Ron

This +1. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Careful, I got a warning from BillV for less than that. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

BS. Find one post where I 'bashed' a 9 cell. I have two 9 cells in the rigs that I normally jump and have over 3,500 jumps on 9 cell mains. You have bashed 7 cells. "mostly "older-school"-jumpers seem to favor 7-cells"". The difference is I also have over 1,000 jumps on 7 cells and you seem to be bashing them with no idea about them. How many jumps do YOU have on 7 cell skydiving mains? If I am doing CRW or a demo.... I'll take a 7 cell over a 9 cell anyday. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Careful, BillV gave me a warning for less than that. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

From Icarus (the people who made the first viable ZP xbraced) describing the FX: "Cross Brace Tri-cell means the cell is divided into three chambers instead of two and the chambers are diagonally braced to force each cell back into shape." and " * There is less drag because there are less lines. In effect the canopy is a 7 cell not a 9 cell, yet is almost an 11 cell in shape" So, they call them 7 cells. And they call the VX "The #1 fully x-braced ZP 9 cell canopy on the market. But what would they know huh? Yep, and THEY make 7 cell mains as well. I used PD as an example, but hell, now let's look at Icarus: Omega and Omni, both 7 cells. Wanna look at other company's????? Precision makes 2 7 cell mains as well. Flight concepts makes around 10 7 cell main designs. I used PD as an *example*, but now I have provided others as well. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You just want to bitch and complain and refuse to see anything but anger. There is no "discussing" anything here with you. You asked a question and we answered. "No, there is no reason to be rude, but there are times that needed actions that could be taken as rude are necessary." I asked you what you wanted, and you ignored it. You created a profile to complain and whine..... You have ignored any and all advice given to you. You may now cry about how rude I have been to you. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Not true... Better people than me have died skydiving. Best I can hope to do is do everything I can to prevent it. The point is (and DSE said it pretty well, but I'll add on) that you can either: 1. Forget about it and move forward, while refusing to jump with that individual again. 2. Ask the individual why he did what he did... And either understand his reasons, or avoid him. 3. Bitch, complain, and make enemies. And in that process alienate yourself from everyone and be seen as a trouble maker. So far, you have 6 posts on DZ.com. All of them are to bitch about this one experience, from this one jump, and this one individual. You asked if an instructor should be rude.... People have already answered no. What more do you want? Plus, we only have your side of the story. If I grab you and pull you from the door.... Is that me being rude or me preventing you from accidentally getting kicked in the face by the group in front of you on exit? This is just one example of a time that a "rude" maneuver might very well be the best course of action. For your sake..... LET IT GO. Avoid him if you must, but continuing to complain about this is only going to hurt you. It will fill you with anger, it will make your skydiving experience flat out suck. Instead of thinking about how much fun jumping can be.... You already have allowed this one experience to color the entire sport. LET IT GO and move on. You are only hurting yourself, both in others eyes and internally. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Spectre 120 with Dacron lines for the last ~10k jumps. He put only about 20 jumps on a Velo, had thousands on Stilettos.... Even had an Excal back in the day. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

OK, feel free. You don't like the guy.... fine, don't jump with him. But you are whining about him.... Heck you started a post to talk about it. When people have told you to forget about it and move forward you have gotten upset. Best thing? Tell the DZO and refuse to jump with him and then forget about it and move on. Worst thing? Continue to complain about it knowing nothing you say will change anything and then get upset when people tell you to move on. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Nonsense. Your statement is made from a myopic view of only looking at your own little part of the skydiving world. Just look at PD: "The lightly tapered seven cell Spectre is one of the most popular canopies we have ever produced." Hell, PD just released a new 7 cell called the Zero. They released a 7 cell canopy about a year ago called Storm. And you seem to be forgetting that a Velo is actually a 7cell with Xbraces. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

That I spoke to him the very day I typed that post. So saying he stayed with me was showing "last I checked" was less than 6 hours ago. Not a difficult post, sorry it confused you however. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

This makes me think you have never jumped a Spectre. Many camera folks love them for the openings. Last I checked, Tony Hathaway was jumping a Spectre (and he stayed in my spare room last night).... Of course with 15k jumps and being one of the best camera people on the planet.... what the hell would he know right? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Are you dead?????? If not, then you didn't fail. As an AFFI.... I can tell you I dump out plenty of L1's. But if you do not enjoy the process.... Don't force yourself. You have already done more than most. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

OK, but the main has 108 jumps on it, reserve has zero rides. I can mention that I bought my first rig in 1991 for 1500 and it was not as nice as the one listed in the classifieds. Now I have not bought used gear in a while.... But I don't see that as a bad deal... If this were a 91 Javelin.... What would you price it at? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

And you base that on?????? It is no worse than any other rig from the 90's. The one in the classifieds seems like a pretty good deal for a first rig. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Of course, but your instructor is even more qualified to answer than anyone else... Even if this has happened to them. Look at this example... You have given an incomplete picture of your situation... You already have instructors asking you to clarify better. So take a guy that is not able to communicate exactly what is going on, then have a bunch of folks that didn't really get the situation and do not understand it trying to give advice... And the errors THEY have in communication.... And you have the proverbial blind leading the blind. Every feeling you have, every technical issue, every emotion is best asked to an instructor. An instructors job is more than just the technical... It is helping with the emotional side as well. Your instructor will at least understand the problem. I understand your enthusiasm, I understand your desire to do better and your desire to make your instructors job easier by being ready next time you see them.... Trust me, they would rather you ask them than you showing up with any advice you got off the Internet by some guy with a cool username. Being an instructor is more than just the technical. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I am all for that as well. Along with required alcohol and drug counseling. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I don't see any problem if the DZO wants to do it. I also do not see a real benefit from a marketing perspective. The only possible benefit (IMO) is in the case of a lawsuit and your focus on safety..... and that is a bit of a stretch. I also don't mind taking a drug test. I have been in jobs that require drug tests since I was 18. And I have had to take a drug test when I was sponsored by Eloy, and while working at Skydive City. So I would not care... but I don't see a big marketing angle. For those that claim that taking a drug test is an "expected" part of a job.... Lot of folks see Pot use as "expected" as well. Hell, it seems everyone does it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

* Wild ride with unresponsive student. * I am hurt * They are hurt And still, with an unresponsive student that I could control.... I'd dump them lower so they might not drift as far under canopy. And if they were hurt, I might try to pull them out lower so they spend less time before they can get help. But if the situation is bad, and getting worse.... I'd dump them. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Since my post a few riggers have PMed me and said that I am not correct and that there are reasons not to trust a main as long as you would trust a reserve. Well.... I'd listen to them over me. But to be fair, I did say, "*I* would trust a main for that as well" and "*I personally*, would not. But then again, I am not jumping it." Again, listen to the riggers over me. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You trust your reserve to go 6 mths.... I would trust a main for that as well. But like others have said, it does not HURT to pack it. I personally, would not. But then again, I am not jumping it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Ignore everyone on here except those that gave you the advice to listen to your instructor. No offense, but your explanation is not enough to diagnose the issue, the explanation you said your instructor gave you was not sufficient.... Long story short you are trying to get pretty technical advice about a high risk sport by giving information you do not have, to people who were not there, in the hopes that those people could give you advice about a problem that they do not understand, with the hopes that you will understand the answer. Long story short.... Listen to your instructors. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

So you only will talk a good game and not "sack up" and prove you are as good as you claim? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Talk to your instructors... but don't buy anything from them. IMO... don't waste your money buying new. You are not going to jump that first rig long.... I did ~300 on my first rig and then traded it in for almost what I paid for it. If I had bought new, I would have lost a ton of money. Other than that, don't rush to buy anything. So: 1. Talk to your instructors. 2. Don't buy new. 3. Don't rush. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well for starters is really is more a comparison of student jumps vs having a license. No matter what, you are limited to who you may jump with until you get the 25 jumps and complete the requirements. So until you get a license you will only be allowed to jump with a coach or higher, or in some cases with a single person who holds a "D" license and has been approved by the S&TA. Depends. With a license you are able to go to any USPA DZ and they should let you jump with no issue provided you are current. You will need to provide a logbook that shows the date of your last jump. Without a license you *may* be allowed to jump provided you can show your logbook showing that you are cleared for solo jumps. Some DZ's may require a checkout dive. This is going to depend on the DZ's rules. I used to go to several DZ's long before I had a license (I had 100 jumps before I got a license). They all knew me so no one cared. BUT by the USPA rules I was still a student. This was also 17 years ago and the rules were a lot more lax. Get the "A" license... Once you fill out your proficiency card, the DZ can stamp it and bingo... you have an "A" license. It costs you nothing. Personally, I think it best to stay at one DZ till you have the 25 jumps. But after that, I think it best to go to several DZ's as long as they all seem safe. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334