councilman24

Read the manual. Not only does it talk about 18 needles and size 40 metric thread (E) but size 30 metric (F). Manual is here. http://parts.singerco.com/IPinstManuals/20U.pdf Another version of the manual says 19 needle and metric 30 thread (F). As said above, get a new mechanic or one that doesn't have something else to sell. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I've got some 9000' kernmantle static rescue line that might work. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I just purchased a Juki 1900A electronic bar tacker that is programmed to do a number of different bar tacks. In addition I obtained from MEL an EPROM programmed with those used by parachute manufacturers. This includes many different bar tacks. Mechanical bar tackers can only do one stitch. They come in many different configurations and can be customized for any pattern Camatron in New Jersey and Jaffe in New York, and probably others. In fact the 1900A I bought had a custom clamp and patter done by Camatron. Looking through the list here http://www.miamisewing.com/specials/tacker.htm you'll see 28 and 42 stitch as well as many others. To replicate the factory stitch (which can be considered the best standard practice and considered required by some) you would need several customized machines for different bar tacks or a machine like the one I just got that can do many different tacks. As a practical matter lots of lines have been replaced with zig zags or bar tacks that vary from the original. I let others with more line experience comment on whether they think that it makes a difference. But the damage to the line from a bad needle, bad stitch formation, bad placement and line length are probably bigger issues than the pattern used. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

What makes this hard to imagine is that that line lengths are different, so this would normally indicate different load. But the suspension platform is not fixed in relation to the load so it can equalize. Into what we call angle of attack or trim. Then you compare load pulling down/up on front risers, individual lines, and brake lines (essentially non fixed length suspension lines.) We know these can be different between canopies with the same load. But these also involve distorting the flexible suspension point. And we know the load is different during inflation but the suspension points are developing. So gut tells me load the same, and load different. I HATE PHYSICS! I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Were you open? If yes, great them with a smile. If not, LOCK THE DOOR. You won't have to worry about serving anyone if you tell customers to Fuck Off. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Until your an experienced skydiver, and even then, I recommend a Protec. It's not cool but it does allow your full range of vision, allows you to hear unimpeded, provides as much or more protection than any other 'skydiving' helmet, and is cheap. It's important to be able to see well, especially when your learning and can't necessarily anticipate what's going to happen. It's always important when jumping with less experienced jumpers that may be unpredictable. Being able to look above you easily, see oncoming freefall traffic AND canopy traffic are important. Almost all full face helmets limit your field of vision and sometimes you head motion. It's important to be able to hear commands in the airplane, from the pilot and other jumpers, to hear warnings under canopy, to hear the wind speed as you learn to fly your canopy, Any audible device can be mounted to a Protec with the help of someone experienced in doing it. Most of the 'skydiving' helmets offer little protection. In some cases they make things worse. If carbon fiber helmets break the leave razor sharp edges that can slice open your head. Also depending on care full face helmets can fog. Are your ready to handle that? And they're only about $40. But you won't be cool. Advantages of full face? Warmth, decreased noise, somewhat easier mounting of audibles. I've been looking for a full face that I like for 10 years and still haven't found one. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Did it down at Quincy. Fourteen on board and we couldn't fill the bomb bay! Some of the guys actually DIDN'T WANT to go out the bomb bay. All the bomb latches are still on the sides of the bomb bay and all greased up. Along with all sorts of threaded rods etc. First out climb down and stand STRADDLING the bomb doors. They are designed to break away so you can't stand on them. But you can stand on the center keel and the outside frame. Then the doors open underneath you. Just hop and put your feet together and drop out. Well worth the $350 at the time. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

There's a reason that skydivers used to be considered to be right along side outlaw bikers. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

The FAA and NASA did a similar crash in 1984. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-003-dfrc.html Theirs was completely remote controlled from take off to landing into steel teeth designed to open the wings. Jumps for drama? I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I use the nasal thing that just pokes in your nose with my CPAP. Not a full mask over the nose. Works for some people. I'm REALLY crabby when I forget to bring it with me on a trip. I did a second study to determine what device worked. My wife used to make me sleep down stairs, or she'd leave for the couch. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I held c spine on dead mike. But I'm not sure he ever lost his pulse. Just couldn't breath very well with his throat/lungs full of teeth. The other guy just before him hit a camper. We did cpr on him when pulseless and got him back. He died at the hospital. In general the OP is right. Blunt force cardiac arrest is usually unrecoverable but there are exceptions. I'll let a doctor tell me to stop. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I work on many canopies with red bleed. Never were wet. Some Ravens and some rounds ALL seem to have bleed from red thread. Never has been an issue. I don't see much on canopies from grommets but have never found an issue. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Each case is different. No one can tell you they will pack it until they inspect it. PD requires that after 40 pack jobs or 25 rides it needs to go back to PD for evaluation. So there is nothing that prevents it from being packed with the information you have. Until an individual rigger inspects it and deems it airworthy you won't know for sure. You should have all equipment you considering buying inspected before purchase. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

The 350 does NOT have the life limit in it. The manual for the British version does. See below and attached. And my Principle Managing Inspector (as an FAA designee) has given me different guidance. IF this is to be THE interpretation of the FAA then it needs to be disseminated as such by the FAA to all inspectors. Telling the USPA doesn't do me any good. The U.S. 350, British 350 and service bulletins are available at http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk/cms/index.php?/files/category/178-manuals/ US 350 version here. http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk/cms/index.php?/files/file/2975-model-350/ British A350 with the maintenance notes attached is available here. http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk/cms/index.php?/files/file/2894-a350pdf/ Chapter 2.2, page 10 of the document. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Doesn't a new manual have to be submitted as a minor change normally? I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Of course their have been manufacturers that desperately WANTED an AD issued on their parachute equipment and the FAA refused, stating that since it wasn't an aircraft or appliance they could NOT issue an AD for a parachute. We all know they used to but haven't since 1999. The last was the Relative Workshop amp fittings. So once again one FAA type is saying one thing and another saying that it isn't possible. There have been indications they might be willing to issue a parachute AD again but I don't believe they have. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Dave Singer at Sunpath told me they use these. http://www.mark-10.com/instruments/force/mg.html I was able to get a MG100 off ebay, new old stock, for less than half price. Came with NIST traceable calibration. Just looked on ebay and didn't see any. Cheapest on google search was about $517. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

NO WAY JOSE!!!!. Bad idea. I doubt you will find any experienced jumper who would agree with that. As Bill points out, there is no point. Apart from the risk of damaging it, or yourself, the value of your reserve should you wish to sell it instantly drops. I think he's talking about a demo canopy with pc attachment from PD. Not his reserve. I'd vote for subterminal. Won't be RC and spring loaded PC so you wouldn't get the full experience (PC hesitation) anyway. An old fart like me that likes their main parachutes to open instead of streamer for 800' probably wouldn't mind the reserve opening so much. But since you jump a pulse you would think you hit the ground when the reserve opened at terminal. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I see older jumpers less willing to dump their reserve. Younger jumpers more willing. Both can be taken to extremes. The guy that thinks he can fix the spinning malfunction and waits too long is a big issue. We've also had people decide they were too low to open their main without a chance of having two out (way above many normal opening altitudes for old timeres), worry about not pulling their reserve correctly, and falling stable until their cypres opened their reserve for them ON PURPOSE. This was trust in both the reserve AND AAD with a main still on their back. Your right. We have both extremes. Not using a reserve when they should kills many more people. Pulling it when probably didn't need it usually doesn't kill. But may be getting rid of a parachute that is working for one that will probably work. I was trying to educate on one extreme. The other is probably more important. I try to never in a real life situation tell someone they were wrong in pulling their reserve. Thanks for reminding us too many people don't pull or delay pulling too long. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Much bigger than a 169 safire is a 209 or the biggest they make, a 229. Even at your experience you don't need anything bigger 210. Main canopies that are 260 for the most part are non-zp canopies. At one point after an injury about 1990 I used to have a sabre 190 (zp) and a Manta 288 (non-zp). When I wanted a guaranteed soft landing I grabbed the 190. You want to stay with ZP and a 210 for someone 190 suspended is as big as you want. Remember lower loading means lower airspeed means you blow away easier when it's windy. Can you land going backwards? I have a Sabre 210 and at with 240 without gear it's more than big. Your thinking way too big and if your thinking non-zp then your thinking wrong. Hmmm, not sure I ever thought I'd say "your thinking way too big". I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

My conclusion was that it wasn't worth reading past the cover page. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Is your profile right? Do you want this for a second canopy? Not sure what to recommend. Type big in the search for the classifieds. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BERNINA-217-Decorative-Stitch-Cams-Sewing-Machine-Ornamental-Automatic-/400319865293 I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Check in with Shlomo in Israel. RIGGER on here. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

As you've heard above most manufacturers if not all make containers for canopies that size. They may also make a student version but will offer that size in a normal version. Student versions may have several additions and variations that you don't need, want or want to pay for. If you think your staying this big for a while you could order new/custom. But used gear is available. I have a Vector II V-8 with a PD 266 9 cell non zp. I have a friend with a similar canopy in a Javelin J-7. Get with someone with experience to guide you through the variations and talk to your rigger about fit of main AND reserve choices in anything you choose. Shorter answer? No you don't need to buy a student rig and and any brand will have a 'good one' for your canopy choice. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE