bqmassey

Exactly. Marriage is a religious/spiritual event. It shouldn't be made into a legal one.

Ah, ok. So, while you're in an area of lift, the major component that determines your ability to gain altitude is the descent rate of the system. Outside of an area of lift, you'd prefer a flat glide ratio over a slow descent speed, as the glide ratio will help you get to the next lift provider. Why is it preferrable to travel down that glideslope at a higher rate of speed? Just to penetrate a head wind better?

No, Soaring in any condition other than a fixed area of lift like a ridge, wave, or convergence (or a single thermal) are the only way you could soar a low glide ratio/low airspeed/low sink rate canopy. good slow sink rate with a good glide WITH speed is the best way to soar. the most efficient soaring machines have a sink rate of 100ft/min, glide at over 50/1, and at those glides and sink rates fly 60mph with the ability to dive at 150mph+ http://vimeo.com/19877748 Thanks for the reply. I'm a little confused. You're saying that the only way you could soar something that has a poor glide ratio is within an area of lift, correct?

Yea, that's a position I'd really like to be in when the time comes. The best way to make money is to save money. You get taxed on money you make, you don't get taxed on money you save :)

Thanks for the posts. Yea, I understand that you can't account for everything and that not everything is easily quantifiable. That's why I was curious if anyone does this, and if so how much they put away. I'm close to owning my first rig, and I do think I'll start to put money away per month (for AAD and repacks) and per jump (for wear and tear). Because these things aren't easily calculated, I'll probably add a safety margin. It wouldn't cover major losses, like losing a chopped main or having something stolen, but it should be helpful when it comes time to sell a component and buy something new. I'm starting with used equipment (about 200 jumps on the main, 200-300 on the container, 2 repacks on the reserve) so I'll be able to avoid a lot of the depreciation. I'm thinking I'll set aside $40/month and $5/jump. That should leave me with a nice little fund when I decide to replace some equipment. If it doesn't cover it, it'll at least be a head start.

These sound the same here on my end.

Have any of y'all ever taken to time to figure out what it's costing you to jump your own gear? You could use that info to set aside money for future gear replacements. It might also be helpful when determining the value of used gear you're trying to buy or sell. I'm curious to see what numbers people are using. I imagine that the more thorough way to do it would be to have both monthly costs and per jump costs figured out. Monthly Costs o reserve repacks o AAD maintenance/replacement o depreciation due to things just getting older (whether they're being jumped or not) Per Jump Costs o Wear/tear on container/harness o Canopy depreciation o New linesets I haven't worked it all out, but I'd think that $30/month and $3-5/jump would keep most people covered. I guess those numbers would be higher if you're starting with brand new equipment. Any of you taken the time to figure this out for your own gear? Anyone maintain a gear maintenance/upgrade fund?

Personally, I don't have a problem with people doing drugs. An adult should be able to ingest whatever substance they want to. I DO have a problem with people on welfare doing drugs. I also have a problem with people on welfare owning really nice cars. Personally, if they want to drug test welfare recipients, that's fine with me. Not because drugs are illegal, but because someone that has money for drugs doesn't need my money.

No additional thoughts?

Is the general consensus that a Safire 2 is more docile (or "boring") to fly than a Pilot at the same wingloading? I was under the impression that it's the other way around.

It's an interesting idea. Fractional ownership is very common in aviation. A small group of people will form an LLC, draft bylaws, and own an aircraft together. Everyone with rights to the aircraft splits the fixed costs evenly. Costs that are incurred by flying (such as putting money towards the fund for engine overhauls) are paid in relation to how much you fly it. I could definitely see it working out if two jumpers shared a rig in a similar way. You could rent a locker at the DZ and leave it there. The only major problem is that you would have to take turns if you're jumping the same day, and you'd never be able to jump together. An alternative that might work better for some people is to have one person own the rig outright (covering all of the fixed costs), and just rent it to another person per jump for a price that's comparable to the depreciation per jump (probably less than $5/jump). The renter would pay for any damage/repacks that they cause.

Sorry, I wasn't replying to you. I have habit of hitting the last Reply in the thread when I'm not responding to a specific person. My fault.

Yes, and to add to that, it's really beneficial to consult someone you know and trust, one of your AFF instructors perhaps, before you actually purchase something you've found, someone's who's impartial and most concerned about your safety and progression. They might be able to answer questions you didn't even know you should be asking.

Your blood doesn't know the difference between your body being held up by air, or by the floor. There is some medical reason for not getting red-faced and not feeling it, but it has nothing to do with your blood falling the same speed as your body. That's silly. Adrenaline and increased heart rate might be the reason.

The prices of used gear vary dramatically. This is a small sport, and 'value' is a hard thing to determine in a such a small sample set. It's not like buying and selling cars, where you can go look up the Blue Book value. I recently talked to a guy that bought a complete, barely-used system for $2,000 that brand new would have cost $5,000+. How'd he get such a good deal? It's a small sport, the seller either didn't know the value of their stuff or (most likely) wanted to help a newbie out. From what I've seen though, you usually spend less money buying a complete/assembled rig than you will buying stuff separately. Your experience my vary. There are certain things that you can do yourself, but yes, if you buy every part separately it will have to go to a rigger for certain parts of the assembly.

Awesome info guys. Thanks! Would I be correct in saying that the only thing that affects a canopies ability gain altitude in a thermal is it's descent rate, not glide ratio? If so, two canopies with the same descent rate but vastly different glide ratios would have the same ability to soar. The only difference would be that the higher glide-ratio canopy would have a faster ground speed (and could travel farther) than the canopy with a steep glide ratio. The PG wings are so long and elliptical. Some of them can pull off some insane maneuvers (like in those videos), but I would imagine that the student/beginner wings are much more docile even though they maintain a similar planform. So, what is it that makes the responsive ones so responsive?

Please tell little Skypiggie that you're not a student, as it says in your profile, AND believe that wind speed doesn't affect canopy over-the-ground speed for landing. Feel free to do a full, vigorous flare in 20 mph winds. And when you've bled your forward air speed off to zero, you'll find yourself going backwards over the ground at 20 mph... Wind speed most definitely has an effect on ground speed. I take no issue with that claim, because it's true. You stated: If a "partial flare" brings you to zero descent rate in a high wind speed, it will do the exact same in a no-wind situation. Wind speed does NOT have an effect on descent rate, unless you're talking about wind that moves with a vertical component (such as ridge lift). I hope that I've misinterpreted what you're saying.

Please tell me you don't have a D license AND believe that wind speed affects descent rate.

I've quickly discovered that canopy flight is the part of skydiving that makes me feel most in-over-my-head as far as knowledge and understanding go. I have a lot of questions. Obviously a paragliding wing and a skydiving parachute have several differences. One obvious difference is the shape. All the wings I've seen have have been very elliptical, with a large aspect ratio. What other differences are there? From what I understand, they're made out of a less robust material. What about a paraglider allows it to hang up there for a long time and make good use of thermals? Is glide ratio a factor on it's own, or is it really the descent rate that matters (with glide ratio only a contributing factor in descent rate)? For instance, a small, high performance parachute may have a fairly flat glide ratio. However, if it is traveling down that glide ratio very quickly it may have a descent rate faster than a big, slow canopy that has a steep glide ratio. Which would thermal better? I have a lot of other questions about canopies and canopy flight, but let's start with that. I have a lot to learn, and would enjoy discuss this with those of you that take a similar interest in canopy flight.

I haven't been around long, but recently I was told "Exit when the jumpers before you are at 45 degrees."

DAMMIT I want to come home for this boogie.

Sorry, that was to the OP. Looking back now he didn't say 'require' he said 'should be mandatory'. Sorry for the confusion. I'm curious what he means by 'mandatory'. Specifically, who would mandate this? DZ mandated? USPA mandated? Federally mandated?

What do you mean by 'require'?

Typically drive to STF.. 4.5-5 hrs.

I'd take that over a BSBD report.