Praetorian

I call mine "my main" usually or in general main have in the past and will again call them chutes sometimes bed sheet with strings one in a while I'll call my main "Bitch" usually during packing or a less then perfect opening

I'd vote for it, though I doubt it will decrease the blood spilt... might reduce the deaths though. Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

while I am a photography snob (still do my own darkroom work whenever I can, color and black and white) I disagree that "real photography will always look better" This same technology is called De-convolution, it allows you to shift depth of focus in cells during microscope work, and is used in satalites (spy sats) to get multiple "perfect" images from a single shot super high end digital sensors are now capable of recording more data per surface area then the best films. very shortly (next 10 years) the price will drop, the size of supporting equptment needed will drop... and film will be used to make day to day images about as often as school pictures are captured by a painter. Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

not directly on point to your question.. I'm just curious why a Lotus was not on your list, I'm wondering if this is because you tried one and have ruled it out, or because you never tried one.. either way I'm curious why Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

Um ... you have me scared here, I thought I knew my main pretty well.. when my breaks are unstowed, full flight the slack in the lines means the tail of the chute is holding its shape with no tension on the break lines... would the main fly differently if the break lines were cut insted of with no tension? I'm not talking c or d lines here? Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

fun giving advice to someone with 10X my jump numbers.... that being said. Can/have you landed using rear risers? In a situation like this I would have considered cutting the breakline with my hook knife and just landing on rears. or was the knot in a place where you could not free the tail of the chute by cutting the line where you could reach? Can Anyone tell me why this is a bad idea? if it is I'd really like to know as this is my current plan for such a situation Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

Not directly about fear.. but the flight or fight responce, in most cases in the modern world is something we train to supress, most life threatning things are better handled without reverting to over amped RUN or FIGHT. people who flip out when taking tests, or tyging to fly a damaged plane, or trying to shoot back at the badguy are often being dis served by their biological flight or fight response Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

you mean that grip was NO ACCIDENT....??? Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

And if the jumper is killed by a expired cypres deploying at the wrong time, are you going to explain to the family of the dead jumper that you thought it would be fine to use an expired piece of electronics? No, I'm gonna tell the family the jumper knew it was out of date and made his/her call. I thought it would be fine but like every jump that jumper made his/her own call. would you feel responsible if a jumper got hurt trying an exit you described? jumping from a novel plane you recomended? got hurt jumping a round reserve you sold them because you would not use it anymore but it was all they could afford? now bet me which is more likely a cypres THAT BOOTS AND COUNTS TO Zero is more likely to: A do nothing B fire when needed C fire at an inapproprate time I'd put my money on B or A over C Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

NO its not Airtech's fault, the product was not used as they instructed so any failure is not their fault... but if a jumper who would have died is saved by a 12+ year cypres are you really gonna be upset that they used it? you think airtech is really gonna begrudge them their continued life? I have no problem with a 12 year life span, when mine goes I'll get a new one for myself I've deemed the considerable expense worth it to me, and within my ability to pay. some jumpers may have differing cost bennifit equations, and as long as they are not risking the pilot or DZ I'm not gonna give them sh.t for using a "retired" cypres insted of no cypres at all Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

13 year old cypres that still "boots" and counts to "0" or NO cypres at all... and a country where you are not risking the DZ or the Pilot to jump it... your call. me I'll take the old unit knowing that just like a brand new one it may not work to save me.. just another "chance"... I'd take it Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

I vote with the sell/give it to russia ... or rig something for free fall... a parachute on a fish bowl? I want pics

I think Doug is talking about me.. and YES I do love My Lotus.. I now have more than 100 jumps on it, some in conditions that I should have not been in (no not intentionally conditions were on the safe side of the line when I got in the plane) first answers, YES I fully believe my airlocked main will maintain its shape compared to anyone flying an open cell AT THE SAME WING LOADING. solid wing or no solid wing a down draft drops you period so don't think air locks make you safe to fly in all conditions. another "qwerk" of the AIR LOCK wings rigigity is its stall recovery... my advice is try this UP HIGH. because the wing holds its shape its recovery is much quicker it starts flying agian before line tension which can be dangerous... that said you REALLY have to try to stall one I don't see it happening by accident. any detailed questions please feel free to PM me.... or Brian Germain for that matter. I've never met a more open person more honest about their product vs others in the market place. Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

In corn ... 8ft tall... TOTALLY my own fault for how I set up my "pattern" .. or failed to set it up until I realised I was not gonna make the main area adjusted for an out... and did it all wrong putting me at 1500 ft over corn ... corn ... and some more corn ... this was the first jump I had a non jumping friend at the DZ to watch .. still talked her into the tandem that was when I was about a 50 jump wonder ...... which really isnt that many jumps ago Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

not to offend, but if your profile is correct less than 100 jumps in 4 years.. Brian would NEVER sell you a SAM, his recomendation is for a MINIMUM 300 jumps to get one. That being said I LOVE my Lotus, paid about 1600, and am planning on keeping it till I have enough jumps/skills for a SAM Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

yea is this the show before or after the one about haunted battlegrounds and or How the Government covered up the alien invasion at roswell? Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

I'm glad I can tell MY reserve risers from my main risers INSTANTLY. I would NOT have pulled my cutaway handle so quickly. Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

Budda is gonna get you (I hear he's the vengeful type and wont like being left out) Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

Glad your OK, but I really wanna see that video! Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

Why? This thread started seriously enough, he has responded to comments without personal attacks... what in his profile would make this discussion more valid? Debate and discussion are about the ideas involved not the person who puts them into play Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

I missed the exit altitude.. did they really leave at 3K? Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

I thought about a 3system.. but not for safety 1st main (tiny unlandable like say 39sqft) to fly for fun (yea I know a spin on this could kill you quick) 2nd normal main you deploy after cutting away 1st main 3rd Normal back up you use to save your ass should your normal main mal Hi altitude hop and pop, fly "tiny" for fun to about 4 or 5K release tiny, get stable pull main at normal pull altitude.. Use reserve as nessecary Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

(not a direct reply to anyone) Anyone else find it funney that people are worried about choosing an RSL because it the worst case it could kill you... and yet not worried about their choice of Reserve loaded at or above their already agressive main, which they can land just fine, .... except maybe in a worst case, injured, unconcious, blinded by blood, or just plain disorientated .. like say after a low cutaway from a violent spinner. Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

well when my buddy cut away his baglock the rsl beat him to deploying the reserve (he uses two hands to 1 handle method) I followed the free bag and baglocked main ... which looked very much like a freebag with a black pilot chute... so in my one direct observation yes a baglock when cutaway can pull an RSL Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.

Nice ... great dock Cool pic Good Judgment comes from experience...a lot of experience comes from bad judgment.