Ron

Well, if your trolling good job!!!! Your an asshole, but good job!!! If not..... Well I am a guy that thinks that if you want to do anything in life with your life, it is your choice. This includes ending it. I personally don't think that killing yourself is the answer....If it is it was a STUPID question. As for how to do it with out hurting the sport....hey jackass ya can't. Have you ever seen a body after a full tilt boogie impact? It's not pretty. I have seen more than one person quit after such a mess, and several were never the same. I was not the same. Every persons death that I care about affects me. And ya never know who is going to be affected by what you do. So the quick answer is you can't do it with out affecting the sport or the people in it. The long answer is get help. Whatever it is thats bothering you, remember this... In time, this too shall pass. If you really can't take the thought of living anymore.... Don't kill yourself skydiving. It will have a negative impact. Don't kill yourself with a gun...It just feeds the anti gun morons. I hope ya don't do such a final fix to a problem, but its really your choice. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You think 20 jumps and a 20 min speach is enough???? If it is, why are so many people with 300 jumps dying under canopies???? Did they miss the speach?? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I agree with him, but with your Dad and Chuck there I am not planning on arguing the point.... I will point out that the higest percentage of deaths last year were people with good canopies at around 300 jumps and a 1.5ish wingload....It can kill you. But like I said not going to argue the point...just bring it up and hope for the best. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Living in FL...I feel that 20 jumps a mth is what I consider for me to be current. That comes to 240 a year. I did 250 a year when I was at a Cessna DZ in ARK. for 3 years. 500 for 2 years in 97/98...Then slowed down a bit for Uncle Sam for 3 years. Last year I did a little over 300. This year I am aiming for 600. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well Chuck and your Dad will be watching you. But why not jump both at the 150 size, and decide which you like based on jumping the different types at the same wingload you are used to?....Then pick the one you like how it flies, and get the 135 sized one....Then listen to Chuck and Dad, and try not to die. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have around....Oh 400 jumps with smoke. you need to have a bracket...The smoke canister will burn you. Get a piece of thin steel, and make it into a U shape. Drill holes in the back that will allow you to fasten 2 hose clamps per smoke....you want one smoke have 2 clamps...2 smokes 4....Redundency is good here. You would put your heel into the back of the U, with the 2 "arms" running along your foot on the sides. Make sure that the smokes run Left to right not up and down. Use webbing to create a harness for your foot that wraps around your foot, and around your ankle. Or talk to a guy that has one, and try to buy one...Much easier. The smoke will burn almost anything it comes into contact with...thats why there is the steel U. It will also burn your canopy if it is still burning during opening. It will stain your jumpsuit, and the damn stuff gets everywhere. I will not jump smoke on my pretty new gear. DON'T JUMP MILITARY WHITE SMOKE!!!! It will burn you even with the steel bracket!!!! Get some damn instruction!!!!! A smoke jump has several new and cool ways to kill yourself or someone else.... You can drop it....very bad. It can entangle with your parachute...Can't cut away...very bad.... You can burn the living piss out of your buddy that happens to run into it, or even just gets hit with the smoke if he is close enough...Not death, but lots of pain. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yes it is more dangerous to jump with your buddies when all of you have 20 jumps. It can be done, but you will have a slower learning curve with higher chances of problems.... This is a topic best asked of the Instructors/Load Organizers/Coaches/S&TA/Hot RW folks....ect, at your DZ. If you really want to jump with your buddies, do 2 ways....In a 3 way that one extra person multiplies the danger at first, and at a lower skill level you will learn more on smaller ways. Like I said....Ask at your DZ. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yeah I asked Bill why he didn't have a clear window like the newer Jav's on the back so you don't have to open the flap to arm/check the CYPRES (The old ones you had to open the flap just like the Vectors). He told me he wanted to make people open the reserve flap and check their gear, not just arm the CYPRES. Like I said Bill is a very smart guy. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Care to give any more info other than: Russian Dude, higher, faster? I have never heard this one before... Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

S&TA's, DZO's, Instructors, and all experianced people should be always looking at what people are doing, and trying to help out. The problem is that most of this is after the fact. A guy with 100 jumps buys a pocket rocket X99 with out asking if he should. Then he flies it like an idiot. What are you going to do? A long thread on here said to: 1. Talk to him ,and try to teach him. 2. Ground him so that he will listen this time while you teach him. 3. Boot him from your DZ...Allow him to come back if he is willing to listen. But, he can always buy one. He will just lie...."yes I have 4000 jumps on Stilettos, 100 just last week". Or have his "buddy" buy it for him. (Of course I would tell him no, but thats ME.) Or buy it off of a guy that just wants to sell it. My thought is pretty simple...If I had the power...I would tell him he is not jumping anything HP until he has shown his ability to handle it. If he wants to jump it somewhere else...thats fine, but at any DZ I could, I would not let him. This sport is about freedom, but I would not want a guy killing himself at my DZ. If it were my DZ it would be my rules. I think there should be requirements to jump HP canopies, just like there are requirments to do night jumps, water jumps, pull altitudes, Wind limits ect. But to many people don't agree.....Here is one thing. How long do you think before USPA comes out with a canopy BSR? 1/3 of the people that died last year died under a good canopy. ALL of them thought they could handle it....as it was 9 people last year were wrong. Only 1 of the dead had more than 500 jumps.... It is going to come....either from the USPA or the FAA if we don't do something first. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yes, but it can miss the D that needed to be there.... This is why I don't comment on peoples spelling...I suck at it, and as soon as I do...I screw something up. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

But how did this guy Arm his CYPRES and not see a 180 deg turn in his pin? To arm a CYPRES on a Vector you have to open the reserve flap....I asked Bill Booth why he didn't make the neat little CYPRES window like a Javelin has.... "To make sure people are checking the reserve pin. To many people don't do gear checks, and by making them open the flap they have to at least LOOK at the reserve pin." was his answer. A damn smart guy. After looking at the pictures that Skybtch posted I think this rig might not have been a Vector, or this guy is blind. Check your damn gear! Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You didn't list it, but I have a Skysystems Oxygn. It's great. I was looking at a Z1, but I have seen to many pop up in freefall. The Z1 is some say easier to open and close, but that is possibly the reason that they pop up on accident. I don't usually open my Oxygn unless the visor gets fogged. But I got my first full face at 100 jumps (Arrow head) because Ilost a contact on 2 different jumps, and before LASIK I was BLIND. I had it for around 200 jumps. Then I bought a Factory Diver and had it for 2,000 jumps. I just went to the Oxygn to have the ability to flip up the visor when it fogs.... Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yes I agree, And Yes, I can't spell... Oh well. Opps Sorry... Ok Im over it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Simply because...Just because you can fly it does not mean you can land it. I don't even want to break a leg. I feel much better going to the reserve than trying to land on rear risers....Thats my choice...I have lived this far making good choices. 9 years 2,500 jumps. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You have held a reserve pilot chute outside an airplane???? I doubt that one. A reserve pilot chute is designed to inflate.....It it is exposed to air it will inflate. And I bet that you could not stop it. You can't hold it by the apex and have it collapse.... The Vector reserve pilot chute is designed to have enough fource to open and deploy the reserve even sideways.....Call Niklas at RWS and ask him about it. Unless it escapes, and then gets launched....then you're fucked. I am a pilot.( And I welcome comments from other pilots) If your pilot can't land a Cessna with 4 people in it....he should not be flying. If I were flying...there would be no way in hell I would let you open that door. If I am Pilot in Commmand you would do what I say....Ask your jump pilot what he wants you to do in this case. I disagree, and if I were on the plane (as a pilot...you would NOT open the door Period) and as a jumper you and I would have a quick long talk..... In the military we were told to not open a door even if we were in the back of a 141.....and the reserve does not have a pilot chute. But the major factor is this.....If you leave the door closed and land....(Other than making the pilot land with a full plane, which is not an issue. You should not be near Max landing weight if you were able to take off it should land fine. ANY pilot can put a plane back down safe.) Is nothing happens...the guy feels stupid and buys beer. But if you open the door, and the pilot chute gets loose....someone is going to die. and the plane is going to have a large hole in the side where this poor guy was pulled out. Lets have other pilots speak on this one. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I landed a borrowed Xaos 21-80' loaded 2.44/1 with a toggle stuck in the cat's eye. On my Xaos 21-85'loaded 2.3 I've had 2 openings where a brake came unstowed during opening, spun totally the F##K up and with a rear riser pull was able to stop the spin to level flight and clear it. Landed my 99' Crossfire loaded 1.85/1 on nothing but rear risers just to see how it would be if I had no choice, no problem. Conway 1130 Quote You have bigger balls than me..... For me it is not worth risking a broken leg to land the main at that wingload with any real major problem. But I am glad you like it....For me it's C-Ya main hello PD113. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Steel you have an opinion.... and yes you did not get hurt. But look at the FATALITY reports. 300 jumps 1.5 wingloading. Only one person with over 500 jumps died under canopy..... He had 1500 and hooked it into the water... So it can happen to anyone, but it seems to happen to guys with less than 500 jumps a lot more than to people with more than 500 jumps.... Care to guess why????? EXPERIANCE. It has been said that we all start out with a full bag of luck and an empty bag of experiance...The trick is to fill the experiance bag before running out of luck. It is the way it is.... Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The rules are in place for a reason..... Pull Pull Stable Pull at the right Altitude They still work even with a headdown flyer.... It is better to pull than hit the ground. At 1000 feet you have 6 seconds Flat flying, At freefly, what about 4.5 seconds? If you have not started your pull before 300 feet even flat it is pretty unlikley that you will survive. You can pull and go flat at the same time, but at that high of a speed I would not take anytime getting on the pull. At 1000 feet you just don't have the time. I have been sub grand a few times at terminal. Once was an accident, the others stupidity I managed to live through. But to each his own, Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I think its a good idea....Look at the US fatality reports... The largest segment of DEAD jumpers under canopy was jumpers with less than 500 jumps at a 1.5. Facts are facts folks....Low jump # jumpers are getting high wingloads, and killing themselves. Only ONE jumper died under canopy last year with over 600 jumps. Training is a good thing, but it is EXPERIANCE that counts... No matter how long I talk to a student (on any activity)....Talking all day will not make him better with out PRACTICE....and you only get one landing per jump. So Jump #'s can equate to EXPERIANCE. I can say with some certanty that ALL of the DEAD skydivers thought that they could handle the canopy that they had.... What makes you think you are different? We have training programs... and pull altitudes, and RW restrictions, and CRW restrictions ect for freefall...Why not canopy wingloads? Because some young, hotshot, non experianced jumper can try and be cool? We don't let people get on a plane with out training....We don't let someone with 2 S/L's an AFF and a Tandem go on a solo freefall, or start doing head down on jump #2.... Why? Because it would be stupid. Just like letting anyone jump whatever they want is stupid. Training is great, but it is nothing without EXPERIANCE. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

RSL's have killed...Of course so have no pulls after cut aways.... I don't have an RSL...Nor will I (other than Tandem)... I don't like them. I like the option of taking a delay if I need to...Canopy collision, to get back to belly to earth if I have the altitude, ect... But I am not going to bash people for having one either. If you are so cocky to think you will never need one....well I have a few dead friends that I wish could be here to talk to you. No one PLANS on killing themself (other than suicides) in this sport. Every dead skydiver thought they had it covered till they didn't. It is a safety device. One that has saved and taken lives. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Bad idea to try and hold the bag in.....Much harder than your would think, and you risk getting your hand/arm entagled in lines.....a very sure way to kill yourself. Plus the jumper is not going to just "let" you do it...He is going to try and get away from you, and he will most likely not let you just dump him out. If you are not an Instructor, or a pretty damn good flyer...Just point at him or break off early..Trying to "help" him may kill him or yourself. The video guy will see you flying up to him, and telling him to pull.....he will move out of the way...I have had this happen. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Hey brother all of your answers are good... Here comes the except part... If there is a loose reserve.....NEVER OPEN A CLOSED DOOR. The dive is over. If that pilot chute gets wind....you will not be able to stop it. The jumper will be extracted from the aircraft...by going right through to door and part of the wall. The chute could get entagled with the elevator....and all on board could die.... As opposed to calling the guy names, and making him buy me a beer. The plane took off with X number aboard..It can land with the same number. The possible risks are to large to try and exit anyone. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The sad thing is I have had most of these happen to me. 1. You lose altitude awareness, look down and see massive ground-rush (sub 1000 feet AGL)? Happend on my 200ish jump. I was asked to video the primary video guy's 300 jump on a Tandem....It was late, we left at about 6 grand. I was on a piece meal video setup. Tandem pulled low 4 grand. Video guy fliped to video them...I thought cool I'll do that for him. He came to me, geeked the camera, and pulled...I fliped to watch him, go, then saw horizon were I had never seen it before, fliped over thinking RESERVE, but but the time I thought it, I had trown my main....I hav an open main at around 500 feet. 2. The load organizer says before boarding the airplane, "that due to zero winds, we will all land facing North", then under canopy you are going to be the first person to land the winds are now out of the south at about 7 mph? If it will not cause a large problem requardless of ANY size load...I land into the wind (most of the accidents of late have been people from single plane loads). It it is going to cause a problem. I land out. Also never say "North"....I don't have a compass with me....no one does....always say things like "Road to runway" or "Manifest to Packing tent". 3. You are on a 6-way RW dive and notice one of the other skydiver's main pin has come out of the closing loop. Happend on a 3 way with video....I pointed like mad at the guy...He started pointing back. He said later that he thought I was yelling at him that he was brainlocking...he started yelling back that he was not. I finaly docked on him like an AFF looked up and saw the video guy was now on level with us, and dumped him out......If it was not for the video, I think the guy would have tried to kick my ass for telling him he brainlocked, and then dumping him out. 4. You are on a 4-way RW dive and realize that the 4-way is 500 feet below. Track like normal....500 feet low on a 3500 feet break off is nothing. 5. You are climbing out after another group and you notice that a jumper in the group ahead of you, which is half-way through their climb-out, has their cutaway pillow folded under their main lift web This happend to me on 8way it either got there when the harness grip was taken, or as the wind blew it back on exit as they held my harness away from my body....And yes, I had a Mal on my Stiletto....The harness was pushed into my body, and between 2 pockets of my old weight vest. I tried like hell to get it, and could not. I thought "Well your dead. Pull your reserve about 600 feet (Low enough to lessen the risk of a double entaglement, high enough to ensure it opens)." I thought "If it werent for these $@$@ Gloves....I took my right glove off felt for the handle managed to get it and did a "gunslinger pull" Cut away, and pulled the reserve as soon as I was almost belly to earth. I kept both handles and the glove. I would yell Stop, and try to grab him and pull him back. If he left he is on his own...I lived I hope he does. 6. reserve pillow folded under, the jumper's BOC handle is tucked completely into the pouch. Yell like hell to stop, try to grab him....If he goes I try to go with them and get him to try and pull early. A lot of these can be prevented by looking at everyones gear during the climb to altitude. 7. On the normal main you jump, a steering line breaks on opening? on a Velocity at 1.9-1....Cut away...till around 700-800 feet. After that land it. 8. The first group is climbing out and you notice that a tandem Instructor, all set to exit, has forgotten to attach one of the passenger's upper harness attachment hooks? Get his attention...If I can't talk to him on the ground. 9. In a Cessna 182 on jump run, you will be the person spotting and just before you open the door you see the jumper in the back of the airplane push their reserve pin out of the loop, firing their reserve pilot chute into the back of the airplane? Abort the jump...keep the door closed and try to contain the parachute....If it goes out, push him out. He is going anyway. 10. On short final, you see another canopy coming directly at you. You neither of you do anything you will collide at about 30 ft. Depends on the angle at which we are coming....Head on, turn right...If it is a quartering arrival, do what ever I have to do to evade or minimize the angle of the collision....and Pray. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Tony....New suits are very strong, used to have some problems. But seem to be fixed. He has great customer service. Pretty high cost. Merlin...I was sponsored by them last year..... At the 40 jump mark my teamies zipper blew out. At the 50 jump mark my zipper blew out. OK shit happens. I had the suit taken to the shop, and she refused to fix it. Here I was "sponsored", and she would not fix what I saw as a flaw in the construction....A third teammate had a seam rip on his butt, And all 4 of our suits had rips in both seams that attaches the bootie to the leg. And it's a shame, the suit was very nice in every other aspect. But it does not last....And I have had terrible service...I waited 5 mths for the suit, and she would not fix them when they broke. AND 4 OUT of 4 DID BREAK!!!!!! Michagan....I love mine, I have over 200 jumps on it, used it for 4 way, tandems and it has around 10 hrs of tunnel on it. Strong, solid...And the most important thing.... GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE....I ordered mine, got it in 2 weeks!....I like my booties a bit longer than most, he fixed it FREE, and I had it back in ONE week. I have seen him fly in his Cessna from his office to Z-Hills and look at a jumpers suit....Take it back with him that day, and send it out the next afternoon. All this, and at a very good cost......I will buy another, I have never been sponsored by him. I have heard good things about Bev suits, but have never jumped one. Disclaimer....We do 4way, and we are hard on jumpsuits. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334