johnny1488

here ya go, from a video off sdm.com. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

The fact that they are "needed" is a joke. If a person is outside the box enough to be a danger of falling out of a harness, they should not jump. And Y straps should not be the solution of poorly adjusted harnesses. And I think that you will see in the future Y straps injuring people from being adjusted improperly. Bill Booth showed me his version at the symposium that had about 2 feet of give built in so a person really had to be out of the harnes before it got taught, but he also said he wont install it until an faa mandate makes him. It made me glad. If instructors think the Y strap will keep their students in the harness, they need to relearn how to adjust the harness. Now I only speak of sigma harnesses because thats all I jump. I do not have a strong rating and don't think I ever will unless they seriously redesign their rig. But thats another discussion. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Well the website is newer and airtec still says it has 2 activation parameters. From the Airtec site: I think they know their equipment. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

You don't need muscle, but a good trap of the legs to keep them from folding in half on opening will keep all their weight on the legstraps. No one should ever even question the fact that their students are going to stay in the harness or they should not let them make a tandem. Y straps are a joke. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Got a chance to use this trick this week and its awesome. Remembered it from a few years ago on here. Its the way to go. A slow toggle pull and you're all good. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I dont like the A2 at all. We have one sitting on the shelf here. All sigmas and now 2 Icarus. I have 200 jumps on a 365 this year and love it. I thought the A2 was mushy and had no flare power compared to the sigma and icarus. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I suggest Utah Steve Webb at the Ranch in NY for a tandem rating. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I don't wrap my arms around my students, I put my hands on thier upper arms (bicepts) once we are opening. I fly my arms big after pulling to keep us flying during the trap door and then once we are vertical hold their arms away from my handles. They cant grab me that way and they cant get to my handles either. once we are open my hands are just lightly holding their arms down and we start talking. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

This could start a shitstorm, but I had this conversation the other day with some newer jumpers. I personally don't think the skyhook is a god enough reason to buy any sport rig alone. Its cool if you want it, I personally dont think it serves too much of a purpose above and beyond a normal rsl in a sport jumping sense, and I dont think you (not you inparticular) should buy a rig soley based on getting the skyhook. Buy a rig cause its comfortable, cause you like the pin protection, cause you like the style. I think the skyhook craze has people thinking they are safer because of it and that just isnt true. I have seen people not know how the system functions and have rigged it improperly (collins lanyard) so that it in fact wont function as advertised), where as a normal rsl is either on or off. And the notion that people can cut away lower because of this piece of equipment will eventually lead to someone getting seriously hurt or killed if it does fail to function. like bill says, as gear gets better, people push the limits more and more to keep the fatality rate constant. If you get a javelin or a vector, sure get a skyhook. If you like an infinity, get one, even though it doesnt have the skyhook yet. Save your own life, dont count on a backup device. A normal rsl will get your reserve out too, even if it is 2-300 feet later. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

The Neos is released. There is stock updates available on the website. The website is being overhauled (taking longer than Icarus would like), but the PIA was the official release on the Neos. Hopefully the website will be done soon, and you will have all the Neos info you could want. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Im interested on why you dont think the Neos won't get you back from long spots? I am loading mine at 2.3 and have no problems getting back to the DZ. Yes it was a higher decent rate than the xfire, but if you are on your shit, it is not hard to get this canopy to glide. It really moves on rear risers. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

No I do not. I am hoping weeks. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Wow, yours came out of the rig. The one we fired in the shop (and filmed) hardly opened, and then when it did, it didnt clear the flaps. I'll post the movie when I get time. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

The new website is under construction, and will be online as soon as it is ready, but there are some other things in the works that are more inportant right now, like getting the production times down and working with customers. I have been looking forward to the new site too, so I know how you feel. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

you got change coming!! Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I thought the one from dropzone might have been one of freefall express'. But thats just something i heard. They used to have a lot of them. Now only one. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

It took me quite a while to get my cert number 2 years ago. I think it took about 3 or 4 months. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I think you would like the Neos. There is some info on here about them if you search. I personally think the Neos is a good first braced canopy and I'ld put good money that the openings will out perform any cross braced canopy out there. Consider it when you are looking to demo. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

That's total nonsense. I would not pack if I were threatened with that, and I have a pretty good track record. Cutaways are part of the sport, and looking to cash in on the packer when you can't always blame them is garbage. The DZO has made plenty of money using those rigs you packed, but if there is a cutaway, you have to pay? Walk away. That is not the norm. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

It's more about the lateral having a connection to the corner of the rig. On most cut in laterals on rigs, you will see the rig floating off peoples backs, especially in a sit. The lateral is curved around your back, so when it straightens, it moves away from your back. With the new infinity style, it is cut in for comfort and to keep the rig from shifting, and attached straight to the corners to keep it from coming off your back. And by having it floating, I am sure it makes it easier to make and makes for a very comfortable yet secure fit. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

I would also try an Icarus Safire2. I am partial but it is an amzing canopy. Extremely consistant soft openings and excelent glide with tons of flare power. Very low toggle pressure also. Give a couple of canopies a shot if you can. The big 3 9 cells are going to be the Safire2, the Sabre2 from PD and the Pilot from Aerodyne. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

It also had a lot to do with how the reserve was packed on that rig. The jumper was inexperienced and had asked someone about it. He was told ( I don't know by who) that it was fine to jump. The riser that the rsl was on was loose and slack going over the shoulder. When the main deployed, it some how pulled on the reserve riser and in turn deployed the reserve. That's why they call him Miracle Mike!! Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

While I was a full time packer, I was the busiest packer on the DZ. If teams and jumpers wanted me to pack for them, then they set their brakes and reset their sliders. P/C are not needed to be cocked because I always do it no matter what. With the speed I pack, setting brakes was a major hold up. If I am not busy, I don't care, I'll do it all. But most people paid me to pack quickly so they could jump again. If they want it done quick, they lay it down with brakes set. Although I have been know to tell people to get out of the way when they are taking their sweet time setting the brakes. I was no nonsense when i worked. If anyone didn't like it, they could pay someone else. But I was the most experienced and I felt the most reliable packer available, so I had no problem setting my terms. And for 2 of the 3 years I was a full time packer I had my senior rigging ticket. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

its kinda a crap shoot. i'm 6'0 and my javy's have been c-18 and d-17s. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome

Not as far as I know. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome