DancingFlame

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Everything posted by DancingFlame

  1. That's what I was trying to say. I'd like to see these numbers. I guess 'risk per jumper' number would be a constant. Independent of age or something else. I'm still thinking BSR is a VERY GOOD idea. We've got something of that kind at all DZs in Russia. Sparky, Start a new voting (for/against BSR). I'm pretty sure most people will choose wisely.
  2. Would you be so kind to post 'number of jumps per year' distribution? I guess that would be something like: 16-24 yrs: 30% 24-30 yrs: 30% 30-99 yrs: 40% Younger jumpers make 60% of total quantity. Only those who do nothing do not make mistakes.
  3. There are a lot of An28 in Russia. Very nice plane!(well, I still prefer Mi8 helicopter). Tailgate is large enough to launch an 8-way team. Can take up to 22 jumpers (sure it is ABLE to take more but that won't be safe). Russian 100-way was set using 5 An28 planes.
  4. I posted 'wanted' message and bought my current canopy rather quick.
  5. Please, fill your profile. It may change things a lot...
  6. Don't be in a hurry. Winter is still here and you won't be able to jump much at least for 2 months. Get a 190 - don't beg for troubles. And, well, under a 1.4 W/L you won't be able to jump in Kolomna or Stupino (I believe).
  7. Rent a 170 for 20-30 jumps. Then you'll know if you are ready for a 150 or not (by completing or not billvon's list).
  8. No. It just says people with injuries post more in this thread'. I started jumping with 1.4 W/L when I had 85 jumps. Well, at that time I thought I was jumping with 1.27 (didn't know about Icarus Safire-1 139 measuring issues). Still jumping it and did not get bored (actually, stuck at 90s - winter air is something completely different to summer one). No injuries. Always had standup landings (knock on the wood) except static line jumps with round canopies. Excessive CC training is the key. Finding a good mentor. Making high altitude hop'n'pops.
  9. I believe it too. Before downsizing, one should fly current canopy to it's fully potential. Jump number means nothing. 500 straight landings are not a good reason to say 'I'm ready for downsizing!' Proving skills before downsizing is the key. HP landing, flat turns, flare turns etc. Some accuracy will help too but there shouldn't be very strict rules (rectangle 250x100 ft should work). At my home DZ every jumper MUST receive an approval from his instructor before downsizing. He cannot just bring the rig and jump it. If he jumps canopy too small for him without permission, he may be grounded for a day/week/month (anyway, he may ground himself for whole life). It seems very strict but it works good.
  10. It depends. Usually, weather in July is the best for skydiving. But there are so many people at the DZ... DZ is a bit overcrowded. Somebody likes it, somebody not. May: weather is hot during the day, nights are cold (twice I stayed at tent and twice I've got awaken early in the morning shaking because of cold). The 'big boogies' 80-way record attempts will be made in the beginning of May (2-8 I believe). Important event for all bellyfliers... including me June: weather is hot during the day, nights are warm. A lot of tents everywhere And a lot of people inside those tents. Days are REALLY LONG (the longest day is 22th June). Jumping starts at 9:00 and finished ~21:30. Most records (~1300 jumps per day, 64 loads) were set at June. July: weather is too hot (for me) to jump in jumpsuits... so we are doing RW in shorts Fun jumping, warm nights and a lot of partying (go figure why). Days are a bit shorter than in June but still long enough to make 10+ jumps a day. It's up to you. If you are really good at formation skydiving, 80-way in May would be the best bet. If are in a very good shape to jump 12 hors a day then choose June. Weather usually better in July.
  11. Some clickies: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=967787;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=1152592;page=2;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25; http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1158905;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1384544;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread 'Search' link may also help. Yea, I'm one of 'some locals' from Aerograd
  12. By members of Russian Evolution Pro team. Malevsky Cup, 2004.
  13. You should try a Safire or a Pilot. They have the same opening characteristics as a Spactre and a good flare (like Sabre2). Oh, and something more... If your profile is correct and you are jumping a 190, Sabre2/Spectre 150 would be kind of aggressive canopy.
  14. My guess is thieves were not skydivers... As for me, I miss my summer gloves. I suppose somebody had taken them bu mistake. They looked the same as a lot of other gloves But another day somebody put a small bag with rubber bands, cypres loops and other stuff into my bad. I never knew who it was
  15. I believe this change was caused by a strange accident in Russia (Summer 2004, Malevsky Cup). One of the teams (Russian Evolution Pro) went low, dumped low, cypres worked but they did not have two-out. There were a lot of speculations about that accident. All those guys had rigs done by Mirage. I remember very similiar problem with russian rig 'Element' (manufactured by ParaAvis). About a year ago ParaAvis posted bulleten requiring same changes...
  16. Good idea One may also try jumping a helicopter, it's really warm inside
  17. In Russia it costs a little bit less... but still somewhere about $7k. AFF $1000, 50 jumps with rental gear (and instructor sometimes) $1000, own gear ($3000 for an almost new rig) and $2k for 150 jumps
  18. How one could determine whether 'flare mod' is installed or not? I have plenty of flare, but would like to know I can have more
  19. Com'on. Russian skysurfers took 1st place in Brazilia.
  20. Try Safire2 instead ! Openings are as good as Spectre's and Safire2 glides even better that Sabre2. Very string flare and nice swoop...
  21. Hey, and don't forget about women there in Kolomna Are you still interested in visiting Slovenia ?
  22. Yeah, and I'm going too. With a Safire-139 (actually a 129 loaded ~1.37). Though, never had a problem with the canopy. Canopy coaching rocks!
  23. Yeah, I've got at least hundred of that signs (strong winds, clouds, instructors busy etc). But I've got my license at least and now I'm still jumping!
  24. There were two different Spinnaker designs. First was the copy of PD Sabre (only in 120 and 135 sizes I believe). Second was a bit redesigned Sabre with F-111 bottom and ZP top skin. Both flew very similiar to a Sabre. Openings of the fully ZP Spinnaker were a bit hard (remember it's just a copy of Sabre). Hybrid design helped with openings but performance had degraded also. ParaAvis made a bunch of that canopy, but they are discontinued and replaced with a lot better Scorpion canopy. I've made ~15 jumps on a Spinnaker-170 (or 175, can't remember). But that was a year ago and my w/l was ~1.0 so I couldn't find any difference between Sabre, Spinnaker or even Spectre except the openings.