Aviatrr

Well, I know I can legally assemble a main, but I have no idea if I can legally patch a main.. I sure as hell wouldn't try - the buttons I sew back on shirts after they fall off don't stay on very long, I'm sure a patch wouldn't either..

If you buy a new rig, a Hornet is a damn good choice for a first canopy.. The reason I say this is because of the pack volume on the Hornet.. I put a Hornet 190 in a container sized for a 150ZP main.. Tight fit - but it works.. I can safely go as low as about a 120-135ZP main(depending on model), or even as small as about a 100 in a cross braced canopy.. Be sure to talk to the container manufacturer first, however, to see which size they would recommend for the Hornet 170/Tempo 170 combo - and ask how small of a main you could safely put in there.. You may be suprised.. Be sure to have the pack volume of the Hornet as some manufacturers may not be familiar with it.. Mike

Hey, Chuck - one thing I don't remember seeing in the previous threads regarding the Cobalt is how long it normally takes to open? Specifically, a 150 at 1.4, or a 135 at 1.6.. Does it snivel more than a Spinneto? Any packing tips I should know? I've got a demo coming in a couple weeks.. Mike

Mine lasted about 8 months and around 100 jumps in economy mode.. Not exactly what the manual stated - but the batteries were already installed in my Pro-Track when I got it.. They put 'em in at the factory, I assume.. Even though the unit is not used while on the shelf, if the batteries are in it, they will drain.. My second set has only been in there about 2 months.. Yes.. It will give a long(5-7 second) beep at 1,000ft during climb, after it gives the normal indication of highest altitude set.. It will then flash 'low bat' every few seconds.. Mine lasted 10 jumps after that started happening.. Mike

It's totally legal for any jumper(or non jumper for that matter) to swap mains.. It's not an alteration, and it does not interfere in any way with the proper operation of the reserve.. Mike

Not all aircraft are pressurized to 7000'.. It depends on the type of airplane and the altitude the airplane is at.. Each specific type of airplane has a maximum pressure differential(measured in PSI) between inside and outside pressure.. Some airplanes may have a cabin altitude of 5,000ft while at 37,000ft, others may have a cabin altitude of 7,000ft while at 37,000ft.. While climbing and descending, the cabin pressure altitude will be doing the same - but at a much slower rate than the airplane.. Typical cabin climb/descent rates are about 300FPM.. Even a Student CYPRES requires 2500FPM to fire(which equals 29mph).. A Tandem or Expert CYPRES requires about 6800FPM to fire.. If the cabin altitude is descending anywhere near fast enough to fire even a Student CYPRES, there is definitely something wrong.. Mike

I guess I probably should have added something like that - but I figured everybody would just kinda know.. If the situation looks bad enough to me, I'll be getting out whether the pilot says so or not.. I have enough experience in aviation that I feel that I can evaluate the situation and determine whether or not it's hopeless or not.. This is not accounting for pilot skill - but, then again, I usually know the pilots I jump with and their abilities.. When the shit hits the fan, the people in the back may be the last thing the pilot is thinking about.. I speak from personal experience here as a pilot.. I had my hands full flying the airplane.. Mike

Sorry to hear it.. Got anything new in the works? It seems that half the computer world is downsizing right now, so I guess a good job will be hard to come by.. I'm sure glad I didn't get into that field of work.. Mike

On freefly jumps, I am perfectly happy with breaking at 4k and pulling at 2.5 or so.. With my current canopy, I'm happy pulling as low as 2k.. My canopy takes 500ft to open.. It gives me time to determine whether or not I have a good canopy, chop if necessary, and get under my reserve by 800ft or so.. I don't normally pull at 2k(2.5 is my norm), but don't have a problem with it if required.. A lot of it depends on your experience and canopy type.. I sure wouldn't normally pull at 2k on a Spectre or Spinneto.. Mike

Yea - it's an ongoing debate.. My original question was not meant to start a debate - I was just wondering if they really transitioned somebody just off student status to a pull out or if it was really a throw out.. Mike

The way I understand it, the pull out cannot be packed without cocking the PC.. The pin is extracted into the bridle when the PC is uncocked.. Then again, maybe it was just the specific pull out system I jumped that had that.. Mike

Great.. I'll bring my rig.. Next weekend good for you? Maybe we can convince the pilot that I'm really a patient, hide my rig from him, talk him into going up to 2k or so, and I could get out.. The higher the better.. Hey - my place is just a few miles from the hospital you guys are based at.. I think this could work..

I have a Hornet, and it's a great canopy.. Flies like a Sabre, but with snappier turns and(IMHO) a much better flare.. Compares to the Safire - but not anywhere near as deep in the control range on the flare.. I loaded my Hornet at 1.2, and have jumped one as high as 1.5.. I have never jumped a Dolphin - can't really comment there.. From what I hear, the new ones are freefly friendly.. For $200-300 more, however, you could get just about any type of container(Talon 2, Vector III, Mirage, Javelin) - probably even a fully articulated harness.. As for some comments you will get on the reserve - I'd say ignore 'em.. Take a look how many Tempo reserves are out there - and how many saves Tempo's have.. I do believe that the PD reserves are stronger(much more reinforcing), but chances of a Tempo failing are very slim.. Stay within the limits, and do everything possible to reduce your chance of a reserve deployment in a fast freefly position.. Mike

I, personally, feel that throw out is the best system for most people.. It's secure, easy to pack(ever try cramming a spring loaded pilot chute into an already too full main container?), and easy to use.. The pull out system has one very distinct advantage - there is no way to get a pilot chute in tow.. The pull out is a somewhat different procedure, but if somebody is properly trained on it, it shouldn't be a problem.. Pull out systems are fairly rare - most people prefer throw out.. Pull out has a couple disadvantages, as well.. Try finding a packer that knows the correct way to pack a pull out.. Sure - they'd be easy to train - but if it's something they're not used to packing, there's a good chance they could pack it incorrectly and cause a mal if not properly checked.. Also, pull out cannot be used by wingsuit flyers(Birdman), and I believe is discouraged for skysurfers.. Don't take my word on pull out - study up on it if you are really interested in it.. I have a whopping 2 jumps on a pull out system.. I will, however, be getting pull out on my next rig.. Mike

Do they allow skyball jumps up there? I'd like to do some coaching and then skyball jumps - but there are only a couple places in the country that allow 'em.. Mike

Recently, I've seen several posts regarding low exits - and I've talked to a lot of people at my home DZ.. It seems that there are waaaaaaay too many people that are absolutely terrified of low exits.. I guess it never really bothered me because my first 7 jumps were from 3k.. I have gotten out as low as 2k for hop&pops(ya know, when the pilot says it's a 10k ceiling, you take off, and it turns out to be 2k).. As for an emergency, I'll be out at 1k without a second thought.. If you are between me and the door during an emergency, you so much as hesitate, and you're gonna end up with my boot prints all over your back as I climb over you on the way out.. Sounds mean, I know, but it's the truth.. If the aircraft situation looks hopeless - I'll get out as low as I have to and hope for a damn fast reserve inflation.. What is the lowest that you will exit under normal circumstances? What is your reasoning behind the altitude you chose? What is the lowest you will exit in an emergency? Let's say the plane is on fire - and it's a 50/50 chance that the pilot will be able to land it.. I think that everybody should do a hop&pop now and then from an altitude of around 3k.. I actually enjoy doing it.. On days with low clouds(and no rain), I love it when a hop&pop load is set up.. It mixes things up.. For some reason, a lot of people believe that a hop&pop from 3k is "too dangerous".. I just don't understand it.. Mike

Congrats.. When you say you converted to pull out - do you really mean pull out, or throw out? Throw out is where you throw the pilot chute out - which is then connected to the pin via about 6-7ft of bridle.. With pull out, you have a handle with about 8-12 inches of bridle attaching it to the closing pin - and then after the pin is pulled, the pilot chute comes out from under the closing flaps and is released.. Just kinda wondering if they actually put newbies on pull out over there.. Mike

Dan, do you really recommend that a beginner buys an elliptical and loads it at 1.2-1.4? I can't say anything about the Cobalt yet - I have yet to demo one.. I will be in the next few weeks - loaded at about 1.45, and 1.6 if the larger canopy is too docile for me.. I think that somebody just off student status loading an elliptical - no matter how forgiving of a canopy it is - at those loadings is just suicide.. Mike

Many canopies will fly fine with a step through.. If you do a control check, and it passes, it's up to you whether you want to land it or not.. Some canopies - mostly high performance ellipticals - will have a nasty reaction to a step through.. I have seen a step through on a Stilleto that turned real nasty real fast.. I don't think that a step through would prevent a canopy from OPENING - but it can surely affect the way it flies once it is open.. Mike

Check out www.baselogic.com Mike

I wouldn't count on the 'stats'.. A friend of mine had over 2500 jumps before his first cutaway.. He always has packed for himself.. I, on the other hand, had 2 in my first 50 jumps.. Both mals were packed by packers.. Seeing a trend here? I am very meticulous in my packing.. My pack jobs may not look great - but I make sure everything is in the proper place.. If you always hand your rig to a packer, you instantly increase your risk of having a mal.. Who is going to take better care packing your main than you? Plus, as Spectre230 has pointed out, most packers are not riggers.. How prone you are to malfunctions depends on you.. Your packing habits, your canopy choice, your body position on deployment, etc.. Mike

You can get a new PD160 for $900 or less.. With that reserve being 8 years old, I would say around $400.. You need to find out how many times it has been re-packed - PD reserves have to be sent back to PD after 40 re-packs for factory inspection.. If it's 8 years old - and has been used for those 8 years - it should have at least 24 re-packs on it.. Many more would indicate to me that it has more than one ride.. Have the reserve inspected by a rigger.. That's the only way to tell how good of shape it's in.. Mike

Everybody head on down to Deland, Florida on the weekend of Aug 4-5 for the mini-dz.com-boogie.. As a bonus - jumps are only $10! So far I think we have about 8 or 9 people coming out that weekend.. Below is a message I pulled off of rec.skydiving - posted by Skydive Deland.. Come on down and join us! Mike

I'm having a hard time picturing exactly what you're saying you saw - but I think you probably had a step-through.. That happens when the canopy is passed through the risers, or the rig passed through the risers.. It can happen many ways - but a line continuity check while packing would have immediately made it very obvious.. Mike

Uhh, yea, that's the ticket.. You have to leave your gear up front with us pilots.. Check your rig at the cockpit door, you can pick it up when you get off the plane.. You'll never see us running down the cabin with your gear.....we'll just use the cockpit escape hatch.. You won't know we're gone until it's too late..