Unstable

This may not be the place to post about this - But I had a recent experience with a rigging customer in the last 2 weeks which put a sour taste in my mouth in regards to Cypres AAD maintenance. My Friend bought a Used rig which has been in the closet for a number of year. The Cypres was purchased brand new, and shelved right before it's four year check was due. It missed it's 4 year, and the earliest we can send it in for it's 8 year is in August. I called SSK about getting this thing up & going. (can you believe it turned on?!?) Anyways, Option one is we send it in for it's 4 year NOW and then again in 3 more months. ($237.50 now, and then $237.50 again in 3 months). Airtec has mandated that we cannot do the checks early for cases like this. Option 2 is we just hang onto the thing until August and just pay for the 8-year and new batteries for $237.50. So since paying for a full 4 year and then and 8-year 3 months later makes no sense, my customer opted to hang onto it until August when we can get the 8 year and put it back in his rig. either way, I look at this situation in disbelief. He's jumping without an AAD for a summer because of compounding maintenance. The costs of jumping it for an additional 3 months is almost $250, which is ridicules seeing how another $250 is up in August. I thought about this as I looked at the cypres sitting on his desk, and I can't help but think that the maintenance schedule being set the way it is isn't the most effective way of doing it. Right now I'm telling people who buy gear to look seriously into a Vigil or argus as an acceptable substitute for a cypres. I've taken some heat for that, but IMHO they provide a reliable and safe alternative - far more reliable than jumping without one. =========Shaun ==========

HA!!! You're JDthomas!!! Dude I've known you for years!!! I knew the name. I knew the face. But I never put 1 + 2 together until now. Oh, & nice airplane.

Skydiving doesn't bitch at you when you have done your thing. =========Shaun ==========

0:0:0 This weekend we didn't get any loads up----high winds. So I slept in til 12ish and then did some rigging and watched a movie. =========Shaun ==========

Man, She's purty. =========Shaun ==========

I bought a new Racer 2K3 and I love it. there are waaay too many racer threads already on DZ.com. People who have racers will swear on them to their mothers grave and those who don't like them will never be convinced. I jump a racer and my next rig will be a Racer, and I have people who won't trust me as a rigger because they feel this shows 'lack of judgement.' whatever. I give you credit, Tonto. At least you back up your arguments in regards to the subject. You at least have an argument! Frankly I've had 'discussions' with PLENTY of people who think a racer is a death-trap and don't know jack about them. =========Shaun ==========

All the sources I've looked into make me think that it is not a good idea - plus anytime you get a canopy wet, it's open to friction which can degrade the different coating of the material and I assume the same could hold true for the lines. =========Shaun ==========

No black instructors out here, but we have the most bad-ass black student in the World. British Mike - probably my favorite student in the world. we told him he can't quit because we need more black skydivers. =========Shaun ==========

dude, you need to NSFW those.... =========Shaun ==========

Here here. Women are crazy, but what can you do? Last night my SO started crying because she had her first run-in with Kansas Chiggers. Stupid girls. =========Shaun ==========

Sunshine - here comes the age-old question... "why do women go for the jerks... and why don't you get yourself a good guy (AKA non-asshole)" =========Shaun ==========

poor lil' bastard. That does seem kind of harsh. =========Shaun ==========

Roaming Dropzone. Tandem "boogie" in BF nowhere Kansas. Rigging. Hey, it's WAY better than that stupid mullins boogie I was going to go to. I hate those things. =========Shaun ==========

Cute. She drink pepsi? =========Shaun ==========

Ever notice how the Ladies never respond to these kind of threads until us guys get them REALLY going. I don't know what to think of that.... =========Shaun ==========

wow - 5 hours of Class!! Our college club's SL First jump course is WAAAY longer than that!! Good video! =========Shaun ==========

I've jumped both the CASA and Skyvan lots - but please jog my memory people....Which one was faster??? If I remember, they were both pretty comparable except the girls sitting next to the wing strut kept screaming every few minutes....I wonder why? Hmmmm. =========Shaun ==========

0:3:1 Three jumps this weekend - two student loads and 1 NIGHT JUMP - Also after the night jumps were over, so was my relationship with my Girlfriend of 4 months. i guess I owe a case for that..... =========Shaun ==========

Ghostbusters!!! =========Shaun ==========

I just can't stand grouchy people. I don't care if you're having a bad day. I don't care if you haven't slept or whatever - act like a civil person and be nice to people!! There are some people at our DZ i need to say that too. I even told that to my GF yesterday because she was pissing around about something. =========Shaun ==========

You know - I hear this a lot from jumpers at our DZ. We train SL, and you can get your license with use (gear rental + jumps) for about $650. I think training on SL has a LOT of advantages, don't be afraid to change because it's not the most 'modern' or fast paced way to learn.

I made this for a class not too long ago. If you use "R" this is the onlly way I know how to make a pareto chart. This should also be matlab compatible.

Philly steak and cheese lean pocket. TWO OF THEM!! I just popped them in the microwave for 2:30 and *ding* it was time to eat. Sooooo good. =========Shaun ==========

Are you going to the Mullins boogie In Oklahoma the weekend after this one? That's ALMOST like being in Texas. =========Shaun ==========

I agree -I look at that toilet and see 5 jump tickets sitting in there. Cover me, I'm going in!! =========Shaun ==========