KellyF

Correct. Just release the RSL snap shackle if having the reserve PC in tow.

Are there any pictures of the new flap configuration? I thought the previous closing sequence was chosen because you couldn't pack a PC in tow (or it made it tougher).

I am VERY interested on your take on this Bill. PhreeZone hit the nail on the head, and I'm sure Bill will say the same thing (since I talked to him about it a couple of weeks ago). A HP spinner is a high speed malfunction, and should be treated as such. You have a point with the broken riser scenario, and Billvon pretty much covered that base. If jumping gear made within the past 5 years, the chance of having a broken riser is pretty darn slim. RWS seems to agree since they started making RSL's available with ty-17 risers in '98.

The only time an RSL will cause a dual deployment is if the RSL is built improperly (too short). With a properly manufactured RSL system, the only time the reserve will be activated is after the main canopy has been cutaway.

Looks like "Death on a Zipper" to me Definately NOT condoned by the rig manufacturer

I think he may be referring to a reserve container? I've found main container volumes pretty straight forward, but reserve volumes get pretty whacky. In particular, the width of the pack tray plays a pretty large role in how accurate the calculated volume for a given "target canopy" is. I've had this come up a couple of times since I have the measured container volumes in the Infinity owners manual. Those numbers are based on straight lines and perfect angles- things that don't exist when packing a parachute. We will change that to a list of compatible canopies the next time we revise the manual

The point is moot though, because we know it has happened. There's two dead skydivers to show this. I know it's a risk for me because I had a risers strike me accross the nose about a year back, it took some skin off. If a riser can hit my nose, it can hit a ring sight. I don't thnk it is a moot point, though. We are trying to understand the cause of a problem so that we may be able to find a solution. There have obviously been a couple of fatalities where a part of the camera helmet got entangled that may hve been prevented if the helmet was released, but how did it get entangled in the first place? Bill and I are both rig manufacturers, and understanding situations like this will help us build better equipment for everyone to use in the future. I view things like "don't jump an RSL if you jump a camera, due to entanglements" as a band-aid type solution, you need to look deeper into the problem to find a solution.

Maybe a real unstable deployment with the main bag going under an arm or something like that, but you would hope that someone jumping a camera would have made it past that stage.

Can you elaborate on what caused the lines to get entangled with the ring sight? I can't come up with a scenario in my head where the lines could get near the ring sight (the riser would need to go slack or something really odd).

I personally think that the biggest snag hazard on a camera helmet (as far as a riser is concerned) is the ring sight. I would hope that if a riser were to snag a ring sight, it would simply rip it off the helmet. Of course there are all sorts of different helmet designs with the side mount types being more likely to cause some sort of interference. But we should think for a moment about what it would take to make a riser actually hang up on the camera or mount itself. Within 2-3" (or less) of movement after the riser is released, the front and rear risers would need to spread out maybe 4" to catch the underside of a side mount. Keep in mind that the "crotch" between the front and rear risers is usually going to be real close to the same level as the camera mount. I think that some camera jumper have had to cutaway from a malfunction and maybe felt their helmet get bumped by the hardware on a departing riser and mistakenly interpreted that as a snag. As far as the getting stable argument, it is more likely that the use of an RSL will result in a clean PC launch (given a "modern" PC design with a good spring) with the POSSIBILITY of line twists on the deployed reserve, than it's use will result in an entangled mess of a reserve malfunction like many jumpers have been led to fear by some well respected individuals in the community. Sure, incidents can be found where people will blame the RSL (maybe correctly), but there are by far more "incidents" where the RSL did the job it was designed to do that we don't hear about because the jumper didn't get hurt or killed.

Did you know that Eric Fradet patented a similar system ten years ago? Don't bet your life on it. There is a BIG difference between having an open canopy within 80' of your cutaway main and having an open canopy in 80' TOTAL. And FWIW, having several Sorcerer BASE rig cutaway's with and without a slider (mesh) on the reserve, don't count on having a FLYABLE reserve at that point. Granted, when you get down in the basement that far, all you're looking to do is save your life

So how do you like the individual cutaway handles? I wouldn't have the balls to wait for the Cypres

Do me a favor and don't try that when I'm around, mmkay

Do me a favor and don't try that when I'm around, mmkay

You.........BASTARD!!!!!!! Thanks everyone for the compliments, but I also have some really talented people working for me that make it possible to make so many people happy. If it was a one man show, there would be A LOT fewer proud Infinity owners posting their experiences. We'll keep doing our best to keep quality high and delivery times low (which has been difficult this year

Did you order it directly through PD?

Be proud that you have employees that don't keep ALL of their ideas to themselves

No, it doesn't really matter, I just found it odd that I was reading that they weren't on new Sigma's, yet, there they were! I copped a feel just to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me

"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools."- Douglas Adams

I would like to see some scans or photos of the different procedures. Unfortunately, many riggers pack the reserve pilot chute and bridle differently than the manufacturer recommends, so it is pretty likely that you could have two rigs packed incorrectly by two different riggers. I am unaware of any significant change to the reserve PC packing procedures from RWS in the past 10+ years. Maybe they may have clarified how they wanted it done after hearing about riggers packing them incorrectly? FWIW, the reserve opened fine the 100+ times that I fired it

Both of the Skyhook equipped Sigmas at Kapowsin have the ball.

Wait until you open the package with Luke's jumpsuit in it

Bahh! It has a loop and a pin holding the containers closed, has ripcord and a cutaway system, pilot chutes, and uses nylon webbing for the harness. It must be a clone of a..........

Boy, gossip in this sport, I tell ya! I will say that I have built a couple of prototypes, but as far as becoming available, don't hold your breath

I would still recommend tying a knot over the fingertrap for attaching toggles, since the Jump Shack method will be hard (but not impossible) to reverse should the toggle setting need to be changed.