GeeeeeeFly

I am flying a FX 120 currently, which was made in 98... I purchased it off someone yet I am not sure exactly how many jumps this guy has put on it, (being it was manufactured in 98 he said around 900) so I am trying to keep this thing in pristine condition as much as possible... I have a new line set on it and had Chicago inspect and do necessary repairs on it... I am also wing loading it 2:1 so I can't imagine that helps either... I have been psycho packing it with great success. Opens soft and on heading 98% of the time. I am just trying to limit any excessive stress or damage on the canopy if I can.... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

Question for those who know... I heard from an experienced source that psycho packing is bad or hard on the canopy material... Is this possible? How could this be any worse than a flat pack or regular pro pack? Feed back please... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

Very nice Ian... Makes me want to come out east and jump with some new people... Too bad the weather isn't agreeing with my ambitions... If you can't fly head down, try flying feet up... Guy "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

I don't see anything wrong with dying for something you love... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

Thank you Hookit for setting us straight from someone's post who is obviously talking from below the belt line... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

300-400 jumps Hornet 190 10-30 jumps Sabre 2 170 50-100 jumps Stiletto 150 200+ jumps Crossfire2 149 10 jumps on current canopy FX 120 wingloaded 1:1.93 I progressed through the canopies rather quickly but I am very cautious with the FX, more so than I have ever been on any canopy. The one thing I took into cosideration with my canopy progression was one question. "Can you land that canopy in any given condition?" Down wind Cross wind Any place off the DZ And know how to flat turn... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

I psycho pack because it makes for very soft openings on VX's and FX's. Where I have found pro packing these to be less than effective... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

I have had both rigs. I currently jump a Voodoo. I find that both rigs have their pro's and cons. The javelin was just the basic Javelin and had all the bells and whistles. I found the leg straps were not well designed with stainless steel. They would come lose during turns under canopy, where I would then use surf wax to help them grip again. The Voodoo is nice and has the full articulation as well and is very comfortable. I had to get a custom to the different leg straps and closing was a lot more difficult. Now that I have had this rig for a while I am very satisfied. I don't necessarily think it is the best free fly rig but it is different. I suggest trying these rigs out if you can, wear them and see which is more comfortable designed for what you want. I think the Javelin Odyssey is nice but not what I was looking for in pin protection. Also I had problems with their riser flaps as well. RI will gladly fix anything you have problems with and Sandy has even been nice enough to convert old Voodoos to new current upgrades. Sandy set up my Voodoo to be velcroless after I asked him to modify the pull out which was currently velcro. He designed a new pull out after I asked him if it was possible... Pretty cool if you ask me... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

Carving is used once the pilots canopy has begun to plane out and is out of the dive part of the hook turn... The pilot uses his toggles to and harness input to maneuver along the ground as he begins to flare... Again a nice looking maneuver when done correctly... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

This is a turn initiated under canopy during your final descent or base leg to the ground... It is a calculated turn used by experienced pilots usually on their final base leg of their landing; where the canopy pilots "hook turn" genererates a substantial amount of speed as they come in for landing... Done correctly it makes for an exciting ride under canopy... Done incorrectly makes for a statistic in the back of Parachutist... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

And that's exactly why you see a lot of veteran running around with these on thier wrists... Cool points... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

How do you pack your Xaos? And did you Psycho pack the VX when you jumped it? "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

I wear a pair of Gatorz and have kept with them for the past year now... I enjoy them since they diffuse the light as well as being shaded so I can use them on sunset loads with out any hassle... I have found that any sunglass that can wrap around your face and be tightened using some "croakie" or "chums" works well... I suggest just going out and trying different pairs to see what works for you... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

It was a joke... Your last name is Griffin... The family in the show are from Rhode Island and are named Griffin as well... If you like the Simpsons, you'll like the Family guy... It has a lot more adult humor and it stereo types the north east... Thanx Kim "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

I have used harness input once I am in the plane out phase of the turn...And usually it is quite responsive... When I do use this I like to incorporate some nice carving with toggle input, but I am still new to this as well... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

Rangers Lead the way... Class 1-95 "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

Derek, You would pro pack your FX... I have had nothing but major problems from pro packing it... The openings sucked all around, worse than any Sabre... I started Pscho packing and now the openings are a lot nicer to me... Of course my FX was made in 98 and has over 1000 jumps I figure... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

I definitely recommend psycho packing that thing... Other wise you will have an opening similar to a sabre/sabre2 that has not been packed correctly... Worst openings ever... Never did the rubber band trick though and I have had no problems with it from psycho packing... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

Today I was contacted by Kim Griffin... At first I thought it was someone from "Family guy" but I realized she is our (US) representative for Vigil USA. For those who enrolled in the beta testing for the Vigil there is an option to buy the new manufactured (not beta) version for $801. This is due to the high volume of demand which the company was not ready for. All I have to say to that, is welcome to the skydiving community, bunch of junkies... Apparently the US should be stocked by the end of January with plenty to go around. So if you have the patience go with the Vigil. I am looking forward to my new AAD from them especially at the nice price they quoted me... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

Belly Cam... Nice idea, I have checked out what the canopy does when you do different types of input, but off course there is no way to do that while on approach for the landing... Nice rebuttal, I have seen numerous pilots beat down the group only to show off how well they can "chow"... Luckily we only have water, tree, roads, and mountains for hazards... And the occasional newbie who seems to like doing S turns on the final base leg... It seems now that people are changing up canopies for performance before they completely know the canopy they have. I have seen this from the strong influence and eye brow raising of canopy pilots today. People figure they simply need to get a better canopy instead of learning all they can from their 190 or 170. Instead they figure on learning on a 120 cross brace. I figure you need better weather there, that way you won't have to wear neoprene gloves thus allowing you to initiate your safer landing procedure... Or just do your toggle regardless... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

I beg to differ on your views regarding toggle turns... Nice skill to know but becoming dependent on snapping a 270 or 180 in front of on coming traffic doesn't show skill to me... Looks more like someone doesn't know how to hang out up top in half brakes until the pattern has loosened up... Knowing your canopy is a required skill in this sport, I am just asking to see a general opinion of the population what they use on their final... I have had great results with front riser input, I recently had someone tell me that harness turns would be better both for the over all swoop and that the canopy would perform better due to the canopy does not distort from the input given from the shifting of the harness... I wanted to see if others out there in our community had the same impression or if they even cared how the canopy changed as long as it performed... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

I have no problem with toggle turns only that once initiated, if you are too low there is no recovery. Where as a front riser or harness can be some what saved with "stabbing the brakes" as they say... I have found harness input to be nice but takes too long to gain the momentum as compared to the quick response that I find from front riser input. The big difference that I have been enlightened too is the distortion of the canopy that occurs when using front risers and toggles. Where saddle turns simply shift the canopy into the direction of your dive thus leaving your other controls as options for fine tuning. But my experiences with my swoops all come from a Xfire 2 loaded 1.6:1, is it possible that higher wing loading increases the harness turn response? Guy "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

What do you use for your the final input of your swoop... 1) Front risers 2) Saddle turn into final approach 3) Deadly toggle turn in on final I have been using a nice 180 or 270 front riser approach for my final, but I was told that I should use a saddle turn for my swoop due to the distortion that is created in the wing when you use front riser or toggle in order to initiate the turn... The wing was not designed for this and flies better if you shift in the harness rather than using risers or toggles... Comments and thoughts please... Guy "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

It's nice to have the Protrac log jumps though, as well as speed and time... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"

Check out the velcro see if it needs to be replaced or give it to your local rigger to check it out... Personally I like the soft reserve handle; it's not easily diloged or pulled out where as the ring can be hooked by a thumb (which ican be both benificial and detramental) packed airplanes... "The edge ... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who know where it is are those that have gone over"