katzurki

Pilot may not even touch the controls? Wow, really? I thought ILS was more of a landing technique without visual reference out of the window. Thanks. :)

I am doing a translation of something that mentions "an aircraft ILS approach". For clarity's sake, do you do a completely "blind" landing when using ILS (i.e. you rely only on the instruments and might as well have put curtains over your windows) -- or do you only setup for landing like that?

Not unless you've got 2.4.2 More like half a year. Depends, really. Updates consume lots of battery power, so does driving around uphill/downhill. Mine went through about 5 updates and has been in use for about 3 months, and is still half full.

The Galaxy reads small? It shouldn't. Altimaster 3 could seem like that, though. On my Galaxy I have an older Alti-3 style face with the smaller figures, and it still is visible perfectly. If it really is a problem, you could opt for a custom faceplate with bigger figures (which you'd have to design yourself, or for a small fee by the Alti-2 folks). Hmm, now that I think about it, I don't think I check the pointer against the figures; it's the position you check. Neptune as a hand-mounted alti is also a good choice. Get the latest firmware (2.6.0 at the moment, OR stick with 2.4.0, but absolutely change it if it's 2.4.2), and there should be no issues with flimsiness and batteries. Edit: if you do get a Neptune, don't use Alti-2's wrist-mount. I have reason to believe wrist-mounts are potentially unreliable (one documented instance of a person losing their Neptune due to the velcro on the wrist-mount working itself loose -- need video?). Use either a hand-mount with the O-ring, or get someone to make you a velcro wrist-mount that loops both over your palm and your wrist.

So there I was, a container hot off Jump Shack, a canopy I had purchased before I even passed AFF 1, a Cypres expiring early in 2006, no reserve, and an itching desire to jump. The only reserve I could find to borrow (thanks, helxen

I learned to pack psycho, and now I just alternate between pro and psycho, in no particular order, which earns me some weird looks now and then. I'd like to learn flat packing too, just to be able to boast a third packing method :)

Because it's 1 AM Sunday here and I'm already back from the DZ with 4 kickass jumps to compensate for the awfully tedious and tiresome week ahead :)

How sadly true.

I am facing a tough choice between something and something else. Skydiving-related, of course, so it belongs in the forums (cmon, bonfire's seen threads that made less sense...right?). Just vote for whichever option your inner voice tells you to vote, thus helping me make the hard decision. I could of course flip a coin, but it lacks finesse and grandeur, plus I am bored and it's a week till my next visit to DZ. I will reveal what it's all about afterwards

Ahh, great, post a question overnight, go to sleep, and wake up to a handful of opinions. Love that! Yeah, but I had the impression some manufacturers sorta specialized in slow falling suits more than the others. I have a great FF suit (by GarLyn) and did initial RW training with it. When I asked if I could join one of the "noobie formation" groups, I was specifically told I can't with the suit I have. Apparently the guy in charge considers grippers a sort of must.. oh, absolutely! :)

If I am looking to buy an RW suit of an excellent quality, and am a fast faller, which manufacturer is the best to go with, price and wait notwithstanding?

Are there any skydivers for whom their first jump was also their first airplane flight? If you are one, how did it feel on the ride up, and did you pay extra for the double thrill? :)

Oh, yes indeed, they are -- if you go the old-fashioned learning way, you get a "drogue" on D-series round canopy rigs when the student makes his 3-second, 5-second, 10-second and 20-second delays, to then move on to a drogueless Paracommander-like round rig for their 30-second delay. Okay, we do AFF too, I swear

That's exactly what I do.. Step out back to the wind, toss the pc and launch the bag right after it. Worked well 50 or so times anyway ;-) W Jolly! I am sure it has been documented at least once out of these 50 times, right? riiiiight?

Is it possible, and if so, how, to make routine tert-canopy jumps in a safe manner without having to employ somebody's help to hold your tert-canopy d-bag at exit point? (Maybe a WAD-style deployment with you holding the d-bag?) Or do you always have to rely on someone to "static-line" you off the plane?

Almost never. I guess the only instance of practical use would be a person working on their tandem rating which requires them to jump the tandem rig solo.

Whoa, 14! I feel so old, having started at 18...

That sounds complicated. Wear and tear on attachment points notwithstanding, what if you forgot to put a valve back on a cell? That would be quite an opening I guess.. :)

I see. I suspected something along these lines. I am not saying this is not a real con, but it's more of a conveniency issue as opposed to safety/keeping you alive. (Better be busted than dead?) Well, nobody says there can't be vents AND airlocks. Thanks for the replies!

Airlocks would theoretically help keep the air inside the canopy in case of object strike. Why is there no such design, as far as I know? Would the openings be too unpredictable/slow?

Here's Helxen swooping that new hot crossbraced napkin, you know, the frontriserless type. RDS, too! Helxen is about 5 ft tall (the Jellicai are that way). Can you attempt to calculate the canopy's possible square footage based on what visual reference is available? I've been getting figures in the 25 sq ft range

On this first minute of the new day of August, 16, 2005, I'd like to take the opportunity to wish the Jellicai Helxen Ki-Ta-Me-Lo-Rif a happy birthday. Swoop long, fast, and safe! (and you might want to use a canopy that actually has front risers, heh heh... sorry, late catch on my part).

Sweet!

That's what they told me, too. Now if only yours had some cheetah spots on... Ah, well, it's nice-looking nevertheless :)

There is a very simple solution to relieve the horror of jumping your first pack job -- make someone else do it! See if they live. See if they limp or anything. Cautiously approach them and poke them with a stick, watch the reaction. Offer them a beer. If all tests confirm this is an unchanged skydiver and not a zombie or a walking undead, repeat the process on another guy. They all crave a free packjob anyway