mikkey

Well, I am just ignoring the "pissing" and still find this thread very informative and food for thought...

Key is "muscular memory" - just practise your ripcord pull on the ground (both with and without gear on) again and again and again. You will be surprised how much easier it becomes. Same goes for emergency procedures. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I had a few jumps in a clipper around 1990 (assuming there are not 2 different canopies with the same name). I think Fligh Concepts produced them. It is a F111 canopy and an old design. Best for you to do a search on all Forums for "Clipper" and you will find a lot of posts and if you still need information, try to post under gear and rigging. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

It is a "2" so it really 189 and I am not sure what you guys in the US call FS 3 and the FS in OZ vs. the Talon 3 is the same.... Anyway, I was told by PA who manufacture the Talon down here that for their FS 150 was the max size canopy. But not really a problem the Talon 3 is a nice rig too. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I assume you are buying directly from the factory in Auckland. Have a chat with them, they should be able to give good advise which type of lines to choose. I am also buying a Safire atm and I just asked my dealer who is also my CI and a rigger and left it up to him to choose. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I would recommend you e-mail PA (go to their web site for contact info). I did put the order in for the T6 size using the Talon 3 measurements and my dealer came back and told me that PA informed him I could not get that size for the FS - I had to go for the Talon 3 instead. My container size is for Safire 189 and can also be used for 170. Best you get in touch with PA - my dealer did not know about the restriction, so the guys in Auckland might not know either, best you e-mail PA. Let me know what they tell you (you can PM me if you want). Also interested if you are getting a new NZ Icarus canopy with the gear and what your delivery time is. My rig is ready but I am still waiting for the Safire2 from NZ (5 weeks since order so far). PM me if you please. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Talons are produced here in Australia by Parachute Australia and for this reason very popular. I have seen but not jumped an FS. The feedback I've got from the very experienced jumpers at my DZ is that it is a very, very good rig and very comfortable. I tried to order one but was told that the maximum main size recommended for the rig is 150 ft2. I jump a 190 and changed the order to a Talon 3. There is a difference here between FS and 3 (not sure if that is the case in the States). Check out PA's web site for more information on the FS (better info then Rigging Innovations web site): www.parachutesaustralia.com In any case I think you have a choice between 2 very good products.

I was a big fan of Meat Loaf during my first skydiving "career" in the late 70's & early 80's and always had "Bat out of hell" in my mind on the way up. Actually once took a walkman up with the song and played full volume during a high solo.... o.k call me cheesy, but I was young at the time... and I am still silly --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Hi, I am thinking of subscribing to a "paper" skydiving magazine - most likely "Skydiving Magazine". Before I fork out the money to get it airmailed down to OZ I would like to know if anyone would recommend this one or any alternative? Which (US or other international) magazine is the best in your opinion?? --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

(cough)safire2(caugh) --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Interesting discussion (even if it has been discussed before) - I am currently waiting to get a new rig delivered and asked for the RSL "ready" option but no RSL installed. Reason being that I am paranoid about the idea of getting main and reserve entangled. Thought that the use of Cypres would help me if I can not pull my reserve handle (assuming I stick to plan of early decisions). This discussion might change my mind especially with the new model coming out. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Well, Pound Sterling is reasonable strong against the Aussie $, so you might want to check out what you can buy on-line here. A decent suit will help you to fly (e.g. having boosters) and achieve the right fall rate, so I would not wait too long to get your own. In the long run you probably want both a RW and Freefly suit but you should start with a RW suit as this is what you have to learn first. A good company down here that produces good suits is RMW. Check out their web site: http://www.rmwjumpsuits.com --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Profile says Sweden, so I assume they are looking for a DZ with that kind of gear in Scandinavia...... --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Oh those memories..... Capewells, Para Commander. I had a Competition Para Commander 20/25 years ago and then my first square 5-cell Strato Star. Chest reserve with no PC, 1 1/2 Capewell releases . - Picture to the left is from 1982 with the gear on. Actually had a cut-away with the Capewells - worked OK, but it does take time and needs co-ordination...... I'll bet you enjoy the jumps in your Para Commander - they are were nice chutes, turn on a dime and in 3-5 knots wind I had standing landings every time. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

As expected I upset a couple of people with my comments. Just to clarify: 1) I agree that we have to analyse every incident and learn from it. What I was referring to was the discussion in this thread about a big difference if you were knocked out or not when a Cypres fires. In any case something went wrong. But of course we have to learn and understand what happened. 2) I do promote self-regulation of the skydiving community. I know that in the US there is a slightly different culture to many other countries. Many think as mentioned above " everybody should use a Cypres - but it is a personal choice" - "no-one with 50 jumps should jump a Stiletto at 1.6 loading - but it is a personal choice". This is a very Amercian approach and I respect it. However, I do worry that unsafe practises and many casualties affect the sport negatively and lead to problems with insurance cost and government intervention. Whilst this might not be a problem in the US - it certainly is in other countries where governments love to regulate. In Germany for example you need a license to be allowed to play Golf . So my point was that the sport should regulate itself in a reasonable way. Both to protect other jumpers from "idiots" and because it might stop stupid regulations to be introduced by authorities. We have made it obligatory to have a reserve canopy, so why not make it the rule to use a Cypres (with certain exceptions where it is appropriate). We all (I assume) agree that a 10 year old should not drive cars and that this should be enforced by law, so why is it OK in principle that a 50 jump person "drives" a heavily loaded high performance wing - if he or she so chooses? This is a complex issue and there will be differing views. It is the personal freedom versus "good of the community" issue and people will agree to disagree. Stay save.

Whatever makes our sport more save should be used. Who cares why and what - I see no point debating why a Cypres fired - as long as it saved a live. The real point is to minimize the fatality and injury rate - for the sake of all skydivers and the reputation of the sport. And reputation is important if you want to avoid problems with regulations by government bodies, insurance problems etc. etc. Anything that can make the sport safer should be made mandatory by our own organizations. For example: In some countries the local parachute federation demand a certain number of jumps before you can use a high performance canopy (e.g. 400) - because there have been too many injuries and fatalities in landings. These organizations rather self-regulate to protect novices from themselves and to stop governments introducing even worse restrictions. (Now I duck - see the flames coming) --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

You are correct, Icarus has however changed their system to size the same way as PD. So a newer Icarus canopy size should be equal to a PD. I don't know when the change came in, i.e., from which DOM the sizes are the same. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Talons are very popular in Australia because they are manufactured here under license (?) by Parachutes Australia. The FS is beautiful and I tried to order one new but found out that the maximum canopy size is 150 on this one. Ordered a Talon 3 instead. Down here there is a difference between 3 and FS but I don't know if that is the case in the US. Check out Parachutes Australia's web site: http://www.parachutesaustralia.com/ --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

You might also want to check out the the Safire, its a good mid-range canopy for an intermediate skydiver. I just re-started my skydiving after 11 years break and ordered a Safire 189 as my first canopy. My exit weight is about the same as yours. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

2 cutaway. First in 1983 with a 5 cell Strato Star, 1 1/2 shot release, chest mounted T10 reserve without PC. Had a broken line and started turning slowly and the faster and faster, stuffed around for too long and activated EP at below 1000 ft. took time due to the type of equipment and then (being on the back) having problems getting the reserve to deploy (had to hand feed). In deployed reserve for 3 secs and got smashed. Bad injury to legs and out of sport for 6 years. Second one in 1991, PC in tow. Did procedure in no time and no problems. First experience taught me a) not to waste time and if in doubt do your EP and stick to it and 2) practice EP all the time - again and again.

Here is an informative graph from the Australian Parachute Federation that takes into account service cost etc. You might find it helpful. $ are Australian $ to convert to US $ divide by 1.9. http://www.apf.asn.au/apf_services/images/cypres_value.pdf --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Thanks all for the comments. Better understand the difference now. Will consult with a couple guys at the DZ who have Talon's. They look really nice and manufactured here in Australia under license - which makes them also very attractive price wise (fully optioned around USD 1500-1600). Looking forward to tomorrow - 95 F, blue skies at the DZ and lifts to 14K with a comfy Caravan. What is the weather like in the Northern Hemisphere at the moment? --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Looks like I am ordering a new Talon FS next week. I will have to make a choice between FAST or Multiflex harness rings. Anyone have some advise? I am not sure what is best. Mostly going to do RW with the rig. Thanks.

OK, here it goes: I have to make some major choices in regard to new gear involving quite a few $'s and would appreciate any feed-back and biased opinion . Background: Returned to sport after 11 years. Had 210 jumps before break and about 10 since starting again and being fast-tracked back to B/C license, which I should be achieving sometimes this month. I hate the student gear and looking for my own equipment. Second hand market here in Australia is flat for the type and condition I am looking for. So probably taking financial "plunge" and buying new gear. I have narrowed my choice down to 2 good suppliers with decent support and looking at these 2 options at around the same cost: 1) Atom legend with either Sabre 2 or Sihouette and Tempo Reserve or: 2) Talon FS with Safire 2 and Airforce Reserve. Size will be 190 sq.ft. initially at 1.1 loading (I am a conservative type) and probably downsize later to 170 sq.ft. Intended usage is "fun-jumping" probably mostly minor formation jumps, maybe a little bit of freeflying later on if I can figure that out. So, anybody has experience and opinions about this equipment, I would love to hear it. Thanks. PS: and yes, I am also chatting with my CI about it, but still would appreciate peoples opinion of the available "combo's". --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Thats 14,000 feet my friend and yes its so much fun --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.