Hooknswoop

Yes, I did. I used the chest mount as one of the canopies in the 2-out. I only ended up cuting away the main and chest mount and going to the actual reserve once. Derek

I have done some 2-out tests and all I can tell you is that it is un-predictable how they will interact. It isn't difficult to avoid 2-out situations and that is where your focus should be. If you do find yourself in a 2-out situation, be very careful, don't make the situation worse. Derek

Wouldn't it get pulled flush as it was loaded? Derek

I have a dear frien that is on the jumps. He is sending regular updates. I'm sure he will post a somplete write-up of the trip when he gets back, I wouldn't want to spoil it for him. Derek

Flight Concepts Intl. Derek

It sounds like the end piece with the "0" grommet on the end of the release cable housing is twisted 180 degrees. If so, nothing to worry about. Derek

A lap rating is just that, a reserve parachute that would sit on the lap. There weren't many made and the only picture I have ever seen of one is in Poynter's PPM, Vol I. AFAIK they aren't used or made anymore. Derek

With only Rigging65 PM'ing me the correct answer, it is 15 pounds. Derek

Roger Nelson/Skydive Chicago did not put Students on Stilettos, much less Stiletto 170's and smaller. I asked someone that works there and that is the answer I recieved. Only a select few of the very aware and fast-learning post-student-status jumpers jumped Stilettos. Derek

I haven't seen a Vortex up close. Looks very nice. Derek

Let's keep this thread on-topic. Last warning. Derek

Rigging65 got it. Any other guesses? Derek

RWS has a goo write up on how to wash a Vector, it applys to any container at: Washing your Vector . Derek

I don't have the numbers, but there is a difference. Therein lies the rub. The 3-ring release must work when we need it. If it doesn't, we can end up dead. Using stainless steel mini rings increases pull forces. They must be manufactured correctly and maintained to prevent hard pulls. If we choose to use a release system that is less efficient than possible and is affected by a lack of maintenance to a higher degree, we must be aware of the downside of our choice and perform the required maintenance. An analogy; a high performance sports car requires maintenance to run well. If we don't maintain a Ford Taurus, it will still run, just not as well. Don't perform the maintenance on a Ferrari and it will not run at all, not simply run poorly. Derek

As it was explained to me by Bill Booth and mentioned by Rigging65, the stainless steel rings are very smooth, which causes more force to be transmitted to the locking loop. Friction between the rings and webbing absorbs some of the force, reducing the amount transmitted to the locking loop. He was asking because he had just developed the new electrolysis-plated hardware at PIS 2001. He said that the plated hardware had the nice look of the stainless, but retained the efficiency of the Cadmium plated hardware that was lost with the stainless. Derek

That is the most efficient cutaway system there is (if there are manufactured to specs). Any deviation from that can increase cutaway forces. Derek

What is the maximum rip cord pull force for Chest Type Parachute Assemblies per AS8015 REv.B? Derek

I have used tube stows for 2000+ jumps, no bag locks. My one back lock was on a tandem and it locked because the rubber bands had been double-wrapped. Derek

Stainless steel 3-rings reduces the efficiency of the 3-ring, which means higher loads on the white locking loop and higher pull forces on the cutaway handle. This can contribute to impossibly high cutaway forces, which has happened. This is a failure. Things that increase cutaway forces: Stainless steel 3-rings Mini-rings Excess cutaway cable s twisted around each other without hard housing inserts The channel on the back of the rear risers 'gripping' the excess cutaway cable if hard housings are not installed. Dirty cutaway cables Rough spots or sharp bends on the cutaway cables 3-rings not manufactured to specs. Things that can reduce cutaway forces: Cadmium or electrolysis-plated 3-rings Standard (large) 3-rings Clean cutaway cables Riser inserts 3-rings manufactured to specs Straight, knick or bend-free cutaway cables All that being said, stainless hardware doesn't seem to rust, and if manufactured to specs, maintained every 30 days, hard housings are used in the risers, stainless 3-rings are OK. Derek

Dan, your profile indicates you jump at the "RANCH" and use an "atair reserve 110 ft²". According to TSO Holders (TSO 23d) , Atair does not hold TSO C23d Authorization. This tells me 2 things, 1) Atair does make a reserve canopy, and 2) you are illegally jumping a non-TSO'd reserve canopy in the U.S. Is this correct? Refering to the Cobalt, To include?: Being functionally open within 3 seconds from the moment of pack opening? Being functionally open within 300 feet from the altitude at pack opening? Being functionally open within 2 seconds of breaking away from another canopy descending at less than 20 FPS? All 70 drop tests? What is the Cobalt 65's rate of descent with 182 lbs. suspended weight (a 2.8:1 wingloading)? Not higher than 24 FPS? Below a total velocity of 36 FPS? [deployment configuration, i.e. brakes stowed] 2 drops of a free fall of at least 20 seconds where the user must suffer no significant discomfort from the opening shock and must be able to disengage himself unaided from the harness after landing? Some Cobalt owners have posted that their Cobalt opens unacceptably hard, even following all of Atair's recommendations. Some Cobalt owners have posted that their Cobalt opens very nicely, all the time. I would conclude that nicely opening Cobalts are hit or miss. Some do, some don't. Atair has made some outrageous claims on this forum in the past, claims they could not back up. Anyone considering purchasing a new canopy should understand that manufactures will try to paint the best possible picture of their product and are in the business of making money. Some manufacturers are more reputable than others. Research any gear purchase thoroughly, to include test jumping a product you are considering. A little history; Atair has posted: "something to consider that most people do not realize is that the first shock you feel when deploying a canopy is at line stretch before your canopy is out of the bag. this shock is caused by the pilot chute, not the canopy. if this defination is acceptable as line dump i have quite alot of proof as to it happening both video and datalogged jumps. as the opening sequence is a series of fast shocks a jumper is usually incorect when recounting what happened in the analysis of a jump. i.e. 10 different pilots, 10 jumps, same single canopy, and you will get 10+ different accounts of how it opened. probably none of which match the recorded datalogged sensor data. the most dramatic recorded instance of the above was 29g's at line stretch and then 6.4g peak once the canopy came out of the bag. improperly sized pilots especially at higer speeds can definately rock you harder than you canopy. " Only later, after being questioned, is it explained: "1000# exit weight, 350 sq' main, vector tandem rig, 184mph speed at deployment. scrunchie failed to collapse drogue, line stretch generated 29g's, canopy upon exiting bag generated a max of 6.4 g's stage 1, about 3.5 g's stage 2. " It was not a normal sport rig, but a tandem at high speed with a drogue that failed to collapse. The data used to back up that statement doesn't apply to normal sport rigs. In another thread Atair posted: "so yes our student canopy is considerably more elliptical than many canopies you will see in swoop competitions." To which was asked: "Your student canopy, do you mean the Cobalt?" (The largest Cobalt offered is a 170 sq. ft. and a 'student' is defined, in the USA, as a skydiver without a license, generally less than 20 jumps.) To which they replied: "yes i mean the cobalt and previously the space/alpha." "chart: we have a real world wingloading chart posted on our web site. what i mean by real world is a list of where most of our customers fall into. i.e. begineer 1.2-1.4, intermediate 1.4-1.6 etc... " And clarified later: "Do you recommend putting students under Cobalts at a 1.2 wing loading?" "yes, anyone you would consider safe under a sabre, safire or hornet is equally safe on a cobalt." "Has this been done?" "yes" "Where?" But a Drop Zone where the student equipment included Cobalt 170's (or smaller) was never given. To reply to your post: I notice you have changed you term from 'student' to beginner', progress. "imo", from the salesman, not an Instructor. Many Instructors, including me, have a different opinion of the Cobalt as a beginner's canopy. It is not suitable for beginners. I base that opinion upon of years of Instructing. The characteristics the Cobalt demonstrates are not the characteristics of a good student or beginner canopy. I disagree. It does not have a flawless record with beginners. The Space is unsuitable for beginners. (I have jumped one and was surprised at the performance) Derek

Great solution! Derek

They do require inspection, just like Rapide links do, but Rapide links have to also be check for tightness and have their slider bumpers replaced. Slinks are simply replaced when they show enough wear. Derek

They may not have actually broken. If they weren't tacked, then they could have simply slipped out of the finger-trap. Check to see if the line actually broke or wasn't sewn. Derek

How many jumps were on the main's line set? Derek

I have edited several posts. I think everyone has expressed their opinion on SkydiveNFlorida's canopy choices that wishes to. She has expressed that she has read and understands everyone's opinion's and has made her decision. She has also made it clear that she is done listening to anyone's opinion on the matter. Ultimately, it is her decision to make. It is also the DZO's and S & TA's decision to allow her to jump her choice of canopies at a given drop zone. There is nothing to be gained by continuing to attempt to changer her mind. We can only hope at this point that either; 1) Her choice is acceptable and she will be fine with her canopies, or 2) the DZO and/or S & TA of the DZ she chooses to jump at will prevent her from jumping if they feel the canopies are not appropriate to her skill level. Let it go. Derek