pinkfairy

Well, thanks for the reply, that was certainly on topic and useful. You are right in the fact that I am the problem. People are usually the problem in parachute incidents. People turn low and don't perform EPs when needed and so on. That has nothing to do with gear. I will really just make up my own mind, but I've been thinking about this a lot, and some of the replies I got here were really helpful. Thank you! Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

So? Also, have you tried the 132 yet? I didn't notice if you actually said that you jumped it. That just means that a PD canopy will be easier and faster to sell. No I haven't tried the 132 yet, but I don't want to. Easy as that. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

Wow! that IS restrictive, but I can see the point. A 210 loaded at 1:1 is something entirely different than a 132, even at the same wingloading. And no point in flying something I can't land properly. Thanks for the examples. Everyone at my DZ is saying that I'll be OK on the 132, "whoever heard of anyone having problems at that wingload?", but that clearly is not right. And anyway it's my decision. My canopy, my jump ticket, and my ass.

No, but I want to, and I'm gonna ask both my parachute dealer and one of the owners of Aerodyne (who occationally jumps at my DZ) to let me jump a demo version of it. (My parachute dealer doesn't have demo versions of the Smart yet). I really feel good about it anyway, I hear that it opens fast but soft, and it will probably be packed by a rigger who teaches other riggers how to pack the Smart in the Icon, but it's always good to have tried it.

The main problem with selling the Pilot, is that where I jump, people get more elliptical canopies as they get more experienced. Even the camera flyers have fast, elliptical things like the Crossfire2. And all the Wingsuit flyers fly Spectres. Also, PD Canopies is more "in fashion" where I jump. Maybe I should just post it for sale, and say that I consider selling it, and just sell it if I get a good enough offer. It will be difficult to find a used Pilot150, though, there are more Sabre2 and spectre to get. And after waiting so long for my Pilot, I really really want to try out what it's like. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

I've got a beautiful, red-and-white, all new Aerodyne Pilot 132. It is, as I said, a perfect main canopy, it opens soft and on heading and flies like a couple of angel wings (or at least so they say). The only problem with it is that I don't dare to fly it. I listened to advice from my instructors, and the more experienced jumpers at my DZ, and my parachute dealer when I decided on the 132. But they didn't really know how I land, and in the end it all comes down to what I like and what I want to fly. I'm not really blaming anyone but myself, I should really be able to filter out comments like "you'll land backwards with a 150" or "you'll get bored on the 150". Like Obi wan Kenobi said: who is more of a fool, the fool, or the fool who follows him?" So I bough a nice, used Sabre 150 that will go in my main container no problem, and that has at least a couple of hundred jumps left on the lines (nice and slippery spectra), and I wonder if I ever will want to fly a 132. The plan initially was to resolve some issues I have on my landings with the 150, then go on to fly the 132, but I'm thinking that maybe I will not want to fly anything smaller than a 150, and if I sell the Pilot, I'll be able to buy a really, really nice 150, a spectre, sabre2 or even a Pilot. Should I put it out for sale, and sell it if I get any decent bids, or should I keep it? It's my first canopy, I have 63 jumps, and hope to do more than that this summer, and I would wingload the 132 @ 1.07. Oh, I wouldn't actually listen to any of your advice, last time I listened to advice on gear, that wasn't any good, but it would be interesting to hear your thoughts. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

Protective gear like kneepads and a helmet is also recommended for when she finds you, finds out what a lazy ass you are, and kicks you out of the house. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

It's true: if I just disliked someone, it wouldn't be hate, because I wouldn't spend any energy on it. You gotta have loved someone to have the energy it takes to really hate their guts. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

Happy easter! Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

Well, usually works best for women. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

Lipstick/miniskirt. Works every time. One of my skydiving instructors said that if you've got complete, all new Aerodyne gear, you're guaranteed to get laid. At least in Norway. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

This is just a chemical reaction in your body, a cocktail of hormones that will make you feel happy, ignore pain, crave skin contact, remove your need for sleep and food, and generally prepare you to make babies. Afterwards, you will most likely get kinda a hangover from those hormones, and that will make you feel useless and depressed. Unless you actually manage to get together with her. Who knows, it has happened before. Good luck! Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

Me too, but I don't like women in that way, so I don't know what to do. Maybe I have to love them to really, really hate them. Men I mean. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

Lucky you Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

You know that this is geek humour? Like IP over avian carrier with quality of service? Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

..let's not. And even that isn't free. um... how so... are you going down the route of energy involved? I'm honestly curious? Batteries cost money. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

Jumping with those boobies would pose a serious safety problems for some of you guys: "boobies, point, boobies, point, boobies, shit where'd she go?" Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

..let's not. And even that isn't free. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

You wanna be careful with that. They go fast. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

I thought you were gonna say "wear an AAD". I just say it like our friend Bill Hicks, about the members of the Rolling Stones, in this case about Mick Jagger, but I guess it applies equally to Keith: "He went over the edge and found a ledge". He's gone so far that he's gone through to the other side of crazy/unhealthy etc. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

Oestre Aera is an airstrip in the middle of the norwegian forest populated by a gang of crazy norwegian skydivers. There is a bunkhouse (called "Oestre Aera Airport Hotel") and camping area, and showers, kitchen, BBQ and a really popular unisex sauna. And a GSM sender. They operate 1x aircraft, a big turbine thing called Antonov AN-28 (YL-KAF), that climbs to 13000' in 15 minutes, and has a huge back door. Jump ticket is for 12 000, but you usually get 12 500 or 13 000. Landing area is small, and as it's surrounded by forest, you don't have many options but the landing area itself or the alternative areas in the south (an abandoned small farm) or north (a big marsh). DON'T follow cutaway canopies! Spotting is usually excellent and done by the latvian pilots using GPS. This being Norway, you can usually expect clouds, but the plane is up as soon as we see a hole or if the clouds are at the "right altitude". There is usually no shortage of instructors, tandem instructors or AFF-Is, and the more experienced guys are usually happy to give newbies hints and tips for free. With the big plane there is usually no problem getting a slot on the first load when you arrive either. This being the largest DZ in Norway, you will probably meet some "cool world champion skydivers" who will try to chase you off the packing mat, but just don't let them and seek out the nice people instead. The DZ can be hard to get to, easiest if you know someone who's driving up there, but it's also possible to travel by train from Oslo to Rena, then get a bus to Oestre Aera Camping. The place is also completely isolated, so bring your own food (there's refridgerators for the visitors, BBQ food and some cereal and milk for breakfast is what I usually bring). Warm clothes, especially wollen underwear is also recommended, as this is a chilly place. As it's completely isolated, everyone stays over the night, and usually over the weekend, so there's usually activities or parties to take part in after the last load. If you are within a reasonable distance in Norway, be sure to make a visit. You'll get to do a lot of jumps in a short time, and you have great chances for finding someone to play with.

Oh shit oh shit oh shit! We're all gonna DIE! Panic! Panic! One word for you, my friend: Condoms. Or even: Abstinence. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

Also, never buy a new toothbrush because you'll drop it in the toilet. Never date another girl because your best friend will sleep with her. And for god's sake, never, EVER, wipe your ass, because you WILL shit again within a week. And never skydive, because you'll only have to buy a new jump ticket to get back up. You'd probably also have to pack your canopy. Well, the sight of your car almost brings tears to my eyes. I do hope you had good insurance, and that it wasn't your bad driving that caused the accident. It's not luck, it's people who make mistakes. And sometimes the person making the mistakes are not you. That's the way it is. Life is hard but the ground is harder. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

So much about what Mr. CopEland needs, and nothing about Mr. Copland. He must feel left out... Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?

Not true - The myst series is/was tough. I liked the first one in the Myst series. Didn't like the later so much. Don't like too much moving animation. Relax, you can die if you mess up, but it will probably not be by bullet. I'm a BIG, TOUGH BIGWAY FORMATION SKYDIVER! What are you?