kaerock

It's a good idea to develop a maintenance routine. Flex your risers, untwist your break lines, check your loops, bands, rings, webbing, container, etc. Just because you may not be a rigger doesn't mean you shouldn't check your own gear. The more you inspect your gear, the more comfortable and knowledgeable you are about it, you can't beat that. -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

Werd, and a spoiler too, you'll be too pimp. As far as the leg/crotch pain goes, I had that problem for a long time when I started, black bruises on my thighs, but I got used to it. Go easy at first, you'll build a tolerance to it. Also, if/when you go to buy gear, you can often get double-wide leg-straps (which is what I did) and I rarely if ever get hurt *there*. -R Dude! That has to be one of the best freak'n ideas I've heard in a damn long time! I'm going to have to go and get some for my DZ's rigs, just in case someone has a problem with their legstraps. (I bet I can find some that say "Honda R" so our rigs will be all riced out and cool...) You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

Roger that, I suspected it had to do with the increased friction of the non-stainless hardware...It's an interesting point, but do you really think that there is THAT much more force on the locking loop with stainless? I wonder if anyone that has any numbers on the comparison. -R As it was explained to me by Bill Booth and mentioned by Rigging65, the stainless steel rings are very smooth, which causes more force to be transmitted to the locking loop. Friction between the rings and webbing absorbs some of the force, reducing the amount transmitted to the locking loop. He was asking because he had just developed the new electrolysis-plated hardware at PIS 2001. He said that the plated hardware had the nice look of the stainless, but retained the efficiency of the Cadmium plated hardware that was lost with the stainless. Derek You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

Just curious, how does the fact that the rings are stainless reduce efficiency? -R Stainless steel 3-rings reduces the efficiency of the 3-ring, which means higher loads on the white locking loop and higher pull forces on the cutaway handle. This can contribute to impossibly high cutaway forces, which has happened. This is a failure. Things that increase cutaway forces: Stainless steel 3-rings Mini-rings Excess cutaway cable s twisted around each other without hard housing inserts The channel on the back of the rear risers 'gripping' the excess cutaway cable if hard housings are not installed. Dirty cutaway cables Rough spots or sharp bends on the cutaway cables 3-rings not manufactured to specs. Things that can reduce cutaway forces: Cadmium or electrolysis-plated 3-rings Standard (large) 3-rings Clean cutaway cables Riser inserts 3-rings manufactured to specs Straight, knick or bend-free cutaway cables All that being said, stainless hardware doesn't seem to rust, and if manufactured to specs, maintained every 30 days, hard housings are used in the risers, stainless 3-rings are OK. Derek You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

I've seen and heard about people installing slinks improperly, on mains AND reserves. They are really easy to screw up if you aren't paying attention or don't know what you're doing. I quadruple check slinks, especially when they're on reserves. Urban legend: A guy was due for a reserve repack and was considering chopping his main and riding his reserve for 'fun'. A friend of his convinced him not to do. During the reserve repack process the rigger (not the one that packed it last) found that the reserve slinks were not connected properly and would've failed if the reserve was used. -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

Great, all I was looking for was some kind of rule of thumb, ballpark figure, etc. Thanks! -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

Right, but this thread is about SPECTRA line shrinkage. -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

Wouldn't Icarus know? -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

Actually, I have very good altitude awareness. I will often check my visual atlimeter when I worry and it's usually around 6k. But who knows, it coulda happened all ugly-like, right? That's what they're there for, just-in-case, or that-one-time. -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

nope. You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

This one time, while skydiving... I was in a sit fly and my pants started to you know, flap with the wind. However, the crotch of my pants started flapping just...so...and it felt kind of...good...and my thought was: "Is it wrong to sport wood in freefall?" -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

Skydive Chicago/Para Concept's course is 1 grueling week long. I took it and worked my patootie off. Started at 8-9am and worked well passed midnight some nights. I believe they are still registering for a November course, check them out. http://www.para-concepts.com/rigging-services-course.html -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

My point was simple as well. I wouldn't buy one, nor would I recommend one to anyone. I'm not about to bite my tongue because I might upset someone that has some brand loyalty. It's an opinion, take it for what it's worth. If you want to discuss specifics: -I think they are extremely thin, will wear out quickly -Velcro wears out quickly and makes the equipment look trashy, needs to be replaced. -the design is antiquated as there have been leaps and bounds in technology that the Dolphins seem to be lacking -like adequate bridal protection -main pin flap protection, riser protection. -I don't like exposed pop-tops as they are easy to snag and a lot of time expose the reserve pilot chute. This what I've determined from the handful that have passed my way. If they have improved on these things, fantastic, it's inconsequential to me. It's still a pack job to me. Save your typing if you want to get into a Mine is Bigger than Yours competition. Longevity does not always beget competence, but I respect your opinion :> -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

You know me so well! thou placeth the glass pipeth downeth -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

A couple of weeks ago I had a close call with a jumper with about 100 jumps. I was on my downwind leg setting up for my 180 riser turn/carve. He was further downwind and heading in the same direction, I had my eye on him, I knew he wasn't all that experienced and I couldn't figure out what he was thinking. All of a sudden he does a 180 toggle turn and comes right for me at the same altitude...I knew that was going to happen. As soon as I saw him heading right for me I pulled a snap riser turn, I know, not my favorite method of landing, but it was effective. Everyone landed without incident and I asked him what he though happened back up top. "Uh, I guess I didn't see you" Knowing your canopy's full capabilities can really help when you're in a bind. Assume everyone is blind, stupid or evil and are trying to kill you...even lamp posts :> -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

Devil's Advocate... A 1:1 loading is not at all uncommon nor terribly unsafe (relative to the fact that you're flinging yourself at the Earth at break-neck speeds). While I agree that starting off slowly is the best course of action, moving from a .6 load to .8 to 1.0 really isn't that insane, I mean, really. I don't see a problem with it for *HER*. Perhaps if it were someone else, I'd break out a clue-pon. People learn at different rates. One person I know of has something like 90 jumps and has yet to stand it up consistently(or if they do it's a fluke). Some people land them consistently on their feet from jump 1. If someone feels confident that they can land the canopy, then I'd put money that they would be successful. Having quick reflexes and a good sense of motion and timing are only a part of it, but planning and understanding and fore-thought are another, that usually comes with experience. So someone with 26 jumps that has a good sense of timing and can consistently land standing up most likely is going to be fine under a 1:1 or 1.1:1 loading. There are people that shouldn't be in this sport...f by jump 90 you still can't stand them up, HINT HINT. Angela isn't one of them. I've seen her landings and she far above bar for someone with as many jumps as she has. Many of her instructors have made similar comments. To blindly state that she's going to screw herself into the ground because she has 26 jumps and wants to jump 1:1 is the same reasoning people burn books. I think it's admirable that she is so concerned with canopy flight, how to get the most out of it and how to utilize the full set of tools available to her. She's taking the time to ask in order to be better informed, IMAGINE THAT. I want to smack people that refuse to pull a front riser or push their knowledge a little, that's what learning is. I suggest people be constructive rather than accusatory, antagonizing and argumentative (that's my forte :)). Like, suggest ways to get the most out of a canopy class (a real stretch, I know). Maybe point out some good articles on how canopies work, what happens when you pull a break versus a riser. Anyhow, blue skies, twinkle-toed landings. -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

Hmm, Bummer Marco is gonna be out of town the next couple of weekends, and I'm usually super busy packing But you know I'll make some time for you Hopefully I won't get too busy or there will be more cats around that can lern ya too. Oh ya, LOTS of solos, LOTS of cartwheels. Demz the magic ingredients. You still aren't making those funny faces when you cartwheel, are you? -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

I have the older mindwarp with the external audible mounts. I lost my pro-track this weekend in freefall. Internal audible mounts are probably way better. People also say that you can hear the internally mounted ones better anyhow. Is there a gear store around that'll allow you to try on some helmets? -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

This is not the sport to get into if money is tight. Skimping on equipment could cost you your life or a lot more in maintenance money. Personally, I'd save my pennies for the best when it comes to something that will save my life many times over. From MY experience, all of the Dolphin rigs I have been exposed to have left me with with a feeling something short of warm and fuzzy. I have recieved this less than favorable feeling when packing older Javelins as well - but a lot of that is due to how they've weathered. Evolution is a beautiful thing and I hope that Dolphins have evolved as well, I haven't check the DOM on the last few Dolphins that came my way, I couldn't tell you if those were older versions or not, but I wouldn't recommend one to anyone. -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

You MUST come to Sebastian! -Rory p.s. WHAT UP! You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

I pack for extra cash, so speed is money is jumps. The larger the canopy the longer it takes, I deal with new ZP very well, so that doesn't add much time. I can pack a napkin (Velocity sub 100sqft) in a couple of minutes, while a 280 Navigator takes probably 5-10 minutes. Unfortunately most people that want their stuff packed fly blimps :< I KNOW TANDEMS SMALLER THAN THAT THING. j/k :> -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

Rooster from RWS was at Sebastian this weekend letting people do it too. I have never seen anyone under a reserve that quick! It's an awesome chance to know what a cutaway is like if you've never had one. It's also a great chance to try and pack yourself a malfunction (it's harder than you think) I'd recommend it to everyone, very very cool. He said he'd be back in a couple of weeks with a bigger reserve, as all he had was a 106sqft, F-111 with 100+ jumps on it...not for the inexperienced. -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

I haven't dealt with many Dolphins, so I'm not sure if they still use Velcro on the shoulder flaps (LAME). But my opinion is that they are a mediocre knock-off of Javelins. I have the same opinion of Wings as well. I know people that have had their Wings modded to hell and back probably because the default configuration is sub-standard. Minimize the Velcro if possible, it's as cool as polka-dots. That's my tale, so far :> -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

I've got a Stiletto 135 that is quite used. I checked the line lengths a couple of weeks ago, and while shrinkage on the 550 Microline is pretty symmetrical, the outside lines are about 2 inches shorter than the spec. The canopy is very well-behaved, so I don't notice any performance issues, but how much shrinkage should one allow before replacing lines? It seems as though there is no exact answer for this, but I was wondering what people used for a guideline. -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE

Example: This weekend I lost my Protrack in freefall at some point. I have a Bonehead with an external mount. It go bye-bye at some point before landing. I have a dytter for this kind of situation. I had that protrack in that setup for 400 jumps and just now I lost it. I probably would've lost my altitude awareness if I didn't have my dytter there. I use the protrack as my warning and logging function, the dytter is a backup. Dead batteries, losing one unit or the other, they're pricey, but I wouldn't think of jumping without both. So now I have to get a new protrack AND a helmet with internal mounts. -R You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE