katzurki

That's hilarious! I am attaching the picture from that auction so people can see it after the listing expires.

Once I landed on the far edge of the field on one of those days when it's not hot and hasn't rained for a couple weeks. I noticed a lot of small shadowy things scurrying from under my feet. I mean, a lot like maybe a hundred. For some reason I cannot comprehend, this particular piece of field was swarmed with small spiders. How I ran... :) and didn't pack the rig for a couple hours afterwards, I kept thinking a few possibly had crept inside.

*bump* Just in case somebody hasn't voted yet. I can't believe there are so few Cobalt owners... I thought it was one of the more popular canopies.

I'd expect that over the blade canopy I'll say! :) What does that J-5 thing spelled out in big bold letters signify?

What's a Blade anyway? The thing that denotes the swoop corridor?

Other than the new container -- yes. Yes, the very same canopy. I changed the way I pack it to have a brisker opening, because it was way too slow if it sniveled like it used to. It's not the opening that's slow, it's the PC catching the air that is. Same jumpsuit, new rig. It came with the container (which has the canopy it was sized for), so yes. It's brand new, so the kill-line is the correct length for now. I make sure it's fully cocked by 1) letting go of the PC and seeing if it inflates fully, 2) checking the line that goes from the base to the apex. Well *cough* it hasn't gotten to the point of me reaching out for the red and silver yet, I just fall, wait, and count. The pud is attached to the base of the PC. I've never felt the PC getting yanked out of my grip, it's me who lets go of it. Will probably get someone to video my opening next weekend.

How about $750 for AFF in Russia? That's what it cost me. AFF prices have since gone up a bit, expect it to run in the $1000-1100 range if you don't repeat jumps, and $12 a jump once you are done (gear rental from $7 to $9, packjob about $3). Instructors and packers are quite up to par.

So, I've started jumping a pullout. Feels kinda scary for now. I stow the PC according to the manual. When I pull the pin to full arm extension and let go, it's like two or three uneasy seconds -- eating up a fair lot of altitude -- then I am pulled into a stand and the none-too-slow opening ensues. How can I speed up the process of getting the PC in the air flow?

Yes, I see. So can't you just sell your current set-up, purchase used canopy / reserve, order new container? Unless it's a Vector, they take significantly less than 14 weeks to produce

1. Keep it for the season, sell when season is over. Out of curiosity, why do you need an all-new set of gear? Won't a used canopy do? Get a new rig, get used canopies thus cutting on wait as some container manufacturers offer rush service at reasonable prices (say 4 weeks).

All these 50-line wonder, bullet proof bowlers who upsize so fast, eh? It's just not safe above a fingerloading of 1:1...

So will, for that matter, Racer. Someone on dz.com has a 218 reserve with a sub-100 main in their Racer... But, I digress. The question is about Vector, let it stay there...

Here, I'll search it for you: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?t=search_engine&do=search_results&search_forum=forum_6&search_type=AND&search_string=7+9+cell

Please, have some dignity! I am not doing anything nasty to anything it!

Wow, I wonder how it was done!

Sir, Allow me to inform you that your petulant expostulations are hereby repudiated. Sincerely, me.

There are some places in America where if you land "off", you could be mistaken for a mountain lion and shot at... When are you going to get a brown parachute with spots on it, to go with the rig? It's nothing a lawsuit won't fix Custom canopy -- whenever I'm ready for one that I am going to stay with for a long, long time.

I fall very fast... which is kinda understandable, seeing how I weigh 240 geared-up and am only about 5'9. So with this suit, I am just about there. Hey, you know who a furry is. That's cool :) A tail I've thought about. Sure makes for a great turning tool, but it would be too floppy!

See, that's what I mean. You must first recognize that there's something wrong before you can take the next step. Naa...I'm fine

What problem?

When exactly are you going to be there? And why not visit Borki, while you are at it?

Finding a used rig that fit me comfortably was a great, great challenge, so I decided to go custom (mind, everything else is used). Now, I have it really bad for cheetahs, so naturally, if I was spending $1500+ on a new container, it was going to have the cheetah coloration (spots on a tawny background), period. I emailed all available manufacturers whose rigs I was comfortable with, thinking maybe some skilful tie-dye is the key. It turned out tie-dye was not going to be the solution. Mirage offered embroidery that was going to be not only expensive, but would also wear out really fast (a guy at our DZ purchased a new container embroidered with stars all over; only a few weekends later, threads were hanging loose from more than just a few stars). Javelin and Racer came up with the option of lining a container with faux fur. I chose Racer for several reasons. A month later, the container was ready. And, here it is! Do you think I'll be easy to spot? In hindsight, it was probably not too smart (we'll see how the fur handles), but cheetahs deserve it. The jumpsuit is of GarLyn production, also cheetah, and very well put together. Although I don't jump it on very hot days, because it's hot by itself (and in more ways than one), I guess it'll make for some excellent winter protection, though! Funny story is that despite money transfer charges, postage fare, and actual work fee, the cost of the jumpsuit still totalled lower than it would at a local manufacturer.

er... it's hard to get your lungs burned through a (properly set) hookah, so why can't you smoke them now?

I guess what I am looking for is the ground preparation of a tandem jump in written form. That link, while informative, offers general knowledge on tandem jumps that doesn't cover the specifics... I'll use that too, tho. Thanks!

Where can I find a comprehensive and easy to understand instruction for a first-time fun-tandem student? It doesn't have to be big, indeed, a typical speech a good TI gives to every one of their students would more than suffice. Things like where to keep their hands on exit, to arch, etc. I strongly suspect it's buried somewhere in the depths of DZ.com, but have been unable to locate it. We don't get many English-only first-timers at our DZ, but they do pop up from time to time and I am not always there to translate for them... and the universal language (Ah/Eh/Uh + gestures