BrianSGermain

If you or someone you know has been hurt, this video may be uplifting. Give it a whirl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FgsjKe-0Eg Despite being 'gravitationally challenged" skydivers have turned out to be the coolest people I have met. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

As I mentioned, there is no evidence of a significant reduction in the tensile strength of the line post stretching. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

PD has not tested this in any way, therefore their oppinion is as uselful as someone you meet on the bus. It is unwise to advise beyond your data. I have developed this method over many years, and I have data to support the conclusion that this is a hugely valuable technique. It does not last forever, but the shrinking is a long slow process, and it takes as long to back out of trim as it took to get that way in the fear place. Heat shrinking is only part of the dimensional change on a spectra lineset. My original article in parachutist magazine on this topic is what PD is basing their information on, but I have learned more since them. It appears that heat shrinking is not sufficient to cause the magnitude of the change that we are seeing. Lack of loading must therefore be a significant aspect of the difference between the outboard and inboar lines. It is a combination of these two forces that causes a canopy to become "out of trim". Therefore, the direct loading of the "unloaded" lines, including the brakes, changes the parachute significantly, and for a useful duration. I find that most canopies with 500 jumps on it has a differential of 3 inches or so. This can be completely irradicated with this technique. That is a singnificant difference both in statistics and in useful practice. Regarding all the guessing about stressing the lines I have no evidence to support the conclusion that stretching the lines weakens them in any significant way. Controlled test results are coming shortly. -Brian Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

There are a great many books to read, and there are lots of articles on dz.com that are worth reading. The SkydiveRadio.com podcasts are also a hugely valuable source of information The amount of knowledge necessary to be a safe skydiver can seem insurmountable, but if you keep on learning, you will get what you need. Just remember why you are doing it, and you will have all the motivation you need. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

True story that you may enjoy: Fear and Success [Url]http://youtu.be/7hZZ0aPz68g[/url] Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

If you or someone you know is having fear-related issues in skydiving, you may enjoy this article series: [Url]http://www.transcendingfear.com/relax.html[/URL] You may also enjoy this short interview: http://youtu.be/YWQ9WkmxOd0 Blue Skies, Bri Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Robert, you are a legend. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

For all those who miss Robert Mahaffey, or are curious about who he was, have a peek at these two short videos of the televised ESPN competitions. his brilliant personality really shines through. What an incredible human being... I feel honored to have flown with such incredible athletes, and people. Adrian and Robert, you will live on forever in what you brought to the world. Space Center: http://youtu.be/SBHWuEhqK54 Monterey Bay: http://youtu.be/NznRe6w2YMs PS Please forgive the bad hair. It was the spirit of the times... ;-) Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Still works fine for me! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

This was in the Chapel at a University. About 500 students and faculty. Great fun, as always! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Enjoy! [Url]http://youtu.be/a97LTbm_iIE[/url] Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Sorry for the lack of set-up for this clip. Here is a quick description: "Excerpt from a keynote talk on the topic of transcending fear, explaining why adventure people have figured out some very profound things. In short, it is about why the world needs more inspired risk-taking". Perhaps the message comes clearer in this slightly longer cut: [Url]http://youtu.be/kKL5e5vRIHM[/url] Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

If you have three minutes, please watch this little clip. http://youtu.be/X5QZG8mw134 Happy landings! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

We are capable of complex execution when we move slowly and consciously, but when we rush we tend to do the most practiced version of our procedures, right or wrong. When there are multiple possibilities, we must move slow enough to remain in the present moment and think throughout the action. Slow is smart. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Absolutely amazing!!! THANK YOU!! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

By "more consistent", I mean more on heading, fewer linestwists, and more consistent snatch force and bag lift. The ZP pilotchutes seem to oscillate more since they do not leak any air. An apex vent stabilizes a round canopy, so it is possible that the pores in the fabric have a similar effect. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I should also point out that I have noticed that F-111 pilotchutes give me more consistent openings overall, and since they have more friction, they are less likely to slip out of the pocket and give me a premature deployment. Zero P is slicker than snot on a glass doorknob. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I look forward to the video. I am always interested in hearin feedback of all kinds. Thank you for the follow up. Bri Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I hadn’t thought about how many H&P’s you do. Dah You are fortunate that a PC that large doesn’t increase the snatch force on your Sensei considering how light it is. Sparky I had great openings on my Samurai and Jedei as well, despite using large pilotchutes. Perhaps the correlation is not what we thought. "Openable": a new word invented by my iPhone Spell-Checker. Whoever wrote the code for these devices obviously has a devious sense of humor. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

1-2000 jumps. I have pushed it further without problem, and have extended the life of the PC significantly by spraying it with food grade silicone. Works with F-111 canopies as well! Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I find that larger pilotchutes are helpful on low speed deployments, and as a canopy course director, I find myself deploying subterminal quite often. I don't find that my Sensei openable harder at terminal as a result, surprisingly. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I fly lots of different canopies, but my primary parachutes are Sensei 91 and 101 prototypes. I use an F-111 30 or 32 inch pilotchute with the "Semi-Stowless" bag. I have had one linetwist (from a packer) in the past 3 years. One cutaway in the past 15 years. Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

Can you still check the kill line window? I don't currently have the window, but next week a rigger is putting one in for me. If you can't check the window, then wouldn't Kevlar reinforcement be a 'safer' way to go? I know we are all supposed to cock our pilot chutes, but losing the ability to double check would bother me. The "window" is really not as important as we are led to believe when we are students. If you pack the pilotchute in the manner described in my video "The Secret to Pilotchute Packing", you will always have a cocked pilotchute. It is physically impossible to pack this way if the pilotchute has not been cocked. How cool is that?! Pilotchute packing video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axCeYlY_6io&feature=youtube_gdata_player Interesting observation. I'm going to have a longer chat with the local rigger. He doesn't like that method of pilot chute packing due to a potential for a hard pull. Until this weekend I used to pack the.way you recommend. I love the discussions when they get to trading off between hard choices - makes you think.

Can you still check the kill line window? I don't currently have the window, but next week a rigger is putting one in for me. If you can't check the window, then wouldn't Kevlar reinforcement be a 'safer' way to go? I know we are all supposed to cock our pilot chutes, but losing the ability to double check would bother me. The "window" is really not as important as we are led to believe when we are students. If you pack the pilotchute in the manner described in my video "The Secret to Pilotchute Packing", you will always have a cocked pilotchute. It is physically impossible to pack this way if the pilotchute has not been cocked. How cool is that?! Pilotchute packing video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axCeYlY_6io&feature=youtube_gdata_player Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com

I invite you all to watch this new video regarding bridle routing that may change the way you pack. Enjoy! BG http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgU9wT7O0-E&feature=youtu.be Instructional Videos:www.AdventureWisdom.com Keynote Speaking:www.TranscendingFEAR.com Canopies and Courses:www.BIGAIRSPORTZ.com