AndyMan

I'm thinking this is a standard marketing technique of Icarus. I jump a Stileto 150. A few weeks ago they gave me the same line, gave me a 139, saying the 149 would fly "big". I didn't believe them, but took the 139 thinking it would be fun. Indeed, it WAS fun, it was fun because it was fast, it was fast because it was small. On my third jump, I landed off, and had to put it into a very small spot with tight "outs". After that landing, I walked back to the DZ, handed it back and went back to my Stiletto. Landing the CF2 into a tight spot was no fun at all... I think the "jump one size smaller" line is just a line to get us to jump a faster canopy, so that we'll have more fun, so that we'll think it's the shape of the wing, not the size thats more fun. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

It was not me, nor craichead. That said, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE pm me your address. The thought of you being forced to eat godiva is just killing me... I'll hook you up with the 'good stuff'. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

You would be hardpressed to find a new f-111 canopy. Yes, ZP is the way to go. When they're new, F-111 fabric is has the same characteristics of ZP. The biggest difference is that they wear differently. Since we rarely (if ever!) use our reserves, they just don't wear that much. A reserve with 20 jumps is considered well used... but that would also be considered a nearly brand new main. Having ZP is only important on your main because of the number of jumps you'll put on it. BTW - you can get a ZP reserve. Precision sells them. That said, your rigger will kill you because he has to pack it. ZP is more dificult to pack then F111 because it's slick. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

The biggest advantage of s-links is that they're stronger then the traditional metal "french" links. There have been cases of french links breaking from a hard opening, but the odds of this happening with s-links are very remote. Secondly, people jumping higher performance mains like s-links because they facilitate pulling the slider down onto the risers. This allows the main to spread out a bit, improving performance. Thirdly, it's easier to visually inspect that they are set properly, then french links are. French links can only be verified by touching the link to feel if the barrel is screwed on tight, while a s-link can be visually inspected. Fourthly, they are smaller then french-links, and don't cause bulges in your container. Fifth: no slider bumpers required! While you may be concerned about the reserve s-link not being set properly, what you're really concerned about is whether you trust your rigger or not. There are just as many pitfalls with french-links then there are with s-links. Indeed, there are FAR more pitfalls elsewhere in your gear. Do you trust your rigger? The down-side to s-links: a: if they break, they break without warning. French links will pry open but still work, while s-links will just break. b: you must either pull down the slider or install blocks so that the slider CAN'T come down over your brakes. This was the cause of a recent fatalitiy. c: I haven't heard of reports of snagged break lines with french-links. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

25 lb is a half decent number. The fabric that is not ZP is usually known as "F-111". The nutshell about F-111 is that it can not be loaded above 1:1, and it wears out relatively quickly compared to ZP. ZP can be loaded above 1:1, while F-111 mains can not. Newer F-111 reserves can be loaded above 1:1, but this characteristic only applies to reserves, and not mains. Reserves wear less because they're not frequently used. Mains would wear out too quickly at higher wingloadings. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Aerodyne is a bit of an unknown, currently. They've long sold the Triathlon and Diablo, which are good canopies, but follow a dated design. Generally people think that while the products are perfectly good, there are newer and better designs available. Aerodyne has recently merged with PISA and others, and are offering an expanded line of products including 9-cell canopies, reserves, and containers. I've not heard anything - good or bad about these new products. While I'm curious to see them, I'm taking a "wait and see" approach before offering any opinion. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

They are here, there's more then a couple. Some of them I consider good friends. They keep quiet because the last thing they want is a bunch of horny guys getting all excited. For gay guys, coming out can be a very empowering experience. For gay women, it's frequently a very annoying experience... _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Interesting. If it's got a line-over, and flying relatively straight, the line-over is PROBABLy right over the middle of the canopy. By trying to clear it, you will move the line over to the edges in the hope it'll make it all the way off. Line-overs near the edge do NOT fly straight. They spin incredibly fast, just as fast as the quickest spinning malfunctions. By attempting to clear your line-over by pulling lines and risers, you have (I think) most likely made the situation much worse by now putting yourself into a spinning malfunction. I would also prefer not to land a line-over flying straight. The distortion done to the canopy will result in a very high verticle speed, I doubt it could be landed safely. It seems to me that the only good answer to a line-over flying straight is to cut that line. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

A few monthes ago I posted a question regarding the safety of skydiving vs. driving. There are some interesting answers. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=584712 _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I'm having an intermittent problem where my PC120 will simply not turn on. I usually discover this about 5 seconds before climb-out. The camera will go from off to standby mode, but will not go into record mode. The cam-eye shows blue. The problem has only happened with the cam-eye plugged in. Remove the cam-eye, it'll work. I've had the motherboard on the camera replaced for other reasons, and the problem continues.... This leaves the problem with the cam-eye. Has anyone had a problem like this? _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I don't disagree, I just don't understand. I can swivel my side-mount up or down all I like, I've never seen a top mount that'll do this. Why does a top mount help with this angle? _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

It seems to be aerodynamically effecient only when moving horizontal against the ground, but not moving down. I would expect quite a bit of buffeting, simply based on the shape. Try and find something without such a pronounced nose. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=600475;search_string=cypres%20card;#600475 __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Plus, is the half a frame per second difference between the rebelD and the 10D really worth 500$? For me? No. I'll prolly pick up a rebelD. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Which DZ are you thinking? There's an active flock at hinckley now. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Interesting factoid. Todays' MiriamWebster Word of the Day, is Avatar. The etymology is particularly interesting. Or not. YMMV. __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Yup, I shot that video. Sadly, I missed the spaghetti way the next weekend. The muffin was tasty, but floaty. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Bonehead needs to get their act togeather and update their website. It seems like its been "Stay Tuned" for LONG time... _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

A fundamental difference. The swiss speak four languages. French, German, Italian, and Swiss. Take a look at a map, you'll understand why it's these 4 languages. Americans largely speak 2 languages. English, and Spanish. THERE ARE NO ENGLISH PEOPLE IN SWITZERLAND. THERE ARE SPANISH PEOPLE IN THE US. Your compalints sound just as absurd as someone complaining that a Brazilian website isn't in Mandarin. Mandarin is of course the worlds most common language. Or, more specifically a Brazillian website that at one point thought Mandarin was worthwhile to have, but later abandoned it. I don't have a lot of sympathy for the Chinese, in this case. It's Brazil, afterall. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Remster lives in Canada... where so far six monthes of legalized gay marriages has not brought eternal damnation to the populist... _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

He has no choice but to say that. To say anything otherwise would be disrespectful to his boss. It'd be kinda like a soldier saying the president was a moron - not a choice career move. I'd be more interested in his answer to the question after Bush has stepped down. I too, would vote for him in a second. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Hell, I fucked myself up runing to the plane. It can happen anytime to anyone. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

It depends on definitions. Toronto is generally regarded as the most culturally and ethnically diverse city. Canada has a much larger portion of its population as minorities then the US. Additionally, the minorities that exist in Canada exist as larger groups (percentage-wise) then in the US. The US probably has more groups then Canada, or anyone else solely based on its size. That said, I think the accusations of xenophobia are reinforced by the notion that with the exceptions of hispanics and blacks, the minorities are largely invisible. Take Chicago, you'd think it'd be a diverse city, but most of its ethnic neighbourhoods all look alike, even "greektown" and the "ukrainian village" is populated mostly by blacks and hispanics. You really can't understand how diverse Toronto is until you go there. It always strikes me as strange as seeing so many different kinds of people living togeather. Getting back on topic though, I'm reminded of the James Bond flick, "The Man with the Golden Gun", with the fat southern sherif running around Japan (actualy thailand), mouthing off to the police about how he's a man of the law, as they haul him away in handcuffs.... _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

I believe that is the case nationwide. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

Bill, this is why COBRA benefits are key, even if they're expensive. As long as you don't let insuracnce lapse for 3 monthes, the new insurance can not deny you based on the pre-existing condition. When Blue Cross rejected you, they should have given you the opprotunity to provide documentation of pre-existing insurance, which your employer would've provided you when you left your last job. If you're going to be unemployed for more then 3 monthes, it's critical that you pick up your cobra benefits so that won't get declined for pre-existing conditions. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.