jacketsdb23

From another thread: This will get you killed, and possibly others. In no part of skydiving should your plan be "hope for the best". Landing into the wind is not a priority. AMEN. This point needs to be drilled into jumpers heads. Is it time that we start introducing the importance of fitting into traffic patterns and how to fly a pattern as apposed to the importance of landing into the wind during the FJC? I know there are a lot of logistical issues with this. Some schools may be doing this and if you do I'd like to know how you implement this and how its received. I think its important to understand the theory of landing into the wind but there is so much windsock chasing on the DZ that I can't help but think people rely WAY to much on landing into the wind. Is there a way to introduce, for the lack of better term, a landing priority list (credit to DougH for bringing this up in another thread)? I see this helping with a few things: 1. Canopy collisions from windsock chasing. 2. Low turns. We should be confident enough to land downwind and crosswind. I think we scare new students into landing crosswind. Lets start by landing crosswind. It may lead to a few more bumps and bruises and maybe a broken ankle here and there but people may get the idea that its ok to do. What is scary...is the number of 100-500 jump skydivers who MUST land into the wind and will do so at any cost. How can we start to change this culture? Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

:13:0 13 Video's at Byron Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

This will get you killed, and possibly others. In no part of skydiving should your plan be "hope for the best". Landing into the wind is not a priority. 1. What landing pattern has been established prior to getting into the aircraft? 2. What pattern has been set by the first person down? (did the winds change?) 3. Don't like what the first person did?...land way the fuck out. "Landing into the wind" can get a lot of people hurt or killed. Traffic is what matters. The first person down is usually experienced enough to land into the wind as best as possible. I know at some DZ's landing into the wind is not an option because of the landing area. I believe at Perris there is only two landing directions which often results in cross wind landings. If you aren't comfortable landing crosswind or even downwind, upsize your canopy until you are. Attitudes like the reply up top really aggravate me. Please be careful and learn to land your canopy crosswind and otherwise. Blue Skies Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

This thread makes no sense to me. Are you serious? I really can't wrap my head around this. Please listen to what the folks are telling you here. If you are bailing out of a plane at 1500 ft, pulling your reserve handle is the best option. This is not up for debate. Its also helpful to rehearse pulling your reserve while getting out on a normal skydive (mental exercise, not actually pulling your reserve). Many people will pull the main PC because of muscle memory in a stressful bail out situation. Your best bet at 1500ft is your reserve and it will take some sort of mental preparation to actually do that in a stressful situation. Blue Skies. Marcel Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

I would have thought about landing with the brakes stowed if you hadn't unstowed by 500ft. I have never tried to land a Katana 120 in half brakes and risers only, so take that for what its worth. Sounds like you kept a good head and did what you had to. Congrats. Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

I think the nature of the original question was for normal openings of 2K-4K range. Do you loosen the chest strap if you open at 13K? I believe that everyone should unstow their brakes before loosening the chest strap. People pay their money and take their chances. Some of the recent fatality threads make me sad/angry. Some very basic principles that we learn in our FJC are being ignored. Physics doesn't change when we get a D license or 1000/2000/5000 jumps. 1. We need to make sure our canopy is flying correctly after opening. (remember FJC, Right 360, Left 360 - FLARE!) 2. If there is a problem get rid of your main. That is why we have a reserve. If you get to your hard deck and you can't land your parachute get rid of it. I have a reserve ride because I hit my hard deck and didn't have a canopy I could land. It was a simple brake fire. I knew I could fix it...but I hit 1800 ft, and the slider was over my toggles - I chopped. Small canopies are really changing the fatality trends...and in more ways than just hook turns. Be smart out there people! Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Even a Triathlon160 flies better with chest strap loosen. Someone who flies a Triathlon 160 can also loosen the chest strap after the toggles are unstowed rather easily. Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Do you find those elastic keepers easy to use? I don't- as I come across them on Wings risers, the elastic is too tight. If I owned a Wings, I would modify it (through a rigger, of course). I wonder if the old method has not been modified in the Owners Manual because they still recommend stowing the brake line in the same fashion as before the addition of the elastic band. I'm certainly going to look into it this weekend. I don't believe this to be a trivial issue and it has been talked about on this site since at least 2003 when searching for Brake Stowing threads. Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Thank you all! Anyone else recommend a company or website? Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Proper instructions for stowage of excess brake line can be found on Page 36 of the Wings User Manual. It is precisely as described above. I've never seen this and know a lot of Wings users who choose not to do this. I know that I will when I pack them from now on. Anyone else have feedback on the manufacturers method? Does it work sufficiently for you? Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

I know some AFF instructors that will not jump with an AFF student without an AAD. So should they not do AFF jumps with an AAD? Just provoking some thoughts. Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Thank you That makes perfect sense. Marcel Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Fixed it for ya Ian, I don't know you...but I respect what you say on this site. Honestly though, I'm lost as to the "logical" reasons to loosen the chest strap before a full canopy "control" check, which includes unstowing the toggles. If you or anyone is flying a canopy that doesn't allow the chest strap to be loosened after the toggles are unstowed, then its your decision to take the extra risks associated with loosening the chest strap first. I think is misguided to extend your canopy procedures to the skydiving community as a whole. There is a very small percentage of skydivers, or canopy pilots, that need the type of performance advantage of loosening the chest strap. The risk is simply not worth the reward for 90% (for lack of a better number) of skydivers. There is no reason that popping the brakes and doing a control check before loosening the chest strap should be the accepted and "taught" procedure. I'm very good at listening. I very much welcome opposing views. Marcel Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

I just can't find a good reason to loosen the chest strap before popping the brakes. Anyone have a GOOD reason? I think this fatality in Elsinore should make our choice pretty clear. Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

I jump a 16 year old PD reserve. Works great...i tested it (unintentionally) just to make sure I may be coming up on the 40 time pack limit within the next year. I should probably get a new reserve soon, although I have complete faith in the one I use now. I talked to the manufacturer and my rigger before using it though and that helped me to have confidence in it. Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

I asked the same question in a similar thread in the Video forum - but.. why not unstow your toggles before loosening the chest strap? (not to you Bill, it seems clear you loosen the strap with your toggles in hand, as do I) I've experienced a stuck toggle....I wouldn't want that with a loose harness. It didn't require a chop as I was able to get the toggle out with two hands. Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

I have a question for you more experienced camera flyers.... I have just started doing video (did my beer tandem video this past weekend, after lots of practice jumps!

You guys are awesome, thanks! I appreciate all the PM's and website clicky's. Even got one resume out! Thanks again, and keep 'em coming! Marcel Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Hey all...this is a shameless attempt to help my brother out. He is graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University after two more technical classes. He is currently looking for a CO-OP or internship. Anyone have some good resources to check out? He's also got 4-years of military service with the 10th Mt. Division out of Ft. Drum, NY. He's been looking with the usual suspects...Lockheed, Boeing, Pratt, Aerojet, etc. Any suggestions or companies to check out I'm all ears. I also have his resume if you have direct contacts and could forward something on. Thanks for your help! He is living in Florida but will go anywhere. He also has 17 jumps, so your directly helping out a fellow skydiver with your efforts.

Damn...I hate when the brake doesn't get set! I've got that T-Shirt We'll cheers to you man. Thanks for not dying. Had you been taking pictures on all of them you would almost have a full set of malfunctions to show a first jump course student Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

holy crap dude. mind me asking what type of mals you had? Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

I'm guessing its Q. But jump #1 wasn't on a velocity So ok, he has 2000+/- jumps without a chop on a velocity. Thats still pretty good. Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

I've noticed spectre canopies with several long time jumpers with 0 cutaways. Anyone know if high performance canopy pilots can reach the same number of jumps (3000+, just to throw out a number) without chopping? I'm guessing it can be done but is a little more rare. I know a spectre 120 would technically be considered high performance. I just can't see many people jumping a velocity and getting 3000 jumps without a spinner. I could be completely wrong. Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy.

Beth, I can't imagine that show will be any fun. I don't think I'm going to go. Oh, I have an extra ticket I bought. so...if its needed let me know.