Ron

It can be very common to have to almost stall a canopy to get the end cells to inflate. Used to happen all the time back when students went out on big 7 cells. Sometimes they nevr cleared until the landing flair. Sometimes they never cleared. Now days some people never have that...Canopies are designed better, and fly faster...Thats why I asked. Seems to me that this canopy might have issues. You can: 1. Get a pocket slider. 2. Get a small pilot chute. 3. Get another type of canopy. 4. Call the maufactorer and see what he says.. 5. Live with it. I personally would do #4 (well actually #3). I think that pocket sliders, and getting smaller pilot chutes are signs of a bad design. Didn't mean to step on your toes...seems like I must have pissed you off asking that question. But End cells being closed is not a big deal, not ideal, but not a big deal. But you made it seem like it was. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Is this the first time you heard of this? Was this not told to you in your FJC? I hear all kinds of complaints about end cells...It bothers me that people don't know this...I know one person thought that this was a malfunction... Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Whats the deal with the Bees anyway? Are you guys back? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Im afraid that before I can give advice, I am gonna hafta see this naked body weight you talk about "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

150 jumps is more than I HAVE EVER MADE on a team, and I have gone Open both times. It is more that Nemesis did last year, and I think more than Tunnel Vision did. So, you are like the GK of the intermediate class. Army...Free jumps 1,000 in the OPEN class which is what most serious teams do. AFA....Free jumps 150 in the Intermediate class Which is what most serious teams do.. Army...Free gear AFA....Free gear Army...Their own Aircraft AFA....Their own Aircraft Army...Jumping part of job AFA....Part of job Army...In the military AFA....In the military How are they not the same? They beat the closest to them (Other than the baby killers from Texas) by 14 points. That is the largest gap between any other teams in that class. (Other than Jugernaut which beat Airforce by 15 points). Now you know who I am, I coached them in the tunnel several times. ...They are skilled, dedicated, and in my opinion deserved to win that class. However, I can see how you can be compared to the GK...Hell I call you the GK of intermidiate...You are. You have a sponsorship that many teams wish they could get. Yes they belong in intermediate...But they do have a large advantage. How are they not? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well if your brand new canopy kills you on final....That would suck... Ask someone you know and trust about the NOVA. Or it could fire early...and kill you and me. Maybe fire as you float, and take out an aircraft. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Mike, Never said there was a Problem with the Astra...But it did not live up to the hype that it had when it came out. It was going to be the NEW HOT AAD....It never really made it big. I know a good # of people that bought an Astra...then sold it and got a CYPRES. Like I said not a problem product...but never lived up to the inital hype. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

OK, I'll drop the reflex....I know riggers that I trust that will not touch them...And that is enough for me to not jump one. Now where did I say they were all crap?....Nope All I said was never be the first on the block with a new toy. The fact That they recalled them is proof of what I said. I never said that the company was shit...I never said that they are junk....I just said that A LOT of people were unhappy to own them. I don't care where they were made...They had a problem. If I had one of them I would be upset. And you still never did answer my PM. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Damn I love that saying!!!! "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

There is no rule saying you can't have your hand go to the reserve WHILE you give the handle a solid yank. You should practice a few reserve pulls, and see if you stay stable.....I have done this in the tunnel...It is kinda funny to see a guy dip forward doing something he has never done even if he has a few hundered jumps. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Can you attribute the saves to the system? Or was it the freebag? Please educate me. If it is the better system show me proof that it was the "catapult" what saved these 5....I will gladly eat my words. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

How about a recall because some were collapsing in turbulance? That enough for ya? Look up Lisa Gallagher's accident at the ranch. How about several riggers don't like them...and some WILL NOT pack them? Reason enough for me. AND IF YOU READ THE WHOLE SENTANCE...It said * Gear that was dangerous, OR NEVER LIVED UP TO THE HYPE* And why did you never reply to my reply about the PM you sent me? I would really like to know. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

No offense here, but I will tell you what I was told by a very good friend of mine after I landed on my 100th jump. "Congradulations Ronnie!!! We now think you will at least bounce with something pulled. It won't be the RIGHT thing, but at least you will pull something." That kinda woke me up some. I think it should be told to everyone on the 100th jump. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I like the blocks sewn on the risers MUCH better that any type of attachment... There have been problems with the loops releasing durring a cut away. I WOULD NOT DO IT. But what ever you do...PLEASE STOW THE DAMN SLIDER... FLAP,FLAP,FLAP,FLAP,FLAP Thats shit drives me crazy... Slider Flapida....a disease only YOU can cure. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Oh hell yes...... 100 jumps..thought I had a clue...Till I had 200 500 thought I had a clue...till I had 1,000 1,000 thought I had a clue...till I did 2,000 Now as I approach 3,000...I know I still don't know shit.... More than some 100 jump wonder...But much less that many more. Still, even at 100 jumps I listened to the guys with even one more jump than me. Some 100 jump wonders know it all, and can't be bothered to listen to a guy with 30 times the experience...THAT KILLS ME. Oh well. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The only thing I will say about this is....Never be the first kid on the block with a new toy....You will live longer that way. Crossfire Nova Reflex Micro Raven Astra I am sure there are MANY more examples of gear that was dangerous, or just never lived up to the hype. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I moved from Memphis to the DZ in Z-Hill's. Hows that? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Oren...I have offerd time after time to "Help the ladies out". Not ONE has taken me up on it. US Womens team...."How YOU doin?" Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

What if his example is to be responsable for pulling for yourself? Don't take unneeded chances? Don't rely on "Gadgets" to save you from stupidity? I think he HAS shown a good example by living this long and not becomming dependent on toys. A lot of young jumpers could learn from him. They are cool, I say have an AAD. But NEVER rely on one. They do fail. The safest skydiver is one that relys only on himself and his friends... Why is it I get SO much flack when I try to point out how a lowtimer is under to fast a canopy, but to tell someone to get an AAD is cool? Simple answer... gear dependence....A large number of jumpers require an AAD to jump. Why? What happened to trusting yourself? Get an AAD because it is better to have it and not need it...Than to bounce. But if you REQUIRE one to jump...You might want to rethink the whole skydiving issue. I have one..Incase I screw up. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

If TRUE computer geeks did the dive pool it would go: 0: Unipod 1: Stairstep 01:Murphy Flake 00:Yuan 10:Meker 001: Open accordian. Ect. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I live on the DZ....Work is 40 miles away "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

But all to often it is USED as one. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You can load them a little more. I personally don't sse them as a step up. Just a variation on the same. (This is were all the Samurai and Jedei nuts start yelling at me.) For what its worth I have a few hundred Jedei jumps on 95 to 120's, and liked them, but was not awe inspired by them, and stayed with my Stiletto. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I like the way you think...Its your duty to pull, not some cool gagets. Damn fine reason to get one. Another Damn good reason to have one. However I think most people get one to save their ass if they do something stupid...Not that it is not a good reason, I just wish more people would be honest about that part. Bad reason...If you think you might have a medical need...Well then you should ground yourself. If you are talking about the off chance that you have one just pop up...Good reason to get one. Unlikley with modern AAD's Don't pull low. If it does happen deal with it, just like any other situation that can come up in this sport. Look to see if you should continue jumping...Realize that you should have been dead. Shit happens...Not very likley with a modern AAD. Not the case...You are just stacking the odds in your favor. I would say get one..Act like you don't have one...Never DEPEND on the damn thing. Don't do something with it that you would not do without it thinking that its OK cause you have one. I have one....I don't NEED it..I did 600 jumps without one and only got one due to a sponsorship....When it dies, I will probley get another one..But I WILL jump until I can get another one. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well you can scratch them if you like. I personally have 1,500 jumps on a Stiletto, and love it. In fact I just bought another one. Yes they are HIGH PERFORMANCE..And just like anything that is high performance...It is harder to handle. But ALL canopies have issues...You just have to decide which are OK with you. The Crossfire was one one canopy, and only a handful of those were the problem...I have heard nothing but good things about the Xfire 2. Probley true...However closed end cells are not a malfunction, and can be landed. The problem here is riding in deep brakes....My old Star Trac I...Like 260 square feet will stall if I ride it too long in deep brakes. My Stiletto will stall, spin and get chopped if I ride it too long in deep brakes. As for sugestions...Try a Sabre 2, or a Specter at a 1.1 wingload. Both have impressed me very much. You can call PD and they will send you one...Get the 170 and jump it...See how it feels... Its the only way you are going to know what to get is to fly it. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334