labrys

How long does a product have to be in use before you consider it okay? I think 2-3 years is plenty of time. The Skyhook "beta" started in 1981. Owned by Remi #?

You can't get what you want with a Micron? Owned by Remi #?

Student and rental gear is always used. Nothing wrong with used gear as long as it fits and it's suited for the type of jumping you're going to do. Owned by Remi #?

My choice for my first new gear was based almost entirely on the fact that the only rig available with a Skyhook right now is the Vector. Not because I felt that I had to have the Skyhook but more that it would be nice to have if it was needed..... why get anything else? I've had a Skyhook deployed reserve and I was really stunned at how fast I had a reserve open. Awesome thing. Owned by Remi #?

That thread doesn't seem to have anything to do with this question. Owned by Remi #?

oxymoron Owned by Remi #?

No I don't.. I never even made an attempt to define peak force. Owned by Remi #?

If peak force being present for longer periods of time increases the risk of failure wouldn't that also mean that the reserve could only be used x number of times? I know that any canopy will wear out with time and use, but I'm trying to get a feel for how this particular argument works. My approach might be too simple, but here goes: Let's say that doubling the max weight causes the canopy to experience the peak load twice as long. I know that this might not be linear, I'm just giving an idea a shot. If twice the max weight causes or significantly increases the risk of blowing up the canopy, then wouldn't opening at just the max weight 2 times result in the same risk? I'm assume the canopy also doesn't "heal" from the damage induced during a normal opening at max weight. Even if the time under load is not linear, what is the difference between max weight and twice max weight, 10 times longer, 100 times longer? Are reserves also rated for how many terminal openings they can sustain? This is not intended as a challenge to the fact that the canopy has a higher risk of failure at higher suspended weights, it's just a question about this particular example. Owned by Remi #?

Bet it ain't "funny" either. Owned by Remi #?

Are you logged in and if you are does it stop happening when you log out? Why are you typing in the /webhp with no variables? Owned by Remi #?

Thanks for the explanation. Owned by Remi #?

Check the Nasa TV link in the OP. You don't need cable to watch it. Owned by Remi #?

Look on their home page, on the left about halfway down in the box that says "What's New" Owned by Remi #?

Wouldn't the lines have to shrink almost a couple of feet to move the brakes into stall range when they're set? I can't imagine that much shrinkage. My canopy started opening funky with my outboard lines just 3-4 inches out of trim. Funky enough to make it clear it was time for a reline. Owned by Remi #?

Do you have a specific concern about your own fitness? If you do please discuss it with your doctor. Owned by Remi #?

I don't think there will be an "original latin". It would have been in Italian, wouldn't it? Not sure how close to the original that is. Owned by Remi #?

If a kid fresh out of college can actually do your job in spite of your 20 years experience then either they're very talented or you're overqualified for your job. I work for a consultant who charges $150 an hour for our engineering services. Most of our clients recognize that they could hire a wet kid for about $25 an hour, but also know or soon learn that the kid will take 10 hours to solve a problem it takes me an hour to fix. Down time = money. They figure it out fast. The solution is in proving that your experience is worth something. If you can't then that's the real problem. Owned by Remi #?

I'm 90% Depends on getting time off. Owned by Remi #?

I thought you intended to pack with one toggle unstowed. That's a lot more dangerous than just unstowing one and not the other after an otherwise normal deployment and without any other problems. Owned by Remi #?

After some Q&A with much more experienced folks at my DZ it appears that the problem might not have been riser twists. It could also have been that my risers were not stowed properly above the middle riser cover and that the riser covers never opened. I was not aware enough to look at them and I'm not sure that even if I was aware enough that I could have seen them with my head pinned forward like it was. I was told that this isn't unheard of on new Vectors while the flaps are still very stiff. Owned by Remi #?

As others have said... you might learn more than you want to learn. What if you have line twists on your "test" jump? It's no fun to have line twists and a popped brake, even on a docile canopy. The twists might lock the canopy in a turn or spin that can't be remedied. A big, docile canopy can still spin you on your back. Maybe not as fast as a smaller canopy would, but still fast enough to be very, very uncomfortable. Owned by Remi #?

Well there ya go.... I was soooo wanting to have a cutaway so that I could get a free t-shirt. Owned by Remi #?

The line twists were well below my slider at the base of my neck behind my head. Not so much line twists as riser twists. I could steer with the only part of my risers I could find, my front risers where they attached to the 3-ring. Everything else was stretched backwards behind me... it's hard to describe, sorry. Edit: I could see my lines, slider, and canopy if i cocked my head hard to the side and looked up from the corner of my eye... it all looked "normal" except that only a little of my front risers were visible. I couldn't see my rears at all. Owned by Remi #?

I have a new Vector 3 with hard housings in the risers. My old rig didn't have them and I found them a little uncomfortable. Everyone told me that I'd get used to them and that my new rig would just "feel stiff" for a little while anyway... About 20 jumps on the new rig and I had a super weird deployment. As my canopy opened I felt my head get forced down with my chin into my chest. At first I thought my slider had somehow travelled down over my risers and jammed behind my head, but I was able to look up enough to see it over my head. I could see the large 3-rings on my main lift web but my risers were crammed backwards and out of sight. My best guess is that they were twisted behind my head. I tried to feel my way around back there for a little while but couldn't really figure out what was happening. I could steer a little and my canopy was flying fairly straight, but I couldn't sort out the risers so I decided to cut away. When I did, I found it very hard to clear the cable. Every inch was hard work. When I finally cleared the cable something gave me a pretty solid smack on the back of the head and tumbled me forward. I didn't even feel like I had started to fall when my reserve cracked open. That skyhook is snappy as hell. I'm just guessing that my risers were twisted up at my neck, causing the hard pull on the cutaway cable. I'm really glad I had those hard housings because I think I may have had issues without them. I'm also really glad that I tuck my ponytail under my helmet. I may have been giving myself a hook knife haircut otherwise. Owned by Remi #?

Shimmer is a floor wax... No, It's a dessert topping. Owned by Remi #?