dragon2

Well hybrids are of course still made. I believe PdF's Electra and PD's Silhouette sell quite well. Not my personal choice, but man, do they pack way easier ciel bleu, Saskia

Like me.... I've got 2 mains now, the spare one is also on reversed risers (but these are non PdF), no probs so far. Hmmm why not? I've swapped my standard-length risers (which on an Atom rig are kinda short anyway) for short PdF reversed risers. The links used to just make the packtray. Now the slinks are next to my reserve. So what? edited to say: Of course I ran all of this by other jumpers and my rigger, who okayed it. ciel bleu, Saskia

Well our national CREW rotation teams uses javs with reversed (PdF) risers. Since they're pretty knowledgable and very picky about their gear, I'd believe it's an improvement rather than not. I've asked them why, can't really remember the answer tho, think it was for breaking strength (because of the grommet). ciel bleu, Saskia

Mine's a background of the area around our DZ, with my most-used program shortcuts in the office bar thingy. Used to have my desktop like screenold.jpg for ages, finally got tired of it tho... ciel bleu, Saskia

I had a stuck brake once, good thing it was on a CREW jump. We got out at 9000 ft, I had an open canopy at about 8000 ft (no I wasn't jumping a Lightning) and was swearing at the thing all through 5500 ft when I finally got it loose. Didn't think about biting the line, would've helped me for sure. I put the toggle round my arm for a bit to keep the canopy level but thought better of that (afraid it would get/stay stuck). Re-stowing the other brake wasn't really an option I thought. Didn't have as much dexterity as I would've liked because I had pretty thick gloves on. Ended up letting the canopy spin a bit to have both hands free to get the tension off the little loop that had gotten stuck. If I couldn't clear it before 4000 ft I would've tried to (toggle) flare up high, to see if that would work. Probably would have since it was a 1:1 loaded Triathlon and there was a bit of wind. If not, too bad, c-ya. Which bugged me, cause that was the 2nd time I had a 'minor' mal on this canopy: first time I jumped the thing the slider stayed way up for 3000 ft. As it was, I fixed the brake in time, got my instructor back at 5000 ft and was so angry at the $%^^ canopy (and at myself for f*ng up my first few stairsteps the jump before) that I really FLEW those remaining 2000 ft before separation. Got my stairsteps done. With a vengeance. ciel bleu, Saskia

I've done 3 tandem jumps so far. 2 because the plane was going to another DZ for a jump-in, and I couldn't jump on my own because I was a 3 jumps-SL student at the time. So I got 2 (cheap) tandem jumps which provided my first taste of freefall. Also got the sensory-overload thing out of the way this way, which wasn't a bad thing. These were my first 5 jumps, in 24 hours. Made me one happy (addicted) camper. Did another tandem last year which was the after-the-winter recurrency jump for my instructor. We jumped drogue-less for 17 seconds, and even with the added speed which was fun, I felt kinda bored. I logged the tandems in my logbook but don't count them for jumpnumbers/freefall time, even tho I can. I just feel a jump's a jump only if I jumped on my own. I am trying to arrange for a tandem night jump tho. I'm pretty much nightblind so it's not something I would easily do myself. ciel bleu, Saskia

We have this arrangement at our DZ: if you pay EUR 900 (about USD 900) at once, you get EUR 990 on your account. ciel bleu, Saskia

You also have the possibility of misrouting the bridle with one of these (I´ve got one), by packing bottom-top-left-right instead of bottom-left-right-top. that way the bridle isn´t ´forced´to come out from the bottom. So these aren´t foolproof either... ciel bleu, Saskia

[replyI don't see how you can get a horseshoe when your PC is in tow. Perhaps i'm having a brainfart here, but I thougth a horseshoe is when your dbag is out and your PC is stowed. AFAIK: a horseshoe is when any part of your chute is attached to you or your rig, someplace else than at your risers. Ie you got your bridle around your arm/leg, some lines got caught by your camera helmet, your pilotchute is still in its pouch but the main is already out, ... ciel bleu, Saskia

Yeah, and CF=Collision Flying ciel bleu, Saskia

Then you´ve never gotten your chute/rig so wet as we had that CF load I don´t mind packing and jumping a damp main. But I do mind jumping a damp reserve. And a soaked main. ciel bleu, Saskia

Hey Caren, Yeah, you were definitely the most wet/grumpy camera person I've ever seen But I never saw that vid, would like to tho ciel bleu, Saskia

Whoops my friend is way smaller than me and so has an Atom 000 (smallest) instead of a 0 (which is bigger). Johan, I´m 1.72 m. My friend and I both have harness size L1 (S), there are also L2 (M), L3(L), L4(XL) sizes. ciel bleu, Saskia

I´ve got an Atom 00, which holds a 128/126 reserve and a 120-150 main (150 spectre was tight, 170 halfZP-halfF111 was ok). It fits me fine, especially round the shoulder. A friend of mine is smaller than me and has a Atom 0. Only 2 other rigs that sorta fit me were a Racer and a very small Javelin. I always had/have issues with student/rental gear (lenghtwise and widthwise), Atoms just fit me best. Not real sure if you can buy Atom overseas tho. ciel bleu, Saskia

Sounds good. I personally am doing that. Problem is, that with my 256 jumps now I´m not really proficient at anything yet. Been doing a bit of freestyle, bit FS, some CREW and mostly FF. Cause I like it all. This also involves jumping maybe too many different canopies (have 2 different mains, plus the tri´s and lightnings for CREW). In one weekend I might do something like this: a CREW jump, a H&P from altitude, a lower H&P, 2 freefly jumps and a belly jump. I think I learn more if I do like 4 belly jumps in a row... Plus side: I have a lot of different experiences. I can go on different types of dives (at a basic level). Also, CREW is good for you Down side: I´m not really good at any of this yet. Dives (of any kind) above a basic level are too much. Also I still haven´t got my B license . Note to self: stick to one type of jumps per weekend... ciel bleu, Saskia

Uhm if you might cork you have no business in groups larger than 2? And with an experienced partner at that, not an equally inexperienced one? I find FF groups seem much 'bigger' than FS groups, ie I´d jump an FS 8 way but no way am I jumping an FF 8 way. ciel bleu, Saskia

I wanted to freefly there, but I can only do head-up as of yet. I asked them about it, I was allowed on like 2 way head-up dives with another jumper (not necessarily a coach). Which was absolutely fine with me as that was what I wanted/felt comfortable with. Didn´t bring any video (haven´t really got much and also plain forgot), but I didn´t need the (expensive) checkout jump either. Good enough for me. ciel bleu, Saskia

We have a story on our DZ that one passenger asked the intructor: When I fist looked up, I saw a multicolored parachute. Next time I looked up, it was blue. Could you please tell me, how you did that?? He thougth it was some kind of trick...... Couple of weeks ago we had a tandem line over. Instructor asked passenger to help pull the steering lines way down to try and clear it. Didn´t work, had to cut away. I asked the guy later how he felt, he said, Way cool! I even got to help with stuff!! Mostly I don´t think passengers notice, unless told by their TM. Some are really heads-up tho. Well they got 2 freefalls for the price of one, so I do´t think they should complain ciel bleu, Saskia

Couple of months ago, i got on a CF load without really checking the weather (had jumped earlier that day but had been driving the van between the DZ and the hangar the rest of the day, and had just come back, see what you get for rushing). I followed an 8 way out so there were 10 canopies in the air. I think we got out at 12K so we were in the air kinda long. At 4K I turned to head back to the DZ (I had the smallest wingload so I left before breakoff). I figured I'd just make it back. Afterwards I found out only 5 (I think) canopies followed me, the rest spiraled down right there. They were right...... I got a light tap on the shoulder, "uh, hello!" then bam, rain, hail, thunder. Had flown underneath a thunder cloud Spent some time thinking about whether I could get hit by the lightning around me or not. Got picked up underneath the cloud for a while so ended up having more height than anticipated. Didn't dare spiraling down (thought maybe because of the canopy being that wet it might stick/not reinflate) so did some gentle s-turns (probably hindering the other five who were by then also near the DZ). Stupidly wondered which way the wind was blowing (eh which way is all that hail coming from again??!) because the windsock was water-heavy. Had an okay landing, then thought, great, I'm in the middle of a wet field in the rain/hail and the thunder. My stuff was so wet I got it to my rigger (who was also on that load and was the first to spiral down I heard then, they had sheltered under a barn or something), for a repack (that was due anyway 2 weeks later). I did jump in the rain before, once as a student (always ended up on my back after doing a backloop so made use of that), once from an Antonov (yeah it's dry out!! jump! yeah right...). No biggy, only a wet canopy. And a couple of weeks back I insisted on practising style series in the hail. Had a bright red face for the rest of the day.... Another jumper had opened higher and had a nose full of hail, personally I liked freefalling though it better, less time. So yeah, you can jump when it's raining. Just make sure it isn't raining all that hard! And I would personally altogether avoid hail..... ciel bleu, Saskia

Regarding telephone/fax numbers: For a dutch number you'd need to lose the first zero. Ie a dutch number could be something like 0183-623456. If you want to dial that from outside Holland it'd be your national exit code + the code for Holland (=31) plus the number minus the zero. +31 183 623456. Don't know for which countries this goes, I do know it's the same for Belgium and Germany. Worth a try, tho, next time ciel bleu, Saskia

Weell not all 7 cells are accuracy chutes :) Unless you count CREW chutes as accuracy flying (hmmm maybe there´s something in that ). Also you got regular main chutes like Spectre, Triathlon, Omni, Omega, and some high performance chutes have 7 cells (or a multitude thereof) as well. I´ve jumped more 7 cell chutes than 9 cells. This is what I found: Generally 7 cell chutes don´t glide as well as 9 cells do. You may have to help a bit by rear-risering if you want to make it back from a long spot. You also don´t have as much flare to work with. I think they´re easier to land, but not everybody agrees. That said, I have only once had a reserve ride and that was on a student type reserve, ie very big so not much trouble to land. Don´t really know if you can compare a reserve to a (recent) 7 cell main, cause it´s F111 and stuff. Maybe jump a Triathlon 150 a couple of times range to get the feel for it?? But that´s a ZP canopy. As for flaring lower or higher, hmmm, eh, flare when you hear the crickets?? not really sure if I flare differently now that I have a 9 cell main, kinda depends on the main and on the lines more I think. ciel bleu, Saskia

We will probably get a new set of rules this year, in Holland. You can pick your canopy based on jump#, wingload, type of canopy, currency and min. size of canopy. Not sure if this will go for reserves as well. There will also probably be some canopy flight licensing/downsizing requirements to be met. You would be allowed to keep jumping what you jump now, but my safire 135 would be ' illegal' for my 256 jumps (would need 500) under those new rules, even tho I´m current and have a < 1,2 wingload. Because I don´t weigh all that much I wouldn´t hit the wingload limits but would hit the canopy size limits first: most I´d be allowed to jump with between 100 and 500 jumps would be a non-HP 150. If I´d want to jump anything less than 120 ft I´d need 1000 jumps (and 100 during the last year). Right now Í'm allowed a 120 (I´m only allowed wingload up to 1,25 right now because I still haven´t got my B yet). Also right now, if you want your C you need 5 CF instruction jumps (which I think is a good thing). These new rules aren´t definite yet, but some-such will be the case. ciel bleu, Saskia

Not really experienced yet either, but this is what I would do: 1. You lose altitude awareness, look down and see massive ground-rush (sub 1000 feet AGL)? Go for my reserve immediately. 2. The load organizer says before boarding the airplane, "that due to zero winds, we will all land facing North", then under canopy you are going to be the first person to land the winds are now out of the south at about 7 mph? First person to land sets the direction, so if I can safely do so (not hindering others) I'd land into the wind. Else I'd stick to landing the set direction. 3. You are on a 6-way RW dive and notice one of the other skydiver's main pin has come out of the closing loop, but the deployment bag is still in the container? There is a video person on the dive. Eh wave and point to that skydiver like mad? Also trying to get the videoman out of the way for when that skydiver gets the hint and deploys. 4. You are on a 4-way RW dive and realize that the 4-way is 500 feet below the planned break-off altitude. Do you track for the same amount of altitude and pull 500 feet low?, or track less and pull on time? Depends on the separation altitude and on my main. My safire takes its sweet time opening so I really want enough margin. 5. You are climbing out after another group and you notice that a jumper in the group ahead of you, which is half-way through their climb-out, has their cutaway pillow folded under their main lift web. The aircraft is a twin otter and there are people between you and this jumper. Start yelling if I think that person will/may notice. Or one of the jumpers in between might get the hint. 6. Same scenario as the one above, except instead of the reserve pillow folded under, the jumper's BOC handle is tucked completely into the pouch. Start yelling if I think that person will/may notice. Or one of the jumpers in between might get the hint. 7. On the normal main you jump, a steering line breaks on opening? At 1,500 ft? At 1,000 ft? At 500 ft? Depends on the canopy. If I have enough height I'd cut away my safire (haven't practiced RR flaring on this canopy yet, my bad, can RR steer it just fine tho). At 1000 ft or less I'd better be careful with RR flaring, and PLF real good. 8. The first group is climbing out and you notice that a tandem Instructor, all set to exit, has forgotten to attach one of the passenger's upper harness attachment hooks? If I can reach him, grab him, else shout to get his attention. 9. In a Cessna 182 on jump run, you will be the person spotting and just before you open the door you see the jumper in the back of the airplane push their reserve pin out of the loop, firing their reserve pilot chute into the back of the airplane? Keep the door closed. If there's a JM or I etc in the plane I'd let them handle it from there, else I wouldn't let anyone jump. A 182 is so small that opening the door with anything out would be very hazardous I imagine, even if you're in the back. 10. On short final, you see another canopy coming directly at you. You neither of you do anything you will collide at about 30 ft. Perform a flat turn to the right. ciel bleu, Saskia

Hmmm sorta had the same thing happen to me... Grabbed a friend´s rig by mistake once. Hers is one size smaller but has similar colors. It had a Tri120 instead of my Spectre150. I only noticed when I went to fasten the cheststrap: ?? Now who put a hair elastic thingy on my... my... Oh. Whoops. ciel bleu, Saskia

http://www.para-teuge.nl/parasport/webcam.html My DZ has webcams. I can see they´re jumping right now. I´m at work. I haven´t jumped this whole month. Because of the bad weather. Of course it´s blue skies now. Of course there´s a bad forecast for next weekend. ciel bleu, Saskia