davelepka

It will be a step in a different direction. The canopy is trimmed much steeper than a Sabre, and will require some input (brakes or rear risers) to get the same glide as a Sabre. Also, it will dump much more altitude in a turn than a Sabre. Much more. The problem is when the two factors come together. If you're not on top of the canopy, you'll get back to the DZ lower than you're used to. At that point, the canopy will need more altitude to get it turned into the wind. It doesn't add up to a good situation. Just be aware, and plan on 'flying' the canopy, as opposed to your Sabre, where you could just hang under it and let it go. Float home on every jump, so you arrive at the DZ with more altitude than you're used to. Also, be sure to do a few flat turns with it at altitude, just to see how it goes. You stand a better chance of needing this skill with the Katana than the Sabre. All of these things are just differences between the two. There's nothing wrong with the Katana, it's just different.

Do you mean chincup? I think you do. If you want to top mount a still, you should think about a chincup. Putting the weight up top will give it more leverage to move the helmet around on your head, or maybe off of your head. You can order a chincup kit from several places (Bonehead is one) and install it on your helmet. In terms of shooting stills and not video, it might be easier to start with a video camera. With the video, the camera does all the work, and you can focus on getting the shot (lighting, composition, etc). When you're flying the video and you review your work, you see what things look like during your entire jump. The stills only show you what you take a pic of. You may be flying right past a great shot, but if you don't hit the trigger, you'll never know it was there. The video can help to develop your 'eye' for camera flying much faster than the stills. Once you have the hang of being in the right spot at the right time, you can switch to the still camera, and take on the job of triggering the shutter. As far as the bracket goes, nothing in camera flying is ready right out of the box. Expect your set-up to need tweaks and/or mods to be right for your application. Consult the local video guys for tips on helmet set-up.

Brand new, and a riser cover came open and toggle released? That doesn't sound like a Wings to me. Was the pack job supervised, or did the jr jumper indicate is was 'by the book'? Also, is the canopy brand new as well? How does it fit into the D-bag? Still sounds like a packing error between the new jumper and new rig.

Back when freeflying was new. and 'freefly friendly' was a concept that didn't exist, I had at least a dozen toggles out in freefall, and none ever lead to a bag lock, or even a mal. A few led to a line twist or two, but that's about it. All were on 120 or 107 Sabres or Stilettos. I can see a toggle out being a contributing factor, but I would suspect there were other factors as well, and the first one that comes to mind is the line stows. Big bights that can overlap one another, or a four grommet D-bag with locking sotws that can overlap might be something to think about. This was a student? On a student rig? I wouldn't be surpirsed to hear that a packer took a few 'shortcuts' on a student rig. Bigger bights use up more line, and lead to fewer line stows overall, and save a little time on a pack job. Again, these are just things to consider.

Nice jackass. Is that what your dad got you for your birthday? What are you now, 16? 17? How about a real answer to my question. You're supposed to be young and on top of the latest technology.

So my son is turning 10 this week, and asked for an MP3 player as a birthday gift. Anyone have any ideas for a good MP3 player for a 10 year old kid? I don't think it needs a ton of storage, and it does need to be tough, and semi-disposable (there's a good chance it will be lost or broken within a few months). Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

I'm guessing you jump year-round in Texas, right? So aside from your four month break, you've been jumping non-stop for three years, maybe you just need another break. Just stop going to the DZ. When you feel like jumping again, go back. It's that simple. Remember that after any period of not jumping, to do a review of your emergency procedures, and ease back into things with some two ways on days with nice weather.

If it's an oversew of webbing on top of the existin harness, maybe it was done without disassembling the rig, hence no 'I' and no 'R' and no mention on the data card? The other possibility, it's a bandit repair done by a bandit 'rigger'.

Many good answers, but so for everyone has missed the mark. Here's your problem - you made five jumps on the canopy. It takes more than five jumps to learn high performance flight on any canopy. I'm sorry, but if you want something you can pick up in an afternooon, then high performance canopy flight isn't for you. Try making 50 jumps, and if you still aren't making any progress, then come back and ask questions.

Early on, level one or two, tip the AFF I's if you're so inclined. They're doing a job, and don't mind being paid. Same for the video guy, the first jump or two with a guy, go ahead and tip. Beyond level four or five, you're part of the family, and tipping is too much. Like others have said, beer is a good substitute at that point. If you use a packer, tip them every day. They work hard, and don't get to jump for free like AFF I's and camera flyers.

I'd be more interested in seeing what the view of the real world looks like through those goggles. Obstructing your view of reality is a deal breaker for me. I really have to survive a real skydive, getting the shot is secondary.

Good god Lonnie, that helmet is huge. Have you considered that you may have a problem with riser slap, on both sides, at the same time??

That's what I thought at first too, but now I think he bent his dive loops with the pliers. When new, those Jav loops can be kinda stiff, and if you work them in a little, they soften up. It's when he describes the bending as being 'lengthwise' that leads me to believe it's not the grommets. Grommets are round, and have no 'lengthwise'. Unless he really did bend his grommets, at which point his will have a 'lenghtwise'.

Everyone is saying to learn about your gear because it's important, and there appears to be a lack of interest in it lately. What do you know about getting a riggers ticket? Did you know that once you get a ticket, you work on your own, with no checks or balances in place? Almost every other skydiving professional has somebody working closely with them. AFF I's work in pairs, TI's have video guys hanging around, and pilots have to deal with ATC, the FAA, and other pilots. Riggers get their tickets, then go home and work alone. Can you see how this might create a disparity between the skills of different, licensed riggers? Some riggers take the course, and end their education right there. They do things they way they did to pass the course, and call it a day. If they got their ticket five years ago, or ten years ago, that's the extent of their knowledge. Is that who you want packnig your stuff? As far as what you can do? It's easy, learn about your gear. Hang out with riggers while they work, and ask questions. If you have any fear of 'bothering' these poeple, bring food and drinks, and they'll be happy to have you around. Take your knowledge, and hang out when your rig is being packed. Be a second set of eyes on what's happening. Everyone makes mistakes, but the chances of two people making the same mistake on the same day are slim. You only get three repacks per year. Three times a year, take the time to schedule your repack at a time when you can be there. Make an appointment with the rigger to do the work at a certain time (I suggest around lunch or dinner for the reasons stated above). Got a busy schedule? Maybe you'll have to get your repack a few weeks early to make the timing work. With the number of people who never pack their mains these days, it is scary to think that they're jumping a rig with two pack jobs they know nothing about.

You probably agreed to this when you bought the policy. Read the fine print, it's in there somewhere. It's fucked up and unfair, but it's in there.

Any way you want to slice it, you would be better off if you educated yourself on the assembly and operation of your rig, and provided an extra set of eyes while it's being worked on. Nobody is perfect, but the odds of the two of you being imperfect on the same day, with regards to the same issue are very slim. Sure, a ton of people just drop their rig off, and trust that everything will be 'fine'. Well, that's their error, and not justification for you to follow in their foot steps. This is your LIFE that's on the line. Either buck up and take an interest in it, or just admit that you're sheep like the rest of them. It's one or the other, you choose.

I've never worked in a gear store, but when I bought my first rig I insisted on being present for the assembly and pack job. This wasn't for lack of trust, but for lack of information. At the time I did not have a detailed understanding of a reserve system, and seeing as I was going to own and be responsible for the care of a rig, this was something I needed to know. Since then, I have had a handful of repacks I have not been present for, but it's rare. I trust my rigger, but at the same time I've got an hour or so two or three times year to hang out with the guy and 'observe'. Additionally, any time my rig needs dis-assembled, I'm the one who puts it back together. I'd rather do the work myself, and have my rigger inspect it. It's two pairs of eyes on the job, and I like the redundancy. It's the lack of this attitude that (I think) JP is lamenting. Just like tandems have turned the students into passengers, it seems that skydiving in general has turned new 'skydivers' into 'jumpers'. These people show up, jump, and that's it. No packing, no furthering education, no personal responsibility.

Look man, if I thought you were trying to figure out what canopy to order on Monday, I would have come at you with a much different attitude. There is math behind all aspects of canopy flight, but there are no 'hard' numbers like you might see in a rigid wing craft. There are too many variables in canopy flight to come up with those figures. The pilot is a big one, and I'm not talking about their skill level (yet). The size and co-efficient or drag of the pilot will have a huge effect on the canopy. A fat guy in a baggy suit will create all sorts of drag, and in steady state flight will be further behind the canopy, pitching the nose down slightly. A little guy with a big weight vest will provide the same wing loading, with less drag, and get a different level of performance. Is the difference huge? Who knows, even if it's not, any difference at all will be very clear if you're looking at it in mathmatical terms. Which brings me back to my earlier post, that there is no 'optimal' wing loading. Beyond your body type, your style of canopy flight may require a notch more loading than the next guy to yeild the best results. This something you'll discover as you mature as a canopy pilot, and learn what works for you.

Who's going to start the "CX-7 with open LCD is killing my battery" thread? It looks like that will be the problem. As far as that new camera, even before I heard the screen needs to be out to record, I was concerned about the battery life. It appears to have an enclosed battery, which usually means it's tiny, and there's no upgrade to a larger size. On the contrary, the smaller batteries are even easier to carry in your jumpsuit pocket, so maybe we have a winner. Just judging by the size, that thing has to be a featherweight, and it's shooting HD footage to boot.

You are waaay over-thinking this. You're not making a split second decision here, canopy selection is a long, gradual process. Jump a sensible wing loading based in your skill and experience. After an appropriate number of jumps, downsize to the next smaller size (no skipping sizes). Eventually you'll find a canopy that scares the bejesus out of you. Some guys will stick with that size, others will back off a size. Either way, you've found your 'optimal' wing loading. Also, 'optimal for competition' is not optimal for you. I prefer to jump at just under what most consider 'optimal' for a Velo. I tried 'optimal' for a season, and found it to be too much work under canopy. The pace of my canopy ride was faster than I wanted, so I dialed it back (two sizes actually), and have been very happy. What I lost in top speed, I more than made up for in distance, and my canopy ride is far more 'relaxing' than it used to be.

Look dude, here's the bottom line - Sport skydiving gear is build to a specific standard to earn federal certification. The max weight specified in that standard is 254 lbs. If you have a problem with this, you need to contact the FAA, have a new certification created, and get a manufacturer to earn approval for equipment under the new certification. The DZ has no control over this. I'm sorry if feel it's 'unfair', but that's the way it is. Being 6' 4" and 280 lbs, I'm sure you have realized that there are many things in this world that are not made for a guy your size. Skydiving may be one of them.

You can't sew, but you want to make your own canopy? Are you an aeronautical engineer? Or a pattern maker? Also, are you aware that zero-p fabric is one of the most difficult things to sew?

On top of the money thing, you spend the day skydiving, and she spends the day stuffing, and pulling, and struggling, and maybe dodging a reserve pilot chute to the face (or two). My favorite thing about riggers is that I'm not one of them.

This is just a guess, but is it possible the article my be specific to the Firebolt canopy produced by Jump Shack.

Fuck those Googlers. I'd like to see the size of the house that Sergy Brin lives in, and heats and cools 24/7.