Hooknswoop

The main was packed with normal, sport, rubber bands, not he extra wide & thick tandem bands. True, tandems are a different animal, but I have seen a few bag locks on sport rigs from double-stowing too. Some people have double stowed for a long time without a problem too. I just don't see a need to hold the lines that tight and use the smaller rubber bands when I put other people's gear together. Hook

I recently had a bag lock on a tandem because thge lines had been double stowed. I have used tube stows for a long time and have never had a problem with them. Hook

The Instructor probably meant that if the student couldn't find the handle (it is a little harder to find on tandems), but makes the Instructor aware that they are aware of the alititude and attempting to pull, good to go. If you "had my hand on it this time", why didn't you pull it? That would be my question if I was the Instructor. It is a red flag that puts doubt into the Instructor's mind that you weren't going to pull. There was no reason not to pull, and you didn't. Did you have the handle in your hand or "was just fixing to grab it"? The Instructor is thinking about AFF. What if on your AFF jump you grab the handle and don't pull? The idea is to show the Instructor you can handle it. "I went through the motions correctly", except for he important part, actually pulling. You didn't pass not because "didnt pass because I didnt pull quck enough.", but because you didn't pull. In summary, take responsibilty for your action/inactions throughout your training, do not blame you Instructors. "the way I want to be, because this shit is dangerous" Glad you recognize that now. Keep at it, sounds like you are doing fine. Hook

And it also lists the Turn Rate (LOL), Forward Speed (LOL!) and Rate of Descent (OUCH!). In BASE jumping, rounds are known for unpredictable opening speeds. Don't pull low w/ a round on a BASE jump. I have 14 reserve rides on squares, all stand-up landings, on the spot I chose. Hook

I read in the APF newsletter a tandem instructor, at pull time, could not reales the first drogue release, so he went for the second. He couldn't release it either. he attempted to cutaway, but could not. He then pulled the reserve. It was a Racer Tandem Rig. The drogue had orbited the tandem pair during drogue-fall, and the bridle wrapped/twisted around the excesses of the 3 drogure release ripcords, preventing them from being pulled along with the cutaway handle. The third drogue release complicates the system as is there in the event the Instructor fails to pull the handles in the correct order. Good initial, and re-current training can prevent this (along with the Sigma) Geez Bill, you should put me on the pay roll Hook

Check out some of my "What would you do if?" posts. Most skydivers couldn't care less if it doesn't affect them. Non-instructors at the DZ won't stop going to a DZ to protest an Instructor drug testing policy. I think Skratch is right in that this is going to be used as a marketing ploy. Hook

1) Easier to install. (They don't require bumpers, Lock-tite, torque stripe, or tools.) 2) Easier to inspect. (I am getting tired of 90% + of the rigs I re-pack for the first time not having Lock-tite on the Rapide links or a torque-stripe). 3) Slinks are stronger than Rapide links. 4) Lower bulk, more comfortable when the reserve is packed. 5) They don't damage the slider grommets, which can then damage the lines. 6) They are not subject to being damaged from over tightening. 7) They don't work loose. 8) They don't rust. Most resistance I have seen to Soft Links or PD's Slinks is from older jumpers. They say they are waiting for them to be "proven" by field use first. These same people are still waiting for ZP fabric to be field proven too. Why wouldn't you use Slinks on a reserve? Hook

The DZO is implementing drug testing. The DZO is the S & TA, so saying testing only is suspected by the S & TA is saying, if suspected by the DZO, who is implementing the testing. So the suggestion of only testing if suspected is moot, because they are one in the same...... Again 'IF' it is the DZ I believe it is, they advertise they were "Voted #1". That sort of thing. Not sure who voted them #1........The term I heard is "Guerilla Marketing". Hook

'IF' it is the DZ I believe it is, the DZO is the S & TA. Hook

Fold the bottom of the toggle 'up'. This won't work on all toggle designs. Another method is to have the toggle sewn lengthwise, from tab to the mid point of the loop, for about 2 inches. THis makes it easier to get your hands in the toggles. Hook Toggle.bmp

I have been in free fall in clouds, under canopy in clouds, and flown aircraft through clouds and never noticed this phenomenon. Hook

The link is in the original post. Hook

The relase, at SSK's web page, says more about what will be the same, loop cutter, firing altitude, etc, than what will be different. In fact, it doesn't say anything about what will be different. I'm guessing an aluminum case, less maintanence requirements, water resistant, and possibly download-able to PC dive information. Pure speculation on my part though. Hook

http://www.pia.com/SSK/cypres/cypres06.pdf SSK has announced the release of the Cypres II. Hook

If your canopy opens harder after a quick flare from a track, you aren't flat tracking. My softest openings are pulling after a quick flare out of a full track, barely enough time to W/O. Hook

Glide Path is now Flight Concepts International. They have manuals on their web page: Flight Concepts International: http://www.flightconcepts.com/manual_index.html http://www.flightconcepts.com/pdf/reserve2002.pdf Hook

I wouldn't let a student wear a baggy free-fly suit on AFF. They fall slow enough as it is from being tense and not trusting the arch yet. A baggy suit is simply going to make their fall-rate slower. I have baggy suits for slower/smaller students, but why make it more difficult? If the student had their own, good fitting RW suit, even with booties, I wouldn't have a problem with them wearing it. As for helmets, as long as I can see their eyes, it will protect them, they won't be distacted by it, and they can hear the radio, no problem. Hook

A friend of mine has a monocular night scope. I own a GPS, as do several of my friends. They are not difficult to get. But it is difficult to equip several divisions with them. They also require training to fight with effectively. I seriously doubt the Iraqi night fighting capabilities of their troops near Baghdad are anywhere near the US's capabilities. Lights out is an advantage for our troops, not theirs. Hook

Turning off the lights when your troops don't have Night Vision Goggles (NVG's or Nods) and the attacking troops do, puts your troops at a disadvantage. Leaving the lights on would negate our night-fighting capabilities and would be their best option, an equal playing field. Hook

He probably either said or meant "Front Loop" or "Front Flip". Relax. Don't think "Hard Arch" as that term usually brings muscle tension with it. Arch from the hips, relax your shoulders. If your elbows are as far up as you can get them, they are too far up, bring them down level with your shoulders. Keep your chin up, you should see the aircraft as you fall away. Watch altitude. Check your altimeter after every maneuver or if you are having difficulty completing a maneuver. Of course, discuss any advice you get on the net with your Instructor, including mine. Hook

They are very easy to make too. Hook

Nope, no axe to grind. Mostly hypothetical situations, some based on fact, a couple real. The really interesting answers are the ones that don't reply because they have been in that situation and are a bit ashamed of how they delt with it and don't want to admit it. The truth is 'most' skydivers will defend their home DZ's actions regardless of how un-safe they are. As much as skydivers discuss the importance of safety, we fall short where the rubber meets the road. Try not to read too much into each question, for example "I wouldn't make a hard toggle turn at 500 feet". You might if someone cuts you off. Just assume, for whatever reason, you are in that situation. I have found myself in some very unusual situations over the years I never would have thought I would have gotten into. Thanks to all that replied. Hook

Width, not length. Ground effect for a wing suit would probably happen at about 1 1/2 feet off the ground and would help cushion the impact only a little. I still think a wing suit will be intentionall and successfully landed someday. Hook

I am downloading the video now. I can see what you mean, it looks like the lines from one side are twisted together one direction below the line twists, and the other direction above the twists. Made it look like a step through. Stylin- A step through is where someone "steps through" their lines, usually while taking off the rig, or picking it up, so that the container has flipped through the lines. Hook

That pic looks like it has at least one step-through in the lines. Hook