koppel

not to be picky but tis the other way around. Type 17 = 1" Type 8 = 2" not ever really noticed a difference myself for comfort though i have heard many say that they prefer the type 8 for comfort and the Type 17 for looks. Same as the riser debate really I guess. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Wings - Great choice! Pilot - another excellent choice Vigil, well an Argus does all the same and more and is more cost effective. RSL - the big debate, but with your experiance a good choice. Quilted backpad - not nesseccary. Wings are an extremely comfortable rig. Hackey - personal preferance but I realy like the security of the freefly pud. no movement at all and covers the mouth of the BOC other options-- I like the spandex BOC-no extra cost and no need to ever replace. Most BOC's are spandex and take a fair bit of wear and tear on the ground or the plane. ask for the Anti-Line twist D-bag at no extra cost either. a triangular flap that is attached to the bag and the bridal giving an equal spread of force along the long side of the bag at deployment instead of just on the bridal. Mud-flap hook knife would be the only option I would consider important that you dont have down already Cut in laterals if the budget will stretch to it or look for the specials that are on offer and you might get them for free. Enjoy your new rig I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Full Time Skydiver / Trainee Rigger I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Here in Australia there is no requirement to give the student a handle or alti. I always encourage the 'student' to have a fly and give them a lesson on the parchute regarding turns and stalls etc. I never allow them to assist with the landing. I am sure that they get more out of landing safely than any possible benifit from assisting. Are there any other countries other than the States that require the 'student' to be trained to read an alti and pull a ripcord on a tandem? I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

whiile you may have that confidence... Not really a very good lesson to teach someone who may be reading here for information. Better don't you think to add the addendum that maybe whilst you do that it is NOT RECOMMENDED because of the potential for mishap. remeber your students copy you, mostly without the information they need to understand what they are doing. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

If your ever on the South Side of the Equator let me know and you get a big bottle of anything you like for making mhy life so much easier. Thanks dude I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I can't tell you anything about UK DZ's I'm afraid. I do have a friend who works at Texel in the Netherlands and she tells me that a fair number of Brits come there to do their course. Worth looking into maybe if you wanted to combine a hoiday with getting her license? I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I have only ever used their camera helmets and found them to be excellent. Sorry I cant tell you the difference in sizes betwen the Mindwarp and teh M1 but I find their helmets to be low profile on the head if that helps Their customer service is fantastic and they really take the time to listen to people and their needs. Highly recommended. Don't worry about finding someone in the UK to purchase through just go to their website and deal direct with them. Sounds a bit like an advert for them? Just a very satisfied customer. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

This could be a cultural difference but what I dont understand clearly is if persons under the age of 18 cannot legaly 'contract' or sign the waiver for skydiving whats makes it permissabe for the same person to do so when they take up shooting or fly a plane? Are you saying that the only reason that those business can aford it is due to a larger client base? If so, then wouldnt someone starting a business get the ball rolling in our sport. I do not agree or disagree with the idea of children jumping. Personally I think it is on a case by case basis to make that choice. I believe that in NZ there is no age limit on tandems and it doesn't appear to have been a problem there. I dont think they have quite the same "I hurt myself so someone pay me for my mistake/stupidity" kind of nature. Not meaning to be offensive towards people but I find the culture strange. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

So an Argus then I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

so arch harder and wait for them to catch up I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I had already sent the email requesting it when I posted here thanks I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

can you please provide more information and links to the documents you quote. Also please provide your source. There is nothing on the Basik website concerning the Argus. As someone who jumps an Argus I would like to be aware of any potential issues please. Thanks I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

How about a dzo that wants you to get out at say 9K on a regular basis and wants you to hide your alti so they cant see they are not getting 14K. Then wants you to take it down and be open around 3-3.5K so they get longer in freefall. Oh yeah, and when you say no cos 'I dont like the idea of ripping people off and there is no way that I am going to open that low on a Tandem' the response was "...maybe you should rethink being a Tandem Master if your not confident to open there and deal with any problems. Sounds like you should quit." So I did. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

there is a DZ north of Brisbane that offer 6,000' Tandems to the backpackers. they do a fair few as well I believe I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

My first sports rig used to belong to Gary Cobb. I believe he went on to make over 1000 jumps on that set of gear flying backwards. It had BCRW-1 embroidered on the mudflap and you can still see the odd sticker floating around dropzones around here with the same printed on them I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Very few maybe I believe Ray Louge, QLD australia took over 40 years to get his first!!! I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I don't get it...... how does that only get a 'slap on the wrist'... Without a doubt the most stupid thing I have ever seen. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Not sure why the email bounced. I am having problems with email when people use the reply button. Beezy helped with the lengths. Glad I asked as when teh canopy arrived from the seller it had one loop for a toggle that was set at about 30cm from BRK-TOG which just looked wrong. Appreciate the help and loved the canopy. I had one slammer opening though, possibly from not slowing down enough after a FF jump, nice riser strike broke my sunnies and chipped a chunk out of my helmet. Glad I had that on. Defiantely going to get his canopy though. Thanks I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Help. Hoping to test jump a Xaos21 98. Need to check the BRK-TOG settings as it came with no marks or pre-set loops. heading for the DZ shortly and have no internet there. Checked the Precision website and they only have info on the Xaos 28. Any help gratefully appreciated. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Aerodyne shup with their own soft links

I went to don my rig for jump 3 on Sunday and found the screen of my Argus to be broken. Unsure of the cause currently but others in the packing area did not notice anything. I am wondering if it was caused by placing the rig down and the hardware from my chest strap hitting it at an odd angle. All speculation sadly. However I must say that the customer service provided was excellent. I sent them an email outlining what had happened. The response was sent at opening hours their time with an offer of a new display (they call it the remote control) to be sent tomorrow and a request for me to send the other back for them to inspect. Well done to them for the prompt and positive action. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I have read and agreeded with most of what people have written here regarding 'why change a system that is the standard and works' my 0,02c here is that it appears to me that they are trying to bring back the benifit of the larger rings while trying to appease the general skydiving community with something that looks "good". As Bill is heard to have quoted Skydivers buy fashion not safety. Bill has stated that the larger rings can be manufactured with more tolerance than the smaller rings. My speculation is that Aerodyne has attempted to create that by making a ring that has the diameter of the larger rings in a smaller package. Not being a technical type of person I am not sure if this can work. Any better brains than mine out there care to comment? I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I wish I had the $$$ for a movie on my first jump. I remember sitting on the edge of the plane and then I remember some kind of rush and then I was stood next to the instructor on the ground. Sensory overload got me I WILL NOT go on rollercoasters, they scare the bejeesus out of me. I dont like to stand on the edge of buildings, balconies etc and look over. All the emotions and feelings you describe are normal. Tandem is a good start BUT it is not the only start. If you have a deep seated desire to skydive there is no reason not to go SOLO on your first jump. Remember that those feelings and emotions you are currently having will be tempered and dissipate for the most part after you have done your First Jump Course. Much of what you are feeling is from fear of the unknown. It is amazing to learn all you need in a FJC and discover that most of your fears are gone. Try it and find out Good luck either way and enjoy I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I am currently working under a rigger towards my rating. One scenario I have heard of from him from before I started with him was a reserve that had a turn similar to yours caused by the ribs on one side of the canopy being built for the next size up. I forget the size of the canopy but for example a 150'ish reserve with three ribs on one side built for a 160!! I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.