ramon

We got a hotel. Were unsure if there was space for us to camp at the DZ with 800 people there. We're going to try and scrounge up people to crash on the floor if they want AC for $5...ha ha. C-ya ramon

bloo ones R

I sent better reply and it got zapped so I this is a retry. Opinions are like a**holes. I first heard a gear salesman use the 1st tier 2nd tier thing, but then it was repeated by a few riggers. It's probably just name recognition and reputation (mercedes vs toyota, both are good, but one has real wood, ha ha they both get you where your going). Most riggers have their favorites and I have heard more than once gear snobs say only the 3 are the best (vec,jav, mir). Personally I have seen quality problems with brand new Javelins (my friend Eric had a dive loop break during a swoop on a velocity and my friend Katrina has incorrectly sewn leg straps). Most of the new gear made today is 'pretty good' compared to what was jumped 15 years ago, but fro example Mirage G3 comes with extra strong reserve riser material on front and back risers but a new Javelin does not (only front). Does this matter, probably not. Personally I like Vector Micron the best, but I have seen very nice Wings containers. Voodoo is simply a remade Talon, my ex- has a nice little Talon II that has never given her problems, but most of the Voodoos I have seen were junk, made wrong, looked like crap. I have seen one that looked like it had the worng size canopies in it but it had the exact sizes in it that they were supposed to have.I jump my buddies Voodoo II all the time and the left riser cover comes open if you are standing in the hanger. I think they have quality problems, because I have seen some that looked smooth. And by quality I mean quality control, are they making each rig up to their standards if they have precise standards to begin with. I think any manufacturer can make some mistakes and have some rigs that do not meet up to their reputation or claims, but, you know people buy what is popular. Since I freefly I want a rig that will stay shut, even though Javelin is considered a top rig, I have seen them open all the time and people complain that the new Odysseys riser covers pop off...well new hard cutaway cable housings put into the risers make the risers stiffer and want to pop out...who knew? ha ha For Freeflying I'd buy a Mirage or Vector because of the security, Javelin...I like them and if I got a deep discount, ok, but for my money Vector micron. Dat be my opinion, and I like my reflex. ramon

There are going to be lots of videos to watch at Ann's when we're back. We'll put together a party mix of just Levin's and my landings (yawn...wohoo 30 foot swoop into 10 mph wind) for you to watch . bloo ones ramon

Hey if we have up to about 10 people we can do a big way with varying levels of skill. Sit train and a campfire with sitflyers and headdowners flying their slot. Let's try and do one sometime between Wed and Friday. bloo skies Ramon

I have put about 400 jumps on my reflex (it has 600 on it total). It holds a PD 176R and has held a Tri 175, Stilleto 170, Space 150 and Vengeance 135, comfortably and asthetically pleasing. I freefly and my main flap will not come open unless I am pulling, the riser covers look sort of flimsy, but I have only one video of one being open in freefall, and it is apparently open in the plane right before exit. The bridle protection is superior, not is exposed and the BOC pouch is made of cordura and makes a "hard pull" really difficult to make. Pop top containers get the reserve pilot chute into the air really quickly, as the theory goes, because the pilot chute does not have to clear reserve container flaps. Reserve pin is totally protected on the inside back, however, from time to time the pop top (reserve pilot chute) needs to be tightened after a repack. It should be tightened by a rigger, prefereably one that repacks your reserve. There is some bad press...Some people, including some riggers (opinions are like assholes, remember) say that the reserve closing loop can be tightened to the point where you can not pull your reserve handle. The truth of the matter is, your pin would probably be severly bent (I mean like crimped, a cypres will still save you, but that is no substitute for safety procedures and a properly packed reserve) before that would happen. And of course we are all taught as students to check our reserve pins. I have tightened mine very much, attached a scale to the reserve cable and got the pin to move with 18 pounds of force. A rigger would have to not know how to tighten the pin or not be familiar with a reflex to screw this up. Most riggers should contact the manufacturer or another more experienced rigger if they get unfamiliar gear or have a question about some gear. More bad press, (this is not limited to reflex, but they did have a fatality). Check your grommets in your main container, have a little piece of cypres closing loop, see if you can snag it on any of the grommets (or anything in the main container area, if you can get a rigger to re-set the grommets and or repair anything that looks like a snag. I love my reflex, and when I buy a new container I will keep it has a backup or pond swoop rig. I think they were probably one of the best of the second tier containers (first tier being, Javelin, Mirage, Vector everyone else second). bloo skies ramon

Didn't know Goat was Derek. I was there for Freaks flock together. (I'm nobody 450 jumps or so), But our little spaceland group did its own hybrid dive ha ha ha. I think I know who you are. I think my friend Trey was trying to buy you a beer then you told him you were Goat's. hahahahahahah He'll be in Chicago too, I bet you can get more beer out of him. bloo ones ramon

I know Raymond, I've jumped with Goat and TJ couple of times and I will probably recognize you from the Big D. This is going to be fun. bloo skies ramon

That be my friend Levin. without a jumps suit he'll have jeans, boots, T-shirt and a belt buckle big as Texas... hahahahahahaha ramon

Cool. We'll be there Wed through Sunday of next week. I blend in the crowd, but have an all black parachute with a redstripe down the middle. If anyone wants to freefly....you can locate me this way My friend Levin weighs 130 (5'10" really skinny), has a red and yellow striped freefly suit and has the smallest Racer rig you will ever see and it is red and yellow striped also. He looks like a clown that sells hotdogs...anyway if you see someone that looks like that ask him where Ramon is... Fly free ramon

Is anybody either not going to Quincy or going to skip a day or 2 to come to Chicago for Summer fest? My friend Levin and I will be there bothering Olav for Air Dolphin tests and making some cool jumps. bloo ones ramon

It has plenty of flare to land straight in at 2.0. Nice canopy. Lots of fun up high, then it is time to land very soon. I know my skills and it is too much for me. Put 3 jumps on it and will probably put a couple more, but I'd rather be under a bigger canopy1.7-1.8. bloos ramon

Bloo skies forever....... ramon

Tomorrow I get to jump an FX109 for the first time (wingload right at 2.0). Smallest I've jumped is 135 at 1.76 (including hard diving swoops) any ideas other than practice flares, flat turns, riser turns? I intend to turn on final at about 300 and take it straight in with maybe double front riser if it seems slow. No hooking or carving at all. the guy that owns it has long arms and may have added 2-3 inches beyond factory brake settings... should I take a wrap if it seems even slightly sluggish on practice flares?...am I worrying too mauch.. should I dump at 10 grand or will it open badly (I've heard they recommend opneing below 6 grand). thanks all This bud is for you, John, RIP. ramon

My experience is that in general aircraft pilots are better canopy pilots than non pilots at the same experience level. You'll be fine. Plan your approach, downwind, crosswind, turn on to final a little sooner than normal because you will be descending a little faster than normal. Practice flat turning up high. Don't try anything radical down low, If you do you are asking for flight performance you are not accustomed to and in this videogame the pain is real ha ha.. Piece of cake, have fun ramon

If you go and don't like it (I can't understand that, but anyway) come to Chicago for the freefly thing...if that is yor bag. I'm going to Chicago. bloo ones ramon

PD owes Icarus a one up. (FX, VX, crossfire...ha ha ha) C-ya zennie ramon

I put about 20 jumps total on it in various conditions wind, no wind, a little downwind (holy f**k), ride the brakes ,carves and hard 180 snap hooks. Anyway since I do not have many jumps on other canopies at this loading, I will wait till I can get a cobalt 135 and a few more on a crossfire 129 before I post any review. I do not want it to be slanted and ignorant, as I loved this canopy, but the Cobalt and Crossfire may amaze me also. bloo skies ramon P.S. sure was fun and it demanded my respect.

I second the Tri and the Sabre. Actually never heard any complaint about a triathlon while I have on the Spectre (good opener, have seen some that couldn't land it...morons???) Sabre (good flyer and lander compaints about openeings..look around someone is getting whacked despite the 2 or 3 that always have good openeings) and espicially the shitfire..I mean safire (hardest to land..there are some nay sayers that love them..but I have heard more complaints than any other, opens great will not malfunstions flies good) disclaimer, I can surf the shit out off a Vengenace 135 at 1.7 loading and can't land a Safire 189...ha ha ha ha ha ho ho..hum guess I should be embarrassed. .. but that is me.... Our resident surf god, Derek, on a vX 60 lands the 189 fine.. P.s get a hybrid Triathlon and you can do CReW...woo hoo. ramon and some beer P.S. I would wait til someone you know has had an experience with a Sabre 2 before buying. there are too many good used mains out there to buy an unknown.

They take a long time to release their products. Vengeance...good parachute...released way late. Velocity...good parachute (albeit extreme)...released way late. They refute that Sabres open hard..'it's packing technique'. But it was the first 9cell ZP here and it took the market by storm. Stilleto was a definite winner though Icarus has been kicking their ass by releasing products pretty quickly (FX, VX), already the crossfire is taking off Now I like the work they put inot a product and everyone loves stilletos even if they don't jump them anymore. Maybe they can recapture a bit of the square 9 cell market again before Precision releases all their new canopies. bloo ones ramon

Maybe it is out of trim. One thing for sure, My friend Levin jumps an alpha 88. He is demoing a Cobalt 75. He says the riser pressure is higher than his Alpha. Whether it is a bad thing, I don't know, he is probably just really used to the riser pressure on his alpha and is annoyed, although from what I saw he was flying the Cobalt well, ha ha. My Space/Alpha 150 has lighter riser pressure than the following canopies Crossfire 129, Vengeance 135, stilleto 135/150/170, samurai 135/150. ?????? ramon

I'll definitely try the crossfire again. I'm just having a lot of fun with the ground rush from the vengeance, and I am not a big stilleto fan. I'm getting a Cobalt next and predict I will try to pick up a used Alpha to replace my Space. bloo ones ramon

On whim I got a vengance 135 demo (exit weight 220 1.63 load). Put 8 jumps on it this weekend. What a fun overlooked canopy. Granted this canopy wants to dive and is probably better geared for turf surfing as opposed to being being an allround canopy. I was a little scared landing straight in the first time because someone at my DZ was hurt on one (stilleto hooker, hurt on first vengance jump), but it had a lot of flare power. This is a nice canopy. On my 7th jump I did a snap 180 hook, followed by double front from about 350', I was a little high, but since the canopy continues to dive a little after recovery (negative recovery arc) I maintained my speed and landed nicely. This canopy sure flies BIG at the end of the swoop, it has bottom end flare to shut the canopy down with only a few steps taken after a nice little surf. It is ground hungry though and if the traffic is a little heavy I get into the landing pattern and avoid the swoop lane until next time. Right now I like it much better than the Crossfire 129 I tried, but that is probably because I only put one jump on the crossfire and Icarus canopies are already smaller than PDs and I think I was a little scared on the Icarus. Openings a brisk, soft and on heading with the occasional dive due to asymetrical end cell closures. Toggle turns are much more brisk than say.. a samurai... almost as snappy as a stilleto. I really felt in control of this canopy everything was smooth. I did not think I was going to be this impressed. After I put another 20 jumps on it I may write a review If I feel competent enough to explain it's charecterisitics. fun fun fun P.S. Hooking or other high performance landings are dangerous and should be planned with lots of outs. I only do a radical maneuver if I preplanned it before the skydive and the traffic, wind patterns are right. Otherwise I get in the pattern and carve in or land straight in with the F111s bloo skies ramon

?? Who knows. Lots of skydivers wear sunglasses Oakleys, Gatorz (very popular in houston), Optic Nerve. Different strokes...

I ran across this website. These guys are making protective eye wear in a somewhat fashionable manner (they are marketed for extreme sports). The gogles/glasses are made from the plastic that the astronauts faceplates are made from. When I hooked too low once (knock on wood) my cheap goggle lens popped out and presumably could have shattered had I impacted somehting a little harder than mud. http://www.xsop.com/about.asp I thought it might be worth looking into if you do AFF instruction or you want better eye protection. bloo skies ramon P.S. I still wear cheap goggles Kroops or Grateful Freds.