koppel

Here is a reply that I got from one manufacturer when I quizzed them on AAD approval's in their rigs. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

on a slightly sideways not if you disconnect the cutter afterit completes the self test on a Cypres or an Argus there is no change in the screen display. Checked this after a friend of mine had a Cypres he was buying taken out of a Mirage only to find that the cutter was broken where the black plastic meets the metal of the cylinder. It turned on fine and did the self test fine as the ends of the cables were touching but who knows if it would have worked or not. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Nope. I don't like the cloth they give as that only gives a surface covering instead of impregnating the loop properly. Transporting it in their original plastic bottle is crap. Hence transfer the stuff into a nice little medicine style bottle with squeezer in and away we go :) I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

What if I don't want to jump a KAP-3? They all have had issues in recent times and not one of them is perfect but the KAP-3 is the most consistently effective and least problematic, except for user error perhaps [/:P] I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

One manufacturer so far... RI, with another that looks like following suit, Mirage. Nothing on the Mirage website as of now. Once they release a Service Bulletin or publish something official for the masses then it becomes fact. It may sound like nit-picking but I guess that is what the FAA does. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I found out a few years ago that if you have the alarms on then the light goes out when the alarm sounds...... that was mentioned in the manual had I ever read it I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

thank you! I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

is that for Airtec or PdF to say? I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

regular pay cuts in Australia I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Every now and again the Skyvan gives me vertigo for some reason on the 5,000 passes I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I understand that the rig in question was an Atom with integrity (reverse) risers. I don't recall what the problem was now however. As it was explained to me by another Rigger who was there the pressure exerted by the reserve risers against the integrity risers of the main was enough to delay release by pressing against the small ring of the 3-rings I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Good points. Maybe there should be a SB promulgated when a manual is updated for any manufacturer? It is the responsibility of the Rigger to check these things but it is not always obvious the changes that have been made. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

500 jumps? just like another well known brand. Batt low? well that just speaks for itself. I have seen all brands give a low battery warning after just a few jumps. Sometimes batteries are not stored well and the AAD manufacturer can't control these things each repack? well from the number of units I see that people have failed to follow the annual change I can see why they would prefer each re-pack. Cost? well I can't speak for other countries but here in Australia where things are more expensive quite often I can replace the batteries in an Argus during its service cycle for the same costs or even a little less as it would be for a Vigil or a Cypres1 so I don't see any real issue there. I also don't have to tie up as much money in stock as I do with Vigil or C1 power units if I want to stock them for my customers. Bottom line is that AAD's cost money, they cost money to run and the sport aint free, but the costs are reasonable for the return with all the brands when you consider the alternatives I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Guess all those little rich kids over in Cali-fairy-land driving around in Porches, Sports Mercedes and Corvettes etc have only got them because they learnt to drive on the race circuit in F-1 cars first then hey. Best way to reduce the risk is for them not to go. In fact lets take away Tandems and say if people want to WS, FS, FF, CP, CReW then they must become real students but I guess that option doesn't work either cos there is still a risk. Hmmm, I see a nice cushioned Nanny State in your future. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Just a question regarding TS 135 v1.4 and AS8015B please. AS8015B appears to be what any system certified under TSO C23d governs. Is it that now TS 135 has to be used OR is this document the one that will be used if and when TSO C23e is brought into effect. cheers I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I have just come across a set of non-manufactuerer constructed risers built in somebodies loft (or lounge room) that are an abomination. They have used old Nickel Cadmium rings that are pitted and worn, the geometry is massively out with a large load being applied onto a locking loop that is too short. Cut-away forces were excessive with only a static load of 200 lbs. A higher load caused by a spinning malfunction would have rapidly led to an impossible cut-away or possibly broken locking loop. If Risers became a TSO'd component under the new TSO how would that effect replacement of worn risers. Currently there are numerous lofts that produce well constructed risers. These risers may meet proper geometry requirements but would they then need to be built a particular way for each rig. ie I jump a Wings so to replace them I would have to build them to Wings specs? The first thing i do when I get a new rig from Wings is change the toggle keepers to Type III like UPT's as I prefer that system. Would that void the TSO? I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I used to have a HD Shovel that would sometimes not start on electric but fine on the kicker. It also used to cut out sometimes on left-hand bends but as soon as I straightened it up again it would start again. Turns out the Earth cable had been routed through a bend and had broken clear through but the two ends were touching except when the pressure on the seat went all the way to the left. I get frustrated at the number of Cypres units that arrive in the loft with the cables mounted the wrong way around in the retainer pocket.... I guess this serves as a good reminder why its important. Certainly a new check for us all to do I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

and the fun is done... so many months after banning the Argus it is decided that I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

I am aware of at least one person that it happened to here in Australia, a jumper with 10,000+ jumps. I would add the caveat that the jumper in question is less than regular with the stowing of the excess of brake line. Probably preventable but still in the realms of possible. I prefer the idea of the magnetic retain to the loop and ball but a half-hitch is still feasibly possible. My solution? RDS I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

My two favourites are the Icarus Jyro 300 and the Icarus TFX 285 Most of the work horses where I am are 330 withs 6+2 which are easy all day long and forgiving on the arms I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

The white areas are the bar tacks that have gone recently. The others have been gone for some time for the dirt to area under the bar tack to have become the same colour as the rest of the Type IV. It looks like until they went you have only had 2 and a half bar tacks doing the job of 6. regular inspection is the key here. Also remember to inspect under the disc every jump as the wear point there can go from a fuzzy look to broken in just a few jumps once it starts to go. They can also last for a long time and then suddenly go hence the need for regular inspection. Do you have as set periodic maintenance at your DZ and a tally sheet for each component to see how much use they have had or is it just on when things get noticed? I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

APF pull sign is a Fist. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Benefits of going through UPT is that when you provide the serial number they will ensure that you get the right length cable and the right sized handle. Drawback is that it 'could' be a little more costly than going through a local supplier. For the difference in cost these things are almost always easier done through the manufacturer. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

Not sure what forward speed a wing-suit can have but I know that a drogue-less tandem can hit 300+km/h I have no issues with dumping out a drogue at those speeds and I know that a well maintained set of equipment with a well maintained drogue is not any more or less likely to fail on me than during a 'normal' jump. My point was it is an interesting comparison to the original stated purpose of a Tandem which was to assist in the education of a student in the process of learning to skydive. If you want to educate people more then educate those Tandem Students (passengers in all but name) that are filing in their bucket-list boxes believe erroneously that skydiving is safe because thats what they have been led to believe. If someone who has made a number of jumps previously wants to extend that experience and understands the risks then it is their choice to do so. Freedom of Choice is not just an American concept I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.

well put together reply. Interesting to think that the Tandem was originally designed as a teaching tool and not a 'tick the box' event. I like my canopy... ...it lets me down.