hackish

We all have a secret handshake before jumprun. Not sure what you mean by 1/5 of liquor but it's usually a bottle of whatever your rigger likes. For me it's a wine. Not too expensive - I'm cheap but I know some riggers who like a glenfiddich single malt. -Michael

When you decide on your colours keep in mind that bright ones like orange have a tendency to fade. How good will the rig look after you've put 700 jumps on it? -Michael

To save you the trouble of scrolling up to re-read... 22lbs is the max. I will loosen the loop if it is within a pound or two of the maximum to ensure it is 100% within specs. Completing a small woman rig with 10-12lbs force is also within specs. I am more comfortable delivering this than a 21.99lb pull force even though both are 100% legal. I don't know how you would be led to believe anything is being COMPENSATED for. It's done as per the specs and the testing procedure. -Michael

Please tell me where you get these #'s and your extrapolated theory? If the sealing thread is a part of the friction load holding the pin in place in the 1st place, then it is not installed correctly. Otherwise, the snatch/break force "fail point" of the sealing thread is not linearly cumulative (ie does not add to) the overall pull force required to move the pin from the reserve closing loop, in deploying a reserve. Fact: Thread is approx 4.75lb breaking strength. Fact: Thread in most cases is doubled over. It is fairly simple to multiply these. I'm working toward a worst case which is that each thread is under tension at the same time. If the thread does not contribute to the overall pull force required to pull the pin then take a 22lb pull and apply 22.1lbs. Tell me if it stops at the sealing thread or not? Although nitpicking this is not just a theory I pulled out of my ass. I tested it. A rig I was to repack took 16lbs to move the pin. I saw at least 22lbs indicated before it activated. My testing method wasn't 100% accurate but it seems to agree with what I'm saying. I've had this discussion with several other riggers and they've all shrugged and said "suppose so..." Who really cares? I only brought it up as it was relevant to this discussion. We must ensure the pin's pull force is within the specs. I would not certify a rig that isn't. I further ensure that for the apparently less "strong" clients it is at the lower part of the spectrum but still within specs. -Michael

Water will not hurt your lines. Water and mild soap shouldn't hurt your lines but it's hard to get anyone to say that their soap definitely won't hurt spectra. Don't use anything aggressive like bleach :) -Michael

The regs allow for 22lbs of pull force max but that is done without any sealing thread. The sealing thread about 4.75lb and there are generally 2 strands so you're looking at a total maximum of 31.5lbs pull force. In practise the pull force required drops by about 4-5 lbs a few days after packing so I think it all about evens out. I will redo the loop if it's at 22lbs and I generally aim for about 10-12 if the owner is a a small woman. A few more if she's feisty and has red hair. -Michael

The trouble with European drivers is that most of them know how to drive. Throw them in with a bunch of North American drivers and they make us look bad. French Canadians - we're just crazy. You have 0.25 seconds to get moving or our just go around you. The only thing that takes getting used to driving in the US is the idea if you piss someone else off they may shoot you rather than yell some words and show a finger... -Michael

I'm tossing around ideas of hitting DeLand or zhills this year. I was wondering if anyone knows of a CSPA coach2 at either? I've got a few more requirements for my "B" license that I'd like to have signed off but we just don't have the lift capacity or coaches available at my home DZ for this. -Michael

I didn't know they would/could open and sift through your checked baggage without you being present. I believe here in the frozen northland they have to have you present but that may just be a common practise rather than a rule. -Michael

I talked to a few people with the PD vengance. I've been told that you can ask PD and they will make one for you. Reviews were very good. A local jumper has a samurai and I think he's chopped it 3 times now because of bad openings. I've spoken to a few others who had samurai's and they did compliment it on flying through turbulence but generally said it didn't fly as nicely as some other designs. I know this is all second hand info but I did do a lot of reading on the subject. While I think the airlock is a great idea I'd favour a canopy that flies the way I want it to rather than whether it has this technology integrated. -Michael

I spent a little time working on a design that would just mold the CCD array and lens mount to the helmet and relocate everything else inside the jumpsuit. Ultimately I found it would be just too expensive for me to develop such a thing. It is definitely possible. -Michael

I'll jump on a limb here and I'm sure some will crap all over me. I think part of it is mindset. I've decided that I want to get involved in doing camera work. So that starts with reading, then talking to guys who do camera - we don't really have anyone you could consider "experienced" at this DZ, then going out and doing a series of jumps to "train for it". So far I've already done 30-40 of these "training jumps" most without a camera on my head. Of these I'd like another 40-50 before trying to do a video for a tandem. In Canada they recommend 200 and a B license. I am hoping to arrive at both shortly but some people on the interweb say that you should be a C license and 500 jumps to fly camera. Sticking a number on the jumps is only a glance at what point a jumper may be at. Not long ago I did some jumps with someone who had nailed a B license and 150 jumps in a couple of months. Good credit card at a big DZ. The jumper did a few scary things and couldn't track worth crap. But wait, they had the 150 jumps and a B! So what is a jump number and license? Doesn't automagically say what you can do safely. -Michael

Never tried it but maybe you could tell them it's for you bad back :) I'd suggest coming early to try this so it gives you time to put it in your checked luggage if they say no. The overage fees I've paid in the past were minimal YMMV. -Michael

A reserve with 1 ride on it is probably better trusted than one with 0 in the highly unlikely event that there was a manufacturer defect. I don't think that a reserve ride or two has a real effect on the value of a rig. Now my reserve has 2 patches in it because of some experimentation the previous owner did for an article he was writing. That probably reduces the value slightly but at the end of the day it was repaired by PD and is still perfectly airworthy. I'll add another vote to the fact the potential buyer should pay the rigger of your choice for a repack. -Michael

To reiterate what was said earlier... The ripcord always pulls in the same direction. The curved pin is to allow a pull in any direction. So you're proposing a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. -Michael

As has already been mentioned the curved pin is designed to allow the pull in any direction. On a reserve the system is engineered so the pull is always in the same general direction. This is why you will find the guide rings on an RSL equipped rig - to make sure the pull is in that direction. This is the design and it's designed that way to work with a straight pin. Pulling a curved pin in that same direction is ok as long as no obstruction exists to prevent it's rotation. Since you have a significantly higher amount of closing loop tension I believe the force that would need to contribute to the pin rotation would add to the pull force required. What would we gain? Perhaps there would be less possibility of the pin being pushed out but if you look at the reserve pin covers rigs are designed to protect the pin. -Michael

Very common thing and it's been discussed many times. Try doing a search and you will find pages and pages of answers. -Michael

Ah crap, had to look in the logbook. It was a Nitro not a Nitron. It definitely wasn't as responsive as my sabre2 even after I added 4" to the brake lines. I'll have to try a sabre2 150 sometime for comparison. I tried a sabre1-150 before the owner upgraded to the Nitro 150, toggle response wasn't as bad as the sabre1. I wish for a recovery arc between the Nitro and the Sabre2. -Michael

I weigh in at 200 with gear. Got to try a nitron 150 today. Not because I'm considering downsizing from my sabre2 170 but it was offered so I could do a back to back load. I know I only jumped it once but what a disappointment. The opening was brutal. Not a slammer at all but it whipped the hell out of me. Knowing this was a higher performance canopy I made sure to pull very stable and symmetrically. At linestretch it was fine and I was expecting to fly the opening as I would my S2-170 but as soon as the slider started to descend it whipped me around hard enough I said a few bad words and started to get linetwist. Managed to hold the risers apart enough to prevent this. Once it was fully open it calmed right down. Pointed myself at the DZ and collapsed the slider, then unstowed the brakes. Canopy seemed to turn a bit like a student rig. I started with 1/4 toggle and added more progressively. Damn thing flies like a nylon slug. I don't think the brake line length is wrong because it stalls at an appropriate place and the flare is really good. They showed a good line arc at full flight too. The opening may have just been a freak but it sure doesn't seem to fly that nicely. When I ask something to turn I'd like it to do as instructed. I didn't want to get too aggressive on an unfamiliar canopy and it seems to respond better on the risers but the toggle/turn response seemed to really suck. Is this typical for a nitron? I know the canopy went back because it was having slider problems and weird openings. It's only got about 25 jumps on it and they replaced the lineset. Nobody else at my DZ has that exact canopy so it's hard to know what to expect. -Michael

I chose both my altimeter and my audible from them. Other reports of their amazing customer service weighed in heavily when I was considering the products. I haven't had any trouble with the 2 units I bought which in itself is a good thing. -Michael

It seems creepy but a few times when I have read incidents I've wished that I could see video of some event just to better understand how some entanglement or malfunction happened or behaved. On the other side I suppose it's carefully weighing the benefit of watching such a thing against the harm it would do to the sport when it arrived on youtube for all the wuffos to see. I wish any of my professors were as animated as James Duane. His advice is tough to swallow when it comes to something you morally believe in. I own a webmail system and from time to time am asked to provide info about users suspected in the possession of child pornography. Sometimes it has helped catch perps. I'll probably always try to help out in that. Similarly a skydiver may feel the same way in that their video may show the cause of a mal and prevent their DZO friend from being scrutinized for some other non-contributing factor. Some years ago I dated a lawyer. She always grumbled saying I should always insist on them getting a warrant. She too always said "Don't talk to the police". Co-incidence? I think not. I wonder what your rights are in terms of obtaining legal advice before turning a video over. For example if you said "I want to talk to my lawyer to find out what my rights are before giving you anything" Can they still get you for impeding an investigation? -Michael

The EP's instructors teach is to try twice and if you're unsuccessful go for the silver. Should an instructor do what they teach or make up some new rules in mid-air? How about setting an example? I understand some situations require improv but this one seems fairly simple. Inflated like the michelin man and unable to reach the main hackey the silver seems like the right answer. -Michael

If you were wrapped in a ball of fabric that was formerly your jumpsuit to the point you can't reach your main hackey then I'd like to have as much time as possible to get the reserve out. Perhaps the reserve handle will be equally as difficult to open. What if the jumpsuit delayed or entangled with the reserve pilot chute? -Michael

I wish all jumpers were unafraid of what is contained in that mysterious container above their main. I wish they all understood how to connect a 3-ring but I also appreciate that they're not all comfortable doing it. -Michael

I did an FJC that did not require any tandems. It was IAD. Although I did OK and so did all the students on the load I can definitely appreciate that not all students have the personality or cool-headedness to get the job done. I asked my better half if she was interested in doing a solo jump but she said that she wasn't sure that she wouldn't freeze up. Secretly I'm happy as I'd worry too much anyway... However back to the point how did she know this? She's already done 2 tandems. -Michael