SEREJumper

Heres an interesting article about the 1st Human Supersonic Ejection test, from 22,000 at 338 knots on 06 June 1961. http://www.au.af.mil/au/cepme/heritage/Documents/pdf/howell.pdf We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Jerry, Interesting, I forgot about the homemade stuff floating around in that era. That would certainly be a good reason for no TSO data! I forgot to add that it did contain a MK II PC in a POD. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

OK, I thought I know what this was, but I'm having second thoughts. My initial thought was this was an NAA mini system, but a few things have me thinking otherwise. No markings on the container. - It uses soft loops to close the container, not cones. - The reserve "V" rigs are a different style than what I have seen in the past. - It has more of a belly band, than a chest strap. http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/Gearpics/Unknown%20harness/ We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

I would say it is an early USAF C-9 parachute. They use to be orange and white before they changed to orange white brown and green of today's canopies. 28' flat round, probably not steerable. It was for sure used in back style (and probably chest style) bailout parachutes on heavy aircraft of time. I always liked the orange and white ones. It was white and orange to let the enemy know you were a parachutist (not paratrooper) and thus the geneva conventions say you cannot shoot at a parachutist. Right...Also good for signaling aircraft. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Yes, that's why I posted it. So since you can't have hands on the equipment from the inside, this is a quick and easy way of doing what you can with what you have IMO. I totally agree to trust your equipment, but the reality is, the majority of people will never X-ray their reserve pillows. I was just giving them another option rather than just blindly trust their equipment. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Lived in Vienna, VA and jumped in and around VA and NH (RW Shop Brookline, NH) from 81-83. I found a guy that was part of the military El Centro test range, but haven't heard anything from him. It's a long shot, but you never know. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

To check your pillow reserve handle to make sure the cable is secure inside the pillow is easy. Open up your reserve flap, grab your reserve cable (keeping the reserve pin in place), pull down toward you. There is slack built into the cable/pillow, just like there is on a regular d-handle. The slack should play out and the cable should eventually come to a stop. If it stops, your good to go as you are going to be. Re-insert the cable back into the housing when complete. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

OK, gotta share a story. I found an ad for a complete system on the internet, not a lot of info in the ad, but enough to make me feel like it wasn't stolen. Emailed the guy, he gave me all the serial #'s and had pictures of the specific parts I asked for. Price was a little high ($1800) so I offered $1500 and the guy said ok. I checked USPA and DZ.com and no stolen gear was reported. This guy said he was cleaning out his brothers apartment since he was killed in Iraq (checking the last name to a database on KIA and didn't find anyone). Guy wanted to do a western union transaction, and I said I would only do PayPal and he could send it to my rigger for inspection. The guy agreed to send it to my rigger and do the paypal transaction after it was checked out. He was going to ship it the following day, brought it to a shipping place close to his apartment and got a shipping quote for me. I was looking in the ads again and saw one posted that said "stolen skydiving gear $1800", so I clicked on it and the ad basically said this gear was stolen, the previous ad was taken down by the thief, and if anyone had any info to give them a call. So I give the # a call and a guy answers, I say I think I know who has your gear and I was planning on buying it from him. He is pretty calm, goes into the other room to get a pen to write down the details, and then asks, "What's their name" and I say the guys name. Then their is a long pause and the guy says...dude that guy is sitting on my couch in my living room right now! I couldn't believe it. Turns out this guys "friend" came to stay with him for a few days, eats this guys food, stays at his house, then while the guy is at work, steals his rig and trys to sell it saying someone stole it. They even talked about beating the ass of whoever stole the rig while eating dinner that night! I guess they were both sitting on the couch when I called, came up with my phone # with a different area code that the guy didn't recognize and said " I wonder who is calling from XXX area code), when the guy got up to go write down the details, the thief snuck out the front door. In the end, the guy went to the local shipping place (which the thief left the rig through) and the guy behind the counter thought that was weird and gave the rig back to the owner. Moral of the story kiddos: don't let dirtbag friends live with you, if things smell fishy they are (trust your instincts), and if you get your gear stolen put up your info ASAP to avoid quick sales like this. Glad everything worked out on this one. The thief was never to be seen again to get his ass beating that he deserved either :( We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Made it hot for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN-ESHjzGNo&feature=related We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

So you want to see a multicam G4...ENJOY! http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=10&t=272067 We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

My dad started at 55. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

So you want to see a camo Mirage G4...oh yeah! http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=10&t=272067 We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Because golf is boring. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

I would have him send it to my local DZ and do it that way. Give a contact # for your DZ/ rigger to the seller and a shipping address. The seller can call the rigger and confirm everything (i.e. get a warm and fuzzy). Once your rigger gets the rig and inspects it, says everything is good, you send the check/MO/Paypal to the seller. Once the seller has the money in his account, he calls your rigger and then the rigger will release the rig to you. Work out something before hand if you have to return the rig for whatever reason. I would usually pay the return shipping/insurance. You guys make that call. You can also email the rig/canopy manufactures to see if they have been sent in for service bulletins or repair work easily. As always, check the stolen gear section. Have the seller write up a small bill of sale as well as document the contents of the package being shipped, is also helpful. Some sellers are better than others (some are AWESOME on DZ.com), be professional, timely, and COMMUNICATE everything and talk on the phone if possible. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

I jump with a Bonehead Mamba and contacts, no issues. I've also seen Mambas and Freezer helmets with glasses underneath with good success. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Yes, Paypal will refund your money if the rig doesn't show up, but their are many variables to think about. A few are, if the rig is delivered to your front door and someone steals it, it is/was considered "delivered". Always make packages so that you have to sign for them. Or you get the rig and it's not what you thought it was, then it becomes more complicated getting paypal involved and proving that you are in the right. Paypal usually sides with the buyer, but you are still taking a chance. Save yourself some headaches, go to the dropzone and talk to a rigger about doing an escrow, even if it costs you a few bucks (maybe not for the escrow, but the inspection), if it turns out the rig was not what was advertised, your not out your $. If it's all good, you were going to get it inspected anyways right? So, no loss. Your gambling if you send the $ first, in a case where there is no need to do so. Especially with a potential 1500-4500 (or more) on the line. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Have fun, do what they tell you to do, have fun! Welcome to the sky :) We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

From Cookie today: We are present locking down the final design with maufacturing to start in September Regards Jason Cooke Cookie Composites Pty Ltd Email: cookie@cookiecomposites.com Web: www.cookiecomposites.com Phone: +61 7 32841952 Cell: +61 407 756540 We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

AD AF, MFFI, AFFI, Coach. Living the dream... We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

+1 We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

I thought this was going to be a new poll You were asking for it. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

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My dad started at the age of 55, he's now 57 and has his A-License. It's was something that he's always wanted to do. Go for it! We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

Good old BA-22. The red snap hook/ spring connected to the AAD and as well as the main ripcord (manually if below 14,000) is used in B-52 and trainer aircraft ejection seats so that when the pilot ejects it pulls the AAD arms knob immediately since the pilot will be in an ejection posture. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar

The green "apple" as it is called activated the emergency bailout bottle located inside the pack tray. The red "lollypop" is the mechanical AAD much like an FXC. If activated below 14,000ft, it will "fire" usually in 3-5 seconds. If activated above 14,000ft, it will wait until the person gets to 14,000ft prior to activation (+/- 500 ft). It obviously has a manual ripcord. If below 14,000 pull the red apple, jump, and try to beat the timer with the manual ripcord. If above 14,000 pull the red apple, exit in a "tuck" body position/ feet together, arms across chest (remember pilot/aircrew usually don't want to jump and have little experience) and wait until opening shock. We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar