skydiverek

I was talking about side flaps.

On vast majority of rigs there are plastic stiffeners built into the main container flaps. Also, I recall two line-flap entalglements, one of them fatal. Both on Javelins. Question is: I know one you may shape the main flap ending in a way, which lessens the chance of having the lines half-hitch. But why are the plasic stiffeners used there in the first place? Racer does not use them, for example.

It is a fact: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cenTylpZvjs Check your gear!!!

Close to the topic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nsca5add8g

http://www.jumpshack.com/default.asp?CategoryID=TECH&PageID=Rubberbands&SortBy=DATE_D

Also, try this (from PD as well): http://skydivekamloops.org/vids/pdpacking.html

Have you measured the "correct way"?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZB0sNdUOcs

From UPT Bill Booth on this: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1010403;search_string=velcro%20pin%20rotate;#1010403 and http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1483959;search_string=velcro%20pin%20rotate;#1483959

Do you also hand tack reserve Slinks on reserve risers? Why, or why not?

I think it was way more that 1000 (like 3000) jumps from what I recall, (in sandy Perris)...

Would you agree that in that case more force was required to pull the reserve manually, since the jumper had to oversome the opposite pulling force (main PC pulling a reserve cable and making a "kink")? I am not even talking of pulling the "kink" into the reserve housing (which also adds force), but about the 'tug-o-war' between a jumper and a main PC pulling the reserve cable in two different directions (main PC "sucking" the reserve cable away from the reserve handle, and jumper pulling the cable in the opposite direction).

From UPT Bill Booth: "If you are towing your malfunction because of a poorly designed RSL, then you are probably going to have a really hard time pulling your reserve handle. In other words, the towed malfunction will quite possibly "lock up" your reserve ripcord cable because of the kink it is putting in it. This is why I designed an RSL that is directly connected to the reserve ripcord pin 25 years ago. I did not patent it, so it is "free" for everyone to use. I simply cannot understand why the "cable through ring" RSL system, which also damages your ripcord cable every time as well, is still in use today." AND "We just went through this in the military test program to "certify" the Skyhook. At first they insisted on a "cable-through-ring" type RSL, instead of our direct-connect type. I couldn't talk them out of it, because that is what they have been using on other rigs for years. So I said, "OK, let's test it." On two out of the three bag lock tests, they towed the bag lock, once for over 1,000 feet. Single sided, cable-through-ring RSL's are simply no longer acceptable, because a safer alternative exists. The funny thing is, I designed my "direct-connect" RSL over 25 years ago, and never patented it...yet very few other companies use it...even though the design is free, and has been "tested" on literally 1,000's of actual cutaways." AND "I put my RSL on the right side, because every broken riser I've ever seen was the left one. And before the Collin's lanyard, if one riser broke, you certainly didn't want it to be the RSL side, did you? The left riser breaks because almost everyone looks over their right shoulder as they throw the pilot chute, to watch the deployment. This puts the left shoulder low, and effectively shortens the left line groups by a foot, causing the majority of the initial opening shock to be taken by the left riser. You can easily see this effect if you look at graphs of load comparisons on left and right risers during opening shock. The left riser often receives twice the load of the right. Moral to the story: Don't look over either shoulder during opening. If you've gotta look...look straight up." AND "RSL's are on the left on most rigs because they use a ripcord cable-through-ring type of RSL. The Vector, Micron, and Sigma use my direct pull RSL system, with the ripcord pin attached directly to the end of the RSL. This type of design doesn't damage the ripcord cable everytime it is used like the cable- through-ring design does."

Why did Ray Farrel do it in the first place?

'Vector 2' Tandems were .

Legendary skysurfer Patric de Gayardon jumbed a Vector 3 with a belly band as well.

"I got saved by a backup device (RSL) on Thursday, August 28th. I thought I'd relay the information. My background: 5000+ jumps 107 cutaways (No, i don't need to learn how to pack, a lot of test jumps and films.) About 20 unplanned cutaways. 21 years jumping, AFF I/E, Static Line I/E, Full time instructor at Perris, AFF Course Director for USPA. Equipment Background Rig- Javelin, Articulated harness (Rings top and bottom), RSL and Cypres equipped. Soft Reserve pillow Main, Stiletto 135 Reserve- PD143R I wear my leg straps and chest strap quite tight. The jump: A great AFF Level 4, the student did well, I watched deployment on the student's canopy, and hung around to give a thumbs up for the camera. This put everything happening a little lower than usual, so I threw the main out at about 2100, as opposed to the usual 2500 since I've gotten older and hopefully wiser. The main opened into a severe spin. There were no line twists, but I don't know what caused the spin, as I could not see the left side of the canopy. After the usual playing around with it, I decided to get rid of it. My procedures are grab cutaway, grab reserve, pull cutaway, pull reserve. I went for the cutaway handle, and to my surprise, it was on the LEFT side of my chest. I grabbed it, and reached for the reserve handle. It was somewhere under my left armpit. I could only touch it with my thumb, and not grab it. My theory is that a combination of the severe spin and the articulated harness allowed the handles to move so far. I had also practiced hooking my thumb between the reserve pillow and the housing. I was unable to do it. I then pulled the cutaway handle, as I was not accomplishing anything in my attempt to find the reserve handle. After pulling the cutaway, I continued to search for the reserve pillow. I was unable to find it. I theorize that it tucked under the main lift web as the harness slid back into position. That theory took a couple of days to figure out. Being honest, I have my sincere doubts that I would have found the handle within the 6 seconds of working time that I had left. My RSL prevented me from knowing the answer. I have since modified my rig to include a standard ripcord on the reserve. This should also serve as a reminder that backup devices, whether they be RSL or AAD can save your life, no matter what your experience. Please don't make this into a debate thread, there have been enough. I just wanted to share the experience, so people could make informed decisions. Rick Horn D-6277 AFFI/E USPA AFF Course Director"

Can you fall out of a properly fastened harness?: http://www.makeithappen.com/spsj/fallout.html

I do not want to add to your fear, but here is a good video...: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_MsYQ3GtAg

They are now! Check the 2:20 time: http://www.youtube.com/user/VASSTTraining#p/u/15/SErtpdKLsM4

Could have been worse...: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCyt-sIMym0&fmt=18 Full report of the fatality: http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/24546/aair200101903_001.pdf Would not have happened on Vector 3: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=542700;search_string=reserve%20flap%20design;#542700

You are correct - Adblock was at fault .

It would be very useful, because often times I have 20 ads open, go thru them one by one, and am either not aware of photo presence, or (if aware) have to go back to ad list and search again for this particular ad (and there are hundreds of them)...

Right now, when you are reading the ad that has a photo, you have to go up one level, in order to view the photo. Can you put the photo link (photo icon) INSIDE of the ad (as opposed to outside of the ad)?

People twisted in 360 degrees and had PC in tows.

Please vote and comment on the jumper who: - has 230 total jumps in 3 years - made last 150 jumps in last 12 months, on a 190 square ft 9-cell canopy - has an exit weight of 242 lbs (110 kg) - attended a basic canopy course - wants to buy Sabre2 150 or Safire2 149 (wing loading of 1.61) Please vote and comment on this idea.