Aviatrr

How so? Are you referring to the 2 stage openings on the Cobalt? I always look up and watch my openings - so that shouldn't be a problem.. I normally have a camera on my head, so I should get some good video of the openings as well.. I like to watch 'em in slo-mo so I can see everything that happens when it's an unfamiliar canopy.. I've seen a couple things on playback that have scared the hell out of me.. Mike

Sorry Dan, but I'm not the best when it comes to paying attention.. What exactly is it that scared you away? Bad experience? I know you are a fairly low timer, but how many jumps? Hey - face it, skydiving is not for everyone.. I may catch flak over this, but it's true.. I know several people who have gotten out of the sport because they were afraid every time they jumped.. One with over 500 jumps.. He forced himself to do it because all his buddies did it.. None of us knew that.. You need to decide if the rewards outweigh the risks.. People will tell you skydiving is safe.. They're wrong.. It's dangerous as hell.. It's all about risk management.. I feel that the rewards far outweigh the risks, and I feel very safe skydiving...but safe is a very subjective term.. I don't have a family - maybe if I did, I would feel different.. I don't know.. Mike

I just assumed he meant it's that same slippery ass ZP stuff that's a pain to pack brand new.. Mike

Try going to their website.. http:// www.parasportitalia.com Mike

What were your wing loadings on the Cobalt? Have you jumped a Spinneto or Crossfire at the same loading? If so, what can you say about the comparison? Mike

Definitely check one out.. What could it hurt? Get in line for the 150 though.. DZBone has it now, and they'll be sending it to me in a couple weeks as soon as he returns it.. Call 'em and ask when it's available.. I'll let ya know what I think after I jump it.. I'll be loading the demo at 1.4.. Mike

I clean my cutaway cables once a month.. I use silicone spray(I believe it's made by Prestone) that I picked up in the automotive dept at Wal-Mart.. I spray some on the cables, wipe 'em several times(until I don't get any more dirt on the paper towel), and then wet a paper towel with silicone.. I run the wet towel over the cables to add a thin coat of silicone, then replace the cables.. Takes a total of about 3 minutes.. While your at it, since you already have the cables out, 'excercise' the loops that each of the 2 rings on your risers attach to.. By that, I mean twist 'em back and forth, so they don't develop a 'memory' and stay in that position, possibly causing a problem during cutaway.. Not likely on most cutaways - but on a low drag cutaway(such as bag lock) it is slightly more likely.. Mike

Go check out the rec.skydiving newsgroup, and ask over there.. Be prepared for many stupid responses, but you may get a few good ones.. Many of them are LP regulars, and have been for years.. Mike

Awww, shit.. You mean sewing up all those holes was a bad thing? Damnit.. I guess that would explain only having 3 cells inflate before landing.. Ah, well.. The hook is more fun that way.. Mike

I weigh about 185, and I recently made a couple contacts to get into some hardcore CReW.. These guys want to put me on a Lightning 143 - and they say maybe a 126.. WTF?! I think I hooked up with a couple of psychos! I'll try the 160 first, then 143 - but not the 126.. Hell, I've only got one jump on a 143 - and that was a reserve.. Mike

Cool.. Just be sure you send the thing back in one piece, Carl....I'm next on the demo list for it..

Easy - by not doing a line check.. How many times have you seen people pack without doing a line check? I've seen it from jumpers packing their own rigs, and from packers.. Mike

Just remember - you have to meet her with a beer in one hand(bonus points for multiple beers in one hand), and a pie in the other.. Make sure many others have pies as well.. Uh oh.. I guess that means a pie in EACH hand.. Just be sure to put the beer in a safe place so it's not abused.. Oh, and Lisa...if you don't get pied for you 200th, just remember...it's expected of us to pie you at the first available chance.. See ya at Deland..

When is the boogie? Have exact dates yet? If I'm off that weekend, I'll head on up.. Mike

Marc makes many good points.. If I remember correctly, mini risers(which are all reinforced now) are rated at like 3600lbs.. Think about the load required to make a riser fail when you have 4 of 'em, each rated at 3600lbs.. I seriously doubt any canopy would survive.. The lower mechanical advantage on the mini rings is not a major factor, IMHO.. One of my cutaways was on mini risers/rings, and there was no problem.. Mike

I don't think you would actually notice any performance gain by switching to a kill line PC.. A PD190 is not a fast canopy to begin with.. Kill line PC's really make a difference on fast flying high performance canopies - not so much on slower lightly loaded canopies.. Don't waste your money.. Mike

Actually, it's "You flat bastard! You corked Kenny!".. I'm wearing it right now..

It's certainly better than trying to sitfly together - for the first time.. While you are docked, it's not such a big deal.. It's kinda like doing a Horny Gorilla or a tube - as long as you get some separation when you break it, it's not really a problem.. Do some solo sitflying, get stable at it, then jump with an experienced freeflyer or coach.. I jump with new freeflyers - but I have no problem getting out of the way.. Trust me, though.. I've seen some incredible speeds built up by guys learning to sit - usually backsliding.. Mike

Even better.. A girl at my old DZ cut away a perfectly good main on AFF1.. Nice reserve deployment, good landing.. When asked why she cut it away, she replied...."The canopy was too close - the lines weren't extended all the way".. When they asked if the reserve looked any better - she realized what she did.. "Ummm, no, I guess not" Mike

Welcome to the Dark Side.. We have much more fun over here..

Which DZ do you fly at? I saw your profile says you live in Florida - I live and jump in Central Florida.. Titusville, Deland, Sebastian.. After reading your message, the first thing that came to mind is that after the student fell off the step, the instructor short lined him.. Typically used when a student goes unstable on exit - short lining is basically taking in slack of the static line to deploy the canopy earlier than normal so it doesn't wrap around the jumper causing a jumper in tow.. Chances are the JM had most of the static line slack in his hand as the student was climbing out.. Static line is, in my opinion, more dangerous than 'normal' jumps.. Most jumpers don't deploy the canopy immediately after exit - so there is no danger of the canopy wrapping the tail.. I hope you wear a rig(as required by the STC, I believe), and know how to use it.. Chances are you will never need to use it - but it sure would be nice to have if you do need it.. If the shit really hits the fan, get out.. Don't "try to save the airplane".. I don't normally fly jumpers - I'd rather be jumping than flying on my time off.. Mike

I'll definitely be there.. I'll be there Sat morning for the first load.. When is everybody planning on arriving? The weather normally turns to shit around 3pm or so, and then sometimes gets better shortly before sunset for a load or two.. Let's try to get as many jumps in as possible - then party hard.. I'm going for at least 12 jumps for the weekend.. Anybody up for some freeflying or hybrid dive? Mike

Well, while there is a slowdown in hiring at the airlines, there is still quite a demand at the regional level - and an insane demand at the CFI level.. If it's something you've wanted to do, do it.. There are lots of places looking for CFI's - I'm sure you could get a full time CFI job pretty damn quick in the Atlanta area.. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.. Mike

Caused by packing? Yes. Minor? No. I would call line twists a minor malfunction(assuming you can get out of 'em and the canopy is flying ok) - but not a step through.. Not so.. Just because it flies fine initially doesn't mean it will stay that way.. How will it react when you get into turbulence? Will it flare correctly? You may do a test flare - but how can you tell if you really arrest your descent when you're 1500ft up? Not necessarily small canopies.. It could cause a problem on a Stilleto 190 loaded at .9.. It could cause a problem on a Manta 230 loaded at .7.. One Sabre 170 may fly fine with a step through - another may not.. Whether or not the canopy is in proper trim will affect the way it flies.. You never know til it happens.. Good call on both parts..

I always wear a helmet.. What else would I strap the camera to? Mike