MrFreefall383

Interesting point, I'll have to ask this seller about that. If it wasn't, what would that mean, that it wasn't really fitted for a Cypres? Also, the seller listed information saying that the prior owner had a Cypres 1 in it. Are the 1 and 2 cross-compatible with a Cypres-fitted rig, or is it specific to the model? "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Luckily it wouldn't be more than 1:1, the canopy is listed as a 170 with a maximum weight capacity of 254 or something like that. Pretty high for even the newer canopies from what I've seen. Of course feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

It's truthful, but try telling a nervous student that. I didn't get freaked by that because I'm used to shit like that, but I've seen students get really nuts about their opening to the point that they wasted a few jumps on local packers when they could've had their packing done weeks earlier. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

I'd say flying a good pattern. I just got my A license on Thursday, and I'm still stretching my patterns slightly because of misjudging the winds. Oddly enough I rarely have problems shooting for accuracy even with a shitty pattern, which leads me to believe if I nail my pattern, I should be able to put it on the peas every time. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

OK, so it sounds to me like it's very possible a Javelin built in late 1990 could have been retrofitted for a Cypres. Thanks for the advice fellas. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Was there any form of AAD available before 1991? Edit: On second thought, better question. Could a Javelin manufactured in October 1990 have been retrofitted for a Cypres by Airtec shortly after it was constructed? "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Piggybacking on this thread, would it make sense that a Javelin manufactured in 1990 would be Cypres ready? "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

At the risk of starting a new thread and pissing someone off, I want to ask another loosely related question. I've been offered my first partial set of gear. I'll still have to do some searching to piece it together, but it looks like it's A-game. Rig was built in 1990, reserve's a little older. For those of you who have been in the sport for a long time, here's a good one for you. The reserve is a 7-cell 170 Firelite, pre-dating the entity that is Flight Concepts. Again, summarizing, pre-1990 Firelite 170 7-cell reserve. How's it gonna compare to... say, a PD Reserve of a similar size? "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

You silly students. You should've rubbed stick boy for good luck. And if you don't have "stick boy"... well, make one. Pull some twigs together, lash them into the shape of a body with some pullup straps, and attach him to one of the poles of the packing tent. Good luck and blue skies on your re-jump. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Wait, is this head-down? "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Might be a local amendment. Our instructors are unusually evil. Like Pete, who when asked by a student if their first pack job will open properly, just says, "It might." "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Should I ask what the horny guerrilla is? And for now, I'm just going to work with one partner, start feeling out the factors in RW jumping, see if I can improve before getting into bigger formations. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Screw that, I've had to buy beer on student status, that shouldn't matter. A first's a first. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Thanks Kevin! That's the intention. Always been a safe person, never going to compromise on that, but now it's time to do something fun. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Finally got my A license! Passed my checkdive on jump 23 with no prior practice docking, passed the oral with no problems at all, and my last jump was a friggin' blast. Did a back flip out the door, did front flip, back flip, several barrel rolls, tracking, some turns, up and down, and still had about 2,000 feet to enjoy the scenery before pulling. Time to start having fun. Of course that relies on my finding a job and then some gear. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Thanks for the clarification. I do remember that now from my days of flying, it just seemed logical that both would be the case. Now I know. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

My suggestion, as I was always nervous as hell on the way up during my IAF jumps, is drink plenty of Gatorade, keep your electrolytes up even if you're afraid to eat much for fear of it coming back up. And when you're going up, try to close your eyes, take smooth even breaths, and try to flush everything out of your head other than the task at hand. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Trust me, the change in jump restrictions would not have been your fault. If you're following the rough line of a few other jumpers, you're doing something else that is possibly smarter than you think: you're avoiding canopy collisions at an altitude where it would kill both you and the other guy. I say you came out of that better than before, and should jump again tomorrow. An increase in ground winds is sometimes sketchy to read. I've messed it up too, that's part of being a student. That's part of learning a new trick. In this case, the trick is setting a canopy down without breaking bones (which you did successfully I might add). Don't beat yourself up too bad, just do a little reflection, think about the small things you can do to improve on that jump, and keep getting in those damn aircraft and doing what you love. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

I apologize, I did not read the whole post. Often reading through several pages of commentary turns out to be rather useless. I apologize. Forget I said anything. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Hmmm, what stupid things have I done in a scant 23 jumps? A couple. First one was around my 4th or 5th jump. I had a linetwist for the first time, and forgot everything about linetwists I was taught in the FJC. I noticed it quick, reached up, released my toggles, and started trying to kick the twists out. When nothing happened, I realized I was an idiot and attached my toggles to the risers, yanked the risers apart and managed to get the twists kicked loose. Thought about it afterward and realized it could've gone much worse. Second one was around jump 17 or so, when I packed for the first time. I was so concerned about whether my main would open on my own pack job, that I didn't completely square away my right leg strap. Nobody noticed it, including an instructor with another student on that load, and shortly before deploying at about 4500, the leg strap came out of its stow pocket and started flapping against my leg. I noticed it as soon as it happened, and thought to destabilize quickly and put the extra strap between my legs to avoid tangling with the bridle. Accomplished that, rolled onto belly, and deployed smoothly. Got down safely, took the rig off, and thought to myself, "What the fuck were you thinking?" "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Sounds like a few bad decisions compacted by occasional bad luck, saved by attentive fellow jumpers. This seems to reinforce two things, which luckily my DZ hasn't had any problem with: following proper takeoff procedures with regards to the jump door, and doing gear checks as if you'll die without them... because you might. To clarify here, FARs say the door must be closed on taxi, takeoff and landing, correct? 300 feet is still very much takeoff. Unless those flaps are retracted, you're still on takeoff. As for gear checks, I would think that would be self-explanatory, but apparently not everyone lives with the same safety standards. Luckily this didn't end up worse. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Based on that alone, which is 100% true, (gotta love those FAR's) everyone in every load at my DZ wears their seatbelts. Students often have to be reminded, but what student never has to be reminded of anything? The licensed jumpers always remember, nobody has to say anything. They sit down, find a good position for the ride up, and hook in. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

My standard come back has always been "They haven’t made a "perfectly good” airplane yet. If they question that I go on to explain AD’s to them. The only plane that I know of that has not had an AD against it is a Howard DGA. My standard reply is, "Better than going back down with those crazy fuckin' pilots." Of course it helps that most people who know me know that I was once a pilot. Always a little bit funny when they look at me like, "Did he just say that?" "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

I'd pay top dollar for a shirt like that, and wear it all the damn time. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

Sure hope you're right. I'm hoping for some fun jumps with some of you once I get A license. "If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche