Joellercoaster

I'm finding them helpful lately, full-face or no. But I've been jumping out of a PAC with a door that sounds like an angry chainsaw on takeoff. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

This isn't necessarily deinitive, but: I'm two or three inches shorter than you, and in the time I've been jumping, there has been exactly one second-hand container available while I've been shopping that fit me well. I missed it. That said, new containers are less of a sticker-shock bling thing than new canopies IMO, especially if you're an unusual shape. Having one that fits you perfectly is a hell of a lot more useful than a brand-new canopy. At the very least, a stock rig with a custom harness can be put together by most manufacturers, which even though it's as expensive as an all-custom rig, at least means you don't have to wait too long. I'm currently on my second container, with second-hand canopies in it. One upside of being a bit bigger than average is that the wing-loading chart skews your way around the third of fourth downsize... lighter people are still in their progression at around where you are buying long-term canopies, so you have an easier time finding what you want as they discard them on the way down. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Depending on who you're doing AFF with, some of the UK schools are starting to offer tunnel as part of their programs. Getting in the tunnel is a good idea. Getting in there with the same people you'll be in freefall with is a great idea :) -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Wow... that's f'd up. And also not actually true. I would dispute the "normally" part very loudly indeed. Especially since Lemming jumps at least partly at a dropzone where there are no coach fees and coach jump tickets are discounted! Back on-topic for just a second: Lemming, in answer to your original question, (I think) in South Africa and (definitely) in Australia you also need to do this stuff, it's just folded into your B license. [edit: Looking up the responses in this thread, it looks like 'A' meaning 'solo' isn't just a BPA thing after all, and in fact is in most of the responding countries. Fascinating.] -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I've owned four main canopies, and three of them are Pilots (we don't talk about the other one). Loaded between 1.1 and 1.65, they have been universally well-behaved and great fun to fly. My current 132, I will probably have until it goes to the great rigging loft in the sky, since I can't foresee a time when I won't need one... camera, wingsuit, bigway, it's good for all these things. Until I start upsizing again when I'm older and my body needs to be looked after, but hopefully that will be many years yet. Then I'll just go back to bigger Pilots. Brilliant. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I have, I have. And then I'm going to put it in my Skyhook-equipped I3 -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

For some reason no matter how I try to make that clicky work, the forum software mangles it. But you can reach it from the front page. Haha, that looks like it was a really good time and the photos are pretty as hell -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I know this is a US-centric and rigging-centric question so this is off-topic, but: there are countries where a stamp is required, rather than a signature where we would use one. Those places could have a point! -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Haha true indeed. When I did AFF all I wanted to do was freefly, and maybe BASE. 600 belly jumps later (mostly 4- and 8-way) both of those things are still on the "TODO" list. They'll keep Back on-topic though: Also consider getting a jumpsuit. If you're really keen to bang out the jumps, then having a suit that fits you well will make flying much easier. You can spend between one and five hundred dollars on one if you want to, but there's definitely a quality-vs-cost sweet spot somewhere in the middle. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

The only size I've jumped both in was 170, and the ZP.EXE: - Opened more on-heading and consistently in general - Had a much steeper glide in full flight - Didn't flare as nicely or turn as crisply - Was a dream to pack by comparison, though as mentioned up-thread, the fabric is bulkier -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I know one very large gentleman (OK I know several, but this one hurt himself). I don't know the make of container he was jumping but it was modern, the main was a Crossfire2 169. They're known for opening softly but nothing is guaranteed; he broke a riser with a hard opening and was out of jumping for several months. I know another very big guy who broke lines, I don't think he was hurt though. It sounds like you're going about this in a careful way, I hope you find gear that works for you - this is just more information. Good luck, keep us posted! -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

+1 (Jumped the same sizes.) Got to the point where I actually quite liked the 135! -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Hmm. I wonder why so many people feel so strongly? That's good. Very good, and it's going to always be the best idea. When you're talking to your local authorities, keep in mind that one of the very foremost canopy teachers on Earth has published recommendations that would have that time be about three hundred jumps in the future. Do what you're gonna do, but think hard first, and don't just listen to the opinions you like the sound of. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

1) No. 2) Assuming for a moment, for wildly unlikely agument's sake, they wanted you to re-take the level to make some more money. They could just tell you you didn't do something quite well enough to pass, what's a student going to know? Much easier on the instructor that dealing with an inadequately-trained student. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I think the porosity of parachute ribs is more likely to be increased by the MASSIVE HOLES in them, than by the material from which they are constructed. [edit: beaten to it, maybe I should read the entire thread before opening my mouth. Back on-topic, I'm on my third Pilot now. I've jumped Sabre2s in all the sizes I've owned and more, and know which one I prefer - it's just a genuinely great canopy.] -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Bigway is, as usual, on the money. We're back now :) -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

In reply to the thing about wing loading and increased recovery arc, I wouldn't mind bringing the subject back to Pilots for a sec: I'm loading mine somewhere between 1.6 and 1.7 (depending on how many pies I've eaten), and the recovery arc is still short. YMMV. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I'm doing it right now... it's not as easy to dive as my girlfriend's Sabre2 (of the same size), or the Vision (larger) I jumped previously, but it's what I have. If I were more serious about it I'd change canopies, but I dig my Pilot for plenty of other reasons and still I'm learning plenty. As for the safety aspect, I honestly don't feel qualified to answer, but nobody has said "don't do this" when I've asked for help. This part of the answer is, obviously, worth what you paid for it. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Indeed you might. I dropped a toggle getting my fingers out of the dive loops a while ago (lesson in gripping your toggles correctly here!)... I did the first thing that occurred, which was to flare that side on the rear riser. It landed OK, but I've practised it once or twice since. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

11-way New Year's Day speed star from the Caravan, on my annual visit to Langar Don't reckon there will be much jumping anywhere this weekend though, unless there's a DZ with a snow plough I don't know about -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

On some planes, it's not so much the engine as the door. There a PAC door I can think of that sounds like a chainsaw if you're sat next to it :( Earplugs are good (on the way up), when I remember. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I'm just a dorkzoner, but I've still seen (with my eyes) two near misses, in two different countries, in my short time in the sport too. Or if you count the glider with his radio off who nearly managed to hit every group on a load as he flew up the jumprun (people passing both sides of him IIRC), that number could be bigger. Just sayin'... maybe you (and everyone you know) just live somewhere with better ATC than the norm. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

570 0 N/A So far so good. -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

I heard a rumour to that effect... -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?

Fair enough, and they would know. I certainly defer to their sizing, when it comes to their products! -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at?