koppel

I sent the unit back via Downward Trend of Australia as I work there. Edwin was sick at the time apparently and while I had quick email responses from AAD I never got a real answer from them. I have been on holidays overseas and have not chased anything up yet. They did however immediately offer to replace the unit with a new Vigil2 as I am led to believe they have done with all the units that have mis-fired on the ground or in the activation zone incorrectly. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I had one do the same thing in Austraila in April. I packed the rig in the morning, turned on the Vigil (SN lower than 6600 and software 1.36) as I do with all AAD's after a re-pack and then went out. Went back to the loft around 9pm with another customer to pick up their rig and found the Vigil had fired. No idea when or weather conditions on the day as I was out all day. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

borrowed a work mates for one jump. I liked it but not allowed ot use GoPro at work so didn't get one I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Not sure what it was like when you were there but Caboolture does just about no tandems at all. Focus is AFF with a little S/L thrown in sometimes I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

A.A.D have made an offer in Australia via a letter to the APF which was published in the APF broadcast and the Australian Skydiver Magazine to replace any Vigil 1 with a serial number below #6600 made before August 2006, with software version 1.36 or lower. They state that these incidents are very exceptional and confirm they could only happen in the ground or exceptionally in the activation zone. Replacement is at a pro rata rate plus shipping. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

the fact of the matter is given the right circumstances that device can kill you. name one product that is used in skydiving that given the right circumstances cannot kill you. Not really a very helpful reply. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

what were the serial numbers of the cutters? it is possible that it is from a confined batch, similar to the 'smilie' disc issue where it was a known quantity of product that had problems and can be traced. As a rigger since cutters became under scrutiny a few years ago I have started keeping a track of serial numbers or series numbers of cutters of all brands along with battery info etc. Pretty easy to find out if this problem is a certain batch or if it is a wide problem. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Received the email above from one of my clients along with a couple of pictures. There was a bit of experimenting after with holding the two parts together and turning the unit on to see what happened. I am told that the unit turned on fine. From my own experiments with both Cypres and Argus you can remove the cutter after the units have self-tested and they will show no signs that the cutter has been removed. Not recently had a Vigil in my hands to test this with to see if it is the same or not I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

do you think there has beenany change in the spring along the way? I ask as I pack a lot of Wings due to being a dealer and when they get fired off in the loft for repacks they got to about the end of the bridle every time give or take a foot. Mind you I have only used one in anger 3 times But this does not speak to the question of the closing loop tail after an AAD cut. Erdnarob said his tests were not encouraging. Depending on how much attention is paid to getting the freebag grommet right over the closing loop anchor point, there could be some serious serpentine shit going on just above the point of cut. That's surely not going to improve the launch after an AAD activation, but will have no effect at all when you pull the pin. I am no engineer so I may not be understanding the numbers here but try this for size and see what you think Semi Exposed PC (Wings/Javelin/Dolphin etc....) The PC pushes two flaps out the way causing the tail to be dragged up through the PC and snake out through the top two flaps. This is the point of friction that is of concern with a tail that is too long. There should basically be none or minimal concern below the PC due to the fact that the flaps are not being pushed apart until the PC has reached the end of the bridle and starts to deploy the free-bag Enclosed PC (Vector/Mirage/Talon etc....) The PC pushes four flaps out of the way causing the tail to be dragged up through the PC and snake out through four flaps. This is the point of friction that is of concern with the tail that is too long and is TWICE that as in the situation of the Semi Exposed PC. Therefore the effect of friction is much greater in the second scenario and should be much less of an issue in the first. What do you think? Of course a good rigger is the first answer as poor ol' Bill and his kind can't fix bad rigging I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I have no experience with that particular combination but as someone who packs a lot of Wings rigs I tend to find they 'look' better when the reserve is not too 'soft' in the tray. I used to run a Smart 135 in my W8-2 ext which was a nice snug fit. Probably would have found a 120 wasn't too bad in that one thinking back. ymmv I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

do you think there has beenany change in the spring along the way? I ask as I pack a lot of Wings due to being a dealer and when they get fired off in the loft for repacks they got to about the end of the bridle every time give or take a foot. Mind you I have only used one in anger 3 times I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Yeah, well don't bust yourself up along the way ;) I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

yeah, your doing ok mate. Keep it up. How many of those on here bashing you can claim to have an emoticon named after them ;) :saied: I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Well Wings have had this style on it for as long as I can remember but I have only been jumping them for 7 or 8 years. As for how it effects them? Three uses of D-ring handles to deploy my reserve and no impact whatsoever... but thats just me ymmv :) I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

One of the few areas that my work place has got spot on is the rotation. We have between 6-9 full time staff on any given day. There is a wheel of rotation on the wall and the next in line at the end of the day is the first up the next day. There is also a rotation for Camera to ensure that all get a fair bite of the cherry. Now lets talk about entitlements such as Superannuation etc for the professional full time working skydiver........ ooops got carried away for a moment. sorry I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I would point out in contrast that those things I mentioned can all be done on the ground with no pressure or raised stress levels in less than a minute while those points you raised are situations where stress is involved and sensory overload can take over. Of course you should deploy a parachute... perhaps you are not able to, Tom P. Of course you should activate your reserve after a cut-away... perhaps you are not able to, Rick H. just thoughts I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

any jumper who doesn't check their pins and AAD etc on every jump should have their head examined... I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

would it be the biggest problem to move the cutter to one of the side flaps on a Racer? I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Stainless improves durability all round. It also has increased slippage on Type VII webbing with certain set-ups This has led to manufacturers re-assessing how they assemble those components and in general I am not getting complaints at the loft from customers anymore. Wings did have an advisory mod for leg-strap slippage a couple of years ago. no recent problems that I am aware of I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Stainless. Wings are known for being comfortable in the first place. Add to that the likelihood that you have been jumping gear that is not a great fit to start with, student/hire type gear then you will be happy with the fit and comfort of the rig anyhow. The Stainless will serve you well. I did about 1,000 jumps on my first two wings containers without foam and never felt that I was missing out. Got it on my two new rigs and it feels good but not that important. ymmv I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

agree with ftp about getting it second hand if you can but there are also some benefits to buying a rig that was sized for you and the right canopies along with being modern (?!?) in design so suited to the types of flying that people enjoy in modern times. You may find that your local rigger charges extra for Racers as some riggers say they are harder to pack or take longer... if so find yourself a better rigger.

thank you . I stand corrected, it appears my memory did not serve me well on on this occasion. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Looks like Nov 06 to me too. Which means that in light of the fact that the cutter should have been removed from service 4 years ago and whoever has been packing it since should be counseled by their local Federation for poor rigging practices. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Jeez.... it took a long time to reach someone with the right answer. Risk Homeostasis anyone? Ban em all I say, it will make people safer I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.