Unstable

**Breaking Newz*** Did you know James Bond Chooses Racer for Base Jumping off the Dam in the Remake of Goldeneye for the Wii??!?!? Seriously! Level one, the dam in Russia, where in the N64 game you bungee Jump to the next Level (Facility?) - The new one he Bases, and his Rig is definatly a Racer if I've ever seen one! =========Shaun ==========

I've flown a lot this year: DC, Vegas, Utah, London, Dublin, Chicago... I've been either mailing my luggage before hand (about $20 through UPS) or packing light and taking a carry on. Last few flights through Salt Lake, Vegas, and Phoenix were Ridiculous. You would not believe what people were trying to carry on. People were trying to get on the plane toting full luggage sets, 'purses' in the form of stuffed gym bags, I don't think anyone was asked to put their bag(s) in one of those little wire boxes to check to see if it's too big - Saw one cheap family give each of their kids a full suitcase (5 kids) and try to pass them off as a carryon - and you know what, nobody cared and they just walked right on! Then I get on the plane, and there is NOWHERE close to enough overhead space because everyone was carrying on like 3 oversized things. People in the front were stashing stuff in the bins over my row and then the stewardess (*ahem Flight Attendant for you P.c. people) tells me that I'll have to check that.. (this was either United or Frontier, I forget which) Flying international is nice...Don't really give a damn what you check, it's all free. =========Shaun ==========

Sorry for the late Reply - No, I will not be at the PIA meeting this year, although I've gone in years past and I hope to go next year. Agrees, There is a lot of Sea Lawyering going on here, and I'll try to make the point I have (and from reading the posts here from the last few days, probably the same point others are making, if not from a different angle. From my experience (Same general approach to the FAR) a lot of questions get raised - I tend to default to the most conservative approach. If the 'jump' which RiggerLee mentioned was applied to other sections of 92, 65, 111, then I see a lot more leaway in ways which Frankly I don't want to see. I'm a simple guy - I've found in my profession (Quality Engineering) audit points and issues occur when we don't read a document literally. =========Shaun ==========

I've been following these events carefully, and does anybody have any information in regards to John Harts Currrent Status? For White Collars, I'd assume that he may have been given the choice to 'report within x-months' to a detention facility.... Is he there now? I'd imagine they'd probably keep him in local facility for the 12 months, if he serves that. Is he out weeding gardens in Martha Stewarts "Don't cross the yellow line or I'll be very disappointed in you" old reform facility?? I guess arguments aside, does anybody know how John is doing? =========Shaun ==========

***ouch**** =========Shaun ==========

AGREED!!! I don't understand how it could get any easier! I've heard rigger-lets (Riggers in training) talk about who is jumping their supervised packjobs and I've raised cain for that before. =========Shaun ==========

Oh man - they do spacer foam? that was the only option I wished JS offered, now I guess that concern is a thing of the past. I made 9 jumps this last weekend in 106 degree heat, and I did get uncomfortable sweating so much on the rig.. =========Shaun ==========

Love packing Racer Reserve - I've done a few things, I settled on Compression strap with the *jumpshack* method - steel t-bodkins. I don't know how it could get any easier really - I don't have to muscle the PC down or worry about it scooting off center as I flip the rig.. =========Shaun ==========

I'd second the notion here in regards to Jumpshack's customer service and quality of product - Nancy has always taken care of me (I've had 3 2k3's). I've started buying my rigging supplies from them too - -- =========Shaun ==========

I owned a Dolphin for my first 300 jumps and I routinly repack and maintain these rigs for some of my rigging customers - I'd like to reiterate what ChutingStar said in regards to post 2000 Dolphins being much more Freefly friendly. I have one in my closet that is owned by a local pilot - and it has the full riser tuck tabs, full bridle protection, and IMHO is just as freefly friendly as a Javelin. As far as I can tell, the cut of the thing is identical to a Javelin, minus the bells & whistles. 'Freefly Friendly' is always a funny word, I think. As far as I can tell, the modern definition of this term is "What the cool Freeflyers Jump." In that regards, the newer Dolphins are Definitely not 'freefly friendly.' =========Shaun ==========

LOL yeah - he hasn't kept anything else, why would he keep this promise? =========Shaun ==========

I'd agree. IMHO, Religion goes hand in hand with Intelligent design - I don't believe god created the earth in exactly 144 hours then chilled for 24 - but I do believe that the earth is too much to be a chance. Problem is people take things too damn literally

If I even win the lottery and have my own loft, it'd be fun to make a solid, carpeted packing table with permanent anchor points on either side - yeah, I know. Folding tables for a while longer...

That's exactly what I do. It works perfectly and they fold up for convenient storage. The folding legs also give lots of things you can use to clamp on your two tension devices. =========Shaun ==========

Okay - *puts on his devils advocate hat* Wouldn't the afore mentioned problem be largely remedied by the use of a quickloop type closing loop? (I knows that's a No-no on SE rigs...) =========Shaun ==========

I agree 100%! It would have taken the previous rigger 10 seconds to figure out that his PC was unbalanced - all he/she had to do was try to compress it by holding onto the closing loops along and watch it squirrel out from under him... =========Shaun ==========

I agree 100%. I've bought 2 Z1's and seen many many new ones at the DZ. $300 for a plastic molded helmet, available in 2 or 3 general shell sizes, modular padding, and a simple visor system. I would imagine that the costs could be rather high for manufacturing this product if it's a job shop type environment, but given the quantity I've seen across the globe, they must have some sort of defined manufacturing process. IMHO, Factory Diver is the best bang for the buck.. =========Shaun ==========

Hmm, I've read the test reports, the quality docs, and about everything I can about the Argus. I even jump on in my rigs. I certainly hope that this issue is resolved quickly -Statistically, I would be willing to bet that probability of an injury/fatality is independent for type of AAD. I've recommended Argus's to fellow jumpers as a viable alternative and I'm going to have my tail between my legs if this proves to be a significant defect in the quality of the product. Either way, I'd love to get my hands on all available data and do a full statistical analysis on the fact. I would enjoy that immensely. =========Shaun ==========

WHAT?!?! Is that a rational opinion of the Racer Harness/Container system? What's going on with that?? You're supposted to be like "OMG they arn't freefly Friendly and your going to kill yourself!" or "Jesus uses a Racer." =========Shaun ==========

Can I play devils advocate for a sec though? When I have seen a poorly assembled hat on the 303 and 304, it usually looked just fine clear until a few months into the repack cycle. Since I didn't see the rig right as it came out of the loft, it's entirely possible it looked fine until then... Once that hat begins to weasel out from under it's loop, it does so rather quickly. =========Shaun ==========

I'm on my 3rd 2K3..... I absolutely love them. Fantastic rig. Simple, well designed, sleek. It's amazing for me to hear the complaints about Racers at the DZ. I think it all boils down to what's 'cool'. =========Shaun ==========

I've seen that on a Strong 303 and 304 - I do a few of those for some aerobatic pilots in the area. I've seen this twice - both caused by a poorly made closing loop. Each time the stitching wasn't locked and as it loosened, it allowed the PC to weasel out. I just make it a point to check the stitching and balance of each hat..

This is probably a revisit, but all the posts are 2004 era and I would like to start again fresh as I'm sure much has changed in the last 4 years... Can we get a list going for High deductible or overall individual or family health insurance companies that do NOT exclude parachuting accidents? I've heard that "Golden Rule Insurance" does in face not exclude jumping incidents? My wife and I would just feel better if we continue on jumping with some kind of insurance. Not that we ever plan on getting hurt, but we don't want an accident to drive us down financially. Also, there are demo's I'd like to get on that I can't without such coverage. We recently boughta policy with American Family. And after two weeks of "Are you SURE that this will cover parachuting and scuba accidents?" and answers in the affirmative from our agent, we buy a policy, then get a nasty letter 3 weeks later saying that Parachuting or Scuba accidents are exempt here on out. We filed lots of complaints and raised hell and they gave us all our $$ back, but now we are searching again... I think I'll call my regional director and see if we can get USPA to put together a list of Skydiver friendly insurers....that seems like a real threat to our sport and a good way for them to help us... =========Shaun ==========

I'm hesitant of Capital One. I had 2 Capital One cards, and even though I never missed a payment and used it very responsibly, but my credit score kept sucking. It went on for 3 years. Come to find out that Capital One has a rather predatory tactic with their reporting standards - when they report to the Two Credit Bureaus, they report your balance for your total Limit - E.g. I have a Credit Limit of $5,000. I used my card and bought $300 in Jump tickets, and then they report my CC Maxed out at $300. They may have changed their practices since then, but I was very upset. =========Shaun ==========

give ChutingStar, Mike G a call. He'll hook you up. =========Shaun ==========