Hooknswoop

I would think that it would easier to confuse "legs out" w/ the one finger pull signal (one finger vs. two fingers). I use a tap to thier altimeter or look at my altitmeter to get the student to check altitude. Hook

Good question. Probably have the same chance of the Instructor accidentally pointing out the DZ or the direction to track w/ a finger instead of the whole hand. That also brings up how well would a student recognize and understand the signal. Hook

I ran across a DZ that uses a closed fist for the pull sign for AFF training. I was going to get an explanation as to the reason behind it, but never did. I figure it gets a better response than a pointed finger (the student always looks in the direction you are pointing) and the student can associate the fist w/ a handle. Any thoughts on using a fist for the pull sign? Hook

It was a Vector II drogue. The ring in the bridle and the ring at the base of the drogue were removed. It is these two rings that act as stops to stop the drogue from completely collasping. I have no idea why they were removed. Hook

No, it is the responsibility of the assembling rigger to determine compatibility of components. From Poynter’s manual: “The assembly or mating of approved parachute components from different manufacturers may be made by a certificated and appropriately rated parachute rigger or parachute loft without further authorization by the manufacturer or the FAA. Each component of the resulting assembly must function properly and may not interfere with the operation of the other components.” “The rigger is also still charged by FAR part 65.129 not to pack a certificated parachute that is not safe for emergency use.” Hook

A tandem Instructor that owns his own tandem rig was having bad openings on a brand new canopy. I watched video of one and it looked as if the canopy wasn’t hooked up correctly or that there was something wrong w/ the trim. So I looked the canopy over and finding nothing wrong, jumped it. I had the longest “trap door” sensation at pull time that I have ever had in over 800 tandem jumps. I even had time to wonder what was happening and look over my shoulder in time to watch the canopy come out of the bag. It opened fine, with a line twist, no big deal. I looked at it hard under canopy and could find nothing wrong with it. Back on the ground, I looked at the drogue and it was COMPLETELY collapsed, similar to a kill line PC. It shouldn’t have completely collapses, it should have had about 8 inches of center line travel left and stopped collapsing. Well turns out the drogue was incorrectly modified. Hook

Not a bad idea, if you have a canopy that will recover from a deep, fully developed stall reliably and quickly. But I wouldn't use that technique on my VX-60 . Too many variables, it is easier to teach everyone to spiral, that works w/ any canopy. Hook

Right, we agree, spiralling down through clouds in the way to go.

10 people flying in straight lines through clouds have a larger chance of colliding than 10 jumpers spiraling down through clouds. Hook

And thank you for your service as well. I never said military life was so great. I said that the gk's had a laundry list of benifits over team like Airspeed and Majik. The gk's don't have the pressure to win that non-funded teams have. If the gk's don't perform, worst case they go back to whatever they were doing in the Army before they were on the team. Civilian teams would have to find a job if their sponsorship was cut off. I also said that there wasn't any other U.S. team that had the advantages that the gk's have, foriegn teams are diffferrent Hook

1) I use PRO LOK Removable Thread Lock. It isn't all that difficult to remove. I use Soft links on my personal equipment and use the lock tight stuff when I am rigging on other peoples gear. 2) Like several previous threads mentioned, people do not check their equipment (failed links, thinking you don't have to check Rapide links often, etc). 3) Soft links and Rapide links should have the same inspection interval. Every 30 days should suffice. Hook

6 years, U.S. Army. 1991-1997. AH-64A Apache Crewchief. Airspeed doesn't have all those benifits. I was responding to another post that claimed other teams besides the gk's had the same advantages the gk's have. No other U.S. team has the deal the gk's have. Hook

You weren't there, I was. 1996. Hook

The limiting factor on lengething brake lines is being able to completely flare the canopy. As long as you can completely flare the canopy by pulling the toggles all the way down (or less), your steering lines aren't too long. If you don't tend to use your front risers, 2 inches of slack in the steering lines (you have to pull the toggle down 2 inches before the tail begins to move) is plenty. If you use your front risers you will probably need more than 2 inches of slack. Remember, make small adjustments until your happy and Spectra shrinks w/ heat from the friction of the slider and the guide ring on the back of the riser for the steering line. So you will have to adjust (lengthen) your steering lines over time to keep them set properly if your canopy has Spectra steering lines. Hook

Name one team that receives a salary even close to to what the GK's are paid. I hung out w/ a top-ranked 4-way competetor. He had to pop the hood of his car to start it. Each time we stopped at a toll booth, he would pop the hood, get out throw the $$ in the basket, re-start the car, hop back in and go. He lived in the bunk house and worked 7 days a week. The GK's don't have to coach other teams, do AFF or tandems to pay for their training or conduct tunnel camps. No other U.S. team comes close to having the financial backing the GK's do. Hook

Paychecks, medical/dental benifits, life insurance, paychecks if they get injured and cannot jump anymore, paid holidays, paid vacations, uniform allowance, room and board, etc. I have had the oppurtunity to see the GK's w/o the public around and they don't impress me. They always are careful when around the public, out of the publics eye is a different story. There is a reason cameras are not allowed at try-outs. Hook

The length of the steering lines can drastically affect how a canopy flies. High performance canopies are affected much more than lower performance canopies. All canopies should have some slack or a slight bow in the steering lines. If the steering lines are too short and pull down the tail of the canopy during full flight, even slightly, the canopy is flying in brakes. If the canopy is flying in brakes, it will not have as much speed to trade for lift during the landing flare. Over time the steering lines shrink as a result of friction from the slider during opening, as much as 6 inches in extreme cases. New canopies or line sets adjusted to have no slack in the steering lines will begin to fly in brakes as the control lines shrink. To maximize the performance of your canopy it is necessary to understand the construction of the steering lines. The steering lines on a canopy are made of several parts. The upper control lines, usually four or five lines cascade or split at the top of the central control line and attach to the tail. The central control line attaches the upper control lines to the lower control line. The lower control line attaches from the finger-trapped loop (for setting the brakes) at the bottom of the central control line to the toggle. The lower control line is where your rigger can make adjustments. If you do not use your front risers, adjusting steering line length is a fairly simple process. To check your control lines, pull one toggle down an inch or two while watching the tail of the canopy in flight. The tail should not move and the canopy should not turn. If it does, your lower steering lines need to be lengthened. Make small adjustments, no more than an inch at a time. This may require several adjustments. It is better to be an inch too long than an inch too short. Once you find the correct length, have your rigger finger-trap and bar-tack the lower steering line to eliminate the knot next to the toggle which can hang up on the guide ring. Periodically check the steering lines to see if they have shrunk and need to be lengthened again. Micro-line can shrink 4 to 6 inches or more over its life span. Vectran tends not to shrink with wear but is not as durable as Micro-line. If you use your front risers, adjusting steering line length is more complicated. Having enough slack in the lower steering lines on a high performance canopy is more critical to how the canopy will fly. In a front riser turn you are pulling the toggle down a little with the riser and there has to be some slack to prevent pulling down the tail. If the tail of a high performance canopy is pulled down even a little when front risering, the riser pressure will be much higher and the recovery arc (the amount of altitude required to get back under the canopy) will be shortened. To check if the steering line is long enough, clear your airspace, do a full 360 degree front riser turn (keeping the toggles in your hands), and watch the tail of the canopy. As the speed increases, the drag on the control line increases and if there isn’t enough slack, the tail will be pulled down. You need enough slack so that the tail won’t be pulled down while pulling the toggle and the riser down at the maximum speed of the canopy. Again, make small adjustments no more than an inch at a time and have your rigger finger-trap and bar-tack the lower control line once you have them adjusted correctly. With the steering lines correctly set, your canopy will dive longer and faster and you can get the most out of your canopy. Hook

3.1:1 Hook

Sure, and I fixed my profile. Thanks Hook

Yep

Nope, I'm in Colorado. Westminster, CO. I jump at Skydive the Rockies and Mile Hi. Hook

It would be interseting to compare jumps/failure rates for links vs. soft links. I would bet on the soft links having a lower failure rate. I make my own and end up cutting them off to replace the line set on the canopy, they out-last the lines. Hook

Until you have an "A" license you have to either 1) jump solo, 2) Jump w/ an USPA coach, or 3) jump w/ an USPA Instructor. This applies at USPA DZ's only, of course. Also, 500 feet for tracking is not enough, especially for sub 20 jump skydivers. By the time you turn 180 degrees, begin to track and flare out from the track, you've gone all of about 50 feet (or less), for a total seperation of 100 feet. If the other jumper has a line-over (figure the odds ;-) ) and you have a 180 opening w/ line twists, the resulting canopy collision and entanglement can kill you both. Plan on a minimum of 1500 feet for turning, tracking, flaring, waving off, checking your airspace and pulling. More for anything larger than a two way. Like I always tell people that want to move break-off down 500+ feet, if you need the extra time, just get better at flying :-). Hook

Rapide links should be loc-tited and marked to show if they begin to turn. They should be checked periodically (during the 30- day 3-ring maintenance is a good time) to make sure they are still tight. Links should also have some sort of slider bumpers, cloth or silicone, like someone already mentioned. Soft links don't require any maintenace, but should also be checked perriodically(again, the 30-day 3-ring maintenance is a great time). If you have switched from links to Slinks, be sure your slider groments doesn have any sharp edges (caused by the slider groments hitting the links w/o bumpers). Colapsing and pulling your slider down will save wear and tear on your lines, bumpers and links/Slinks. The slider flapping, even if colapsed, beats the groments against your lines/bumpers/links/slinks, causing wear. Hook Hook

What would you recommend I believe they come standard w/ Vectran, but you can order Spectra. I personally like Vectran because at the end of it's (the line set) life span, the canopy is still in trim. The load bearing ribs are the ribs w/ the line attachment points. Have a rigger replace the missing stitching. It will only get worse. Hook