jenkincb00

*** In fact, if you look at the canopies that NZ Aerosports is manufacturing, you will see my bartack patterns at work. Cheers, MEL Now I'm having second thoughts on that JVX...kidding of course...but seriously second thoughts

run it up, quarter the slider, look at it for the "appropriate" amount of time, not too long not to short, wrap the tail and shove it in the bag.

I've been in this situation too...the only issue with releasing the brakes is sometimes it spins you up so you add to the issue. However, as you said it often inflates the canopy and you save a reserve ride.

Actually, MEL and others are working so you are studying for the correct test. This is assuming that you are studying using the Poynter's manuals and the study guide that most distributors sell.

IMHO...Racers are no more difficult to pack than any other manufacturer. I would infact rather pack my racer than my mirage (those springs are a pain in the ass). Racers are just different, but the rsl routing is basically the same and the gear check is the same, meaning if you can't tell that an RSL is misrouted on a Javelin I doubt you could tell on a racer or any other rig for that matter. I just got a javelin in the other day that had an rsl all twisted to shit. It was routed properly but twisted to the point that I knew the jumper wasn't checking his gear properly prior to jumping it so I showed him the way it should be. Bottom line is that I hear many "newer" jumpers simply repeating the opinions that others have about the racer without having any experience/knowledge of the rig. I'm neutral on rig, I do like the newer freefly friendly additions but I'm not sold on the "speedbag". To the original poster...nice looking rig.

MEL, Any intial thoughts on how the meeting went?

thank you, that helps a bit.

I was looking for the samething...did you ever find the pictures?

They also asked for their sit suits to be returned.

No...I don't think this increases the chances of falling out of the harness, would take a real act of stupidity to fall out of the harness in this manner.

What about Mirage do you not like??? Think he was talking about Mirages sucking from a rigger's point of view. I have a Mirage and a couple riggers have commented they can be tough to pack. They have a very strong spring and I guess the packing tray is a bit different than most. Basically riggers are like everyone else they like to pack what they know if your rigger doesn't like Wings, Racer, Mirage, Reflex so on and so forth they will find a reason to say it sucks. My opinion is to find something that fits you well and focus on the functionality of the rig not that it looks good i.e. they have the color options you want. Personally I'm not a quasar II fan but it has nothing to do with color options and everything to do with metal in the reserve flaps to ensure they open. Find a trusted rigger or gear dealer that works with several manufactures, they can then lay the pros/cons out for you and then you can make a decision based on functionality/safety rather than if they have your favorite color or not.

The presence of a maintenance entry (for example, "inspected IAW PDSB-002 and RWSB-230505") does not relieve of us the responsibility for verifying compliance. At most, it is a reminder that we should be checking all previous work. As far as liability is concerned, we riggers are responsible for the entire system, including all previous work at the time of delivery of an airworthy system to a customer. Once the rig is in the customer's possession, he assumes all responsibility for keeping it in an airworthy condition, including returning it for maintenance if necessary. If a customer loses documentation, and by doing so renders the rig legally unairworthy, that's his problem and his liability, not ours. Mark I don't think a lost data card is quite that big of a deal, lets say someone lost a data card and they have a vigil in the container. All riggers should then check the vigil to ensure that the cutter has been changed out since the recall in like 2005 or 2006, check the manufacture's website or call the manufacture to ensure that it meets current standards and take the appropriate actions if needed to make the system airworthy. The same process could be done with a Raven reserve that had a recall or a Mirage that had a recall. Ensure it is up to snuff and if it isn't give the owner the options on how to get it there. Losing a card sucks, but it shouldn't make a rig useless or unairworthy IMHO.

First, congrats on the new rig. Cross out previous owner information write in your own information. Max exit/deployment weight is easily found on the manufacture of the reserves web site and you can fill that in yourself also. Lost card usually indicates that the previous card was lost, meaning that there was a previous packing data card with maintenance records that is no longer available. So if the rig is say 5 years old and your card only has the last year worth of information on it there is 4 years of data not available...usually not a big deal.

umm...no offense but I would say stability in BASE is more important than stability in skydiving...longer bridal, bigger pilot chute (hell some of them rival the size of a DHT drogue), basically more to get wrapped around you and less time to react to it. Also more difficult to be stable with the lower airspeed. Free packed or not if the pc is wrapped around your leg or stuck under a wing of your suit I'm pretty sure your SOL and in store for a very bad day.Quote

tracking may solve the spin but it may also put you and others in more danger as you could track into another group...I know it was suggested as a "slow" track but if you can't control a spin I'm not sure you could control the speed and direction of a track to counter the spin. Heel taps to get your legs even may work...as previously stated I would caution any one from pulling high as you could have a collission with groups exiting after you, tandems, AFF, video folks are still in free fall at this altitude. Talk to a local instructor

of course they may have just changed the tag and sent him the canopy in a stock size, just for shits and grins

I can't imagine a situation that from 2k or 3k feet that I couldn't get a toggle released even if the slider was above the toggle on one side and below on the other. I only have about 30 or so x-braced jumps (VX-74) but I still can't imagine not being able to release a toggle. Chopping a good canopy because you can't get a toggle released? I guess if you have to do it, you have to do it but if this actually played itself out and you had a cut away because of failure to release a toggle you should seriously reconsider jumping the canopy that your jumping whether it is a X-brace or even a semi-eliptical canopy. Please don't misunderstand me to mean a toggle popping loose on opening and spinning up and not being able to release the other, that is a different situation I'm talking about knocking one off when pulling the slider down which is the context of this post.

I can't believe another jumper, a friend at that, would let you jump his nitro 108. With friends like that who needs enemies. I don't know if your suicidal or just stupid but you demonstrated the point that you do not have the experience necessary to pilot such a wing. Little things like a brake releasing prior to getting the slider stowed should not be a big deal and certainly would warrant even the thought of cutting away.

Brian Germain would disagree with you, and actually so do I.

guess you never had a riser slap your ear

yeah some1 with 280 jumps doing a 270 approach great advice

noted and read but this is a service bulletin with directions on what to look for and how to correct not a bulletin saying take your vigil's out and never use them with the above containers.

why would they sell something that they do not endourse in their rigs? http://www.miragesys.com/ProductInfo/Canopies.aspx

it makes no sense. there is no shortage of guys wanting to compete in swooping, especially because you can earn $$. only shortage is lack of talent in comparison to let's say 4 way due to the necessary commitment to learn how to do it. I don't think its a lack of commitment to learn, it is the consequences of making a mistake. You make a mistake in a 4 way you get laughed at you make a mistake swooping you go to the hospital or worse. Canopies have developed faster than skydivers but every year I see more and more hp pilots, its simply a matter of time before the pilots catch up to the wings available on the market. Keeping pilots alive and well long enough to gain the knowledge and skills is the trick, not commitment. I don't too many skydivers that are more commited than swoopers.