mr2mk1g

Does my family get the money if/when (it will be when if you do it often enough) it all goes wrong.

More importantly - would your answer change if it were for $100. Mine would. $100,000,000 is worth the risk TO ME, but my answer changes quickly as you take away zero's. You will note that I consider doing this a RISK... the telling part of the story that all too many people today do not consider it to be a RISK.

bit sink or swim isnt it? Night jumps are when accuracy is most important. Not saying it wouldnt work, just wouldnt like to see the consequenses of it not working.

There's a hell of a lot of students on here - would be great for them to have somewhere to go to exchange their views on stuf.

dude, I so read that post you quote as being a joke... am I wrong? the original poster is quoting a film whos tag line is "Surrender pronto, or we'll level Toronto! " for gods sake. Joking about how pathetic racists are is not racism theres a lot in this thred that is writen as a joke but can be seize upon to attack the auther

Your reserve will open VERY quickly, that said you will have a canopy ride lasting maybe only 10 seconds or so. Thats enough to avoid a tree and flare. Its there as a last chance... how often do you intend on using a last chance? Airbags still hurt like hell dont they. I know thats probably not much of a comfort but thats all there really is to say. You're probably right, you probably held the flare... I cant explane it though, maybe someone else can help you with an idea. Perhaps it was a freak gust of wind, but thats less likely on a nil wind day. Down wind landings feel mostly like into wind landings just with a lot more faster forward speed, but again theres not really a difference on nil wind days.

I dont know if i've seen any racism in this thread, maybe im being nieve or not reading things right, but Ive been watching and only really seen reports of the proportions of ethnicities at home DZ's and observations. The only thing that made me smart a little was observations about ecconomic backgrounds in which I do not know how much truth there is. I havent really seen anyone complaining that "blacks are taking over the sport" more the opposit. Whats mainly been going on here is a complaint about why this sport is so white dominated. YES complaints. I would love to see the skydiving comunity more accurately represent a cross section of the comunity in which I live. Its odd that it doesnt and im interested in why. Perhaps there really are genetic or cultural reasons behind it. Perhaps WE as a community are doing something to ostracise ethnic minorities from our little clique. If so we need to look at what we are doing to cause this and stop it. There is no reason why I should see a greater percentage of whites at the DZ than I do on the street. I do and it saddens me.

a stalled wing will surge forward. yes a canopy is a wing, but only while it has forward movement - the fabirc is presurised into a wing shape by the air being rammed into the opeinings at the front - hence "ram air". When you stall a canopy it ceases to have presurisation and the wing cross section will distort so that you can not expect normal wing like characteristics from its flying. Sometimes it will crumple into a ball of washing, sometimes the ends will fold in on themselves, sometimes it will make a bow-tie shape. Sometimes it will even start to fly backwards a little way. I have never heard of/seen a canopy stopping then surging forward when flared high. I do not have the experiance of many others on here though so look to them for an explanation of that - it may well be a true characteristic of a stalled canopy. Perhaps an airlocked canopy will behave more like that as it is supposed to maintain its wing characteristics longer when subjected to depresurising effects. I doubt theres such a thing as a student canopy with airlocks though - they're mostly very small canopies. What you describe is the clasic effects of letting toggles up. You say you didnt do this and I trust what you say on this so I'll eliminate that. I will say, however that when I was a student I had an odd sideways plant-landing that I swore was a cross wind... until I saw the video and myself let one toggle up. I would have staked anything on the fact that i'd flared properly, but the video never lies.

1. The cypres is set to go off at 750 - the only difference between a student cypres and an experianced cypres is that it will be activated by a much slower decent rate so that even if you have a partial mal it will fire your reserve where an experianced cypres wont. it is low, but its high enough to save your life (ok you might want more time to sort stuff out but at least your reserve will be open). 2. It should not be possible to stall student canopies. The break lines will be lengthened to prevent this. I cannot comment on your recent landing, maybe you did stall it, maybe you didnt. I have seen a lot of students come down from high flares (some very high). The canopy will virtually stop forward movement and start to decend straight down. This may seem like a stall, but it isnt really. A true stall is where your canopy simply collapses in on its self and forms a ball of washing above your head... is this what happened? Two stage flares work on ZP canopies, not F111. I would bet your on F111, old F111 at that. Stick to the one stage flare. Dont take anyones advice other than your instructors. To flare, look out at a 45 deg angle, not straight down or you get ground rush and flare too high. Other than that you practice and plf when your wrong, you'll get it. you could try going up to a first floor building and looking out the window at a 45deg angle and memoriseing what thiings look like.

most people would statistic waiting to happen... your DZ has a back board right? edit: (I mock only in the hope of saving an injury or worse)

It could have been bag lock due to a dodgy stow (bungee too tight or one of the line bites threaded through another line bite). or It could simply have been taking its time to come out of the bag due to the sub terminal opening and would have come out given another couple of secs. You did the right thing to cut away - its better to chop a canopy that really will open than to go in hoping it will when it wont.

there's a guy in england who took 180 jumps to graduate from RAPS. He's an old guy who had an in built turn cos of a gammy leg. Bought his own static line kit and the lot. Saw him doing a 3 way at the weekend. Not stupid, gallant I'd say to continue to try and master stability so long. Most would give up.

didnt say they dont happen - just that they by must i meant according to the rules not that its a physical impossability.

below 15,000ft you have indefinate "useful consciousness". Above that it is measured in minutes until you pass out. Eg at 21,000ft it is 8 minutes. This isnt gonna be a problem in free fall but might be under canopy or in a plane thats slowly climbing to altitude. Remeber that many people are effected far more by this than the average person. There were threads on here a while back about a smoker who passed out at 14,000. Thats why any jumps above 15,000 must take place with o2 in the plane and your not allowed to just dump out the door.

buy a lotto ticket - your due some good luck

Your exit point will depend on the direction and strength of the upper winds at the time of the jump. If the upper winds are really hauling ass you may well be a long way out. (sometimes they can be very strong - the first time I pulled at 12 they were so strong I had to shut my full face - must have easily been above 30.) No one can tell you where you should exit until the time of the load - and they should be DZ staff that tell you. They will probably be used to this esp if they have regular CRW jumpers and will know straight off where to put you. Just remember to get that no-cross referance point - thats very important or you'll fly right through freefaller airspace.

it sounds like you are just experiencing the normal effects of pressure on your sinuses. On the way up to altitude, swallow regularly to equalise the air pressure. After the canopy opens perform a "val-salva" where you hold your nose and blow gently to increase the pressure in your head. You should feel your ears "pop". Do this again when your on the ground. I say this assuming you have no medical conditions. Please do not do this without consulting a doctor if you have anything that would effect your sinuses/ears. try a search on the forums for val salva or on pressure changes. There have been many threads on similar subjects before. I have read some very good info from people who have undertaken a lot of very high altitude jumps in the military and work with pressure chambers who know about these problems. Thats a good place to start your research.

tried ear plugs? your gonna have some major hurdles to surmount with a helmet idea. It'll be difficult to maintain the pressure without using a whole suit - your talking about overpressurising your head by comparison to the environment. When military jumpers go from super high altitudes they do not use pressure helmets - they simply use bail out bottles that force o2 into their lungs - that doesnt solve your pressure issues. A full pressure suit is going to be far too bulky to skydive in without major mods. Also consider the issues of emergency drills with a mal. You could constrain yourself to medium altitudes or you could try to block your sinuses (assuming this is the issue) with nose clip and ear plugs. Without knowing what your spp probs are I dont know. Dont want to be a put down - there may well be an answer out there.

get a FULL brief from an instructor. You could EASILY land 10 miles away from the DZ! The winds up there may well be cranking - more than you've ever experianced closer to the ground. This could have your canopy flying WAY off the DZ. So long as you are expecting this - no probs. Find out the direction of the winds from DZ control or the pilot and be prepaired to hold into wind for a while. Do a review of your canopy control with someone so that you are confident you are not simply gonna fly off across the country. Have the pilot put you out up wind of the DZ on a CRW pass if they will - you will get more time to play that way. Also make sure DZ control knows - you dont want free fallers going through your canopy. Find out from DZ control what referance point not to cross until below 3000ft, eg road/town. That way you will not stray into free fall airspace and again get a free faller through your canopy. Disconnect your RSL. The advantages it gives you come also with some disadvantages. Normally the advantages easily outweigh the disadvantages but if your dumping at 12k you will have plenty of time to deal with a mal on your main - an RSL will not give any advantages but the disadvantages will still be there. If you want you could hook it up again at 4k, just be carefull fiddleing with your cables. Enjoy the view and the ride - I have had some of the most fun ever in this sport dumping high.

shit yeah, forgot about the serial number thing. ALWAYS do that. And dont buy one thats been in a train wreck someone should tell airtec to update their stolen page more often though, its currently several months old.

er... thats actually true if your above about 16k your gonna start having problems if your up there for too long.

date of manufacture (inc month) Cypres has finite life span of 12 years 3 months. Months to next battery change Months to next service 1 pin/2 pin. (free to convert to 1 pin during a service). The best deals about are for ones with 4 years left that have had their service. Try for £200 but £300 is about worth it. Remember, airtec gives cash back for old cypres units. I just bought 2 off e-bay. One with 4 years left for £100 (needing service) and one with a year left for £50 for my mate (with cash back essentially free for a year!) There ARE bargins about!

appologies for the brain dump above... oh and when I ordered mine going on a year ago, they were supposed to be bringing out the cougar 2. This apparently adresses all the problems I highlight such as the bolts and has a few extra features. Check if this is what's on offer. Delivery is litterally a couple of days.

I have one - its an exact copy of a Z1 but made by monkeys. The quality is really not all that. I got mine cheep. It was well worth it. Its comfy and I think much much more sturdy than the Z1 and will give more protection. This comes at the price of being significantly heavier. The visor has only ever come up on me once - and thats cos I didnt tighten the bolts on it first. Its warm and incorperates the oxygen neck sheild and the chin strap from the Z1 so thats also good. The bolts... well they are pastic and fell out within seconds of us opening the package (my house mate and me bought two together). We both replaced them that day with bolts from the local hardware store - no biggy. Replace yours - try to get ones which fit perfectly into the hole or the visor will have lateral movement and will pop up in freefall (as above). The lining came away from the shell in one place but that was cured with a glue gun... I understand the Z1 suffers from exactly the same problem though so no difference there. The fit was very nice for me and I must say that its one of the most comfortable helmets I've ever worn, although my head appears to be odd as most are quite uncomfortable. The custom artwork is good - if they're still doing their free artwork deal, get some. er... the breathing holes in the front are fine - no problem with misting up and with the new bolts i've even exited with the visor up a coulpe of times with no probs. I dont see it splitting at any time like I've seen Z1's do - its sturdier. I feel confident with the chin protection. The visor closes with a spring type pin that engages with a hole in the visor at the very front - this is easy to work under canopy / in gloves. It has twin internal audiable pockets. These are just pockets in the lining so Im always worried about losing my dyter after taking my helmet off but they work perfect when its on your head. Overall, I think its a nice helmet but obviously a copy. Its essentially a sturdy Z1 thats rough round the edges. If its cheep - buy it. If its the same price as other more expensive helmets, buy one of those. Customer service is great, although I've heard of problems if you start complaining. er i think thats about it - just ask if you have any more questions.

check the number of heads - older VCR's have only 2 or 4 heads. Newer nicam ones generally have 6. These give better quality picture and sound and on older tapes that may be losing some of their quality a 6 head VCR will be able to read the tape better (giving a picture) than a 4 head VCR.