Martini

Since paragliders are sized according to wingloading as are skydiving canopies you can't expect a useful response without more info. Kinda seems like a troll since you must already know that. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Whoa. Really pushed a button there didn't I. OK. I made the whole thing up all by myself. Clearly it's debatable and no scientific evidence exists that I know of. But there doesn't seem to be a reason to use double stows over grommets either. Why use a technique that even remotely increases the chance of a bag lock? Do any container manufacturers recommend double stowing locking stows? Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Numbers are pretty irrelevant here. Nobody uses a scale to pack. My take, FWIW: Keep the stows even in bight and tension. Unless they are completely loose or ridiculously tight they'll be fine. The only purpose they serve is to keep the lines orderly. Stows have little to do with canopy openings if kept uniform. Use single or double wraps to achieve snug, uniform stows. 2" bights are reasonable. Don't double stow locking stows. Although some people have never had a problem, most bag lock malfunctions I've heard about involve doing this. My bet is that no manufacturer recommends double stowing locking stows. It isn't complicated or technical. Neat, snug, uniform. Leave about 18" of neatly folded line between bag and riser. And keep in mind that everyone has their own idea of what's best just like you will pretty soon. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

If it's any help my rigs have reserves that are 25-30% larger than the mains. In my case the w/l is moderately high but typical of smaller canopies. If you plan on getting a reserve smaller than your main, as is often the case with larger canopies and lower wingloadings, you would be wise to invest the very small amount it takes to demo a reserve at the size you are planning on buying. Please consult reliable jumpers at your DZ for specifics. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

"B" string from a guitar works fine. You can get a free used one from a music store. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Man, that is one beautiful vid. Thanks for sharing. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

No mention of harness size, reserve size or model, dates etc. gets my vote for real close scrutiny. Best to contact seller for much more info including serial nos. If it's a ripoff it isn't likely the seller will be very forthcoming. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I watched a friend try to deploy with the tube handle several years ago. when he reached back his thumb pushed the handle into the boc. He managed to extract it but it took a few seconds of "oh shit" struggling. I was laughing my ass off, it was pretty funny to watch. About five jumps later it happened to me only I didn't see any humor in it then. I'm much happier with a hackey and it isn't slippery like the pipe either. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Sorry we took the topic off course here Francesco. As has been noted, flying in a commercial aircraft before or after skydiving is OK. SCUBA diving after riding in an aircraft is OK. Riding in an aircraft after SCUBA isn't recommended until after a 12-18 hour wait. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Consider this thread officially hijacked I guess. Although I might be more conservative with my dive profile if I plan to fly afterward (shorter/shallower dive) I'm more likely to vary my skydive activities based on the dives I've done. Also taken into consideration is the interval between end of dive and start of jumping. The whole thing is pretty subjective and makes me a guinea pig but I'm pretty considerate about it even though it's definitely pushing things. Maybe someday there will be a nice algorithm to account for all the variables but I wouldn't hold my breath. (pun intended) As for being more conservative than DAN's recommendation I think they did a pretty in-depth analysis recently to come up with the new figures. Naturally they don't guarantee not getting bent so being more conservative isn't a bad thing either. All I can tell you is that for my body what I'm doing hasn't caused any apparent effect. Naturally I don't do a couple of 150' deco dives and then run over to do some 13.5k wingsuit jumps either. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I hope you're joking. Altimeters can stick anytime. They're pretty useful but not perfect. I've had several altimeters stick at various altitudes, most recently one stuck at 2500' on a 2500' hop & pop. It gave me the weirdest sensation of floating. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

DAN's current recommendation is a 12 hour wait after a single no-deco dive and an 18 hour wait after multiple dives whether deco or non-deco. This applies to commercial flights with a cabin pressure of 8000' or better. I've discussed skydiving applications of this rule with DAN and since there is no research data on skydiving after diving they aren't willing to advise anything more aggressive. Personally I abuse the rule frequently but conservatively. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Practicing/learning various kinds of suboptimal flying and landing techniques is valuable allright. Finding out how you personally deal with abnormal and stressful situations could save your butt someday. Mentioning downwind practice usually gets a look of horror as a response, how sadly shortsighted. I'll join you when I have a chance. I think I may have done a downwinder or two now that I think of it. And landed in a tight spot, made evasive manoeuvers, low braked turns, on rear risers etc. Good experience, good fun. Have yourself a ball Eugene. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

You mean that was you??? Laugh *** Yep. I'd do it again but NAS Whidbey swore they'd shoot me down if I ever broke the sound barrier again. Besides, it took me almost two weeks pay to replace all those windows. Naturally without all that speed I can't generate enough lift to sustain a climb either. Now I'm working on standing up my no-canopy landings, I keep sliding so far that my shoes melt off and trip me. Good thing there's a fence at the end of the runway at Harvey Field to stop my slide too. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Thats nothin. The sonic boom from an S-3 flight of mine earlier this year knocked out all the windows in Seattle. The DZ sent an F-99 fighter to get me but I kept outclimbing it. Had to come down after 27 minutes 'cause I couldn't hold my breath any longer at 85,000 feet. Thought I was pretty hot shit until Jim passed me in his V-1. Blew the fuckin booties off my Birdman. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

They're holsters for miniature hook knives to cut HMA lines. You'll need both the left and right hand knives for opposite sides of the canopy. Available at any "Rigs-R-Us" dealer. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Turning off a Cypres is too time consuming and would dangerously distract the canopy pilot's attention. "Hardcore swoopers" are typically jumping small highly loaded canopies that require serious attention and don't stay in the air very long. Keeping the Cypres unit away from possible damage (like in the backpad or under the reserve flap) is also a good plan. It is also one reason the Astra, with it's vulnerable exposure, isn't very popular. While fashion may be a factor most people jump with an AAD so it's doubtful that visibility would put people off. Another fly in the ointment though is remembering to turn the AAD back on for the next jump. At any rate disabling the AAD for high-end swoopers is clearly a good plan and appears to be a consideration for the AAD manufacturers. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Glad you kept it together anyway. For some reason this reminds me of sticking my hand into my S-3 wing at pull time. Definitely an attention getter. Makes throwing the pc a more conscious act for a few jumps too. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Well Jaye, we could try sewing a softball-sized whiffle ball on yer pc, that oughta cure it! Seriously I haven't heard of that problem but can easily imagine how it could set up; like a loose boc mouth coupled with a deeply stowed pc pulling the hackey in tight, especially if the hackey is small.. It might be worth having Todd take a look. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe; all mimsy were the borogoves and the mome raths outgrabe. (first verse of "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll) Sometimes you eat the bear..............

I'd sure like to see the vid as well as your TF vid someday. Bill G. is keeping me from enjoying those so I'm counting on you for a private screening. I'll buy the beer/wine. Great tides this wknd, great weather too. Sunday? Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Well Ryan, if you aren't a troll, nobody on this forum is likely to advise you on swoop technique with only 127 jumps. Read the various threads on swooping here for lots of free advice. Work on other skills first. Ask instructors at your DZ for advice not people who haven't seen you land. Also post a picture of a pro cobalt 150 since it must be the only one in captivity. BTW you can learn a lot about swooping on a Sabre. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Me too. If you don't know what you are doing rigging don't do it. Again, if you don't know your left riser from your right get someone else to hook up your canopy. Same goes for three rings, pilot chute, lineset etc. Hooking up backwards is inexcusable whether the canopy is bagged or not (and also brings on the unresolvable question of landing a backwards canopy). Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Being conservative is a good thing. Knowing your left (riser) from your right is also good, it will keep you from hooking up backwards. What works for me might not be good for someone else. Do what works for you, let others have the same freedom. Sometimes you eat the bear..............

Place the right riser on top of the left riser, secure them with two rubber bands. Wind the lines and risers around the d-bag without twisting, wrap it all up with the bridle, tuck the pc in carefully. Reverse process to reconnect. I do it all the time when one of my rigs is unavailable, never had a problem. If you aren't 100 % sure when you hook up then you must repack. It helps if you know which riser has the rsl ring, mark your risers R & L if they don't have rings. Sometimes you eat the bear..............