JerryBaumchen

Hi Bob, The photos are interesting because we exited on the right side, not the left as you would in your photos. Did she get changed somewhere over the years? Jerry PS) The step was in-line with the fuse and would hold about 4 jumpers (back then).

Hi Terry, Bravo!!!!! A canopy that is at the top end of the container size will just wear you out packing it over and over. Now of course if you use packers, so what. If it's a reserve you (the rigger) are stressing things too much (IMO), the grommets, the locking loop, etc. Also, we are now experiencing damage to AAD cutters from too much pressure between the grommets; this problem can exist anywhere that the cutter is placed, including on top of the pilot chute. Well, probably not on pop-top type of containers; the exception that makes the rule. Mike Truffer did an editorial in SKYDIVING a few years ago in which he recommended buying containers (main & reserve) one size larger than the canopies you intend to put into them. Just to deal with these things. This will make it easier for the jumper in packing his main, the rigger in packing the reserve, and (hopefully) less chance of damage to the rig itself. I recently assembled and did a first-pack-job a new rig with a reserve canopy the owner had owned for a number of years. The previous rig the reserve canopy was in was a Javelin and the metal plate in the bottom of the pack tray was seriously bent from the forces used in packing this too large canopy (again IMO) into the reserve container. When I finished I told the customer not to ever bring back to me again. Simply too much work for too little money (once again IMO). I'll get down off of my soapbox now, Jerry

The day all of my classmates were doing the cap-n-gown thing I was up in Abbotsford jumping out of airplanes. Ended up on the cover of CANPARA mag. Much better than all that formal stuff. Jerry

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