nightjumps

Only because the criteria is different for the USPA. You will have a much greater advantage than those Non-Airborne personnel who become skydivers. I've seen more than one of them lock up on a night jump. We (Airborne) on the other hand have had so many at night that we actually are more prepared and as a result do much better. Enjoy it, Bro. ...Bigun

Only because the harness exit procedures for water are different with a split saddle and must be observed for proper sequence by an Instructor or S&TA. ...Bigun SF Association D-3896

Last year, Dale Settle (Skydive Tulsa) did 69 in twelve hours. The goal was 100 in twelve hours and at 5:45 minutes he had hit the 50 mark well on the way to achieving 100 in twelve hours. Unfortunately, the 182 we were using had to make an off-field landing (pilot forgot about carb heat) and we moved on using a 172 which had a much slower climb rate so we could only get 69 in twelve hours. We are scheduled to attempt 100 again on June 21st. First our congratulations to those folks. It is an awesome feat and I guess we're going to have to go for 101 :) ...Bigun

You're right, Hook!!. At the time I was getting rid of mine, Mick had sold but they hadn't opened after like six months so I was thinking past tense (you know I only live in a five second frame and anything before the previous five seconds is forgotten) . And then there was Wings!!! My Bad... Jessica. Maybe they can help you price it. ...Bigun

Jessica, about the only thing I would disagree with you on is the Raven. As long as the DOM is outside the AD notice, you might get a couple of hundred more for it. It is unfortunate that Mick had to sell Fliteline. I had a Reflex and loved it. Unfortunately, with them going out of business, I did not feel like I could re-sell my Reflex in good conscious... You know I probably could have sold it to some newbie on the cheap, but if they needed something done, there was no "manufacturer" to send it back to. Its now a student hanging harness. And, the Hornet not being made anymore... Same issue. SSK does post a depreciation value on their website so you might check against that to see if you are pricing your cypres correctly. http://www.pia.com/SSK/cypres/ ...Bigun

Uh oh. I been teaching... Look , Grab, Peel/Punch Right , Peel/Punch Left , Arch Have I been doing this wrong? ...Bigun

Wow, that's quite a story. I live in Oklahoma and thought I heard thunder the other day. But, now I'm thinking that might just have been the sound of someone's rear-end slamming shut at 600 feet, huh? Good Job, Bro ...Bigun

Amen to that. Its the one's that aren't scared that get creative on you. ....Bigun

I jump an Icarus 365 in my Eclipse system and LOVE it. FYI: 1. I got an email from Simon yesterday (when inquiring about a 330) that all the Icarus Tandems will be rated at 500# in the next couple of weeks. 2. With the exemption being lifted, I "believe" you can put an Icarus Tandem in the Sigma as long as you use the PD Reserve. Talk with Marc Procos at RWS about this first, I may be wrong. ...Bigun

Oh gosh, I'm sorry, John. I've only used the on-line version. I'll download and play. Thanks, Keith

The application is a good one. However, the program does not utilize angles. It calculates drift based on the physics of motion. It could demonstrate the validity or invalidity of the 45 degree angle debate. Keeping the current formula, add a variable so the second skydiver doesn't exit until the first skydiver is equal to forty-five degrees to the rear of the aircraft under any condition.

Right, which means that the X axis of the angle has not reached 45 degrees and would therefore mean the groundspeed is reduced... meaning not enough separation. Sorry, this is were you lose me. Somewhere between "...sooner or later they'll be falling back through the 45-degree line" and "The longer they fall, the worse the separation gets." Wouldn't the plane be continuing forward speed and therefore increasing the X axis of the angle? Keith

I not only use time as a factor for separation, but the angle of the previous group as a gauge. I'll try to make this visual without a white board. If you were looking at an exiting group from the door, use your hand at a 45 degree angle out the back of the door. A forty five degree angle is equal in distant as it is to height. So, if the group has flown beyond the 45 degree axis (your hand), its safe to get out. Conversely, if they have been falling for a long time and have not exceeded the 45 degree angle, then the airspeed in relation to the ground speed would indicate that you should wait longer. Does that make sense? It's really demonstrated better graphically. Maybe you could explain it better.

OK. Now that we've all had time to pause and think about my first flippant remark... I apologize. It really was done on purpose and meant to inflame, but not to harbor grudge. All too often, folks are in a hurry to buy something and aren't thinking about what's best for them as individuals, but what's kewl. Admit it. Right? So, now here's my real answer. Henri (Owner of Wings) has been designing rigs for a thousand years (including the Javelin). The Wings container is going to provide you a custom fit for whatever size canopy you place in them. I can tell you that the Wings container will house and make a 229 main with a 249-M reserve look good on your back. So, my answer is Wings. Safe landings all.... BIGUN

If you agree in ANY case, then you should agree most of all here. This is where it begins. What's the first thing you do after your "A" license. You start looking for gear. This IS the :Gear and Rigging thread. I was using logic to break this chain of looking kool versus flying and landing well in the choice of gear desicion-making. Thank you for your opinion and voice of experience.

Yeah, you know its always better to look kool, than to wear safe gear. I can see it now. Well at least he didn't go out looking like a student. Sheesh.

Yep Kris, Forgot about including that. Thanks for the post.

OK. Bigun's got to get on his soapbox about this one. Two things - 1) I've paid packers and done a gear check myself and not seen the color in the window, so I take it back to them and have them re-cock the pilot chute and I'm almost always met with "I cocked it." It just must be shrinking or just cause the color isn't in the window doesn't mean its not cocked. My second peeve is, I can't tell you how many folks I see pull the hackey a little and then start milking the bridle down to the color and calling it cocked - that is a false cock and doesn't mean the pilot chute is at its maximum operating capacity. If you are cocking the pilot chute and can't get color, reach into the bottom of the pilot chute and pull the kill line away from the bag (not milk towards it). If you still can't see color, then by all means get a rigger to check it, it might have shrunk to the point of needing it replaced. Using a magic marker to re-color the kill line is a no no. If you're doing that, you need it replaced. Bigun steps down off the soap box - Next!

With the new Integrated Student Program, students can now utilize the best method-specific discipline to overcome any hurdles and achieve their goal of "A" License. You can do a couple of Tandems to get used to door opening and freefall and some one-on-one in-flight canopy control instruction, you can take a couple of static lines to get used to canopy control on your own with radio assistance, you can make an AFF dive, then do a ten second delay from static line. Its all one program now. As long as you meet the criteria for each of the categories along the way, you decide whcih method is best to overcome any weaknesses along your path of progression. So, the bottom line is; there is no more "Which is better?" Use them all to get there and have fun.

16!?!?!? If you pack your own rig...Stop it If someone else is packing for you, stop them

Well, lets see... I've jumped Javelin, Talon, Dolphin, and I've owned, 1 Reflex, 2 Vectors and 1, 2, 3.. Yup!! Three Wings containers. Always a perfect fit outta the box. Its THE most comfortable rig I've ever worn. Fully decked out including full tie-dye was less expensive than a low-end Mirage. My rigger loves me cause he likes to pack the reserve. And, Heather sounds sexy as hell on the phone BIGUN

I should mention that I drove from Tulsa to Dallas every weekend for six weeks (Travel Costs) and made 80 jumps with the AFF Evaluator as a Coach, plus paid his $100.00 daily fee + his jumps + his pack jobs, etc. 80+80= 160 jumps@$20.00/jump = $3200 right there. Adds up quick.Not saying that's what you have to do, but I like being prepared.

There are two ways to prevent the static-line from bumping the tail; 1) if you use pilot chute assist and the JM goes out on the step and hold it halfway between the A/C and the student, this picks up the slack (also allows you to shortline the static line for them creative students who like to do a pull up, bring their knees up and push off (when you see the bottom of the pack tray comiing back around, snatch it hard), 2) ask the pilto to give you ten degrees of flaps before you open the door. (I got over a thousand student S/Ls and we've never hit the fuselage doing this.

I spent almost $6,000. I tracked every penny. I hired an AFF Evaluator to make jumps with me a month before the course, travel fees, course costs, packer fees, videos of the dives, meals, beer, every nickel. I spent $2,300 on the Tandem rating; travel, examiner fees, course costs, USPA fees, packers, etc. Hope this helps.

Wear your seatbelt. Wear your helmet during takeoff (strapping it on your chest strap may prevent it from becoming a projectile, but would be like jumping on a rock chest first in the event of an emergency landing). Please make sure everyone's seatbelt is off before you fling open the door to cool off.