruction. I just lost another friend to a hook turn....He thought he had it under control as they all did. Why is it that everyone thinks they are canopy gods? I have yet to find one person that will not take advice about freefall...But will go to arms if you try to tell them about canopies. Just because you have landing it fine so far is not indicative that you know what you are doing. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

And this is the same reason that we "Canopy Nazi's" jump on stuff like this. Guy that think they have it and that show the warning signs of becoming a divot. BTW I don't mind being called a "Canopy Nazi"...Other than I don't really like the NAZI part.....And I am more of an all around Safety Nazi....But the only time people don't seem to listen is when it comes to Canopy flight. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Nope it is not conservative. It is (I think) a good WL to be at at 350 jumps, but it is NOT conservative. 1.4 would be Max I would recomend. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well heres the thing...Tony Hathaway said it best to me one time. People will listen when you tell them to do anything in freefall. They just do, and rarely question. But very few listen to anyone when it comes to the skydive after the canopy is open. This does not make sense. If I go up to a guy and give him advice about freefall they like it....If I sugest that they not jump in high winds, or that they might want a bigger canopy....Then they don't listen. Oh well...Whe I quit helping other is the day I quit the sport. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yeah, but you can make good money in F1 racing....Not even close to the same return in skydiving. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334