Frogger

A quick back of the envelope calculation regarding recharging with "rooftop" solar. Assumptions: The best locations for solar harvest could optimistically assume 6h / day of productive sunlight. The most efficient battery-based system would hope for 80% efficiency of transfer of that energy to a battery. Thus: Using the least expensive type of grid-tie panel (~330watt/panel), this would require 32 panels covering 564 sq. ft and take all day to harvest that power: 32 panels X 330w X 6h X 0.8 efficiency = 50,688 watt hours (50.69 KWH). Thus, it would take a full (ideal) day with a roughly 11,000 watt array to recharge from one load. Solar energy doesn't happen fast, or at "high density."

I love those things (AN-2)! They look so cool. Unfortunately, the last I read, they aren't approved for anything but airshow demo flights in the U.S. Anyone know if this is still correct? Blues Frogger

Billy! You're right! Makes me want a "tooter-fish" sandwich, too! Adam

Well, I'll probably get flamed for this, but here goes anyway. I have always had trouble in social situations of just about any kind. I have to give presentations for work and was having a terrible time. I joined a local Toastmasters club to help with public speaking and have since found that this has really helped me with my confidence level in virtually all social settings (including the DZ). If you are interested, I believe you can find a club in your area by visiting the www.toastmasters.org website. Good luck, blue skies, Adam

Okey Doke. I wasn't trying to start anything with you, and I appreciate the calm reply! I too, am concerned about this issue. I sure can't afford to get individual liability policy to cover this. It doesn't make sense to anyway, since we are obviously a "group". So, if the premium doubles, then our dues will go up by $15 more next year. That's unfortunate, but survivable for most of us. If certain individuals or subgroups (e.g. demo jumpers) are disproportionately responsible for claims against this policy, then it should be up to USPA to look after the interests of the membership at large. In other words, remove "high risk" individuals or groups of individuals from the coverage. You know, kick out wreckless members and this should help keep premiums under control. That would be, like, you know, like an ACTUAL governing body that does something! Just a thought, Adam

Okay, I quote from your post on Aug. 29, 1:07PM. "We're talking 1/2 million bucks a year here! " And also from original post on Aug29, 7:19 AM. "(B) Raise the individual membership dues to point where it will cover the yearly premium, doing the rough math...a ten fold increase in your dues..." OK, $1/2 M divided among 33,000 members is $15.00 each. A ten-fold increase (assuming 9 of those 10 goes to increased insurance premium) is 9 x 39? x 33,000 = $11,583,000.00 So, which one are we talking about? 1/2 M per year or 11.6M per year in premium increase? Just trying to be able to form an educated opinion. Thanks, Adam

Wow, Thanks for all the great input! I actually think the risers I have now are a good length, so I did just want to be sure I replaced them with the same length mini-risers. I've seen some for sale used at big discount over new. Also, thanks for info on front risers w/ Falcon. I was pretty sure about that, but it sound like you have direct knowledge and that is good to know! Thanks, Adam

Hi Everyone, I want to replace my standard risers with mini risers. So, I'll need to measure to see what length I have now. Where should I measure, just the webbing or do I include rings or what? Thanks in advance, Adam Blue Skies

Hi Rob, Thanks for the speedy reply! I'm a 100 jump wonder, and about 1/2 my total jumps are on my Falcon 175. I guess you could say the openings are "firm", but I've NEVER been hammered by it. It does have Dacron lines as you mentioned, and that probably helps. Also, I flat pack it pretty carefully and roll the nose to just the "A" lines. That's not cuz I'm scared of getting whacked, just the way I do things. Actually, I love my canopy and was concerned when I thought you meant it was prone to malfunction. I guess I'll just keep on jumping my hot pink Falcon! (you sapps can kiss my butt! :) Thanks, Frogger

I wear my full face z1 all the way to altitude usually, and that cuts down the noise quite a bit. I assumed this was enough protection, but now you have me wondering. I there any way to check this? Thanks, Frogger

Hi Rob, I'm curious exactly what you mean about the Falcon canopy. Prone to malfunction, maybe? Or perhaps you mean it opens unacceptably hard. Did the Falcon go through subsequent design changes After the time period you refer to? I've never heard this before. If I misunderstood, could you please clarify? Thanks in advance, Frogger B25429

Narcimund's irony. Did you guys get it in the "Homo II" thread? A homosexual is indignant about the evolving meaning of the word "gay". That's hilarious! I love that kind of subtle humor! It's like Dennis Miller when he was on Monday Night Football. You're a real crack up. Keep 'em coming.

Hi Guys, Thanks for speedy replies! I already have added a KL pilot chute, and it did make a BIG difference. I was hoping I'd get more positive feedback about the split slider since that's $50, but sentiment seems pretty unanimous. New risers are $95, slinks $25 and I guess I could go the cheap route and have velcro put on my 1-piece sail slider. Still more than double. Out of curiosity, what is the hassle with the split slider? When I feel I'm ready, I will definitely downsize, but not before. I'd rather be bored than make a mistake under a canopy I'm not quite ready for. Frogger

Hi! I've got a Falcon175 w/ a kill line PC loaded at 1.1 PSF. I'd like to improve its flight with a collapsible or split slider, and would like to be able to pull it down or otherwise be able to let my risers spread to flatten the canopy. Unfortunately, I have standard (not mini) risers, so pulling the slider down over these is not so good. Would I be better off or cheaper getting mini risers or a split slider? Thanks in advance, Frogger

I was there and witnessed the landing. (decided not to go on the load because I wasn't finished packing and didn't want to ask them to wait.) 1st) The jumper that helped is a licensed pilot. I think he knew what to do. 2nd) I don't know what the "inspector" looked at. There was no elevator control on that plane when I saw it (after its "excursion"). Frogger

That's easy! Just rig up a motorized paraglider with a tandem rig. Land as normal paraglider! Frogger

Don't forget Mission Impossible (2, I think) Skydiving escape from a jet AND a base jump! Frogger

Hi Flyhi, I had that problem for a while longer than most students. I finally realized that I was having depth perception problems that are a part of my overall vision problem. I learned to overcome it by a visual trick I learned driving in bumper to bumper traffic. I look ahead (at the horizon) then down at the ground, back and forth, constantly on final. I'm sure it looks like I'm nodding to some hallucinated voice or something, butt :) I don't biff in anymore! I also agree with one of the previous posts. On MY canopy, you do have to aggressively "bump" the toggles to shoulder level in order to swing out ahead of the canopy. Pulling them down gradually will not do it, so I think you have to feel this part out for yourself (at altitude). Good luck and blue skies N.B. only 72 jumps here- take with appropriately sized grain of salt

Hi Guys, I've seen several posts here from flat packers like me. So I've got a question for you guys. How do you think it would work rolling the stacked & folded canopy before putting it in the D-bag? This would be sort of like the rolling done with a psycho pack right? 2nd point: I've got a PA Falcon. They pretty much recommend psycho packing everything they make, so should I assume that my bridle is psycho "compatible"? Or more to the point, why is the bridle extension required when psycho packing? Blue skies, Frogger

Hehheh....Any other molecular biologists on this forum?? No- Yup. I think you guys are all around the ethical dilemma. I agree that pluripotent stem cells from C. Reeves OWN body would be an appropriate source of material for THERAPEUTIC cloning. However, stem cells from an EMBRYO has unique DNA. This is how we identify people! The DNA from an embryo constitutes the potential for a genetically unique human being. We ALL start life this way. This is the dividing line between life and not. Germ cells from males and females (egg, sperm) contain only half the necessary genetic material, thus unfertilized ova which are shed are not equivalent to the EMBRYOs in question. Don't waste time talking about that. Spontaneous abortions are just that, spontaneous. The elderly also die spontaneously every day. Does that mean then that it would be OK to kill them if it would help out somebody else? Of course not. If our society does not diligently protect human life, no matter how helpless, then we will truly have stepped onto the "slippery slope." Soylent Green, anyone?

Hi Everyone, Sorry, but this is re-posted from the CRW forum. I did not get a whole lot of feedback over there. Anyway, my question is: I saw an ad in the classified for: AR-7 (177 square feet) CRW canopy with CRW risers (DOM 11/93). Can anyone tell me anything about this canopy? Is it ZP or F111? Could it also be used for RW or would terminal deployment be a bad idea? Thanks, Frogger

Hi Everyone, I saw an ad in the classified for: AR-7 (177 square feet) CRW canopy with CRW risers (DOM 11/93). Can anyone tell me anything about this canopy? Is it ZP or F111? Could it also be used for RW or would terminal deployment be a bad idea? Thanks, Frogger

Hey, check out Flyaway vertical wind tunnel in Pigeon Forge while you're that close. Frogger

Watch your mouth at least in subject lines! There is no excuse for this kind of garbage appearing in the listing of posts. If you want to put it int the body, w/ some warning in the title, that's your business/problem. I don't want to see it! Be considerate of others. Frogger

WOW!!! Outstanding post Mark! Thanks for that humorous and extremely informative discussion of canopy performance. Thanks and Blue skies! Frogger