Hooknswoop

Technically, you don't have to be certified by the manufacturer anymore to be legal. The FAA recognized USPA's tandem course, so as long as you are a USPA tandem instructor, with a current medical, you are legal. This is going to make tandem instructor renewals interesting. What if I don't renew my Vector/Sigma rating with RWS, but I do renew it with USPA? Technically, I am still legal. Here's another one: How can I renew my Eclipse rating? The company went out of business. So if I can't renew my Eclipse rating, can I still do tandem jumps with an Eclipse tandem rig without renewing through the manufacturer? Strong still wants to certify instructors, they also want to control what mains and reserves are assembled with their container. Once tandem jumper no longer needed a waiver, it became the assembling rigger's responsibility to determine compatability of components. Legally now an Icarus tandem canopy can be used with a Strong tandem harness/container. Another issue: If, for example, I am an Eclipse tandem instructor, certified by the manufacturer, then I send the paperwork to USPA and become a USPA tandem instructor, which means that I am legal to sign off "working" tandems so that the jumps can count towards a students licenses and then I add Vector/Sigma tandem ratings, can I sign off a student "working" tandem towards their "A" license using a Vector or Sigma tandem system? And another one: Can the manufacturer legally require it's apointed tandem examiners to file tandem candidate paperwork with the manufacturer? Legally all the Examiner has to file the paperwork with is USPA for him and the tandem instructor candidate to be legal. And another one: Once all the current Eclispe tandem examiners retire, quit, etc, will no one be able to get certified on the Eclipse tandem system? There no longer is a manufacturer to appoint/certify Eclipse Tandem Examiners. What a mess. And it doesn't seem as if anyone wants to clear it up. Hook

Not a good idea. Hook

According the the USPA BSR's Section 2-1-E, 4, b, 1, All students must jump with two USPA ratiing holders untill demonstrating the ability to reliably deploy in the belly-to-earth orientation at the correct altitude without assistance. So technically, one tandem where the student arches and pulls on time, can jump with one AFF Instructor on their next jump. I think this would have to depend on the student and the Instructor. Some program require 3 tandems, then AFF with one Instructor, some 2 tandems. I don't know of a program that only requires one tandem or one AFF jump, then continues with AFF with one Instructor. (Edit: well I guess there is at least one DZ out there that does AFF with one Instructor). Hook

Solves that worry. What type of ear-pieces? Good point. "I said to stop the left turn". I didn't hear you say to stop the turn........." Hook

I only used them for AFF, and I was on a frequency no one else was on. I could definately see two-way radios being a problem with more than one student on the frequency, AFF or S/L. I like the idea of the ear piece, but I worry about cable routing. The idea of sewing a pocket on the arm of the jump suit sounds really good too. As long as you had the right sized radios, The mud flap pocket would be OK, just have to be careful to remove the radio be fore the student drops the rig. Hook

PTT, Chest strap mounted. Hook

I have used Motorola Talkabouts to talk to students under canopy. They have talked back before. Also, they were nice after the student landed, we could have a conversation immediately if they were to close for normal conversation, which they usually were. Hook

There are exceptions to everything. Crew Jumpers generally don't use RSL's and they probably have the highest jump/cutaway rate. If in a collision/wrap situation, and there is enough altitude, falling free of the mess is your best option and having to remember to disconnect the RSL, then find the little red (yellow) tab, in a wrap, disconnect it, then cutaway and pull the reserve is a lot to ask. If there isn't enough altitude, firing the reserve to get more fabric over your head is the way to go. In both of these situations, an RSL doesn't help and in the first, makes it worse. If the collision damages your main, rendering it unsafe to land but does not result in a wrap with the other jumper, either a cutaway followed by a fast reserve pull (the RSL can be of help here) or pulling the reserve to add more fabric if too low for a cutaway (RSL is no factor here) is the way to go. So of the 4 collision scenarios: Wrap High Wrap Low No-Wrap High No-Wrap Low Only in the No-Wrap Low scenario is the RSL really helpful and only if the jumper doesn't or is unable to activate the reserve manually in a timely manner. In the No-Wrap High, the RSL may be of help if, again, the jumper doesn't or is unable to manually activate the reserve. In Wrap High or Wrap Low it is either a disadvantage or moot, respectfully. One size doesn't fit all and it depends on the situation if the RSL is a help or hindrance. You have to decide what is most likely for you. Hook

Remember, comfort is subjective, what may be comfortable to one may be uncomfortable to another. Hook

No a cutaway at 700 feet puts you above the firing speed of the Cypres by 434 feet, which should be enough for a reserve opening. It doesn't disarm until 130 feet. No guarantees, but cutting away at 700 feet and doing nothing, there shouldn't be any guarantees. Hook

And the Cypres firing at 750 feet at terminal doesn't give you much time either. It wasn't designed too. If you fall 366 ft in 5 seconds to get to Cypres firing speed after a cutaway at 800 feet, that leaves 434 feet for deployment, not much room in either case, but should be enough to get a completely deployed reserve out before impact. Saddling in under a reserve at less than 300 feet, a jumper shouldn't care that they don't have much altitude left to find a landing area, etc, they should just be happy to be alive. If you don't have the altitude to get stable after cutting away, you have already made some mistakes, 1) Pulled too low, or 2) Stayed with a malfunctioning canopy too long, or are unable to find or pull the reserve ripcord immediately. If you are low with a malfunction, an immediate reserve pull (manually [best] or by the RSL [if installed, second best] is extremely important. Best advice is to avoid this situation. Where and RSL helps down low, if you make a mistake and get there, or are unable to activate the reserve manually, it hurts up high. Stability makes for a better opening, that is a fact. An RSL can take away the option of being stable for reserve deployment. There have been fatalities where an RSL (or action on the part of the jumper) would have prevented a fatality. There have also been fatalities where the RSL contributed to the fatality (broken riser resulting in a main/reserve entanglement, RSL activated reserve on main deployment resulting in a main/reserve entanglement). There has been more "saves", by far, by RSL's than fatalities by RSL's, but again, RSL's are not perfect. The RSL debate cannot be solved, by statistics or opinions. Each jumper must educate themselves about RSL's and their function and limitations and decide for themselves to jump with one or not. The SIM's (now available on line at the USPA web page, www.USPA.org), lists the disadvantages associated with RSL's. The type of gear, the type of and the type of jumps must be considered when deciding to use an RSL. If installed, effort must be made to not rely on it to activate the reserve for the jumper. This effort starts long before a malfunction, with Emergency Procedures training. Also, an RSL can be disconnected for some jumps and re-connected for others ver easily. Make sure that a disconnected RSL is secured and will not interfere with the operation of the 3-ring release or any other part of your gear, to include flapping freely in free-fall. The Skyhook from RWS seems to have solved most of the shortcomings of the RSL Hook

From the Cypres User's Guide: "In the event of a breakaway below this height [750 ft agl] CYPRES will operate down to apx 130 feet AGL. Below 130 feet AGL opening is no longer useful. For this reason, CYPRES ceases operation below apx 130 feet AGL." You would still need a descent rate higher than 78 mph / 114.4 FPS. Hook

I think there are 3 versions; 1) standard skydiving version, ZP 2) Skydiving/CReW version (continious center "A" lines, etc., ZP 3) CReW version, tail pocket, etc., ZP Hook

All of the Triatholons are ZP, the Hybrid is the CReW model. Hook

If it is smaller than one of the boxes (1/8 X 1/8), I wouldn't worry about it. If it is larger than one of the boxes, I would get it patched. Oh, ya: Do NOT use rip stop tape, the adhesive degrades the fabric over time, requiring the entire area that was tapped to be patched. I have seen several canopies tear because of rip stop tape. I recently tore a PC that had been repaired w/ rip stop tape, it tore like tissue paper. Hook

Ah, I thought he ment his normal skydiving rig, as in not his tandem rig. I haven't heard of a "Conventional" rig. Couldn't find it in Poynters either. Also the DZ he jumps at tends to be "Old School". Poynters Vol I lists some concerns with the R3 conversion kit. Pg 118 and 119, pin length and AL vs. steel rivets. Contacting Capewell may be the way to go, http://www.capewell.com/home.html Hook

I ment buy a new rig with 3-rings. It will have better pin protection, riser protection, a better reserve system, be more comfortable (probably), spare parts are available, etc. Hook

Three words: Three ring release. Hook

Sky Systems has a kit to replace both sides of the velcro. I had the factory replace mine and the liner, so I don't know how difficult it is, but it can't be that hard. Hook

Breaking in ZP is also wearing it out. Just jump and pack. It isn't as if you are trying to do 10 jumps a day, so being slower at packing at first shouldn't affect the number of jumps you get in in a day. Hook

Personally I like soft links. They are stronger than rapide links, have lower pack volume, don't damage he slider grommets, and generally don't fail. The only case I have heard of was a sharp grommet cutting through a soft link. The grommet edge should have been caught during an inspection prior to installing the soft links. Either one, the chest strap doesn't take much force. 825 Micro-line or Vectran. About the same life span except Vectran will still be in trim at the end of it's life. Hook

Averaging 1.5 jumps/month, I would recommend nothing smaller than the Spectre 210, or even a larger canopy. Currency is very important in skydiving. The J4 will hold a PD-190R, but it is tight, a PD-176R is a better choicec for the J4, so consider a J5 or another, larger container. Sabre's are known for hard openings, but a pocket on the slider fixes that. Consider another canopy, such as the Sabre2 (upgrade to the Sabre that PD no longer makes), Safire2 (same story as the Sabre, with a differenct manufacturer), Spectre, etc. Think nice openings, reliable, low performance. Finally do not consider any high performance canopies, such as the Crossfire, Stiletto, Cobalt, Heatwave, anything cross-braced, Vengance, etc. Edit: Sun Path now offers the J4.5K wich is sized for the PD-176R and up to a ZP 210 main. Hook

I think it should be noted that Tom is an extremely knowledgeable BASE jumper that the more I hear about him, the more I respect him and his opinions. I heard a story where he was jumping a canopy who's performance was noticeably poor (to the point where another highly experienced BASE jumper wouldn't have jumped it). When asked why he continued to jump it, he replied he wanted 100 jumps on it so that his review of the canopy would hold merit. I have gotten nothing but solid information from Tom. As for Bombproof, on Vector II's, the RSL lanyard goes through the guide ring, and the reserve ripcord does not, not vice-versus. Imagine my surprise when a friend of mine brought me his rig……………… A little more food for thought. Hook

A bridle loop to larks head onto the PC then onto the canopy would work fine. That is similar to a bridle extension some people use for phsyco packing. A Slink instead of a Rapide link works well too. Down side is they only sell them in packages of 4, so find 3 other people that want the same thing and split a bag. Of course you can just be careful when attaching the PC and check the links every now and then. Rapide links popping when used for attaching the main happens rather frequently. They must be checked, I recommend every thirty days, easy to do in conjunction with your 3-ring maintenance. You are doing your 30-day 3-ring maintenance, right? Hook

I have no clue what the "infamous tandem defense" is, I was just letting everyone know that he had made a couple of jumps and seemed like a nice guy. I haven't been following the story beyond there was a fire and everyone tried to fit though a single door in a panic and jammed it up and there was a large number of fatalities as a result. I just figured it wasn't widely known that he had jumped. Thought it would be appropiate. Hook