JerryBaumchen

Hi GrumpySmurf, Bravo!!!! If all gear evaluations were this easy to understand (and pay attention to) people would not make mistakes in buying gear. Jerry

There is a good possibility that those were the three actual measurements. PD will not give any volume numbers for their canopies. Me thinks because they vary so much. I am thinking that the biggest variable is the z-p fabric, which they have little control over. I know of one rig maker who built a rig for a customer with a demo PD canopy and then when his new exact version of the same canopy arrived it was too big for the now finished container. The rig maker had to make an entire new rig for the customer. Jerry

Ooops, wrong 'response to' problem. Sorry to confuse anyone out there. Jerry

Hi bigway, I'm with you on this one. My son is a prosecuting attorney and his advice to me is 'never even think about a so-called citizen's arrest.' Just my old $0.02 worth. Jerry

Back in '78 we had a local jumper with a very similar situation. Although in his case his round reserve did open completely upon deployment. He then decided to chop the main (only pilot chute out) upon which the pilot chute bridle ran up the reserve lines, chocking it off and killing him on impact. The assumption is that he did not know that the bridle, etc was around the reserve lines. If you're going to chop a main after the reserve is open try to make sure the main (and all it's parts) are clear before doing so. Just my old $0.02 worth.

A friend and I were up putzing around in a Citabria when she went off. Truly a once in a lifetime moment, never to be repeated. Absolutely awsome, Jerry

Like most of you, I have no idea what this is about. About 10-12 yrs ago the FAA did an emergency revocation of a local rigger's license. They did NOT put out anything on any of his repacks being illegal or whatever. Just some info on what happened in this area (Oregon). Jerry

And in Australia there is a fine turbine-powered Beaver with a stretched fuselage that hauls 10 jumpers. She climbs fast; jumped her a number of times back in '90. Jerry

And trying to get older. Jerry

Or, how about A-661? Goes with B-4446 & C-3516 & D-1543. I couldn't resist; sorry. Jerry

Sparky, Re: 'Now I know you are old.' From all of the responses, it looks like I am in good company. Last saw one . . uh, uh, I can't remember that far back. Jerry

Sparky, Re: So what did the lines hook to if there were no risers. On some military surplus chest packs the lines wrapped around the 5,000 lb snaps and were then sewn together; just like on a connector link but without the clove hitch. No risers. Jerry

Rob, He asked about a Vengance; are you thinking Velo? While I have no experience with it, I thought (?) that the Vengance was rather tame. Or maybe I'm the one who is totally wrong. Jerry

Re: tombuch Ding. Ding. Ding. We have a winner; no more calls. The original poster simply did not go 'far' enough back when asking. The piggyback made almost everything later possible in major equipment changes; except for the ram-air. IMO the ram-air would have came about w/o the piggyback. So now you can all say THANKS to a guy named Dan Abbott who designed it ( he is now about 84 and still with us ). And if you don't believe me, go try on an old military surplus rig with belly mount; you will change your mind. Jerry

Ironically, I was in Vegas at a convention some years ago, had some time to kill one afternoon, there were two dz's inthe Vegas area, didn't which one Tom owned, took a guess and drove to one. Walked into the office, asked for him, she said he was in the rigging room and I helped pick out the two Vector tandem rigs to keep; it was his last day of ownership of the dz. That was the last time I saw him. Definitely a unique person in this skydiving thing. But a damn fun guy to be around. Jerry

You are correct; I had forgotten that the FCI reserves (and Amigos I believe) are the only reserves without stabilizers. Good call. Jerry

I got the story from Rozo first hand. I also knew and rode with Joe Taylor on many a Beech load. Seems as though Joe liked to take people and do hammer-head stalls with them in the plane; Tom did not know he was doing this. The band was known as 'Montana' & there was a 12 yr old kid in the Beech at the time. Yes, it was Rozo's Beech. I was not surprised that this is how Joe ended things. Jerry

My vote = not me, ever. Jerry

One dagger in their heart was buying the Elsinore dz just before she flooded. Another was lots of dealers beginning to give substantial discounts on new gear and their not wanting to go into that marketplace. Others????????? Jerry

Terry, When we get to Reno next January, find me, buy me a drink and I guarantee you that when we are finished discussing 'minor changes,' you will know it as good as I do. Jerry

Hey Pete, I finally packed my first reserve since getting your s/s doo-hicky. Got the job all done (a real struggle; rig builders do not know how to size their products for customers canopies [end of this rant]) and when I got all done, I found your tool still in my kit box. Well, maybe next time I'll remember it. Jerry

One of the best pilot 'how to use it' seminars that I have ever seen was given by Alan Silver up at the Arlington, WA air show about 5 yrs ago. Alan is in the SFO Bay area. If you have a pilot-type who really wants to learn about his parachute, tell him to try to get to one of Alan's seminars. They are good. Jerry

Hi Terry (& to all of you posting on this one), This post is in no way to insult anyone on their views, thoughts, etc about the TSO process. Iactually enjoy reading the input. I am not an expert on the TSO process; but I have held numerous TSO's since '79. I've always considered this TSO-thing kind of like pregnancy, one moment you are not a TSO holder & the next you are. There is no in-between or maybe about it. Once you become a TSO holder you have entered into a different world, and a confusing one at times. I once had an FAA ACO employee tell me that anything that he would say to me was not binding, only that which they actually put into writing could they be held to. Almost like getting an answer from the IRS. Over the years I have found that is just how they work; in my experience, at least. I have a document that was put out by the FAA many years ago called 'TECHNICAL STANDARD ORDER SYSTEM, Guide for Manufacturers.' I once gave a copy of it to Dan Poynter and he will sell you a copy. Terry, send me your address and I'll send you a copy. In it it states under Design changes, Minor changes: 'A manufacturer possessing TSO authorization may make minor design changes to his article without applying for FAA approval.' It goes on to state: 'The following items should be included in the manufacturer's notification of a minor change: d. statement that the change will not affect the TSO compliance . . .' IMO, what it comes down to is if the TSO holder states that his minor change (however extensive that change may be) still complies with the original TSO then that is it. My retired FAA-type/consultant that I use likes to tell me that the whole thing is based upon the honor system. That has been my experience, both as a TSO holder and as an observer of what other TSO holders have done/are doing. As I've said before, a Vector III is only a Wonderhog. Now, I've probably added more confusion to this whole discussion with this, but such is life. Jerry PS) 'If it is not a major change then it is a minor change. If it is not a minor change then it is a major change.' Confusing? Yup.

Didn't POPS do something like a 110 out in Perris last fall? Jerry

It's kind of like the Peter Principle; start sewing them up & when the last one lands you hard, take it back out & there'll you'll be. Actually, I haven't a clue. Jerry