Hooknswoop

Um, don't take the dog there. Not worried about Sherpa attracting a mountain lion to us. He could hold his own and we don't just let him go tear-assing across the country-side. Derek

That is because don't realize how easy it is to die and don't actually expect to for the foreseeable future. These are the same people that change their lives after a close call because reality is forced upon them. It shouldn't take a near death experience to realize you are going to die. As for panicing, Rule #1: Never Panic Just don't do it, ever. Realizing that you are going to die is the first step in preventing panic. And that gives you the best chance to live. Ironic but true. Go look death in the eye, it isn't all that bad. Derek

Have you ever seen video of bag-strip? I have seen line dump blamed for hard openings, which doesn't cause hard openings. I have seen bag strip blamed for hard openings, which does cause hard openings. I have seen video of line dump and it always resulted in a normal opening. I have seen video of hard openings, none of which was caused by bag strip. I have never seen video of bag strip. You'd think that if it was common, there would be a lot of video of it, but there isn't. I have asked several times if anyone has a video of bag strip, I haven't gotten a response in the affirmative yet. Bag strip can and has happened, but it is very rare and very difficult to make happen, especially on modern rigs. Derek

Um, that could have been caught by the jumper when they did a gear check on the ground................ Derek

I would think their goal is to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research. They are doing that. So, I would answer, yes, they are on track. The calendar is a bit risqué, sure, but I wondered how many sales they gained vs. how many they lost. I think they sold more because it is a bit risqué, than they lost because it isn’t a sterile calendar. It is a very tasteful, eye catching calendar. I bought 2. Some people put a lot of time and effort into the event and they raise money and awareness for breast cancer research. I think an all-female world record skydive is a terrific means of gaining awareness outside the skydiving community. Do you think it is not “on track”? If yes, how do you think it is off-track? What would suggest as a ‘fix’ to get it back on-track? Derek

These are awesome too: http://www.epartyunlimited.com/krill.html?OVRAW=krill%20light&OVKEY=krill%20light&OVMTC=standard Derek

I didn't shut up. Here is where I posted what I knew about the issue: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=510164;search_string=cypres%20fire;#510164 Derek

LOL, trying to tell me what to do, that is a good one. I don't think a Velocity 96 was pushing the limits or trying something. He probably did hear of the Cypres fire, but didn't think he was at risk. No way for me to know. Because they knew in 2001 that it was an issue and didn't put out a statment then. I tried to find out and could not get the information from the manufacturer. Had I not been concerned, this could have been me. Derek

No, they should say, "We don't know, it may fire." because that is not what the manual says. Exactly, and it cost someone their life. Derek

And flying a canopy is normal. Derek

I did. Several months ago and I'm still waiting for the average peak force data for the -M reserves. Derek

LOL! I was thinking the cutaway handle Derek

With my Javelin XRS or my Micron V304 I could check the reserve pin. Reach back and put a finger under the flap to feel the pin. I was never too worries about the reserve pin since I didn't act like a gorilla in a Samsonite commercial with my rig. Derek

I wanted either, "You can jump it." or, "We don't know." or, "Don't jump it." I couldn't get any of the three. I had a question and I "asked the manufacturer" The manufacturer didn't want to answer. What is not certain is how long you have to be at 78mph+. What is also certain from the manual: "Whatever you can think of under canopy like stalls, spiral turns, down planes, hookturns with the smallest canopies as well as any CRW, CYPRES will analyze these movements without problems." I had a concern. I couldn't get an answer. I erred on the side of caution (ironically the side of caution was to jump w/o the Cypres), and remove the Cypres. I knew it couldn't misfire and kill me if it wan't installed. RTFM gives no indication that you could fire the Cypres under canopy. When Airtec realized that it was possible several years ago, they should have released a statement then indicating that it was possible. Of course that would have cost them sales. Derek

The manual says you can't fire the Cypres under canopy Derek

Wouldn't the Velcro go on the right hand? Derek

It can be easier or harder. I mentioned some things to help make it easier, but there is nothing preventing it from exceeding the max force of a reserve pull. Derek

I had a concern. I asked Airtec. They wouldn't say anything either way. They didn't want to say I couldn't jump it or that I could. I couldn't pin them down one way or the other. I was concerned, couldn't get any sort of answer from Airtec, so I pulled it. Right, which begs the question, why did they wait? Derek

Is there any more of the bad fabric in the canopy? If there is, it is a waste of time and $ to repair it. If not, can they replace it with the newer fabric for the same $60? Derek

But that is just it, they didn't tell me (or anyone else)that. Not until yesterday when they updated their web page did they say that. up until yesterday, after some misfires and immediately following the first fatality, they finally admitted what they have known for along time. If they weren't aware there was a proble, why start designing a 'swooper' version? We knew it fired at 78 mph at 750 ft-103 ft. We knew it could not be fired by small canopies or aggressive canopy flight. Anything beyond that was speculation. But, for a Cypres, that is how it was designed to be used, "whatever you can think of" So why didn't they issue a statement sooner? Like 3 years ago? If I could see this coming, how could Airtec miss it? Derek

Who packed the canopy? Derek

They are several procedures for checking pull force without popping the reserve. Derek

Also worth noting, the reserve handle has a maximum pull force of 22 pounds (15 for a chest mount) plus whatever it takes to break the seal (not much). This maximum is ensured by the packing rigger. There is no limit to how hard it may be to cutaway your main canopy. For you, this means several things: 1) Make sure your 3-rings are built correctly. For $10, RWS offers a book on how to build 3-rings release risers with to-scale drawings. If the geometery of the 3-rings is wrong, it can dramatically increase pull forces. 2) Cutaway cables. Keep them clean and lubricated within the last 30-days with Ace Pure Silicone Lubricant. Make sure they are the correct length. 3) Cutaway cable housings. Only use containers that have full hard housings, to include metal, capped and tacked cable housing inserts in the risers. 4) Avoid canopies known for spinning line twists and high wing loadings. I would also recommend hitting the weights in order to increase arm strength. If you end up in a situation of needing to cutaway and deploy your reserve, you must be able to do it. If you cannot, do not put yourself into the a situation where your life will depend on it. Derek

"Even with extreme maneuvers during exit and in freefall, CYPRES will cope with it. Whatever you can think of under canopy like stalls, spiral turns, down planes, hookturns with the smallest canopies as well as any CRW, CYPRES will analyze these movements without problems. It won't interfere with any normal activities while skydiving." Really? I was doing spirals through 1,500 feet from early on. The statement specially says "Whatever you can think of under canopy......with the smallest canopies" They knew this wasn't true when they got Luigi got it to fire years ago. Derek

Anything they want, which seems to come back to haunt them. Derek