fergs

OK Bill, I agree - rounded corners is the definition we'll all agree on, then! I never made any Delta II jumps - saw them cutaway from many times, tho - and guessd you must have had at least a few DeltaII malfunctions... Blue Skies, fergs F-383

Wendy, you are correct in all you say. I had a pegasus for ages - made lots of jumps on it, after selling my cruisair to buy it. In fact, it's still in a storage bag in my Old-canopy-Den. Blue and white - anyone wanna buy it - would make a nice car cover or water jump canopy!!! fergs

Quote How many people have jumped a tri-angle...ex. the Thunderbow. Ive got a few jumps on a Thunderbow, probably a half dozen or so...anyone else? reply] Yeah I had a T-bow (it was uncool to call them a thunderbow...) in the mnid 70's while living in New Guinea. It was my canopy between PC / Papillon and first square, a ring-and-rope Strato Star. The T-bow was great fun - fun to fly - easy to pack - i always side packed it, not wanting to waste time splitting the two sides and dressing the panels. Plus it was always an impressive looking canopy for displays. Sometimes the locals would ask what the arrow was for, to which my reply was always "so I know which way i'm going...". The T-bow was a little unusual in that full drive was achieved with the toggles down about ear height. That would allow the nose to pop out and fuly inflate. Backward flight was also easily accomplished. I guess I made a hundred or so jumps on it. Pic attached - Bill, it sure looks like a triangle to me ....hahaha Blue Skies, fergs

Hmm, first reserve ride was 1973 or 4. It was an intentional using single shot capewells and a front mounted, pilot chuted 17' GQ conical reserve. The reserve was overdue a repack, so decided to see what a cut-away was like in the process. Second was 1977 - first jump on a brand new, first jump Strato Cloud. It blew out couple lines on the opening which promptly wrapped the slider. It was a bit ugly so I got off. It was a piggy-back system with tapewells (capewell male and female hardware but the movable parts replaced with webbing and velcro), and a 26' Navy Conical. My letter to Paraflite after the event did not generate any acknowlegement that a blow up first jump of their (at the time) premier product was unusual. No cutaways since - but who knows, I'm going jumping this coming weekend. Maybe Murphy will visit, as I have a fresh reserve repack. Blue Skies, fergbird

I also would recommend you psycho pack it. fergs

Hey Gabor, I tried to email you but it bounced back. I see you're in Finland. I'm in Australia and some years ago we hosted a Finish exchange student for 7 or 8 months. Suvi was a pleasure to have live with us and left us with a very good impression of anyone from Finland! Anyhow, I've been packing parachutes for close to 40 years - all types of canopies. Of course, the last 25 years has been pretty much only square canopies - and the last 10 has been pretty much only zero porosity square canopies (except for reserves). As with everyone else at the time, I pro-packed anything zero porosity. But I've always been a pretty fast packer, so to be slowed down trying to keep a propack bundle neat so it would go into the deployment bag was a frustration for me. The first time I saw an article about psycho packing in a parachutist magazine, I embraced it. That was 6 or 7 years ago. Since then I have not pro packed even once. And since then I have had identical openings from my psycho pack jobs - staged, soft, on heading, around 6 or 700 feet from pitching the pilot chute to being fully suspended under the canopy. Now I cannot guarantee that this will continue forever - but I am personally extremely happy with the results of psycho pack jobs as far as consistent openings are concerned. But the best aspect for me is ease of packing. From laying the canopy down and stepping out of my harness, I'm always finished packing in 6 to 7 minutes (I cheat a little by stowing my brakes the moment I land, before walking to the packing area). My own habit is to: 1. Lay the lines over my shoulder and dress the nose, same as a pro pack. 2. Then I simply wrap the tail around all and lay it down, upside down (compared to a pro pack) - without dressing any fabric first. 3. Open the tail out to see the canopy and "sweep" excess canopy material and lines under the bundle, pushing up, under and away from the harness end. This basically is achieving what most people do when standing up and dressing all the fabric - but my way takes only a few seconds - whereas it seems most people take a number of minutes doing it when standing up. 4. I then halve the leading edge and roll 2 or 3 rolls in from outside to the centre cell. So each half rolls in to the centre and ends up with the centre cell poking out from between the two rolled nose sections. Not sure, but I suspect this assists having it open on heading each time - the centre cell is the only one exposed, so it hits the air first, a micro second before either side unrolls. Anyhow, it's a theory, at least, hahaha. 5. Pull each tail bit and lay on the sausage shaped bundle to triangulate the canopy 6. Triangulate again to make the thin sausage shape. With every triangulation fold, I the put a knee onto it to control. Fold again, kneel on it. I finally end up with a knee on the bundle close to the lines end, another knee 3/4 up close to the bridle attachment end. So I'm kneeling at 90 degrees to when I started packing - pilot chute to my left, harness/container to my right. It cannot unwrap even a bit, as my knees are controlling it all the time. 7. Pull the bridle ring out to the side and then roll the pack job tightly from the top to the lines. Keep knees in place until the roll comes to them - again, it's all about controlling the pack job with your knees. 8. Place my knee against the side of the roll and slide the bag over the opposite end of the roll, pushing all against my knee so it slips into the first corner of the deployment bag very fast and easily. Don't forget, the bag must go on upside down to what a propacker is used to, as you will untwist it very shortly. 9. Pop the bag onto the other side 10. Rotate the bag half a turn to undo the twist that was put into the lines when earlier laying the canopy down. Visually check the lines to make sure you rotated the right way. If you did it correctly, there'll be no twist in the lines. If you rotated the wrong direction it will have a full twist, so untwist it before proceeding.' 11. Stow the lines, close the pack and run to the manifest to make the next load. A number of times I've been able to exit early in a load, do my free fall thing, open, fly to landing area, land, psycho pack, and make the next load with the L410 not shutting down. I can make heaps of jumps a day this way when possible. As far as documented evidence that psycho is a harder opening, that is certainly not my personal experience. I have found the exact opposite!! Incidentally, I made a really nice wingsuit jump on Monday morning - out of a balloon in a lovely spring-time Canberra morning. It was a great way to start the week (and my birthday, by coincidence). So, Gabor, that's my psycho pack story. I'd be delighted to answer any other questions you may have. Where in Finland are you? How is jumping there? Our winter has just finished and so I'm looking forward to warmer weather. Blue Skies, Fergs

Yo Le Roy, any time ... come visit any time. fergbird

Tevas or flip flops (we call them thongs in Oz) in warm weather. Any old running shoe in cooler months. As it's first few days of spring here right now, meaning that this morning was hovering just below freezing, I wore the any old running shoes when I jumped my wingsuit out of a balloon over Canberra before breakfast. What a blast and a great way to start the week. Blue Skies, fergbird

A funny thing happened on the way to the office this morning …. I jumped my GTi from a balloon over Canberra, here in Australia. On the load were 5 other jumpers, including a tandem – I was the only wingsuit. It was just great – early morning take off – a thin layer of frost on the ground (yes, we are southern hemisphere so it is end of winter here), but crystal clear sky. We took off and had a nice climb over town – Parliament House, the City Centre – climbed up to around 7,000’ and exited over one of the local sports fields. After the first few seconds of dead air (fun in itself!!!) the flight was routine, apart from the fact that I was gliding over town and not a DZ. I’d certainly recommend a balloon wingsuit jump for anyone who has the opportunity. They’re a blast!!!! Blue Skies, fergbird

Chris, a bunch of us Psycho / Precise packers in the Gulf (Middle East) got together earlier in the year and renamed it the FLOS Pack - stands for Flaming Lazy Old Skydivers. So, it begs the question, "Do you FLOS?" Blue Skies, fergbird

The local jumpers have a forum site also - but sadly it isn't used too much these days. I din't know how to do the clicky thing - but cut and paste the following and enter as a guest to get an idea as to how things are there: http://login.prospero.com/dir-login/index.asp?webtag=skydiveuaq&lgnDST=http%3A%2F%2Fforums%2Edelphiforums%2Ecom%2Fskydiveuaq%2Fstart If you are in Kuwait, you'll have an understanding that not all happens in the muiddle East with the efficiency of europe, the US, etc. So you'll appreciate that the good old Murphy Factor is hard at work in the area. That being said, there's some keen jumpers at UAQ and they make it happen as much as circumstances allow. So enjoy your time in the Middle East and have fun when you eventually make it to UAQ. fergbird [url "http://login.prospero.com/dir-login/index.asp?webtag=skydiveuaq&lgnDST=http%3A%2F%2Fforums%2Edelphiforums%2Ecom%2Fskydiveuaq%2Fstart"] clicky attempt

Dude, .... and today there's a $102 cypres on ebay. fergbird

Kat, I not long returned from a 10 year spell in the Middle East. Yes, Umm Alquwayn is your best bet. Their Caravan was badle damaged not long ago but they're expecting a King Air from Sth Africa to arrive any time now. In the meantime they have a 182 hauling jumpers to 10 grand. But it's pretty hot this time of the year - so things will improve upon the arrival of the Kingair, when 12 or 13 grand gets to the cooler weather so much quicker. They have a 120 way comp coming up shortly, with a boogie running parallel. Also February is the traditional boogie time when pete Marsden organises jumpers to fly in from UK and europe. Always a fun week with exotic aircraft to play with. At the end of the runway, by the ocean is the Baracuda hotel - I always stayed in one of the Cabanas, self catering and cheap - but not 5 star. At least they have a bottle shop there - and passable food - so you don't have to go too far from the DZ if you just want to jump, jump, jump and have a few beers. Email me and I'll give you a number of contacts there. Blue Skies, fergbird

Skyhook was a reserve pilot chute that was popular in the early 90's at least. From memory, there was a recall or some sort of service buletin around 93, due to the spring being questionable. Blue Skies, fergbird

I saw a cypres in ebay the other day for $250. Yes, it wasn't new - but it would make you legal if you take your gear to Oz. Also, may even save your life if called upon. Anyhow, just an option ... fergbird

46:16

Terry, yep, it's the green canopy. Reserve was also green. He said after his Jeddah malfunction that he thinks the reserve had been "switched" at some time by the russian dealer he'd bought it from. Ah well, who knows. But in jeddah I refused to re-pack it - his free bag and pilot chute were lost in the Red Sea - he only had a spare freebag with him, no reserve pilot chute. I wasn't prepared to put a non-original PC into it. He was also very excitited at his malfunction in Jeddah. I'd just landed - he was on second pass of the twin rotor helicopter. He had a video on and post jump frame-by-frame study indicated a main bag-strip situation - probably too loose retainer bands. Anyhow it was a real mess from the instant it hit the air - wound up at a phenominal rate. So he did well to get off it before third revolution was even half way through. Don't remember welded rings, but my memory may also be weak. But the rings all seemed pretty flimsy and thin compared with what we all regard as normal. But it all seemed to work well. Blue Skies, fergbird

Yes, it's Graham in Saudi who owns it. The main is a cross braced little number which is really just a knock-off copy of an Icarus Extreme, I believe. Graham calls it his pocket-rocket. It flies fast but landings aren't consistantly easy - at least that's what Graham's experience is. The container is a little shabby. After a malfunction during a competition in Jeddah last year, I had a chance to look into the reserve container / flap configeration. It was pretty complex, with an additional locking feature that seemed to spell Murphy Factor to me. Incidentally, the reserve was a conventional 7cell reserve - poor old Graham thought he'd bought a reserve identical to his main (not sure the wisdom of that?), but after the malfunction, was surprised to see a "normal" reserve above him. He landed softly in the pit under his reserve, whilst his main ended up in the ocean. But $2000 for a full system, ready to jump - including 2 new canopies - who could complain?!!! But I don't think I'd be waiting in line to get one .... But Graham is still delighted with his gear - and is always ready to sing its' praises to all who enquire. fergbird

... age of the cypres will tell you if it is due either and/or a service and new batteries. If either due soon, then it'll be a additional spend for you. fergbird

Hey Le Roy, So when do you get demobed out of Afghanistan? You should try to go home via Dubai and visit the DZ at Umm Alquaywn. They have a King Air coming soon. Email me for details. fergbird

Hi Duayne, Can't speak for a 1.7 loaded spectre - I jump 1.3 loaded Spectre for all wingsuit flights. It's very nice - always staged, predictable, on heading openings - perfect for wingsuit jumps. Get a 100" bridle and pack grommet-up. May or may not be relevant, but I've always psycho packed my Spectre. Incidentally, a group of us have renamed the psycho pack (negative connotations) to the "FLOS" Pack. Stands for Flaming Lazy Old Skydivers - due to the ease in which this type of pack job is! Whatever canopy you end up with, as ManBird mentioned, any canopy that can be spiralled by harness input is not for wingsuits - at least that's my belief. Looking forward to hearing of your first wingsuit jumps. You'll love it. fergbird

A gust induced stall under an original long lined, ring-and-rope strato star in 1976 at Antioch in California ended up with screws and plates repairing right femur. That was a jump where another jumper on the load had a mal and ended up under a 24' round unmodified reserve. It was windy, so I followed him down, sure that he'd be injured. Hahaha, he didn't get a scratch. Larry K, you still out there and jumping? But a few years later I learned that winters were less that ideal with the internal metal work - so had it all removed. No metal since, although I have had a few more broken bones due to skydiving over the period. fergbird

Darren, Only one answer - learn to psycho pack and keep packing that way til you leave the sport. It will: - pack muuuuuch easier - pack much faster (you'll make more loads that way) - open more consistantly - open softer - less wear and tear on your canopy - keep your blood pressure down - make you a happier skydiver Either find someone on your DZ who psycho packs or find instructions on line (one site is: http://precision.aerodynamics.com/psycho/psycho_pack.htm ). I'd add that psycho isn't in PD's manual, so you should not consider it an "approved" packing method. Do so at your own risk. Or your own gain. Your choice. But I've been packing parachutes since the late 60's - you name it, I've packed that way. The last 7 or 8 years I've done nothing but psycho (except reserves). Since then my life has been great. Great openings, easy pack jobs (ESPECIALLY new canopies), and fast work. Although not 100% necessity, you could get a 6" extension to put from the canopy end of your PC bridle to the attachment point at the canopy. In other words, you'll have more bridle inside the deployment bag after packing. This makes the job a bit easier again. When you see and read the psycho instructions, it'll make sense. So there's my view on packing - especially new canopies. Go and enjoy!!!!!! fergbird

The BaseHoundSam technique: 1. Pull right knee up toward left shoulder; Reach down with right hand and grab zipper at right ankle; Pull zipper up while straightening leg downward. 2. Reach down with left hand and grab suit at right knee, pulling suit to the left, popping right knee out. 3. Point right knee to the right while bending knee, bringing right heel toward crotch. Grab right shin with right hand. Grab right booty with left hand, and pull it off of foot. Now repeat steps 1-3 with right/left switched. On my first dive, I burned up 2000 feet fighting to get the tail off, finally pulling the cutaway. Then BHS showed me his method, now it takes me a few seconds. All similar to the above - but I only take one leg off, by habit the left. I have put a loop of paracord onto the "tag" that the press-snap is on. This makes it much earier to pop it undone after unzipping. Saves another second or three - but mainly takes the last little hassle out of the process. Blue Skies, fergbird

.... and I can't believe the lack of posts on the Flock Talk in the new and improved bird-man.com site. Go take a look and be impressed. fergbird