GeeeeeeFly

Get pillow resereve handle... "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"

Not to worry they work fine inside the helmet... And if you are worried about the volume there are two volume settings hi and low... Square one has them a well as call ralph, peirltd... "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 took me some time to really get stable on my head and be able to move to a dock and hold it, so it's all learning curve... I am now in the process of teaching my girlfriend how to fly on her head, problem being I am 100 lbs over her exit wheight and I have to hold her in the position but once I let go it's cork time... She is frustrated but not half as much as me since I am not exactly the best coach. Usually she will go into a stand or sit inorder to keep up or I will belly out in order to save the dive... Good luck Sunny, it took me around 200 jumps to get to where others would trust my ability... "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 wonder how it would compare to a Xfire2? Has anyone here jumped both of those? *** I have jumped Nitrons, Stiletto's and I now own a Xfire 2... I found similar rating to all the canopies... Stiletto and Nitron are very similar in their agressiveness and turning abilties While I have found the Xfire 2 to a step up in agressiveness and alot deeper flare and recovery arc... I enjoyed all the canopies but was not able to put many more than 10 jumps on the nitron... I am very happy with the X fire and look forward to playing around with the VX and Xaos "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"

Up to #286.........*** What jump number are you up to on your quest for stable head down? "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"

581:1 Should be two but I took the chance and landed a "step through"... G "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 was in the military, so one of our ways of insertion was by low flying aircraft (above 600 ft) with troops dangling under a round T-10... Ohh how fun... "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"

As for the 180 flip of the bag... I stowed and done everything correctly when I did the psycho packing. I didn't get any line twist or spanker openings. Just a nice dive to the left or right. They were very soft openings as well. As for the bag lock see my previous post. This was relayed to me by others who pscho pack, something about how a twist close to the first line stow can bind up the bag when it is trying to extract the bag... "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"

Apparently, people who are more familiar with Psycho packing than I am told me to make sure I flipped the bag over after putting the canopy into the bag. Some how having a twist so close to the bag upon opening increases the chance by binding up at the first retention band thus not allowing the canopy to extract out of the bag an giving you the scenario of a bag lock... I have not seen it nor have I had one... As for the off heading openings I can assure you that it has something to do with the way the canopy is exposed to the air after coming out of the bag. I did a little experiment, five jumps with a psycho pack and five pro packed. Out of the pro packed jumps I had one off heading opening. Everyone of the psycho pack jobs had an off heading opening with a nice dive either left or right. No problem if your away from everyone but all the same off heading... I have no problem with either way of packing and I am not really sure why Icarus does not recommend it except for the FX, and VX, but I do know what I have experienced with it. Hope this helps... Oh if you do jump a FX or VX I advise strongly to psycho pack. As for the Xfire 2, what ever floats you boat, it seemed to open fine for 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"

Well being located in southern California, it really isn't that cold, and we lose maybe one or two weekends due to the weather... So pulling low would not be that big a deal here... "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"

Hey Skybum, How did that Xfire2 open for you when you psycho packed it? Asking because I have packed mine both ways... I found the either way to have nice soft openings but with the psycho packing I found off heading openings more often than when I pro packed. Also I was a little nervous being it is a lot easier to have a bag lock with a psycho pack job than with a pro packing. This would only be due to not paying attention to detail when you do the 180 flip of the canopy... Any way talking from experience I have seen no real dilemma from using a psycho pack other than the off heading openings. Ohh and I also found that it was a lot easier to close the container when I psycho packed... "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"

Can you freefly with those speeds? Without the use of some special suit? Reason being in a typical freefly jump you usually reach speeds in the 160-180. Will the tunnel be able to support that type of discipline or are we limited to RW? 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"

QuoteWent through Airborne and Ranger training in 86. Back when it was still tough..Served in Desert Storm 91... I went through Ranger school in 94, as i remember it was still tough with one meal a day, and two to three hours of sleep each night if we were lucky. Met some cool marines while I was in too... I was a little jealous since we had a "Gunny" RI who pulled the marines away in November for the Corp's B-day gave them all a cup cake for the celebration... Kind of neat... I know of a few marines that are still around and jump as well. I will have to relay the message of your little get together... There's something about the comradery that is built between soldiers who have dealt with hardships. Being in the Rangers, I have never found anything in the outside that can even comprehend the bond that was formed... "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 was considered a little aggressive when I was learning how to fly on my head. And so when I was jumping with others I would have the tendency to do high speed fly by's. Thus when I jumped it was no longer considered Free flying and became gee flying... Also it didn't help that my name is pronounced Gee... "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 this problem with a Javelin rig. I had stainless steel and though it was the new supposed system that limited slipping, I had a few instances during flight where I had performed a nice hook turn and the leg strap suddenly loosened. Basically I had to counter with a toggle and prepare for the upcoming damage. A lot of hear in Southern California use Surf wax on the leg straps to give some grip between the hardware and leg strap. It really works well and doesn't really show if you do it in the right spot. You only need to re-apply after around fifty jumps or so I found depending on how liberal you are with the first application... This is simply an easy way to get around the problem which is don't order stainless for your leg straps... "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 see these guys jump at San Diego, and usually I see them under Spectre's and Lightnings. Mostly Spectre's though... 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 have jumped both canopies. And ended up purchasing the Xfire 2. I have found it to be an incredible canopy. I did not mind the Nitron but felt it to be exactly like the Stiletto. The openings were nice but very brisk and always off heading (though more than likely this was a body position problem). pretty nice swoop and recovery but nothing that would compare to the Xfire 2. All in all I think it's up to the individual... "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"

Thanks Everybody... I am not in the situation where I have to save my ass. Done that before on a larger canopy. I am wingloading 1.7:1. I use bothe front risers when I begin the turn thus giving more of an angle of attack and also controling altitude loss while increasing the speed. The xfire is an incredible design that allows you to do easily. But at the plane out the canopy isn't exactly completely level and begins to descend instead of flying straight on it seems. This may be an illusion though. That is why I am posting this. So i will try this input with the rear riser to see if it will bring up the nose errr down the tail in order to elongate the swoop.... Thanks for the advice... Guy....fly "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 need a little input from those who have flown Crossfire's... I have been improving my swooping and have found that crossfire's are incredible in every aspect of the swoop, but since I am very much still learning there is much room for improvement. I have found that as I am coming in from a beautiful 180, my view goes from seeing horizon to straight up nothing but ground. Which is good since I am seeing the response from my front riser input, as the canopy levels out I have this awesome amount of speed that is acquired from the hook turn as the canopy begins to level out. So as the canopy is leveling out the descent is too quick and ends the ride sooner than expected. I am wondering should I transition to rear risers and give a little input to help the canopy level out so to increase the length of the swoop? I know this is used for crossbrace canopies, can I use it for my Crossfire to get the same results? Geefly... "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"

Thanks Kolla... You have made an awesome impression on the skydiving community... You have made my experience with PD an excellent one... One that other canopy companies should also strive to be... "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 was in the military from 90-96, stationed at Ft. Bragg for most of that time when I wasn't deployed to some god forsaken place. For the most part if you end up in an airborne unit you will be stuck in static line jumps. Which are far from anything exciting as sport parachuting. Usually long drawn out manifest with this formality we called "prejump" and long waiting times during rigging. The jumping would be interesting enough if you're lucky enough to jump out of different aircraft besides the standard C-130 and C-141. As for sport parachuting you might get lucky and get sent on detail or detach from your MOS to work in one of the sport clubs for the base. Such as 82nds and the 101st sport clubs. But as for the golden nuggets, there is a tryout and a requirement. When I was there usually there were SF (special forces) guys who were detached and on a nice break from the teams. Now that has changed and it seems there are all sorts of new faces there. If there is a possibility you should see what the Navy has. I have met most of the Leap Frogs (Navy Skydiving team) and they seem to enjoy their job very much. But I think they are only accepting Seals. Good luck with your seach... "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"

COme to San Diego/Otay... $18 everyday, with an Otter and Caravan. Mike Ortiz LO's and the wind is always constant out of the west and we are always 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Elsinore and Perris weather wise. Mind you I like Perris as well, in fact I really enjoy the bombshelter and skyvan but we have to accept the fact that our sport is EXPENSIVE, and times are rather tough as far as the economy... Sorry you broke your leg during the cheaper lift ticket prices... Personally I wish Perris wasn't in such a suck hole location... "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 demo'd a Z1. I am partial to the old bone head but it wasn't bad. The fit was similar to the helmets you see on Space balls, and it was comfortable. The chin strap is similar to Bone Heads newest design too. I would prefer the fast clip instead of the new locking thingama gig... It is light and feels like its made of rubber. There are two pockets inside easily accessible for the audible's...In the end it will be your personal preference. But personally I like the old style Bone head.... "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"

Here is my latest from Jo regarding the problems with Airtec. Iwas concerned since reading the lastest postings from this column... Hi Guy, Airtec is trying to bully us and our US cutter manufacturer. They have no chance, since we have US and EU patents and the use of a cutter to open parachutes is public domain since the 70's. But we wil make a statement of this and before that statement we will not ship to the US. If you have any questions, just ask... Blue skies, Jo. "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"

Come to Southern California, where we have three DZ's all some what close to each other... I would recommend Elisinore since there are many freeflyin ladies there, Perris for a second for the aircraft. But as you said being a lady in a male dominated sport is well....a major hassle... I recommend solos... "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"