Praetorian

UM.. aren't military jumps conducted from considerably lower then 3500ft?? Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

While this is true, it's worth noting that pull testing is done with the seal thread removed (or at least it should be). WHY? if I have to pull silver at 2K the riggers seal is gonna be there, why not test to what the jumper actually pulls? (not an attack just a serious question) Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

TOO FUNNEY, too cool, that was great, really good animation too! Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

Reserves are last chance kind of things, what if you went to silver because your main blewup in the process of the worst hard opening you've ever read about, now your landing that reserve with multiple injouries. bleeding, fading in and out..gonna be a fun landing if you were considering the 150 that means the 150 will fit in your container? why go to the 135??? Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

names or no names, I don't care.. as my cypres 1 comes to the end of its life in the next few years I'm looking at the Cypres2 and vigil.. as it stands (FROM THIS TREAD ALONE) Vigil has UNRESOLVED issues I don't care that the Cypres1 or Cypres2 HAD any of these same Issues when I look to buy a new AAD I only want one which no longer HAS any known issues if I had to buy today it would be a USED cypres1 with some years left .. then a cypres 2 and a distant 3rd is a Vigil (though I like the product its not for me yet) ANSWER the specific issues, saying people have them and like them means nothing as I have yet to need my cypres, and it has yet to misfire .. it might as well be a brick, totally inert and I'd still be happy with it .. my satsfaction with my unit MEANS NOTHING, has no value ... its real value is in reputation and that when issues have been found they have been resolved. ANSWER THE ISSUES with the VIGIL test the units prove they are safe and these incidents were random one offs, or use them to idenify a defect and FIX it .. or vigil will suffer the same fate as every other major AAD that has challenged the Cypres.. either match the cypres, or beat it at its own game, fall short of that and the vigil will die, I'm in favor of competetion as it makes the products better, but you have to compete, match the safety, find the flaws (if they are there) show that there are no flaws by explaining the incidents .. or vigil will die that simple Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

I've thought this one over many times, and lets face it anything I say is hypothetical because I dont have the skill to catch anyone, I know I'd try only to have my cypress fire and watch them finish their fall ... thats if the cypres fired (something I never trust). If I noted the problem right out of the plane I'd do my best probably pulling before 2g (if I aint there by 2 grand from 13.5 I'm not gonna get there) .. if its my best friend, either I get him, I'm a cypres save or its a double fatality. MY CHOICE NOTE the reason I'd pull at or above 2K is not decision altitude related even for a stranger I'd probably venture below 2k, but for a total stranger I'm not going to fight till the cypres fire, I'm betting ground rush will scare me into pulling early, the lowest I've pulled is 3500, and below 4000 I can start to feel the ground coming ... Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

... YOUR WRONG.. unless you have time and date information you'd like to share? I got my first main from BigAir, it was delivered on time, and every contact has been quickly and professional replied to..including the 20minute conversation with Brian himself when I was still deciding on my purchase.. which included discussion of the merits of his compeditors. wanna take a shot in the open or back up your claim? Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

as a rank novice I realise I'm just asking to get chewed here, but I was over 1:1 on student status with instructor blessing and never a bad landing, .. my first AFP jump at skydive chicago was almost 1:1 my current main is a 170 loaded at 1.1:1 I see no reason why I'd be better served by a lighter loading for the next 100+ jumps! I agree with limits on loading (and shape) but be a little more realistic and make differientation for ZP vs F111 mains. the answer is better training and evaluation regs that allow instructors to overrule them and NO grandfather clause. Set the numbers I'm replying to as "unless waved by instructor" set higher numbers as absolute 1.2:1 no fewer then X jumps UNWAVEABLE, no highly eliptical with less then X jumps, B, C and D lisences NEED to have skill tests included, a check dive for Freefall skills and someone watching how you fly your main, just like a drivers lisence your B,C or D should be good only for the main you tested on if you get your B on a 170 your trusted at a "b" rated skydiver only on a 170 or larger etc Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

as has already been said ... but I'll add my first hand experience .. SKIP VEGAS the air sucks the clown suit is nothing like a jumpsuit, and um.. the coaching (from my experience) was all but pointless Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

Ok I wanted a general discussion but I see I'm gonna have to use examples, so I'll pick 2 that I see as very different (though remember what little experience I'm coming from) 200jumps to start jumping with a camera, 500 to start birdman. (both of these are without a mentor or specific 1 on 1 training).. when someone with 80 jumps asks a 2000+jump camera flyer about strapping a camera to his head should the advice "not for another 120 jumps" be the answer or would it be better to explain what problems a camera can add? Even I can see some of the things that birdman suits can add to a dive and would be scared to try one at this point (not saying I wouldnt do it if I had some serious(days and days 1 on 1) coaching but I'd be scared) From my limited experience I really dont see a huge additional risk to strapping a tiny cam to your head ... obviously the smaller, lighter, simpler and better mounted the better but I know I'm missing a ton of issues that more experienced flyers could pass on... but most will simply issue the stock advice of "200 and C" ... and move on. I'm not shy about digging and getting useful answers but I know a lot of people arent as agressive as I am. So I'll ask again of experienced flyers do you give more advice then just the numbers when asked? Did you follow the advice when you started? if you did not (or even if you did) was it enough, what were the issues you discovered only after starting that you didn't know unitll you did it (camera, birdman, whatever) Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

After 40+jumps on my Louts MAX 170 I'm finally gonna give it a review, as most of my experience is other then the Lotus is on a Saber2 that will be the compairson, first a note I was going to give it a positive review, then I got my breaks adjusted and now I've got to give it a great review, even with my low wingloading I can get a short surf with a normal approach. The opening is about the same as a saber2 (never had a bad opening on either) though the Lotus has a more staged step by step feeling to its opening that I perfer, being less eliptical it also has slighly less desire to turn during opeing. toggle turns are sharp with almost no oversteer, rear riser turns are easy, light pressure and also have almost on oversteer. front risers have a bit more oversteer and at my wing loading build up pretty high pressure pretty quick, it takes a bit more to stall then a sabre2 and while the stall is later it is also a bit sharper, in full glide next to a friend under a saber2 the lotus has slightly more glide in full flight and half brakes (almost identical wingloading both 170sqft mains) the toggle turns on a saber2 are faster but not by much. All in all I think the Lotus is a better novice/intermediate main, I'll keep mine and recomend it to others, if your considering a safire2, saber2, or Pilot, make sure you give the Lotus a look too

OK first I'm not asking because I was told no. I'm asking cuz I'm curious and to point out something I see as lacking in mentors. I accept I have low numbers minimal experience have alot to learn etc ... end disclamer there are many things that have "suggested" jump number before you try them, some are rules set by manufactures or instructors (birdman for example) what I'm asking is of those type of things, to those of you who do them now did you wait till the "suggested"number? and more importantly when someone asks your advice do you say "not till XXX jumps" or do you explain why? as an example when a new jumper wants to try crew or birdman do you explain what extra things could go wrong? do you say well I started jumping camera at 80 jumps and it nearly killed me because...X or do you quote the accepted number and end the advice? now the next part may be more valuable to answer as PMs but for those out there who started before THE # what are your experiences? Your still alive, would you take it back? did you have any close calls because you hadn't though about something, would you have waited till "the#" if you had been warned about that problem? Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

could be wrong about this but with the Cypres2 wasn't it that static was making the display go blank, not actually turning off the unit? Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

I agree, I don't want skydiving to be mainstreem, and I've never understood why people in general and especially skydivers want or need any validation from others. That and I hate listening to hasbeens or 2nd rate former athletes talk over sporting events can you picture a wuffo or a total novice (like me) comentate on skydiving competetions .. gag me Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

I did some checking before deciding on the colors for my main. the answer is that NO color has no real effect on ageing of ZP fabric, on your main some colors may breakdown sooner then others but that is based on the fabric lot that was dyed that color, your main is assembled out of different fabric lots, while all had to pass some quality controls not all fabric lots are created equal. So its an illusion that one color failed before another color (para phrased from Brian Germain) Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

screw see that .. was that sound what I think it was ...OUCH Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

My brother rode as an observer when I did my first tandem with some friends (he had a broken ankle from a motorcycle accident and couldn't jump) he was seated, belted on one of the benches that lines the sides of Kapowsin's twin otter, he was directly across from the door, had a pilots emergency rig on and my camara to get shots of our exit (and man is he a shitty photographer) the pilot was aware of him, he got a pretty good safety lecture, and some drills from the pilot. and for $30 or so got one hell of a ride!! He has yet to make a jump but once he gets a chance he's going with me. he LOVED the ride pilot threw it around a bit 0g and a diving turning rapid decent. It make a great experience for him, made the fact he couldn't jump with us a bit less bitter, and it was cool to have him along to see the exit. I dont see the risk, well nothing beyond what we take to go up the DZ got another seat filled in a light load .. .win win Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

if your gonna make it a requirement why grandfather anyone? I mean as long as your at it, how about CREW? X number of Breakaways? Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

I could be wrong here but I thought the first parachute drops were from under primitive airships/hotair or helium??? Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

I see some (limited) value in discussing these errors, I think its important for jumpers to know riggers aren't error proof, to pick your rigger with care. I also agree that keeping the riggers name out of it is cool, unless he/she has repeatedly made mistakes and is unrepentent, in that case PM me the name so I can make sure to never trust my life to that rigger Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

Is this really the attitude you see coming in? I'm about to have my rig assembled and reserve packed for the ..um.. presecond time. I've already talked with the rigger and he is cool with me standing over his shoulder watching everything. In the future there will be times when I hand my pack over to him (or another rigger I have come to know and trust) and walk away for whatever reason. The attitude of "I can't be bothered" isn't what I'm feeling, what I'm feeling is akin to watching the needle go in for IV sedation when a Dr works on my body. or to a lesser extent when I leave my car to have its breaks done by a PROFESSIONAL. I get the Idea for both (surgery and breakjobs) but I'd rather find someone who is better qualified to do it. Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

Biodesel, ethanol, chemists and other scientists will find a way. for the short run though it is a great arguement for alternative fuels for cars, cars can run on ethanol, or biodesel now, jet fuel is more of a bitch. But our country seems to have no interiest in alternative fuels or fuel economy in anyway Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

oh oh I get to add mine too (excited like a 2 year old on christmas) its due in 3 weeks (and the wait is killing me) its a LOTUS MAX 170 the pic shows the color pattern but lacks the airlocks (which are all black) Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

some of that might not be the reciever, the GPS sats are military and carry some encryption designed to make it hard for opponents of the US to use them to accuratly guide their troops/weapons the way we do. As I understand it thats why your GPS location is "aproximate" Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

I wasn't aware that bass fishing was a contact sport.. whats the helmet for anyway? Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.