fcajump
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Everything posted by fcajump
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And they will never see him coming - increasing the possibility of collisions. Not a good idea for a night jump, IMO. Other than that, I don't see any problem with it. I don't know, in my experience the color of the other canopies never made any difference... they were either black moving voids in the sky (from below) or black moving voids on the ground (from above), and the bigger the void the closer they were... (5 night jumps, no CRW or canopy illumination) Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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PS - Yep, forgot "none"... sorry. My totals: 2 for 1100 Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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And how many reserve rides / total jumps do you have? Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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Different helmet and audio, but... I wear a protec (still after all these years) and have a ProTrack. I just wedge it into the ear hole and put the helmet on. (Less secure than your velcro) Remember, (for most helmets) once your head is in there, the audio is not going anywhere. Its only when you doff your helmet that it needs to continue to stay put. Not knowing your helmet, I suspect that it will be enough. When mounted on the outside, you have to be very secure as it is exposed to the full blast... but that's different. I'll shutup now and we'll both see if someone who knows your combination can shed more enlightened information on the questin . Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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OK, I know this one has made the rounds of discussion, but I am not finding a definitive answer... Is there an FAR (in USA) that requires the jump pilot to wear a rig? If so, is there a stipulation for a size or configuration of plane in which they are not required to wear one? Please note: I personally would argue that they should wear one, but this question is: Are they (legally) required to... Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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Actually, if this was any time recently, the FAA could have charged him (and the pilot) with a violation... Assuming the "demo" was for an "open air assembly of persons" then he was required to get a Certificate of Authorization per FAR 105.21a. Assuming that the local FSDO uses the same boiler-plate that our local FSDO uses, then it includes several (USPA recommended) requirements... 50 jumps in the last 12 calendar months, 5 jumps on the same gear in the last 60 days, 1 jump with all additional paraphernalia To continue with the jump in violation of the Cert is a violation of FAR 105.21c. Assuming I have my assumptions correct Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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CONGRATS!!! I have more than double that number before my first reserve ride!!! ;-) Jump #23. One of the instructors helpped me get the rig packed (he packed the throwout PC). VERY hard pull... Only thought was "I can't believe I really have to do this..." Same thought that you expressed... Uncertainty of the correctness of the decision, but not of "how" to execute the decision. Cause: balled up PC in a cordura pouch How Bad: took 2 people w/ 2 hands each to pull it. Lost: reserve pack, freebag, Sentinal (AAD) charge (I beat it, but not by enough). Cost to me: 1/2 cost of the freebag and AAD reload. Offered the rigger a bottle, but he said he didn't drink. CONGRATS!! Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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(to finish that thought) ...Main ripcord is usually mounted one of two places: - same position as a BOC hacky or - outboard of the right main lift web I have jumped both in my early days, and from the description, I suspect this was the later. Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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Same story at Hartwood, VA (USA) but the plane was a Cessna 206. Pilot landed in a tree quite the worse for wear. Unfortunately we lost a jumper that day. Most of what I pack are for pilots... and it is my hope that none of them ever have need of them, and my assumption that every one will be used the next day. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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I still jump two different Cruiselite XL's... but the discussion of those would better be discussed under the title of "what I use for intentional cut-aways"... JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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Mark, Thanks! Had always simply picked them out without thinking whether to reuse or not (duh..). Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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If you would not mind, please PM me the full file. We "plus-sizes" would like to see it too... Jim exit - ~254 Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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Rob Harris? Don't remember... did not know the person, but remember the equipment issue well as it was right around the time I was designing my own system. Since then I have revisited the method, and I think there is a way to make it more fail-safe. (modeled on how Strong keeps the TM from cutting away a main without releasing the drogue.) May we collectively not need to learn from mistakes twice. J~ Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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[reply Things to learn about binding: -Learn both ways to remove binding: a) With hot knife OK... you' got some 'splainin' to do... I've seen confluence wraps removed with razerblades, but not binding tape with a hot knife... please 'splain... J~ Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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I am practicing the same as you. Pain the the @$$, but I'll get there... I now understand why they also sell double needle machines where you can raise one needle independent of the other... I just don't have the dough... Good luck, Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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For the rest of you (us), it is my recollection that they will take the unit up to 3 month ahead of its due date. Better to send it in Dec/Jan than mid-spring. Both for you to not jump in the winter and for their delays of handling the spring rush. Jim PS - to my SA, OZ, NZ and other "upside-down" friends , please forgive my Northern hemisphere centric thinking. Hmmm... or should that be (-: ? Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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For the record, I would say that ALL extra equipment and procedures have their added risks... including my own 3-rig system which I jump on a semi-regular basis. I have considered (and may yet use) the method you describe. However for the sake of discussion, it should be mentioned that a similar system and an out-of-sequence cut-a-way was the route cause of a jumper's death a few years ago. (will dig it up if I can find it) Review discovered that he had deployed the junk main, then pulled by mistake the ACTUAL main cut-away. This caused the junk main to load on the still packed main pin. (riser to riser still linked) Bad situation never got better. Be carefull out there and consider that the jumper is also a weak link in this. Jim (BTW - intentionals... best jumps I make... and they scare me sh~tless everytime!! ) Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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Sorry to hear about your opening. Heal soon. I also jump a Spectre (230), and while it has always treated me well, any canopy can open hard. To actually answer your question, I would suggest getting a rigger to inspect both your main and your harness. This for both any potential cause AND for any potential damage cause BY the opening. It should include ALL parts of the main system (3-rings to pud) and the harness. He may find that you have a line-trim problem or torn rib or other things. Heal soon. Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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Sorry to hear about your troubles. I do business on EBay, but it is possible to be scammed. One question... Do you have serial number and color pattern for us? Would help in spotting it. (OK, maybe a long shot, but who knows.) (If you don't, check with your rigger and/or where you bought it. I keep full inventory of all gear that I service including descriptions and serial numbers.) Good Luck, Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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Having the chest strap shortened is easy, BUT don't do anything until the rig is completely filled out (with canopies) and you have jumped it for a while. You may find a reason to keep the extra. And making it longer is much harder than shortening it (or leaving it along). Just my $.02 J Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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Recommendations for selling/buying gear online?
fcajump replied to airdolphin's topic in Gear and Rigging
I've been the rigger in this scenario several times and it seems to work out fine. I've even had the buyer and seller agree to send the payment to me (made out to the seller) for holding during the inspection. Then upon my report (given to both), they tell me where to send the check and where to send the rig. Who pays me, that's up to the buyer and seller, but I get paid up front. Additionally, I STRONGLY recommend that your BID (or purchase) be made ONLY after the seller agrees in writing (email) that the sale is contingent upon YOUR rigger inspecting it. Of the sellers I have bought from (or aided in the purchase), of the ones that agreed to make the sale contingent upon inspection, ALL the rigs were found to be as described. However some sellers were unwilling to commit to this requirement. Jim Additionally, I recommend that all Always remember that some clouds are harder than others... -
Terry, You might drop a line to Dan at Para-phernalia, last I knew he was using FFE canopies in the Softie and would likely know the status. Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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Hi, Very simple! have your local rigger replace the chest strap for a longer one, abour 5" longer! All he needs is a piece of type 17, a single needle and a zigzag machine. We perform this work quite often here and the cost can be around $45. I'm pretty sure you have articulated rings on your chest so it's very simple. I hope this helps! Cheers, Having not (yet) consulted Sunpath, I suspect (in the US) you should specify "Master Rigger" as this most certainly would be a major repair/alteration. Jim Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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In 4 years skydiving will be all virtual reality. it's pretty much the same but no risk! In discussing appropriate equipment for relative work: - Pat Works "Parachuting: The Art of Freefall Relative Work" (1975) Interesting how times change... one jumper now has more altitude sensing devices than some previous whole loads of skydivers... Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...
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And then there is Dave DeWolf's annual session in late Jan/ early Feb (don't remember which) in Elizabethtown, PA. His class roster usually fills by September the prior year, so book early. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...