Zoter

k.....thanks guys....soooo whats the typical 'weight' of a Large rig....typically

ooohh and I forgot another question.... why would anyone want a reserve canopy that is smaller than their main canopy !....am I missing something..'cuz that juss dont make sense to me !

Question for all you experienced peeps out there.... I am reading alot about zero porocity...wing loadings....7/9cells etc....but I have a couple of newbie questions 1) I know you should talk to your instructor ( and I do) but how do you calculate ..for want of a better word...what is the minimum canopy size you should be jumping. 2) what is wing loading....how is it calculated and what is recommended/not recommended for newly qualifieds. 3) how do ZP canopies affect overall canopy size and wing loading? Phew !........I'm ready to be enlightened !

Really....loads of other rigs out there.....Large size? WHERE?? Im looking on the BPA site, Dirtdive UK site, a few company sites and regularly get info from 4 DZ's 'Bulletin boards' Anywhere else you could suggest Ben.....help appreciated

"My first question is why arent you considering other containers? is it a money thing? if so why would you want to pay the least amount of money for the part of your gear that has to work 100% of the time? Your main will malfunction, you will see your reserve occasionally but your container has to work every time. When the shit hits the fan you should know that you did not skimp out on your rig because it was cheaper. For a couple hundred dollars, you could get something like a Mirage " Not really thought about it from that angle.... The advice ( from just about EVERYBODY) is First Rig....buy second hand...full stop. And TBH here in the UK I am finding it reasonably difficult to find nearly new second hand rigs that are a decent size for me.......there just dont seem to be that many adverstised....and I am looking! I want a nearly new container....and of course am going to get it rigger inspected....but if its nearly new...in decent condition...and rigger examination passed....it doesnt make it any different from what most other people are jumping...right? Anybody got any comments on buying 'nearly new' containers....versus spanking new as a fisrt rig....pros and cons beyond the money factor?

Ouch !...just been reading a different topic posted ....jeez at my stage of the game I am concentrating more on the freefall side of the game....for the canopy ride down...I want something nice and SAFE that gives me time to think about what just happened..enjoy the view and give out a big 'Yee ..Haww'.......and maybe something that teaches me the 'extras' of canopy flight off student status why are people so keen to downsize ?........'lern yer shit first...surely...?'

Hi everyone.......firstly just wanted to say as a newbie I am Sooo impressed and thankful for all you experienced people out there helping out us new guys......reading these forums have learned alot . I'll cut to the chase...6ft 2, 15stone (>205lbs) looking for first rig (< 50 jumps....awwww).... Have been offered the following : Vortex II container (Javelin copy by Chute Shop) ZpExe 215 main about 70 jumps, bright green Decelerator 220 reserve 0 jumps Collapsable BOC pilot chute/ slider Cypres DOM 10/01 Hip rings, stainless steel hardware All for £2K..........I have done my research into the Vortex II containers ( and know the problems ) and the canopies too......but please can I take YOUR opinions on this rig in general. Whatvere you have to offer me about it, or specific parts of it....I'll be very grateful.......thanks guys and gals

Sorry to bother all you guys with this. New jumper

Anybody recognise this..... AFF...yip you prob could afford to do that or else you prob would have staggered it out over a while ( but that sucks...after a couple of jumps you just wanted to go up again and again and again !) Post Cat.8....woah.....you walk into territoy there that makes your bank Manager sweat. Helmet, Goggles, Alti (in nice bright coloour of course !!) ,Gloves, Jumpsuit (with comp grips ...EVEN though you have not even signed up for WARP/RW training, and with ALL the options) Rig...yes you definately want to get your own..... and lets not forget a bloofy fortune on 1) Camping equipment ( to spend as mucg time at the DZ as possible) 2) Petrol bills 3) Bribes to your Boss and Wife to spend as much time at the DZ as possible.... Phew...did I miss anything..? lol

Yeah I have asked my instructors about canopies...but I figure they just are being conservative when they say...." jump the size you are used to"....Im not an idiot and Im not reckless...but I want something that I can grow into.....Im just tryimg to get an idea of what other 'Cat8's" did after the dotted line was signed... AS for containers.....whats your advice...? I LOVE the Mirage G3...(in specs and looks so far of course)

Help please.....Im a recent Cat.8 and am lucky enough to be able to afford a 'new' first rig . How the heel do I decide what to get...what container, main, reserve etc......obviously I dont want some canopy that is going to kill me...but Im very happy ( as are my instructors) with my control on a Mantis 280 ( dont laugh!) but I want something I can 'grow' into.....what size of canopy should I be looking at and how the hell do you figure out what type of rig to get....HELP !!!

I know how you feel....personally I was terrified until my instructor told me at Level 4 I think....unstable exit...unstable this...unstable that....( I went white!) but once you can prove to yourself you can recover.....EXCELLENT! its the BEST feeling. I recently got my Cat8 and was on a 'free jump'....double backloop through a cloud and spontaneously just did the loudest YAHOOooooo!....and thats something I never did during AFF...I was concentrating too damn much ! Keep going .......it just keeps getting better and better!

Got my Category 8 on Sunday....Passport to the skies ! Super Happy and super keen.....!!