teason

That's a really good point, Phree. Our DZ is really lacking in high time jumpers. We have two who are 1000+(that includes me!) and then the next most experienced has less than 300. We struggle with training in all areas. We even encourage our jumpers to visit our rival DZ whose regulars boycott us. We cannot rely on the informal training that is abundant at many DZs across Can/US. We are developing new programs for developing skills for the experienced jumper including an upcoming equipment seminar (this Friday) which does address gear considerations such as two out situations.We are also introducing reliability charts. Reliability charts have been used in hang gliding for a couple of decades and have reduced accidents dramatically. They teach people how to assess the envornmental and personal factors that can cause you to make poor decisions. Sorry, I started to ramble. We have become hyper-aware of the needs of progressing jumpers and pay perticular attention to what it takes for them to make the right decisions. I get kinda passionate! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Just to clarify, some of those points were against rounds. I'm not saying open fields justify rounds, I'm saying tight landing areas can make rounds a bad choice. Also, Rounds have a tighter range for weight because of its propensity for squiding. Squares can give you more versatility on weight. Finally, I do know of DZs that prefer FXC 12000 because the activation altitude can easily be checked and changed to suit the jumper's needs. One such DZ had a student fatality after the 1000' activation altitude prove to be too low given his instability. After that all IAD students had thier FXCs set at 1500' as opposed to freefallers who were set at 1000' to 1200'. I don't want to get into a discussion about appropriate altitude, I'm just making the point that some prefer the 12000.(besides, they can cost more than Cypres' to maintain!) As with any change in technology, the pros and cons must be examined to make the right choices. I am looking at purchasing 10-15 new sets of student gear this winter. I'm a big believer in round reserves but I am probably going with squares. The price difference is not the issue, I have to feel confident in introducing new training and new technology. To have squares I must first be confident in the required changes to the FJC. We must also find better ways to identify the "problem students" that can slip through the cracks. Finally we must educate ourselves on the best ways to deal with the "unusual situations" from a radio controller's perspective. I was a FJC instructor years ago when square reserves were introduced in student gear. Not enough consideration was given to adequate training (even though the DZO thought it was fine). I think we can definately agree on one thing. We would never jump gear we weren't 100% confident with and nor should our students. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

I wouldn't jump anything but a crossbraced eliptical loaded at 1.7 to 1, and so I would expect my students to do so. I suppose it's about money if a DZ still uses Mantas. *sniff* what's that smell ... is that sarcasm? Sorry to be harsh but it's really insulting for you to infer that a DZ will use substandard equipment because it's cheap. Yeah rounds can entangle, that wasn't the point. The points for and against rounds are; 1.) For round reserves, you need lots of open feild. Tight landing areas make rounds less safe. 2.) FXC 12000 are known to fire high causing two out situations to be more common. With an unpredictible FJ student and the ability for rounds to sustain damage, I like round on square more than square on square. 3.) Squares don't squid when you over load them 4.) Rounds treat confused/ scared/ unconcious students like cargo. 5.) training square on square adds more to an already overhelmed student in the FJC. Do you get it now? There is far more to the arguement than "They're cheap" and "Rounds suck" For the record I'm not oppossed to Square reserves on students. I am oppossed to flawed logic determining what is safe. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

I'm with Rob on this. The Inspection is really what you're paying for, not the repack. It's only being repacked because it had to be unpacked for the inspection. Always sit through the inspection process. Many riggers love to ramble on about what they're looking for, how the manufacturer made the canopy, planform design, I beam vs T beam construction, the reason for bais cuts on the container ..... Hmmm. Maybe it's better to avoid them! Beware of the odd rigger who opens folds and closes. Inspecting the canopy is the whole point of the process! 1/2 hour repacks ain't cool I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Our DZ has round reserves. Maybe I've been doing this too long but when I've seen it hit the fan quite a few times (I've been traing FJCs since '94. I once saw a main and reserve criss-cross on deployment due to a low pull and AAD fire. The reserve went through the main lines and opened up. This caused several major line burns on the reserve. I know one makes a poor sample but I really think a square reserve would not have performed well. Earlier this month I also had a first jump student exit unstable and catch his foot it the lines. When he cut away, his canopy stayed attached to his foot. I watched the reserve deploy next to the streamering main. I can't help but imagine a square opening and how it tends to shake itself open and wonder what could have happened. Anecdotes aside, the round has it's limitations and hazzards just as the square. Other factors can influence the decision to put a round or square in a students reserve pack tray. For example landing areas may make a round too hazzardous. On the other side of the ledger, FXC 12000 are less refined and can active 1500 feet above the set altitude make two out more common. Just because a square is a better canopy, doesn't mean it's always the most appropriate. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Hmmm. Do you have adjustable main lift webs? Improper adjustment are common for those in the 200+lbs range. The MLW is often stretched out for the jumpers girth. This can cause a great deal of discomfort when putting the legs together. Consult the manufacturer for the proper postioning of the MLW and how to adjust for height (not width). I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

I've noticed the key to a soft student landing is keeping the eyes on the horizon. If the students are looking down, the ground rush can over load them and they have no idea the radio is talking to them. This means they either flare high or not at all. How many times have you heard a student claim their radio cut out at 10-15 feet? I recently started getting the students to close thier eyes (in the course while training!) and visualize finding a point on the horizon and hearing the flare commands. Consistancey of commands is also key for this to work. I'm finding better flares due to visualization practice. Remeber anxiety = looking down / looking down = bad flare and legs apart / bad flare and legs apart = broken bones. Treat the cause, don't reinvent the wheel to treat a symptom. Tim I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Tandem Master: How'd you like the freefall Student: It was awsome Tandem Master: Let do it again ***Cutaway*** Student thought it was all part of the show. Tandem Master was a guy named Hutch. Good TM, Great sense of humour! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

According to your previous posts, you were doing static line last year. You posted that you did your 5th on May 2 2004. You also stated (in "help for a newbie") you bought a new Racer with a triathalon 230 in it. I'm guessing its the used rig you bought in Feb '04 for "1/3" the cost. No I'm not the best at math but where'd this "2 yrs ago" thing come from? What gives? I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Gutted type II seems to be the norm, although I use type V on my racer tandem and my own personal gear. Type V also lasts longer and you won't need a washer. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Although we don't post it, there are thing happening behind the scenes. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Seeing that you know so much about the law, why is it legal/ethical for skyride to cut and paste my webpages and just change the number to theirs? Why is it justified to use my logo to advertise their number in markets I also advertise in? What makes it a person that steals a decent human being. The theft is documented, the question stands. Just curious. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

I found it in the poynter manual Vol I 1.13 second paragraph. I'm trying to find the TSOs online. Any sugestions? I love this stuff. I think that makes me wierd! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

TSO-C23b supersedes NAS-804 on the topic of decent rate. NAS-804 is 21 fps, TSO-C23b is 25 fps Also, out of curiosity, what does it say in the TSOs about deployment time? I think one of them is 7 sec. from cutaway but I don't know. I needs to do some readin' hyuk hyuk Tim I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

JP makes a good point. Dacron lins aren't nylon, they are polyester. They wear differently than nylon. Tim I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

I did about 1000 jumps on my Sabre and always collapsed my slider. I had a line change and my gear was used as instructor gear at the dropzone. Those jumping it didn't stow the slider and 150 jumps later, my outside linse show major fuzz where the slider rubs. (although I admit it could also be velco damage from throwing the lines over the shoulder) Also, your slider rubbing is what causes your lines to go out of trim. Friction=heat. Heat shrinks nylon. That's why the outside lines get shorter than the inside lines. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

I jumped my Amigo 172 twice and found it to be amazing even though someone forgot to put the stabilizers on! ... ah rigger humour. But seriously, an all around great canopy, didn't know they still sold them! I'd buy another, it had an amazing flare. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

This thread was not posted to start a discusion but rather to prove a preconcieved opinion. It is the flaw in the logic which irks me, not the subject matter. By the way, if you define the subject and provide proofs supporting your thesis we can debate the real issues. Please feel free. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Do you notice his quotation marks around the word awful? Those are generall termed as sneer quotes. It means that it wasn't awful at all. Cheap technique. It's an alternative to real point making. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Never hook the downwind side of a building! p.s. if you think it's humiliating to have people watch you hurt yourself, I'm here to tell you it's worse when no one sees you and you spend 5 mins dragging youself to the hanger! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Uh .. ok, how? Can darrenspooner answer this one? I can't fathom feeling a sense of peace after watching someone get mangled by a bus ... unless you mean a sociopath. I grew up with a guy like that. Told a friend of mine he got a rush from killing people. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

True enough. A bullseye doesn't asks to be shot, it is the marksman who choses to shoot it. My point was if you don't want people to shoot, take off the bulleyes. This thread's premis is a lightening rod for emotional discourse. To expect people to be dispassionate is dillusional. I don't think getting emotional over death is akin to acting like a child. If yor mother died and I made an off colour remark to you about it, should I be surprised when you get upset an call me an ass? Should I come to the conclusion that you're not "choosing to be an adult about it"? Oddly enough, it was the OP making the "motive fallacy" that pressed my hot button but the observation still stands. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

However, #1 causes PTSD. Not a pleasent thing to go through. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

The OP That comment adds more dimension to his origional post. I'll chose #6 which is "I think people like to brag about seeing death because it make them feel superior. I'll make a post that makes people talk about fatalities and then use it to prove my point the people like to talk about fatalities. I'll call it bragging to strengthen my point!" Making a comment about wanting to see someone die will obviously anger those who have and make them talk about the experience of watching someone die. That's a no brainer. Then claiming that peolpe like to brag about seeing fatilities and using those posts as proof is so freakin low! God! I dispise that type of point making, it is low brow. To be honest, I don't care about your individual beliefs as long as you know why you believe them! When I first saw the post, I thought it to be a satire of how some use tragedy to satisfy their need to be in the limelight. That could have made for some great discussion. His second post illustrated his true motivation. Superiority and self satisfaction. Devious argument techniques really burn my buscuit. It toys with the real issue. Trivializes the reality and leads lemmings deeper into ignorance. If the OP has a real ability to debate, reason and defend his viewpoint, he would enter the fray instead of letting other argue for him. I'm waiting. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

I don't want to be a stick in the mud but no, it doesn't. How does the above statement infer membership to an elite club? Is it not an observation? Here's another; You don't know what a hotdog tastes like until you eat one. Does that infer that hotdog eaters are an elite club? obviously not. It's mearly a statement of fact. I think what you're trying to illustrate is that communication is more than words, it is also context. Context is found in tone, word choice, connotation etc.) Context can also be applied by the reader. If we believe that someone is talking down to us, everything they say will prove it. Not because they are but rather because we believe they are. We've all been talked down to so I understand you're point. However, posts lack the proper amount of context from the poster to diffinitively tell if we are being talked down to or not. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.