gowlerk

Yea sure, but every new Vigil I've installed has come with Cypres washers in the box for some reason. I've installed at least six brand new ones. I've never seen a single Vigil washer, just pictures. Edit: I just realized that Vigils have not come with Cypres washers, they've come with no washer at all, you have to come up with one yourself. M2s come with Cypres washers. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

I don't think of a main canopy as life saving equipment. I think of it as a toy. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

You are not alone. AADs are already the new norm. A norm is not the same as a requirement. AADs are already required in Japan aren't they? Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

What attitude is out there that you feel needs changing? Nearly everyone is in favor of them, nearly everyone uses them, a few people don't themselves but still are in favor of them. Who has a bad attitude about them? It's RULES that some are talking about changing here, not attitudes. I have no problem or emotion around AADs. I use one all the time when I do tandems, and I would even if there was not a rule on it. I sell them to people and make a profit doing so. I have a lot of emotion around people forcing their choices on me. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

Maybe because it is so blatantly obvious, some things usually don't need to be pointed out. But since you started by asking for reasons for and against reserves, which is also painfully obvious I shouldn't be surprised. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

Which is what I am saying, and why rule making is not needed. Of the many rigs I've repacked this month, three of them had no AAD. Two of them belonged to young people who are cash starved and have decided against buying one at this time. The other is mine, and I'll probably get one for my main rig this year. But not for my backup rig. Is that ok with you? It's not just "old" people with old ideas. It's people who don't have the same opinion as you do. You are now guilty of agism! Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

You are usually so articulate and straight forward with good ideas, and now you come up with this. I guess it's just another symptom of the emotion that surrounds AADs. The reason reserves are both necessary and mostly, but not always mandated is the historically high and somewhat predictable rate of main parachute malfunctions. Requiring them is not really needed because few if any would choose to be without one. This is because they have succeeded in the marketplace of ideas. AADs have also largely succeeded, every year fewer and fewer people choose to go without one. If lowering the death rate to it's absolute smallest number is the only objective, then sure, AADs, RSLs, MARDs, banning swooping, banning ever larger formations and ever smaller canopies is the answer. Of course the ultimate answer is to ban unnecessary risk completely. But we allow grown ups to make grown up decisions about the level of risk to accept. All states are nanny states to some degree. But I intend to hold onto as many freedoms as I can. There are many things in skydiving that others do that I will not risk. Please don't ask that I be demanded to follow you personal standard unless you are willing to give up the risks that you choose to accept but I don't. The world is not having a large problem that mandatory AADs will solve. That's because most people have already chosen to use one. Our world is having casualties from other activities that could be banned and I don't want those outlawed either. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

Absolutely, it happened just like that. Completely true. I was there and I swear to you. It was just as funny in person as the video. But I can't tell you where it happened, we don't want no rule making nanny staters whining about "safety" or "liability" or "what would UPT say" do we? Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

Neither can I. Do you know someone who does? What kind of life preservation device are you referring to? I think he was referring to people that don't use a skyhook because "that damn thing costs a whole 300 dollars!!!". Then they spend just as much in customized stripe colors and embroideries. Yes, if I were buying a new Vector, Javelin or Icon I would go with a Skyhook. And if a customer asked, I would advise one. Or if they were buying a Wings I would advise their MARD as well. But if I bought a new container, it would probably be a Talon, and the lack of a MARD option would not cause me a second of hesitation. And when people ask, I tell them Vigils are what I advise, unless they want to try an M2. But I would never suggest that the price of any of these things has any relationship to the value of anyone's life. That is absurd hyperbole. If I wanted to save money I would stay on the ground. Devices are only backups. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

Neither can I. Do you know someone who does? What kind of life preservation device are you referring to? Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

I am my own keeper, and that is the point. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

Only in the Nanny States, where they already are. Thankfully you are not my nanny. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

Only Perris and Eloy. I Googled that proposed tunnel. The newspaper story about it says they are proposing a 10 am to 10 pm operation. It doesn't mention noise, but I'd guess it's a factor. Are other tunnels located in residential neighborhoods? Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

There are industrial areas in NY. That's where a tunnel should be built as far as I'm concerned. Noisy compared to quiet. There may be magical modern technology that I don't know about, but any tunnel I've been outside of has been not what I would want to live beside. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

If I were a condo owner and someone wanted to build a tunnel beside me I would oppose it as well. Tunnels are very noisy and need to be built away from where people live. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

Yes, I have seen shots looking down at FS flyers, shooting their backs from above. Better be careful when you use that bite switch though. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

Shit, I did not notice that this was posted April1st. Got me. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

The technical aspects of using flash at night are largely irrelevant. Use of flash photography will blind your subjects and is not allowed on any night jumps I've ever seen. It has always been specifically forbidden. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

The non skydiving world often calls E thread "upholstery" thread. Different systems call it size 69 or TEX 70. That is the size. It is bonded nylon thread. That size is also commonly available in polyester, where it is used on boats and other outdoor items because of it's superior resistance to UV radiation. Garment makers do not use this type of thread normally. Tons of info here: http://www.thethreadexchange.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=TTE&Category_Code=nylon-thread-069 Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

Singer 20U, or one of the many copies. Google it. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

From the Sigma Manual: SIGMA TANDEM SYSTEM OWNER’S MANUAL Page2:X Section 5: Student Techniques • Chapter 3 - Other Activities These guidelines are not optional. They must be followed, or the Tandem Instructor and Tandem rig owner will be in violation of the User Agreement under which Tandem jumping is operated and will consequently no longer be allowed to legally perform Tandem Jumps. PARTICIPANTSQUALIFICATIONS For any relative worker to accompany a Tandem pair, the following criteria must be met: 1) Relative worker must have a minimum of 500 relative work skydives; or 2) Relative worker must be either a current Tandem Instructor or a current AFF jumpmaster. 3) Relative worker must have made at least 100 relative work jumps in the last year. 4) Cameramen must meet all the above guidelines, and in addition, must have at least 100 camera jumps. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The whole manual is available at the UPT website. Tandem is serious business, you should learn about it there, not here. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

Just for the record, I am also a rigger who never heard of "bridging". But after you explained I know what it is. Also for the record, I checked with the manufacturer of one of those type of canopies with no brake setting after seeing someone do this. (Icarus USA) They do not recommend that, they recommend you just do a normal pro-pack and leave the excess brake line loose. That's what riggers do, they check with the maker when in doubt. Even so, I would jump your packjob any day. Keep up the good work. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

I had a friend recently get his hand stuck in his dive loop at flare time. Pretty much the same as dropping a toggle. He got away with a compression fracture of a vertebra being his largest injury. Only because it was a wingsuit jump and he had a larger canopy, otherwise much worse. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

I think "two fingers and a thumb" is not the same as what is being talked about here. But even so, it's a good point to have the most secure grip you can on your toggles. I do, and will continue to use a "t" type grip high up on my thick tandem toggles, but I also have my hands in the flaring toggles. For the whole ride because that way I can never forget to take them for landing. I take a normal full hand grip on my sport rig. And as many will recommend, two fingers only if I use the front loops. I wouldn't want to encourage the OP, or anyone to use anything other than a full grip on their toggles for style points. Dropping a toggle can be serious trouble. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

I use that grip flying tandem. I was taught to use it by the TE that trained me. It gives me 4" or so more flare stroke before I have to make the pull down to push down transition. Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.