yoink

It depends what you mean by 'appropriate'. Is it a redesigned skydiving wing tweaked to perform better in hilly terrain? yes. Would I suggest that's it's safer than a standard parachute? Yes. Is it suitable for all people? No - it's a wing for an advanced and current pilot. Is it suitable for all conditions? No - It's fine until you get into big mountains, then I'd prefer a speedwing for the added resilience to collapses and the much much shorter recovery arcs.

I see.... America, fuck yeah!, right? Your 'masters of industry' statement is hyperbole. China is much more able to retool its industry as it's (in the most part) less specialized and less sophisticated than US manufacturing. Not only that, but even IF your statement was true, it would still cost more to produce things here so there would be less demand. Give people the option of 'reasonable price, made in the US', or 'cheap, made in china' then most people just don't care enough to buy the more expensive product... If they did we wouldn't be in this situation in the first place. Chinas economy has responded to world demand - if the demand decreased their economy would change to fit the current requirements. They will never be entirely dependent on the US imports, but the US may be dependent on them until labor laws equalize enough to make it cost s similar amount to manufacture items in both countries. And while you may not like Nikes, the truth is that the majority of people are sheep led by the media. As long as that doesn't change, there will always be demand for 'trendy' rather than 'high quality' or 'made in the US' goods - but that doesn't really matter to them as clothing and luxury goods aren't the only primary export of the country. Think more along the lines of integrated circuits, cell phones and electrical machinery... try doing without those.

3 tandems for the confidence to jump on their own? Jesus! - however did we manage for the last 40 years without it? 1 for confidence and intro to the canopy, maybe another as a first-person working canopy jump - sure, I could see that. But for a typical student 3 seems like a money making exercise to me with decreasing gains for the student. What's the cost to the DZ (not the price of the level to the student) for a 2-instructor AFF jump, vs a tandem? I'm guessing it's probably double - they have to pay the extra instructor, it takes up another slot in the aircraft etc etc, so they make comparatively more on the tandem jumps so it's good business sense to string those as as long as possible. I'm just not convinced it's best for the average student.

I don't believe it. Not for a second. Average cup size of D? That would mean half the population has Ds or bigger... in some schoolboys dreams, maybe.

Sounds like you don't know what you're talking about. That's a bit harsh, JP. Not knowing much about the course myself, I tend to think 3 tandem seems excessive. What's taught on the 3rd that couldn't be done on the 1st or 2nd?

To clarify - ONLY if the cameraman is an AFFI as well, otherwise, stay clear!

Like this fireman saving a kitten... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjB_oVeq8Lo&feature=player_embedded awwww. I hope he had 200 fires under his belt before he bolted the camera on!

Right! Whatever works for them!

I've seen physios recommend it... I'm sure they're getting a reacharound from the manufacturer.

What do you mean by 'behaviour'? In my experience almost all modern canopies land very well if they're equally in trim. They might however, take different techniques to get the best out of. I've found that higher airspeeds often give a more 'positive' flare stroke if that's what you're looking for, but then require a much more progressive flare.

If you don't know what you're looking for, or the best way to differentiate between characteristics of a canopy and how that may relate to your progression, then your 'go fly them' comment is singularly unhelpful for low experience jumpers. You could instead take the opportunity to teach new jumper about how to identify those specific questions that would let you help them. "Sorry - it's not really a question of 'best'. What do you WANT from a canopy. Have you thought about x, y & z?'" Additionally, 'go fly them' isn't always an easy option for folks not living in the US. You know we have a multinational membership here, right? Then there's actually living with a parachute. I could put a dozen jumps on a Sabre and it would open OK but maybe the one I buy would be a slammer... Do some go out of trim more than others, how does ZPX last over months and years? Getting other peoples opinions are useful for longer term considerations - PARTICULARLY for newer jumpers, so rather than being a skygod about it, how about you ignore the threads which don't interest you and let others help people that are looking for it?

4000, heretic!

Yup. Can be. Just remember - relax and keep smiling. Other than that, just listen to your instructors.

I've been saying for years that skydivers don't treat groundlaunching or speedflying with enough respect. We're taught nothing about micrometeorology in skydiving, yet somehow don't think to take the time to learn despite it being a critical factor in mountain flying. Too many people think it's just a case of hiking up then running off...

140? Who the hell makes a 140?????? PdF used to make a Techno 140. I think I've still got one around somewhere.

Sounds like torture to me!

There is no good reason to use skydiving canopies for groundlaunching anymore. 6 or 7 years ago when the sport was in its infancy and there weren't really many options you used what you had and had to unlearn the bad lessons you learnt as a result of the gear. Today there are so many options available for new and used gear that it's stupid to accept the increased risk of using gear not designed for that environment. Let me ask you a question - would you use skydiving gear for an average BASE jump? Unless you're an idiot, you'll be saying 'no'. I want a BASE specific canopy and container. It's the same for groundlaunching. Skydiving canopies SUCK in that environment. They're difficult to launch, MUCH less tolerant of turbulence and typically don't have the range of a speedflying wing. You CAN do it, but you shouldn't. Pick up a cheap second hand wing.

Try religious fundamentalists like your pal Ron over there. No beating them...

Since when does 'liberal' equate with 'tolerant of everything'? It must be either very nice or bloody awful to live in your world where everything is so binary...

What? Nobody believes that. You've just made it up because you think it sounds pithy. Your faith is making you come across as arrogant and sanctimonious. It's not a good way to win people round to your viewpoint.

good one. Slightly depressing, but interesting. On a similar topic 'How to fix Washington': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAgE1CUch3Q&list=PL021D171CF690B849 I thought there are some good ideas in this one too.

Aw. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I'm touched. You really don't see any link between personal self-regulation rather than a centralized form, a lack of accountability and an increase in the likelihood of decent human beings becoming assholes to each other?

More freedom & more personal responsibility / accountability = more people acting like dicks to each other. Just look at the interpersonal interaction on the internet, for example.

Only if you're shit at it.

It's my experience that a patch significantly affects the resale value of a canopy. More than the $200 it'd cost to get the panel replaced. That's just my experience though.