Geoff

This doesn't work if you have an Icarus Safire (probably the same for Crossfire, Extreme, etc as well) - all the A lines (or B,C,D) are not the same length when new - it's designed with slightly shorter lines in the middle to make the canopy fly flatter. Geoff

OK - some disadvantages of the down-pointing flap. (1) The fit of the flap depends on the precise shape of the pack job. (2) The flow of air tends to dislodge the flap when sitting or standing (3) The flap can easily be knocked open when sitting on the floor, on other people's feet, or by window edges in planes with benches. (4) The 'tongue' (the part of the flap that tucks back under) can bend and gradually become deformed, causing the fit to get worse and worse. (5) you can't solve the problem with a longer 'tongue' on the flap because it would touch the closing loop. (6) in general, these designs are very sensitive to the geometry of the container - minor stretching as the rig wears can make the flap fit worse. That's just off the top of my head. Plus I've seen many loose downward-pointing flaps in freefall (and in several magazine pictures), and never seen a loose upward flap. I notice that Parachutes de France is modifying the new Atom (called the Atom Legend) to replace the flap with an upwards design, as did the Relative Workshop for the Vector III compared to the Vector II. Frankly I was surprised that Sunpath didn't do something similar with the Odyssey. Geoff

The grommets should be touching. The flaps should hardly 'relax' and spread apart at all (a couple of millimetres at most) when you take the pressure off your pull-up cord. Pin pointing up is a good idea - it's less likely to be knocked when moving around the plane or sitting on the floor. I've seen a few freefliers with their main pin replaced by a short length (few inches) of doubled teflon cable, which seems a good idea, is much more secure, and whose main disadvantage seems to be that closing loops wear more quickly. A good secure rig with an upwards-pointing main flap (e.g. Vector, Mirage, Voodoo, Wings, etc) is a very good idea. Very personal opinion, but I don't consider any rig with a down-pointing main flap (Javelin, Dolphin, Talon, Reflex, Atom) to be ideal for freeflying. Geoff

I think this gear (Vortex, Hurricane, Decelerator, etc) is made in South Africa. I'm assuming that the Canadian company is an agent for the South African manufacturers, unless they're making it under license. I've seen some of this gear being jumped in the UK, and it seems good quality. Geoff

Lots of info at http://www.blincmagazine.comand its links. Basically, a BASE rig has a single canopy (OK there are a couple of designs with two) - no reserve, or perhaps more accurately no main, as a BASE canopy is much more like a large skydiving reserve both in construction and in the way it's packed. Most BASE rigs are closed by velcro rather than a pin, have a long bridle, and a larger pilot chute, depending on the delay. Normally, they have a mesh slider or no slider at all for a fast deployment at low airspeed. There are many, many, additional small but important differences. BASE is definitely not just a variation of skydiving, neither the equipment used nor the skills needed. Geoff

I'd prefer a real container to an unreal one thanks

It's not that rare - It's not so much the high turn rate that causes the twist, but the high angular acceleration. In other words, the canopy turns, but the jumper gets left behind. If you jerk a toggle down, it's easy to twist up with high performance canopies. You can safely turn as fast as you like, but you need to build up the rotation smoothly. Lowering your slider behind your head and loosening your chest strap should reduce the chance of inducing a twist - you don't say if you'd done either of these. This lets the lines and risers spread a little wider. Geoff

Sad replying to my own post, but anyway..... After a long dialog with Icarus, about the brake mods to the Safire, I eventually got this info: "It's unfortunate that I have to advise that we are still some time away from releasing a new control line set up. The reason for this is that we have decided to not release a Safire upgrade model but rather release what we call the generation 2 version which incorporates some additional new technology. As a result the testing has become a lot more comprehensive and focuses on various aspects of the canopy over and above just the control lines." Ho hum, guess I'll just have to hook it a bit harder to improve the landings....... joke!! Geoff

Used to have flying dreams - floating around under control - all the time - like several times a week - until I started jumping. Never had one since. Guess it was a suppressed desire or premonition or some such shite. Geoff

Yeah - it's a great feeling isn't it, the first really stable one - it took me about 450 jumps (but I did RW for most of those). I'll never forget the sunset load when it finally 'clicked' - head down, doing 180 turns, watching the setting sun in one direction, then the moon in the other, then back - sun, moon, sun, moon. One of the best moments of my life.

Here in the UK, direct bag is the only allowed SL method, and to my mind seems safer - the main is virtually guaranteed to come out as the bag stays with the plane. Does anyone see any safety advantage to the SL pulling a pin or ripcord (not sure what the setup is for non-DB). Geoff

Well.... unusual to me, anyway. here's a quote from the 'talk back' forum er.... what? The drill I learned was look-locate-peel-punch-pull-arch (one hand on each handle). I know about the 'both hands on each handle' version, but I've never heard of the drill quoted above. What's being discarded? The main R/C? Why will holding on to it cause a mal? What's all the check 3 ring stuff about? Any clues? Thanks Geoff

This may be a deliberate design feature. If your rig is designed to have an RSL on the left riser (even if there isn't one fitted now), then the right riser should release before the left one. 2 inches sounds like a big difference, though - as always, it's best to check with a rigger. Geoff

It was easy with my Dad - he broke his leg badly riding a horse, but I've had no injuries so far (hope that isn't tempting fate!). Geoff

Can someone talk me through this procedure? The one we learned was just LOOK - LOCATE - PEEL - PUNCH - PULL - ARCH. Discard? - I guess that's the main ripcord, but I don't see that hanging on to it will cause an entanglement. What's all the checking 3 rings about? Sorry if I seem dense, but I just can't follow this and I am interested. Thanks Geoff

Sounds like they just wanted to sell what they offer, and talk down the alternative. Reminds me of a rig manufacturer, whose RSL set-up is particularly inelegant. When a low-time jumper asked the manufacturer's advice on ordering the rig with an RSL, he was told 'you don't need it if you're getting a Cypres'. I think most of us (whether pro- or anti- Cypres or RSL) agree that the two devices perform very separate functions, and neither is a substitute for the other. There really is a strong tendency, even in our safety-critical sport, for people to say whatever plausible sounding crap they think they can get away with in order to sell their product. Sad but true Geoff

I think 5000ft is a compromise - it's high enough that the student can screw up and not pull for some considerable time longer than the 5 sec required and still be safe. On the other hand if they did hop n pops from a lot higher, say, 10000ft, they'd start to be a danger to other air traffic or jumpers exiting on a higher pass. that's my guess anyway Geoff

I don't agree with you. Priorities are: 1. Pull 2. Pull on altitude (4500 ft for this student) 3. Pull stable on altitude More experienced jumpers may choose to make more subtle decisions, but it's a very bad idea to complicate things for students. Just MHO Geoff

Some more uninformed drivel - well, partially informed. I sometimes wear a frap hat - it's warm in the winter, and definitely keeps the noise out. It's also good for protection against very minor bumps - e.g. against the roof or door whilst moving around in the plane or climbing out. As for protection against a serious head injury - forget it. Again a personal opinion, but I would say the Gath hats, despite being a 'hard' helmet, offer a similar minimal level of protection. In general, I don't think the protection of even the more solid helmets (Nvertigos, factory divers, etc) is well studied or understood. Nothing like the amount of R&D and testing that goes into, say, motorbike helmets. Geoff

Yes - really. No, not really - there's the Raven reserve with a ZP top skin, but that'll make little difference to an unconscious landing. Several manufacturers are already doing this - Fliteline's Reflex (not sure if they're still trading, though) and Mirage certainly. Geoff

I did one of their camps last year, and I also went as a solo. It was GREAT - did 48 jumps in 9 days. Most of it was 4 ways, but the last couple of days were 8, 16 and then 32 ways from a DC-3 (single-file exit). The experience range was from 100 - 7000 jumps (I had 250ish then). The coaches were very good at putting together groups of compatible people, and they're very, very, relaxed and friendly guys - not at all skygod-ish. Even the least experienced people joined in the big-ways, and everyone tried randoms, blocks, different exit positions, etc. One of the benefits of NOT going with a team is that if necessary, the Airspeed guys jump with you to make the 4 ways. - I was lucky and did about half the 4 ways with Dan BC or Craig Girard. I'll probably go again some time, and I have to fly half way round the world! Learned SO much - definitely recommended. Geoff

Another good plane which take 8-9 jumpers is the twin-engined Britten-Norman Islander, available in piston and turbine-engined varieties. No idea about costs, maintenance, etc, but they're good to jump. Geoff

The 'remember login' feature doesn't seem to work reliably. I have my browser set to accept cookies, but maybe 1 time on 3 or 4 that I go to dropzone.com, I'm not recognised and have to log in again. Is this a bug, or am I doing something stupid? Geoff

or a tandem with five attachment points?

Your comment about the sun is an interesting one. I saw a Sabre which had been chopped and lost, and then found about a year later. It had actual holes in it where the Florida sun had burned through. The owner was discussing with a rigger, and they were planning to patch it, replace the rusty slider stops, and then jump it again! I didn't get to see it fly, though. Geoff