Beatnik

It is a 2 riser setup. All the lines are connected to a strange set of d-rings. One side of them is reverse thread. The setup was great since I got to make use of a set of risers that other wise would have been garbage because of damage on the fronts. Spider slider reefing. Works great as long as you don't expect it to slow down the opening.

More pix!

A couple of months ago, I got my hands on a PZ-81 parawing and lets say that it is one of the best parawings that I have jumped. It is a really rock solid parawing, well that is compared to the other parawings in the collection. It has several differences that are unique to itself. All the lines are connected to two risers, a single one on each side. Inflation is controlled (or supposed to be controlled) with a spider slider with pilot chute controlled reefing. Which works about as well as all other parachutes with this type of reefing. Mike Swain gave me one of his SportsCams to use on these jumps and it was great. I would have never noticed some of the things the parachute did without it. It was also captured the opening shots posted before. Enjoy the pictures!

Don't even have to do that. With a reverse cross country you get out over the spot and fly as far away as possible. They're a hoot.

It doesn't bother me. As long as no kids are around, I just walk in the hangar in the nude. I would rather be naked with a bunch of girls around than a bunch of guys. Something about being naked around a bunch of guys seems a little gay to me.

You also have an unpacked parachute that you can wrap around you. Trying to find a way to bring something with you to the ground is not needed. On the thread topic. For the 100th jump idea, I say naked reverse cross country. That will give you a story to talk about for years.

Don't know how far I will take it. Once I figure that out, I will let you know. I have one parachute that is pretty close to WWII that I have jumped, it has a DOM of 1953.

Its all about parachute design and what it was like. Nothing wrong with a little first hand history. Plus it gets some jumpers on the dropzone really fired up and nothing is better than the look on manifests face.

Okay, I will end this one. It is a Manta Ray and was on the market around 1970.

The second photo that Howard put up is most definitely a Delta II. You can see the OSI on the left side and the cotton reinforcement on the other tip. The stall panels (for steering) are a little harder to see in the photo because they are white. They are located more in the center of the canopy. The slots are normal as well. There is pretty much a slot between every panel on the parachute. It seems that most wings are built that way, both my Delta II's, my paradactyl and PZ-81 are all done like that. Here is a question, there is a couple of standard mods on Delta II's that people did, like cutting down the OSI and steering by pulling down on the outside wing tips. One of my Delta II's have a toggle attached to the rear keel (red line). Don't know what it is for and I didn't think that night jump I did with it last weekend was the best time to start screwing around with it. Anyone know of this mod?

I know, I know, but I also have a Skydiver Magazine with that photo. Maybe the game should continue for a little while longer.

I hear you. I have over 20 rigs, getting close to 30, and I can't imagine what the costs would be for me to equip them with AAD's, especially since some would need some major mods. I don't have one mainly because of the number of rigs I own. Having one or two rigs equipped that I don't jump that often, doesn't really add to anything. I have been knocked out several times under canopy now and it has only happened with a canopy that has opened properly and very quickly. I have never had a mal open in such a way to knock me out. Under extreme conditions I know it is possible but haven't heard of a case that isn't in that range. There are pros and cons to AADs but I don't believe having one makes you a safer skydiver. I also believe it is up to the individual to choose whether they want to use one or not. Sure AADs save lives but there are plenty of people that save their life also without the use of an AAD. You should try and do everything you can to save your own life, no one should rely on an AAD solely.

I just don't like putting people's names or information out there if I don't have there permission to do so. Any new rigger or person aspiring to be a rigger has access to the TSC and they can email them for information. After all CSPA rigger courses do have to be registered and such with them.

Send me an email buddy and I will give you more information than you want to know on the subject. There are more people than just Rob that do rigging courses in the Country. There are a couple of people closer to you that could help you out with it. Another thing you could do is talk to the TSC or Barry directly and get information right from the horse's mouth. There might be a guy real close to you, (Toronto) that could be doing a course. Will give more in an email don't want to be throwing names and emails out on here.

Send me a PM with your email and I will send you packing instructions.

The Classifier and Top Secret were made by the Altitude Shop. I have two Top Secret containers. One is pretty new. I bought it from someone who bought it new and never jumped it. Nothing like getting new old stock. I have manuals in .pdf for both the Top Secret and Classifier.

I am one of those people. I have had four knee injuries, about two years of physio, over a year of not walking, I don't even want to start how many ligaments I have torn and not to mention the cartilage and other damage I have done. Mind over matter and a PLF really helps prevent injuries. I think is one of those things that many jumpers don't know how to do. PLFs can get filed in with spotting for the important lost skills of the sport.

I have a 1953 C9 that I have no problem jumping. I have another rig that I am putting together with another C9 I have and will do the same. Terminal and sub-terminal openings aren't a problem if the canopy checks out. On mains I do the tear by hand method as well if they check out in a bunch of different spots, then they are okay for me to jump. I can't wait for my Pioneer Hornet to get here, that should be a blast to jump. I am looking forward to a fun year of vintage gear jumps, I got more gear i am want to jump and I want to see if I can done more vintage jumps than I did last year but doing more than 100 is not that easy. Some days the openings and landings are much to be desired.

Buzz lives in Canada now. But I believe he started skydiving in England.

Do you mean the apex lines? I can't figure out how the crown lines would affect the opening. The apex lines on the other hand would have a big affect on the fill time.

I have lots of chutes that are more than 25 years old and they still get jumped and quite regularly. I know of several other skydivers that do the same thing. I have a chute that is almost sixty years old and I have jumped it without any problems.

What kind of gear is it? If it is vintage, I know someone that could make great use out of it. Post what you have and I am sure that there will be someone that would be willing to take it off your hands for some type of project.

Or they can just learn on Racer's and master bulk distribution on them. Once they make them look good, they can make anything look good.

Uploaded Bill Cole's Chuteless Jump on Youtube and skydivingmovies.com yesterday. http://youtube.com/watch?v=lVvMGLJ0xww Enjoy!

Landings under a T10 isn't that bad, You will never get the full experience from a video. A proper PLF if you have never seen or done one before cane be deceiving.