likestojump

Spectre. Because I just really like having a combination of worry free openings while flying a WS and good residual value when getting rid of my canopy.

your average skydive lasts 1 minute, after which you land, and your PC gets repacked and re-seated in the BOC. your motorcycle ride to the DZ is usually significantly longer, which means that your PC has much more chances of escaping the BOC. when I had a bike I just strapped the rig to the rear seat. Granted not all bikes are capable of that - but a tight fitting gearbag with straps sounds like a much safer idea then riding with the rig on your back.

+1 unless you mind low jumpticket prices, fast turbines and lots of loads

page 5 of the current manual, found here : http://www.vigil.aero/files/images/ENGELS___DP_JUN_2010.pdf "The Vigil® is designed for a life expectancy of 20 years from the date of manufacture. The above expectancy is based on the fact that the cutter, the Pulses Plus element and the electronic components have been designed for a functional lifetime of 20 years." page 33 of the same manual : "• Life time: 20 years life expectancy" Of course this can also read as the unit is not guaranteed to last past the 20 years, but it *may* :)

he was at the SkydiveExpo in Deland in March. Still driving the same POS van :)

I have used Pete for numerous relines, including one on of my demo canopies. no complains whatsoever.

I seem to remember that they use the DOM as the serial number; or some version of the DOM. Right/Wrong/Other????? JerryBaumchen I believe the first number of the SN is the last number of the year. the next two are the week. so 444xx is either 74/84/94/2004. At least that's what my early 80s manual leads me to believe (still pointing out the Michigan location :)

I am quite certain (At least as of a few months ago) both Pete and Mel and Simon Wade used the blue coated HMA. The green coated HMA I have only seen from Brian Germain. I could be wrong, but it probably is beside the point :) As far as PD and coated HMA - having spoken to PD, they mentioned that they ARE using - if you notice their team canopies sometimes have red lines - I was told that they are still testing different materials/coating (at least that's how I understood it), and once they are happy with the product, they will have it available to the general public.

That's a generisized statement. HMA lines come in different tensile strengths and with different coatings - you cannot equate non-coated HMA300 lines to coated HMA500.

Slow down there guy. My point is there are significant and valid security reasons why persons would refuse to accept WU payment. To simply say there is no problem with WU scams is fool hearty! Dear, why don't you take your own advice and slow down yourself ? I was refuting your statement "Literally no one who has been around for the past 10 years accepts Western Union for any sort of transaction". And please show me where I said that it's not a problem - I just simply pointed out that it's not a problem FOR ME, and that if used properly, it's always the SELLER who has the upper hand.

Although the OP clearly has not dealt with this issue well, in all fairness to him, the scam description on that page is all about how money senders get screwed by using Western Union, not money receivers. Sure. The link I posted is the absolute tip of the iceberg. Literally no one who has been around for the past 10 years accepts Western Union for any sort of transaction. This is due to the very high ratio of scams to legitimate transactions. And now you are just posting garbage. look up how many WU offices are in any city area. Do you think if almost noone accepted (and thus sent) WU, those offices would exist ? I am closing in on 2 decades of mail order business, and I certainly use WU.

are't you some kind of LEO ? Let me tell ya about 10% of my annual revenue comes to me via Western Union. And it's not because I am scammer, or because my customers are scammers. It's because I have a business sense that tells me "money is money". Once I have cash in hand and the product still in my possession, it's pretty damn hard for ME to be the one who gets screwed. Lok is in a country where Western Union is a popular and trusted method of payment. Many US based persons are simply not familiar with it, which does not mean that WU is a bad method. As with anything, proper precautions need to be followed. If I refused to accept WU, I would lookse 90% of my Thai customer base. Bottom line is that I will endorse WU just as highly as I endorse Bonnie. And just to be clear - Bonnie is solid in my book. PS it's still very much a personal choice to accept or not to accept, and until "you people" are put in a situation where it's UP TO YOU, I recommend you slow down in name calling or on giving advice based on random internet chatter.

Thats called a stall, Paul. Set your toggles right next time! haha which reinforces the point that others have made in this thread - it's tricky to flare a canopy which lost the tail rear of the D lines, and combined with the fact that most people fly canopies much smaller and faster than a 265, it's just not something one should plan on doing :)

I have. I landed a Fox 265 with both brake lines fired. It wasn't a lot of fun, and though I felt I flared quite well with the rears, I still ended up on my back :(

When I used to have a Mirage, I liked the split bag. Granted, I was packing an easy fitting canopy in it. Most people seem to dislike them, so stitching it closed is an easy solution. BTW, you don't have to wait for the repack to get it done.

like this ? http://www.apexbase.com/product.php?product_id=135

the M4 is a designation of the CONTAINER sizing. explained here : http://miragesys.com/sizing-guide/ what is says, is that the M4 won't fit a 210, the HARNESS sizing is explained here : http://miragesys.com/support/?loc=articles&id=12

in my experience : Mirage G3 - white ripstop freebag Mirage G4 - black parapack freebag

Not actually true! Pete uses my line files to make line sets which are not factory line sets,,,,, neither or mine. They do measure out the same though. MEL how are yours not factory spec, did you change the trim, or were there some other changes ?

Contact PeteS http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?username=aliz_bazar; and he'll make you a factory spec new set.

If you are willing to "settle" for as Senior Rigger, you will have a bit more options.

Personally, I thought the ad was funny. If a skydiver gets offended at the dropped panties next to a rig - they should got put on some slacks and take up golf. As far as bitching about spelling... Well, this whole sport is quite informal - look at the manufacturer reps in the "Don't be that guy" video - they swear, show some nakedness and make fun of some of their potential visitors. It's skydiving, dammit ! - this is the playground where adults can act as kids. Can't handle it ? - Unbunch your panties and move on to competitive basket weaving or to a book club.

Every single shipping company has a cost estimator on their site. FedEx/UPS/USPS, etc. as far as sizing - get the serial number, contact the manufacturer, and save both the sellers and the buyers time.

OK, silly technical question. What device is used to make sure the pilot chute is not released until the canopy is out? Looks like a cable is used to initially stow the pilot chute. That must of been a hell of a gig. Looked awesome. Did you hear how loud the crowd got when they saw the first parachute? ` ApexBASE sells "Around the World" DVD, where they give you the behind the scenes on this SuperBowl stunt, as well as some of the commercials they did. The setup they used was a double Static Line (80lbs break cord). BTW, it's not "device is used to make sure the pilot chute is not released until the canopy is out", it's more of "device to achieve fastest possible canopy extraction"

I wouldn't be concerned about the AGE, as I would be about the jump numbers. 3000 is quite a lot. Personally, I would not be comfortable jumping it, but again, I have not seen the gear in question :)