Geoff
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Everything posted by Geoff
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Wow - I got an adrenalin buzz just reading that!
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To me, 'ground hungry' means that a canopy loses a lot of altitude in a turn. That certainly applies to x-braced, but also other canopies. Geoff
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OK, well you sure had me.......
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Firstly - My condolences to the family and friends. I've lost one friend skydiving, so I do know how it feels. Secondly - I really have to disagree. (1) There's a lot to be learned from incident reports. (2) The majority of fatalities are not due to the parachute failing to open.- collisions, entanglements, low turns, landing problems, etc Geoff
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I agree the glide is not too good on the Spectre. You can use brakes or rear risers to get back from a deep spot, but if you're short of the spot and it's windy, you're likely not to make it. Otherwise, it's a great canopy. Soft openings and landings. Geoff
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Just looking at the picture of one - the main flap definitely comes up from under the other flaps. It's not quite clear how it then tucks back in (upwards or back downwards again. It certainly looks more like a Vector II or Mirage design than a Javelin or Talon. Geoff
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Just in case there's some confusion here - the original Atom is a pretty good rig, but suffers the Javelin-style down-pointing main flap. However, the Legend relaces this with a vector III / Mirage style up-pointing flap. Haven't seen one in the flesh (or parapack), but it looks very good in the pictures. If they've got it right this should be very freefly friendly and be a kick-ass rig, and very good value for money in the UK, with the higher $ now. Geoff
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Get a bigger slider or a pocket slider. It's the only sure-fire way to slow Sabre openings. Geoff
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Lots of useful stuff here - thanks everybody! As for the purpose of the sign... well, I'll post a picture somewhere after the jump. Thanks again
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yep, very clear, thanks. Geoff
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I agree about long bites being better, but why smaller for locking stows? I guess it depends on the layout of the stows on the bag, but I tend to use progressively slightly shorter bites after the locking ones in order to minimise the chance of a loop of line getting round a bite which will release later in the deployment sequence, and so cause a baglock. (I hope that makes sense - not my best explanation!) Anyway - I agree that roughly 3 inch stows are good. Geoff
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This all sounds consistent with other swooping advice I've been given, except.... That's an interesting opinion I'd not heard before. What if the surface isn't suited to sliding e.g. dry with long uneven grass? What do you mean by foot placement? Could you maybe explain your thinking a little? I'm gradually learning to swoop landings on my Safire, and hungry for expert advice. Thanks Geoff
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I'm not Dan, but here goes.... I also have a Mirage with the standard ZP PC, and I've jumped 3 different mains in it - Sabre 135 (100 jumps), Spectre 135 (50 jumps), Safire 129 (150 jumps). The Sabre opened generally hard (once VERY hard) until I fitted a bigger slider. The Spectre always opened VERY gently. The Safire always opens gently - not quite as soft as the Spectre, but NEVER too hard. Your PC may play some part in your hard openings, but I'd place most of the blame on the Sabre. If the 150 you mention is also a Sabre, and opens hard, I'd strongly recommend you get a larger or 'pocket' slider - ask your rigger or PD for details. I'm sure this will have more effect than a smaller PC. Hope this helps, Geoff
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We've all seen the photos - a grinning jumper in freefall holding a sign saying 'Happy Birthday' or whatever. Anybody here done this? Any hints on how to get the best pics safely and preferably 'greenly'. Issues which occur to me are: (1) What's the best material for the sign? - thick cardboard I would guess. (2) What's the best size? - Does it catch too much air and become difficult to hold steady or at all if it's too big? (2) How about putting 'finger holes' in it to make it easier to hold firmly? (3) Deployment - can you hang on to the sign with one hand or do you just let it go? I'd prefer not to litter the countryside. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks a lot! Geoff
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PD did start putting bigger sliders on Sabres at some point in th 90s, but not big enough IMHO. I bought a brand new Sabre 135 in Jan 2000, and it often opened hard, and really beat the shit out of my neck on one jump. Can't swear about the quality of the pack job, but it was packed by a DZ packer who seemed to be very careful and was very defensive of Sabres - "They open fine if you know how to pack em properly" he told me proudly before the jump. Anyway, after borrowing a Spectre so I could continue jumping without excessive neck pain, I complained to PD, and surprise...... they sent me a larger slider. - it really helped a lot, and I really can't understand why they don't supply them as standard. The only downside seemed to be that more openings had end-cell closure. Personally, I wouldn't own another Sabre of any age without getting the slider changed. Geoff
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One argument is simply that ZP is more slippery, and so potentially has more chance of a premature deployment (slipping out of the pouch when knocked or pulled). Personally I don't really buy that - a more slippery PC is more likely to be pulled out by a flapping bridle and so less likely to result in a horseshoe mal. I'd prefer a premature to a horseshoe so that's a good thing in my book. I know BASE jumpers don't like ZP PCs - apparently the lack of porosity makes the PC more likely to 'potato chip' and hesitate - but that only applies at VERY low air speeds, and doesn't apply to skydiving, even hopnpops. Mirage rigs come with ZP PC as standard, I think (certainly at least an option). Geoff
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Sabres will occasionally open hard, especially at higher DZ altitudes - even 1500 feet (e.g. at Eloy) makes a difference. People say that this can be avoided by packing perfectly every time. I'm not convinced, and anyway I don't think a canopy should be that fussy. Do you want to be nervous every time you pack in a hurry, or use a hired packer? However, there is a simple, inexpensive solution! Hard openings can be eliminated by using a larger slider (larger front-to-back, not side-to-side) or a 'pocket' slider. Talk to your rigger or PD for details. Soft openings! Geoff
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To answer your question: most dropzones never lose an aircraft. (i.e. lose due to them crashing). Geoff
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I seem to remember a comment that the Cobalt opens beatifully slowly when opened at high speed. I vaguely remember Dan advising to deploy in a track for the best openings. (I'm sure you'll put me right if that's not correct!) So the obvious question: what happens with a low speed deployment - a hop n pop, or a light jumper on their belly in a baggy suit ? Will I get spanked? Of course I should get a demo, but they don't seem to be available yet in the UK. Thanks for any feedback - Dan? Chuck? anyone more ..er... objective? Geoff
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The main purpose is in case you have a line-over on the reserve - cut the offending line - usually it'll be a brake line and you can attempt to flare with rear risers, or at least avoid landing in a turn. Geoff
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Teardrops are now 1 pin only. Been like that for at least a few years now. Geoff
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My log book for AFF level 2 says something like 'secondary released to due to blow to groin' - caused by my over-enthusiastic arching exit. But that's the instructor's problem - they have to accept the risks! Geoff
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I've had no problems with the visor opening in freefall at belly-flying speeds. I'm totally satisfied with it for RW. I have seen people have problems wearing them for freeflying, especially stand-ups. Geoff
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(1) It could suffer damage on opening that makes it impossible to land safely. (2) It could open OK, but the jumper may not be able to flare and land it properly. A highly loaded reserve will not handle like a highly loaded modern ZP main. These things COULD happen. Of course, lots of jumpers overload their reserves to varying degrees and deploy and land them OK. On the other hand, several jumpers have suffered injury or death from overloading reserves. The other danger area with reserve specifications is deployment speed. A reserve deployed at high speed can either fail structurally or cause the jumper to fail structurally. This has also caused fatalities. Geoff
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I think the reason is that full-face helmets do introduce added complications - like misting or even icing up. Dropping the visor just before exit and lifting it after opening (necessary in cold or humid conditions) is a complication that newbies don't need. An experienced jumper is more able to cope safely with the complications. Geoff