lilchief

very well said! =) For me I simply pay my bills, put off some money for food for the month, the rest goes to skydiving =) I spent all last winter saveing up to be able to participate in a trainingcamp in deland, florida. I got 122 jumps in 14 days, and it was a awsome! It has really taken over me and I love it! It might not do the same to you. Some are like me and many others, but there is a large group of funjumpers that just jumps in the weekends to have fun and not to compete or film tandems/do tandems/do AFF. But something we all have in common: It's freak'n fun!

I've been sucked into this national project for schoolkids, and the focus is on math and science. I've become kind of the aerodynamics guy and been therefore given an assignment. My projectleader wants downscaled canopy models that are as real as possible. I was thinking of small toy kites, but it's not what she wants in the first place. The reason is that they want to use the same technology that is used in real life. Are there any manufactures out there that are making replicas, or similar, of modern canopies all rectangular, semi-elliptical and elliptical. I've already e-mailed the guy with the RC basejumper, and we're going to buy one as soon as it hits the market for...um..*cough* science purpose....only I spent 30-35 hours making a 1:20 scale of Leonardo DaVinci's canopy. I could always make a model of modern canopies my self, but most likely not with the same precision as a manufactures. Does anyone have any experience building small vengeances, stilettos, sabres, electras etc I was hoping that PD, PdF, precision or Icarus could provide me with downscaled drawings. But I assume that they are secrets and will not be handed out. I will ask them, but if anyone here has the blueprints of some of them, please PM me. I will not use blueprints, drawings or anything else that is provided me here for sale! Thanks for any help given.

Sounds identical to Norway. Maybe we should be draw our nations closer to gether.

If you really want something good for you: demo /borrow everything you can get your hands on. Get some 10-15 jumps on each and dress accordingly to the weather If you just want a quick fix, take what most people use, it's usually a good compromise ;) "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

We just came back to our club loactions at the university, most of us are drunk/way to drunk and I just brought the tequila on the table...wuhahahaha =D Let's get hammered!!!!! -Norwegian FF- "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

A lot of PD dealers have a "PD democenter" where they keep canopies all the time. I don't know about icarus, but have you asked them? Regarding the size, you have to feel what you find to be most comfy. There shouldn't be a problem going down to a 119, BUT you must take time and jumps on it. Like the fist 10 jumps, just focus on how the canopy feels etc and landing. Do hop'n pops from full altitude. If you don't want that, go big... "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

100? already?? damn.. That's cool! Congratulations!

ah..happy times. Glede mæ te neste sesong, men det e så JÆVELIG læng te!!! =D Translation: I'm really looking forward to the next season, but it a F*** long wait! =D "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

I agree, as long as it's not a BLUE one! You hear me Jeff Dunham =D "SILENCE! I Kill you!" "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

This pisses me off! Don't just bark, explain and teach! "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

Norway has had 360 days cycle the last 2 years. No cons regarding it so far from the national S&T committee. No reports on problems that I've come across. Most people are more focused on their gear, and if they suspects that something has contaminated the reserve/-container, they approach a rigger. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

Aren't PD's more slippery? I must confess that I had a really hard time packing a brand new pilot 210 in a new Icon 6(made for pilot 190) IT made me a good packer now, but it was hard to learn.. hehe. My new samurai dosen't feel that slippery and it's made buy PD. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

The objective with this model, is to show kids that different shapes and area(sq/ft) on different parachutemodels will affect the rate of decent. The kids among some math people will make some calculations and see if they may anticipate the rate of decent or something similar. I've already proved them with 3 PC, one 32-33" springloaded without the spring, one 32-33" PC F111, and one 26-28"ish ZP PC. They asked if it was possible to get a ram-air, but they realised that it was impossible when I started laughing They wanted DaVinci's model, but I\m not sure as to why, other then history meets modern technology. If they wanted it in a monitor for display, I'd provided a tailor with the fabric and said "go!" :) I'm not near capable of putting it together that nice. I just finished making the pyramid shape of a downscaled prototype of the parachute. I'll reinforce the edges and put a cap on the top and then I'm done. I'm glad I made a smaller prototype, there where a couple of aha's on the way hehe

each side of the triangle panel needs to be approx 24,4 inches. I didn't know that you could order ZP from PD. But I need this done by next weekend, and I'm in norway hehe... "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

I was contacted by the local science museum in my town. They asked me if I could make them Leanoardo DaVinci's parachute out of ZP. Since I'm a rigger trainee full of ego, I said "sure thing, me fix", and now I'm going to sew for the first time in ZP...or maybe it's f111. I'll butcher a WILDFIRE canopy, DOM 88 and use it's fabric. My plan is to cut the stiches separating the topskin, and cut out triangles from cell sections. Then sew them together, forming the pyramid shape of DaVinci's canopy. I don't have a hotknife but I've got a pretty good sewingmachine(single needle, don't recall it's name) I think. Should I just cut the fabric with a heated/cold sharp knife/scissors? or add some glue at the ends, use an iron on the ends or something similar to avoid the fabric to frey? all help is good help here =D "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

It's a great advantage to be a rigger, but not mandatory. However, you SHOULD have more gear knowledge then the average skydiver IMO. I'm saying this because I had a bad experience this year. A packer didn't know how much it's required to have a pc cock'ed. I told the packer nicely about my rig and how to do it right, because we had received several rigs that were not properly cocked after packing. The packer insisted that the pc was properly cocked, even though is was clearly on the limit. I told the packer that I was going to make a jump then report back to the packer the result. The pc took a LONG time getting my canopy out of the bag, at the limit of a pc in a tow! I got down and told her, still calm and nicely, that it wasn't good enough. The packer replied cold that she wouldn't pack my rig anymore and then completely ignored me. I got confused about her reaction, and the chief packer told to just leave my rig to her rest of the time I was there. Now, if you don't know how a pc should be at the end of a packjob, you're not qualified to be a packer, IMO. In this single incident all the packer needed to do, was to cock the pc after bagging the canopy, I always made sure that my pc was properly cocked before handing it off. Just think about it when you get in to packing that you have a responsibility. Good luck

A small slider on it, and we could be tossing him out of a cessna and have som real canopy flight. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

Nice post! Good luck in the future

When you approach you'll see windmils on the rigdes around the DZ. Good indicator.... Nice DZ

[reply but back on topic - what about foreign jump wings? They tried to get me out to Federal Eagle and said I could get German wings. You can get your Dutch wings at Texel. The course costs some 300 euro and consists of training and 5 SL jumps from an AN-2, or if the brits are there you may even get it from a DC-3. Just like it was during market garden, except getting shot at You have to prove that you are active serviceman though. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

now that sounds....suspicious

have your rigger done a streach test? It might give you a hint on the fabric's integrity. Here in norway we have the rule of 20 years or 20 rides, depends on what comes first. Based on our way of thinking, I'd say listen to your rigger. Good luck. "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

I think that with 300 HMA as only option will stop many from ordering due to maintenance. I think that's good because then only the competitors will get them, and they are most likely qualifed

Wasn't the same said about the stiletto and Velo 1? Still there's some unexperienced hot-shot dumbasses out there slobering for it to be released I guess But from another view, I can't wait to see (if possible) the difference and what kind of improvements that have been incorporated and how it flies! I've been waiting for this to happens recently, because I know that during 10 years a lot of new stuff is learned. I hope the PD boyz are bringing them over to norway next year =D "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no

You're damn right! I save some 25% when ordering from the US, and that includes S%H + US taxes, but not my countrys taxes =D I consider my self criminal...how lovely har-harr "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci www.lilchief.no