Hooknswoop

I had a tert with a round in it (or a square) and it was amazing to watch it deploy. It would 'snake' out, just like in your pics. It would get 3-4 sideways movements before line stretch. Derek V

Speed Cypres2 was set at 43 meters per second (96.18 mph). They are now set at 46 meters per second (102.89 mph). Units are being updated to the higher setting as they go in for their maintenance. Mine has been updated. "Activation speed: approx. >96 mph (43 m/s) (for units which have not been updated after 1.1.2013) approx. >102 mph (46 m/s) (for new units after 1.1.2013 or units which have been updated at maintenance / service after 1.1.2013) Activation altitude: approx. 750 - 330 ft (225 - 100 meter) Disarming altitude: approx. 330 ft (100 meter)" Derek V

Thank you for the offer. I would rather Icarus publish a guide to their canopies instead of calling every time I need information about a canopy. Derek V

Or did Precision Aerodynamics, now precision Aero (interesting story about the name change), make it? I really wish someone would write a guide to Icarus/Daedalus Project/Precision Aerodynamics/FX/Xaos, etc. canopies. It is confusing. Who built it? Who makes line sets? Who issues SB's? Who fixes SB's? Derek V

Isn't restricting the free-bag from coming out of the container a good thing? Friction holding the free-bag in the container ensures the deployment sequence happens in the correct order. This is the same for a main. You want the bag to stay in the container until pulled out by the pilot chute. The issue then becomes how much friction? You want some, but not too much. How much is the minimum and how much is too much? If I was on my back, at terminal+, I would want a lot of friction holding the free bag to prevent that bag going one way while the reserve PC went to the other. I want the free bag staying in the container until the reserve PC pulls it out. If I was on my belly, sub terminal, I don't need very much friction holding the free bag at all. It just slows the reserve deployment and I'm not worried about the free bag leaving the container too soon. Very complicated question, I think. Derek V

from the Dubai Caravan crash thread, ufk22; "Not saying this should be a general rule, but certainly something to think about. At 90 mph, with 14/1 glide, altitude loss would be about 600'/ minute. Engine out at 2500', plane at 1300' in two minutes, assuming instant reconfigure for max glide. i don't have a problem with low altitude exit, old school and S/L training. I'm sure you wouldn't either. But... How many people get on the plane "ready to jump"? Cleaning out a plane in a minute or less during practice is one thing. Confusion, multiple people trying to talk, disciple not to rush the door, hesitation by those who aren't comfortable with low exit, students, tandems, etc. Just saying... " The caravan is one of the best gliding jumpships in use today. Engine out at 2,500 feet and no time to exit. If seat belts were off at 1,500, then if the engine quits between 1,500 and 2,500 feet AGL, then the jumpers are trying to reconnect seat belts during descent. I think seat belts should not be removed before an altitude is reached where an emergency exit is possible. Why remove your seat belt only to reconnect it if there is a problem? Derek V

Page 31 of the Cypres2 Manual: Additional error codes for units produced / serviced on or after January 2013. Pdo Power Down CHS Checksum Error PSE Pressure Sensor Error After one of these three error codes appears, the unit switches off and cannot be switched on again. Please discontinue use and send the unit in for service. If other error codes appear in the display, if the unit switches itself off and can not be switched on again, if the unit does not switch off after 14 hours, if there is no red light when the button is pressed, or if anything else unusual occurs please record the error code and contact Airtec or SSK before further use! Derek V

Stainless reserve ripcords have had their issues. Derek V

That is bag strip. Very bad. Derek V

Sabre1's are known for brisk openings. They are lined with Spectra lines which will shrink with heat. This heat come from the slider grommets as the slider descends during deployment. The outer A, D & Control lines shrink the quickest. This changes the line trim of the canopy, and can result in hard openings. Derek V

Line dump does not cause hard openings. If it did, the semi-snowless bags out there would give a hard opening every deployment. They don't. Not keeping the slider against the stops during "S" folding and putting the canopy into the deployment bags are the #1 cause of hard openings. #2 is not slowing down before pulling. Derek V

I do that at every re-pack with Ace Pure Silicone Lubricant. Cutaway cables, cutaway and reserve housings. No black wet stuff dripping out. it drys very quickly, leaving a film of silicone behind that isn't sticky. Makes a big difference on pull forces. Derek V

Yep. In the 90's we would make them with three wraps of 825 Spectra, square knot, then fingertrap the excess into the other excess and stitch it. Strong, can't come undone, only good for one-time use. Needed scissors to remove them. Super cheap, 4-5 feet of Spectra. This one doesn't look that good though. Derek V

And how exactly would they do this? Derek V

Page 5-30 of the Parachute Rigger Handbook; "However, new riggers need to check their packing technique to measure the pull force, which is done without a seal or thread." Page 5-42: "Once you are satisfied that the pull force is less than 22 pounds (10kg), seal the ripcord and log the pack job." The Velocity and Voodoo Manuals indicate checking the tension on the reserve pin and if found to be acceptable, then sealing the reserve. From the UPT Ripcord SB; "In the US, maximum allowable pull force is 22 pounds (10 Kilograms) with the rigger’s seal in place. This force, measured at the ripcord handle, is a combination of the force required to move the pin, the housing friction, and the force required to break the seal thread. The standard does not specify how this is to be measured, but there are basically only two ways, which could be called “Static” or “Dynamic”." Seems like opinions differ on the subject. Derek V

***Ignoring it doesn't seem to be working very well though does it? Why do you say it isn't working very well now? Derek V

I finished the sentence.... Derek V

Rob- The crash you were in was a major force in my re-thinking seat belt removal altitude. A jumpship with no engines running, especially a King Air, can be descending very quickly. If you have removed your seat belt at 1,000 or even 2,000 feet, you may find yourself at the door too low to exit, or trying to find and re-attach a seatbelt before impact. Neither of these sounds like fun. Simple solution, don't remove your seat belt until you are sure you will able to exit if the worst happens. Thoughts? Derek V

Originally posted 2003: 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. Another easy method of checking your steering line length is to compare the front riser pressure from the front riser 360 with the toggles in your hands to a front riser 360 without the toggles in your hands. It is important to have plenty of altitude and clear airspace before letting go of the toggles and front risering. 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, have lower front riser pressure, and you can get the most out of your canopy. Derek V

I'm OK with that as well. The magazine limit and private background check laws should be repealed though. Un-enforcable and no impact. Derek V

I'm OK with where we are at now. I'm OK with less fatalities as long as the new law(s) don't infringe on my right(s). My understanding is that the data shows that violence is decreasing. A few mass shootings a year? Small price compared to the price we willingly pay for private ownership and lax laws for vehicles every year. Derek V

On an otte, what altitude do tandem I's remove their seat belts? What are the chances of a main or reserve PC making it out the door if you are seated up near the front of the aircraft? The "no seat belts on with the door open" rule came from Cessna's, where everyone is near the door and it makes sense not to open the door if someone has a seat belt on. But on larger aircraft, seated away from the door, how much of a risk is it? I often watch people take off their seat belt and wonder what they would do if the engines quit right then. Probably try and put their seat belt back on. If they fail, and it is a rough landing or a crash, they can be injured and injure others. You can remove a seat belt quickly. You cannot attach a seat belt quickly (usually). If you still have a seat belt on in an emergency, especially f you have a hand on the buckle, you can release it and be on your way to the door very quickly. I think the seat belt removal altitude should be dependent on the aircraft, your minimum exit altitude, and where you are seated on the aircraft. This isn't as simple as the "seat belts on until XX00 feet" sign. The door open altitude should be based on when everyone aft of a line has their seat belt off. Derek V

I haven't seen anyone pitch an idea for a law that would make a positive difference. The Magazine limit and private sales background check laws here in Colorado are un-enforcable and have had zero positive impact. Magpie left the state, taking their tax revenue and jobs with them. Derek V

Do you ever remove your seatbelt before you will and/or can exit the aircraft in an emergency? If there are people between you and the door with their seatbelt on, you will have a very hard time getting to the door in an emergency. If all engines quit, the pilot should nose over and establish best glide speed. The rate of descent will vary between aircraft and aircraft weight. If you are near the front of the aircraft, what altitude would you be at by the time you get to door, after everyone in front of you has exited? What is your minimum exit altitude? If you have removed your seatbelt and will not be able to exit in the event all engines fail, the what? Put your seatbelt back on? Then why remove it before you can exit in the first place? At that point you are stuck in an airplane with no power and you are not wearing your seat belt. I wouldn't expect a seat belt to save the person wearing it. I do expect the seat belt to prevent the person wearing it from killing others onboard in the event of a sudden stop. Seat belt removal altitude should be looked at. Seems like the perfect job for USPA as a service to its members. Derek V

The only thing I can see they got wrong was if the seller at a gun show is a FFL dealer, then they must still perform a NICS background check for any firearm sold. Private sellers do not have to do a NICS background check. I don't see how a) Requiring NICS background checks for private sales is enforceable, or b) if the aw is having any impact on keeping firearms out of criminal hands. Last year, Colorado passed a few new gun laws. One of them was that every firearm sell must have a NICS background check done on the buyer, House Bill 13-1229. As of March, 2014, "three people have been convicted for failing to obey the new background check laws since a bill to expand the requirements went into effect in July 2013." "Statewide, law-enforcement officials in numerous counties have vowed to refrain from enforcing the laws. Smith said the private transfer of firearms had never been a concern of local law enforcement, and without required registration of firearms, deputies have no way of knowing whether someone sidestepped the background check requirement to obtain a firearm." http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2015/03/28/enforcement-light-colo-gun-restrictions/70616030/ "This is how easy it is to buy guns in America" http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/19/news/guns-background-checks/index.html "A background check is conducted only in store purchases. There, gun buyers have to fill out a form from the ATF, or the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Required information includes: name, address, place of birth, race and citizenship. A social security number is only "optional," though it's recommended. The form also asks questions such as: *Have you ever been convicted of a felony? *Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence? *Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any other depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance? *Are you a fugitive from justice? *Have you ever been committed to a mental institution? The store then calls the FBI, which runs a background check on the person through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, also known as NICS. The background check can just take minutes. NICS scans federal databases like the National Crime Information Center and Interstate Identification Index for information. If a purchaser has been convicted of a felony, or misdemeanors with sentences exceeding two years, or has been declared "mentally defective" by a court, then he or she won't pass the background check. However, denials are rare, occurring less than 1% of the time. "More than 100 million such checks have been made in the last decade, leading to more than 700,000 denials," the FBI says on its web site. Related: Background checks take minutes But gun buyers don't have to go through a background check when they make a purchase at a gun show. Most Americans live somewhere near a gun show. The web site www.gunshows-usa.com lists 29 gun shows scheduled for this coming Father's Day weekend, from Las Vegas and Philadelphia to Hickory, N.C. and Salmon, Idaho. You won't find them in cities like New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., where gun laws are far more restrictive. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, and President Obama tried to eliminate the gun show loophole in 2013, with a bill that would have expanded background checks. But Congress didn't pass it. The President's effort came after the killing of 26 children and teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Connecticut. After this week's gun violence at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, where a white man killed nine African Americans in a racially motivated attack, Obama hinted that he might try again. Related: Gun violence costs taxpayers $500 million "At some point, we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this kind of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries," he said, in a speech. "It is in our power to do something about it." The killer, Dylann Roof, bought his .45-caliber Glock at a gun store in Charleston, where he would have been required to pass a background check. Though he had been arrested earlier this year for trespassing and drug possession, he apparently met the legal criteria. Roof also displayed racist symbols on Facebook (FB, Tech30), but the FBI said that kind of information would not come up in a background check, since the database includes information on prohibited persons as defined in the Gun Control Act." Derek V