tjm

I'll have to agree with Paul, I've done something similar, but istead of trashbagging it I just packed the third canopy (unattached) into a D-bag and tied off the bridal to a seat belt in a Cessna. Exit in a posied position, let the bag go and watch the action above. Works just fine and only introduces one more handle. Just make sure the bottom 3-ring system is on the inside. Most base rigs are equiped w/ a loop type cutaway handle and can easily be distiquished from a pillow type. I'm not saying it is for beginners, but still a simple, relatively safe and legal way to do it. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

Why the hell would you cut one line on your main to save a reserve ride? If it was a reserve, than that is different, but your main, c'mon? In air rigging will waste a lot of time and altitude. To answer your second question, cutting the will probably stop the spin if nothing else is wrond with the canopy like a tension knot or something of the sort. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

Agreed, but a lot of new jumpers are not told of the differences before they reach their A licence. They are only told that the AAD is the only way to go and your a gonner without it. Billvon is right thought, an AAD should be provided when the jumper is unaware of the risk and is not compitant enough to make to decision for his/her self. (i.e. students) If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

Do you mean electronice devices, because I personally use certain mechanical and fluid powered devices to survive a skydive. Who wants to start a thread on reasons not to by a parachute? They can be expensive as well. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

Well, unless the thread has an AAD, then it can live on. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

Actually global warming itself is half bear. Along with half man-pig. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

I don't have a back up plan. All I can do is try my best to prevent it and hopefully not hit someone on the ground. Pull or die. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

Your right, I've seen two fire myself. One in the plane on the way to altitude, and one at 1200' after the jumper deployed at 3000' plus. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

Also goes for the swoop master instructor. Hey if he can land like that, then I want to try it. The Crw dog instrutor: Hey if he can take a down plane that low, I want to try it. The wingsuit instructor: Hey those squirrel suits looks fun, I want to do that. The camera flyer / instructor: Hey I want to film my jumps too. The instructor who jumps helmetless on fun jumps and Crw jumps: Hey who need a stupid helmet, I'm not buying one. The instructor should let it be known the dangers of the choices in gear and disciplines. That same instructor would probably tell you its a good idea to wear one. If I were an instructor I would tell my student that its a good idea to get you one and that s/he will be safer in doing so, but will not crutinize them if the DECIDE not to get one. *Emphasis on "decide" because it is just a choice after a certain point. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

,and if your AAD pulls for you, that does not count. You would be disqualified. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

For the chance I might get to be on Fox News for worlds biggest human crater, Duh. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

So the AAD manufactures kids have lots of $$$ for drugs and fast cars? But what if...they get all wasted and zoom around crazy and T-bone a bus full of Nuns & Orphans pushing it over a cliff so it explodes and lands on football stadium full of people watchin' the Superbowl... Hey, could be by not having one...I'M SAVIN' LIVES HERE! That is probably only a little less likely as skydiver falling from the sky and killing one or more people. It is possible but unlikely. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

Hard landings kill more than accidents which an AAD might have prevented. What about the guy who bounces on a landing and causes others to quite. As for hitting others on the ground, than lets ban flying over populated areas due to the unlikely risk of hitting someone. Or just put a big reserve with an AAD on an airplane. If an airplane pilot has to bail out, than the plane is out of control, just like an unconcious skydiver. Is this not the same? I told my friends that if i'm ever knocked out, help would be appreciated, but I would be pissed if they got hurt or died trying to suck it low to save my non AAD wearing ass. Saving your own life has to be priority when the shit hits the fan and your sucking it down at a high rate of speed between 3000 and 1000 feet chasing someone that was knocked out. At some point you would just have to bite your lip, pull and let them keep going, and I would not blame any for not trying. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

Both New Orleans and Denver international did not say anything about my hook knife and it went on the plane with me and my rig. Some TSA are just clueless. They did swab it in Denver though. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

I did out of C-182 with only the front passenger seat out and three other jumpers for a demo, because the pilots regular 206 was down. I partially dislocated my should because it was crowded and I was in an acward position. after falling out and flared my arms out I felt it set back in place. A month or two later I had a full dislocation on a hard landing, which I don't think I would have without the previous damage to my rotator cuff. And yes, alot of snag hazards doing so. It can be done safely, just watch snag points and exit position. The slower the airspeed the better. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

Again...1st one to the crater gets all the good stuff! definately a possibly, but landing on a house or tailgating BBQ pit is more likely because jump run is not over the field. Airtward, someone has got dibs on my reserve already, so back off. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

That's a clearer representation of what you meant. My tolerance for risk has changed over the years too. From riding street bikes without helmets to violating a few BSR's in my day to many other activities, I find myself being more safety conscious than before. Maybe it's old age, maybe it's because of too many funerals. I don't know. I'm glad we're free to make certain choices for ourselves. Just try to be wise in your counsel to others. I do advise up coming students to waer one, and just explain thats its my choice that I dont wear. I definately don't try to convince them not to. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

If I was doing some things in the sport, like competition RW or something similar, etc., I would consider wearing one, maybe? I realize the risk is there on the jumps I do, but its at an exceptional level for me compared to other more out of your control situations. Tom Piras was on a non competitive fun jump with some low timers. One of them slid below Tom and dumped. The same kind of crap that happens on weekend fun jumps all the time. I appreciate your independence and confidence in your abilities. I have a lot of confidence in my abilities too, but I prefer to jump an AAD in the same way that I wear my seatbelt when I drive.

So you make only solo jumps. Cool. Tom Piras was doing a 4-way Skydive U jump. My friend was doing a 6-way. This guy is avoiding a minimal description of how he has managed to make his skydives so safe. Kinda hard to discuss. He must be doing some special kind of jumping that I've never heard about, but it sounds like he isn't going to tell us what it is. Fair enough. Mental Note: Get better at explaining what I am thinking, and not going off track. Check! I do fun jumps (cessna dz) like 2-6 way belly, small tracking dives, a little freefly, some demos in footbal and baseball fields, and various specialty jumps and zoo dives (intentional cutaways from direct bag deployment, boogey board, horny gorilla, etc.) I got off track there trying to compare my risk to others. I'm at a high level of risk just like others. My skydives are not "so safe". Actually, I love high risk jumps, as stated in an above post, but I know my risk and except them. My point in the above posts was that I don't think I'm limitless in my exceptance to all risk in which an AAD is a good idea. Only that I have not personally reached that limit of exceptance for said risk yet, so I dont use one. Or I just don't want to give up my secret to being super safe. -tj If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

So you make only solo jumps. Cool.

Tom Piras was a former world 4-way champion and co-organizer of several world freefall formation records. Over 13,000 jumps. Sandy Wambach was a plane captain on the World Record 300-way attempt when she went in. A good friend (organizer) had the front-float come down the side of the plane and push his head into the tail side of the door. (hard helmet, fortunately) After years of jumping, his wife had bought him an AAD for Christmas. It fired and he landed. Unconscious, bruised and battered, but alive. Nobody plans on a collision. Skill hasn't saved some far greater jumpers than myself. It is a personal choice. If I was doing some things in the sport, like competition RW or something similar, etc., I would consider wearing one, maybe? I realize the risk is there on the jumps I do, but its at an exceptional level for me compared to other more out of your control situations. The difference in decisions about AADs, IMO (talking about risk), is just how much risk the individual is willing to except for a particular reward. Those who risk more usually enjoy the rewards at higher risk levels than those who don't risk as much. So it probably all evens out, and we are all happy.

+1 I know Sigma requires 500 jumps if i'm not mistaken. But some Tandem Masters mostly at smaller DZ will let you do it with less jumps if they feel confident in you. I've done it with far less than 500 jumps, but the pilot and TM can get into some trouble if something happens. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

You fuckin' battery operated skydivers just crack me up! +1 If it was safe then everyone would be doing it and we would not be so cool. What happened to skydiving because of the risk, and not because to risk is minimized? If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

I don't, but also don't encourage others not too. Two reasons: 1. It think the simplest system is the best when my life is depending on just that one system. So, no RSL either. 2. I like the fact that I have to save my life everytime I jump. I like to push the limits a little bit sometimes like low pulls, sketchy demo jumps, low exit high winds, or "practice" emergency procedures. Unfortunately just jumping does not seem to be enough for me. Sometimes I need to do jumps in which the stakes are higher than normal. There is just something about being so overwhelmingly scared that you reach that point to were you fully realiize that you could and are more likely to die on this jump, accept this fact, don't think and just react to the situation, take that step toward death and come out victorious. No drug comes close, IMO. Of course, being mentally and physically prepare is key. I definatly not reckless with preparation and equipment though. It would be stupid to go due to negligence. -tj If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

No~ I would say that you're conservative and stay within your limitations...and that get nothing but respect from me! +1 I was always told that if your not confident, don't do it, and no one will hold it against you. I haven't backed down yet, but sure would if necessary. If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!