councilman24

oops I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

The airplane was well below us. It fell past me in freefall and started to nose over when I lost sight of it. I did kind of look around for it in the formation. And it was a Jerry Bird load! Are YOU going to NOT try to get in? I was surprised the pilots didn't have to change their pants. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I was just showing off how moldy I am. The soft rings I was taking about were some RW hmmmm 3? harness rings of the three ring that didn't get heat treated. They were stretching. So all rings with that part number needed to be hardness tested or replaced. This was in 1984. But, I found a rig that wasn't tested or replaced about 5 years ago. I've also seen ripcord stops revisited not long ago. The point was that there is lots of stuff that could be taught and trying to gather information for the first time might be less efficient then to get the help of someone that's seen most of the things that can go wrong. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I had a 190 Sabre and a 190 Triathlon. They flew the same airspeed (measured with an anemometer) and handled much the same. The sabre flared a little stronger. I demo'd a Spectre 190 a couple weeks after it was released. My Sabre had opening problems and PD was going to sell be a new canopy for $200. The Spectre took 700 ft to open whether it was at terminal or hop and pop. I don't care for canopies that open like this. I get out between 2000' and 3000' feet too often. The spectre flew fine but I didn't think it had the flare power of either the Sabre or Triathlon. I didn't want the twin control lines of the Sabre 190 so I ordered a Sabre 170 to replace the old 190. For many new skydivers the openings I like on my Triathlon and Sabre would be too hard. I consider some of these long openings to be streamers that finally clear. When I want my parachute open, I want it open now. Of course I'm and inch and a half shorter than I was 20 years ago. But, the market is for softer openings, which means longer openings, and younger jumpers are starting to open higher because of the new designs. Ethics in skydiving? Demo what you want. Some manufacturers charge to send a demo out, some dealers have demos. But what ever, don't worry about it. Your going to be a customer of somebody some day. And the sooner someone sells you their used rig, the sooner they'll buy the new one. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I was on the load and have a copy of the freefall video of the CASA flat on it's back. 1996 Richmond as stated early. Jerry Bird was organizing a thirty something way. For the record there were NO markings about CG in the airplane fusilage. I HAD seen markings in the Sky Van. I had jumped the CASA's at Quincy and other places before Richmond and had NEVER had a briefing on CG awareness for the CASA. I knew (had been briefed) the problem with the skyvan and others. But since there were no placards and no briefing (on probably 20 CASA jumps) I figured that it wasn't a problem. I was in the second row, facing the tail. We were back there for a lot longer than we should have been. The count was given about 3 times. I felt some positive G's, negative G's and found myself pooped out. I started diving to the formation and realized I was seeing blue sky. I was on my back. Flipped over, looked around and saw the CASA flat on it's back, no spin. I looking right in the tailgate, and it passed me in freefall. It kept on going and I lost sight of it as it started to nose over in recovery. Of course we started building the formation but it only got to about 10. Some friends of mine on board ran (crawled) out the ceiling, others didn't get out until it recovered. Worst injury I know of was a dislocated or broken jaw. Some bumps and bruses. A couple of people were hauled away on back boards but I THINK they only were banged up. BTW the CASA taxied in, hot loaded the next group, and went back up. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I have a friend blind in one eye. He makes his living as a carpenter doing very good finish work. He also is one of the better canopy pilots around there. He got a pilots license with special fight testing. I'm not sure you get to blame your butt slides on your eyesight, but it makes a good excuse. I have a busted up leg. For about two years after the repair I couldn't take a running step, so if I had speed left I flared for my butt and slid like sliding into second. After my leg started working better it took me two or three years to relearn how to flare for my feet. One Halloween party I covered one eye and blended the socket in with morticians wax. Looked like I didn't have an eye socket. My eye was open behind the patch and that was weird. In order to grab a glass of beer I had to line up with it and go straight out till my hand hit it. If I tried to grab it bringing my hand from the side I'd miss. Now this is a serious handcap when it effects BEER! I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Start with the USPA Safety Day checklist. www.uspa.org Under Safety and Training and Safety day. (don't know how to clicky a frame.) PIA also has posters on how to maintain a three ring. Find a friendly rigger that wants to generate some business and good will. No offense, but at 110 jumps you need someone else to teach the course. Some who knows what a too soft harness ring is, why ripcord stops are bad, why slider bumpers should be tied down, what an unfastened quick link looks like after it's been jumped, etc. In others words some one with a little more experience. I do a very short version at safety day. If time is no option ask a rigger to pack a reserve for the session. Without full inspection and paper work it'll take about an hour. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Quote*** Malfunction occured because of badness of construction. Bottom reserve flap and top main flap was made like one rigid detail. Because of that, when main container filled (bag still in container) PC of reserve cant jump out (its holding by bottom flap). *** Bill Booth has mentioned this potential problem before. Badly made Vector copies (or Vectors) could have this problem. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Here is Cheryl's website http://www.stratoquest.com/default.cfm?page=3 and a news article from here. http://www.dropzone.com/news/SpaceParachutingSkydivin.shtml. Couldn't find website on the other attempts but didn't try very hard. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

You looking to buy or borrow? I've got just about all the parts to put a rig together, including chest mount, 24 flat, PC. I'm not sure if the harness I have is set up for a reserve. But I do have a Crossbow piggyback H/C with PC and reserve packed up and ready to go. It's only about 6 years out of date. Sorry but I'm a pack rat and none of it's for sale. Jumping the PC I can understand. Wanting a B4 harness and chest mounts a little weird. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Hmmmm. I see this discussion as another version of the "I'll never jump without a Cypres," threads. In the twenty three years I've been jumping I've loaned about everything except my rig to students or new jumpers who forgot something. Altimeters, helmet, goggles, hook knifes. When I was beginning is was routine for some experienced jumpers not to use altimeters. I have friends with hundreds, if not thousands, of skydives without an altimeter. I didn't use one as a static line student. I bought my own when I bougt my own gear. I prefer to wear it for a number of reasons. How high is the airplane? How low are the clouds? Should we get out or not? Is it time to have the students get ready? I'm I high enough to cutaway? Is it time to get ready to land? Is the thermal sending me UP? And How high am I in freefall? An altimeter is a valuable tool, but not a critical one. It is also one that can fail or mislead. I've never gotten as good at judging altitude by I as I should be. And I consider that a disadvantage. But, if you forget yours, look around. Maybe I'll lend you mine. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Rob, If you'd been at the Parachute Certification Standards committee meetings before the sypmosium you'd know that a few years is more likely. I doubt the PIA standard will be done this year, even though Manley claims it will be. And the FAA has threatened, unofficially, not to adopt it as the new TSO if they are unsatisfied with the document. I expect with the FAA process of adoption it wil be at least two years for TSO c23E to issue. Everyone would like it sooner but I just don't see it. If there are significant comments to the FAA it may be much longer. Alexey, For now I'd suggest working from TSO C23d, or even b or c, for guidance for a testing program. Also, quality control procedures for the manufacturing process and materials that are used must be part of any plan to improve quality of the equipment used. You can contact Manley Butler, of Butler Parachute Systems, at pcscchair@pia.com. He is the newly reelected chairman of the PIA Parachute Certification Standards committee. He will be able to update you on the progress of the standard we hope to have adopted as TSO c23E by the FAA. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

It's too high when the hanger doors are whistling. Unless I haven't jumped in a month. As stated by others, terrain, direction, DZ size, who's spotting etc. come in to play. Backing up under my 30 mph sabre and triathlon is a little much for me anymore. My actual personal limit is probably around 20 on the ground. Just not worth the extra risk anymore. Of course when its too windy for normal jumping ... Let's do a cross country! Never fails some idiot shouts that out when we're standing around trying to figure out if we're going. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I gave the higher level link because there are actually 4. Three labels; main, reserve, and container and a warning statement for manuals. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

There is standard text that are technical bulletins published by the PIA. http://www.pia.com/piapubs/public_document_index.htm I don't think PIA actually sells them anymore, but I think they used to. Most are now customized by the manufacturer with additional language. They may not be willing to have a label with their name on it on any other product. Best bet might be to take the PIA version and have it reproduced yourself. Any local printer can do Tyvek for you if thats what you want. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

When I was a student 23 years ago I used to have the same problem. I'd even go off side by side hooked up with someone. We'd close the two way, he'd back off, I'd drive forward .... and promptly start to spin. No one could see what I was doing. One night setting on the couch I solved it. I was flying with my head down, looking at the ground instead of the horizon. This was dipping a shoulder and causing the turn. When I concentrated on putting my head as far back as I could it solved the problem. It was harder for me since I was wearing a motorcylce helmet and an old Crossbow rig that was a chest mount like reserve mounted on the back. My guess is that when you start looking at your altimeter or the ground your dropping your shoulders and relaxing your arch. Try to remember to keep your shoulders rolled back and don't move anything but your head to look around.[email] AFF might help by having someone else there to look at. In addition you will be able to get some in the air commands about body position. But, this is something you can solve on your own. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Pumping is not the most effective way of opening a closed end cell. Going to full brakes and holding it till the canopy slows down usually will open an end cell. Stalling the canopy just collapses all the cells again and doesn't get you anywhere. Unless you weigh less than 130 lbs in gear, you shouldn't expect a particularly good landing. We very rarely went above 1.0 loading for routine F-111 7 cell mains. And most people were less than 1.0. A new reserve with near new porosity will behave better than an older one. But, if you've never jumped and flared a 7 cell F-111 (of course you have now!) it'll be tough to get a good landing. You walked away, that's as good as it gets. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Grasshopper, learn from our wisdom ... earned with orthopedic metal. Hey, I didn't say I wasn't young, stupid, and immortal once upon a time. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I answer a lot of questions here. I also answer a lot of questions in person. I didn't find this question distastful, just misguided. My rant wasn't at anyone trying to learn more. But this isn't like buying a car. The instructors and experienced jumpers that know a student or beginner know their strengths, limitations, experience, and need. I encourage people buying new gear to talk to me about their choices, as an instructor and a rigger. And coming over to my house or calling in the middle of winter in Michigan is the best time, because neither one of us can jump. Skydiving is still dangerous, and beginner gear can kill just as easily (ok not quit as easily) as the latest 80 mph surfing canopy. I always caution people that the information they get in any internet forum is like picking up used chewing gum on the street. You take it for what it's worth. Now there are some people who, after time and if you know enough already, you can recognize as people to listen to. And when people like Bill Booth answer questions, it's time to read it, even if you don't agree. Now, what did you want to know? I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

My FIRST freefall was on my own gear. Crossbow harness and container (you really could take the container off the harness), Crossbow reserve, Comp. Para Comander (Merry Widow pattern), with shot and a half Capwells, cones on both main and reserve, last hope rope, and REAL toggles. Most of you ever wonder why toggles are called toggles? They used to be wooden dowels with holes drilled to tie on the steering line. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Ok, rant time. Just because you can ask here, WHY ARE YOU!. Talk to your instructors, riggers, DZ owners, other respected jumpers at your DZ! Not that you'll get better answers, but at least you'll know who they are coming from. One of the most frustrating things is students coming up with emails or user group messages and saying "This guy says I should.....". The locals may know if you've already got this figured out, or should be on training wheels for awhile. Like I was 24 years ago. Talk to the people who know you and your abilities and limitations, can lead you through a ParaGear catalog to show you many of the models available, give you advice on used gear that may be appropriate and available in your area, etc. etc. Then, maybe, ask a question here about a certain choice or option. Ok, Rant Off. Every skydiver here will be glad to offer you an opinion. The thing that skydivers like doing second to skydiving is talking about it. But we don't know you and you don't know us. BTW, I doubt that a DZ these days will let you use your own rig until your no longer a student. And you don't want to buy student gear, you want to buy beginner gear. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Read the label. You can go to http://www.pia.com/piapubs/TS%20Documents/ts-104.htm for the PIA definition. But this may very well not match the manufacturer's declared area and doesn't give guidance for non-rectangular canopies, which didn't exist when it was written. I actually was serious in the first line. Or call the manufacturer with the serial number, if IT doesn't include the size, and ask them. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

As mentioned at the PIA Rigger Forum during the symposium, forms for replacing, updating, and changing your rigger certificate are here. http://www2.faa.gov/forms/index.html Scroll down to flight standards service forms. Particularly of interest is the address change form, a requirement, and the SSN removal form. You can change your number to something other than your SSN if that's what yours is. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Menage a JUMP! Did you see the "French links" holding the passenger snaps at minute 2:00? I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Not all manufacturers follow PIA's method of determining area or pack volume. PD doesn't do area by PIA standards, Precision and Jump Shack don't do volume by PIA standards. Work is ongoing to revise these standard test measurements to something that all will agree on, but it's a bunch of skydivers. They'll never all agree. George at Precision wants to say his canopys pack smaller. Bill at PD want to say they're small canopy will handle higher weights. A big part of this is marketing. And I've said as much in the technical meetings. At the PIA business meeting in January the French goverment representatives wanted a volume measurement on all container and canopy placards so that compatibility could be determined easily. We all know that not only measurements methods are different but sewing and material variations can lead to 10% or more variation in "volumes." If you have a 10% big container and a 10% smaller reserve, you may be able to fit a reserve 1 or 2 sizes bigger in a given harness. The other way around and your customer is made because he ordered the absolute smallest rig that would "nominally" hold his chosen reserve and you tell him it won't fit. Also each riggers packing style may be more or less sucessful with a given rig/canopy combination. We tried to convince the French that even if numbers were put on placards they wouldn't guarentee compatibility. Soooooo, only your rigger knows for sure if it fits. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE