skydiverkeith

What would you define as "appropriate"? Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Currently, I use single wrap 1.25 inch rubber on the grommet stows and double wrap 2 inch rubber on all others. However, I have heard from some that you shouldn't double wrap any stows... Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Why? Blue skies, Keith Medlock

For me, it's like this. Two hands on cutaway....pull One hand on reserve...pull (while other hand holds cutaway pud) The reason for two hands on cutaway is this... In an emergency, my first priority is to get rid of the bad canopy. And in a perfect world, as soon as that happens the RSL starts reserve deployment. The reason for only one hand on reserve is this... First of all the reserve is very unlikely to ever be a hard pull, and I'm not wanting to drop the cutaway pud either. I'm not worried about being able to locate the reserve pud because I have an RSL. If that fails, I WILL FIND IT. Even if for some reason I still can't get my reserve out, hopefully the CYPRES will do its job. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Thanks for all the replys! After reading everything, I'm going start with a demo Pilot 140 One question. I know that Aerodyne measures differently than PD. Is it true that a Pilot 140 would be about the same sq. ft. size as my Sabre 150? Blue skies, Keith Medlock

The Lotus is no longer available... Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Yep, my Sabre used to slam me, but now I have a giant dome slider on it, although I hear pockets are better than the dome... Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Get an original Sabre? (I voted anyway) I've got an original Sabre. What I'm looking for is a NEW canopy... Blue skies, Keith Medlock

I just wanted to get some opinions before I demo. What I'm looking for at between 1:1 - 1.2:1 in the 135 - 150 range... Soft, on heading openings. Stability in turbulence. Some body position forgiveness. Good range for long spots. Easy to dial in for accuracy. Great rear riser turns. Good double front riser dive/wind penetration. Fast toggle turns with a short recovery arc. Easy to pack and forgiving of some sloppiness. Wingsuit friendly. Flies like an original Sabre. Thanks guys. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

I'm still wondering what a "Troll" is. I can't quite make it out from the context... Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Got it. I think he may be done with this forum anyway, lol. Some people don't like the truth, only personal validation. No matter what happens to him (though I hope it doesn't) I'll be just fine... Blue skies, Keith Medlock

What does the term "trolling" mean? Blue skies, Keith Medlock

At DrewEckhardt, Thanks for making my point much more articulately. The hypotheticals are why I'm sticking with my Sabre at 1:1. At scratch69, Good point. We need to do whats best for the sport, not ourselves. However, instead of telling someone who doesn't want to play it safe that they're idiots, we should simply inform them of the relevent dangers and then suggest if they still want to engage in overly risky behavior, they should seek a non-USPA(or other country's org) dz to make their jumps at. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Ass bad as the posters attitude is, I would have to agree that a lightly loaded Stilleto is a pussy cat. I fly a Sabre 150, and have made ONE jump on a Stilleto 170. Knowing it was HP I set up earlier, made my turns more carefuly, played up high, and set it down just fine... ONE time. However, with over 150 jumps on my Sabre, I still managed to twist my ankle on landing! Great flare straight into a 5-10mph headwind. Just set it down wrong I guess. I've also mis-judged when to let up on double fronts in a no wind situation and scared myself. No injury, just a long slide on my ass, but still enough to make me not want to downsize or go HP. My point is this... Even though I could probably grab a Stilleto 120 right now and set it down fine in good conditions, that's not what I'm worried about. What happens when I misjudge a double front in no wind on it, or stiupidly panic and turn low to avoid some asshole that cut me off?! I can see it now... He should have made a flat turn, but instead jerked a toggle. So sad. He'll be missed. Wasn't even his fault. That asshole cut him off. I probably won't die but call me a pussy, I don't even want a sprained ankle or grass stains on my beautiful container. I HATE CLEANING MY CONTAINER! If I ever have the downsizing/HP bug, all I have to do is pull the shit out of one of my front risers, lol. I have a lot more respect for a low time jumper who thinks he's an exceptional canopy pilot and proves it by flying the shit out of his square, than the guy who rapidly downsizes/transitions. Even so, I believe this is an individual sport where you set your own risk level. If you know its more dangerous and still want to do it, thats your perogative. Nobody should call him an idiot for jumping the Stilleto. Remember, this sport is all about safety second! Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Good call. I should see Randy at the boogie this weekend. Have we met? Blue skies, Keith Medlock

I've seen countless pics of canopies with cool designs and graphics on the bottom skin. However, I can't find options for stuff like this on PDs order forms. Does anyone know... 1) How to go about getting graphics on a canopy 2) What are the graphics made of?(i.e. print, extra fabric, etc) 3)What is the average cost for something like this? Thanks Guys Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Hey guys, I just made my own suit as well based on bird like materials. I dropped it from a plane with a test dummy and when it hit the thermals from a road, it actually gained 500ft altitude. I can't say anymore because thieves will steal my idea. Its my super-secret Kermit the Frog prototype birdsuit version 1.46.78.12345! I don't have enough experience to jump it myself, but if you come to me, I'll gladly watch you fly it and you can see for yourself. Please help with this as I'm at a dead end even though I'm super smart and uber cool. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Certainly, I would love to learn why lube is needed on the cutaway cable. Do you have this information? I've done simulated cutaways hanging from risers (only body load) with and without lube, and could not feel any difference in pull force needed to extract the cable, although admitedly I didn't use any kind of real measurement device. Just make sure you always ask "Why?" If everyone accepted the conventional wisdom without question, there would be no innovation or simplification of procedures. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

That's true, but Nylon and Polyester aren't among those plastics that it will harm. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Hey Jim, Are we really going to have a Skyvan this year, or will it be the CASA again? Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Why? Lubricants capture contaminants, and nylon is inherently smooth already. Thats why it can be used for worm gears. In fact, it may be a good idea to use contact cleaner to get all traces of lubricant out of the cable housings. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Better yet, don't use a lubricant. Pull your handle once a month, clean your cable, and exercise your risers. If you don't have hard housings in your risers, this may be poor advise, but if you do have hard housings, don't put lube on your cables. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Remember, its not always about changing the jumpers attitude, or even protecting others from his dangerous actions. Sometimes, the S&TA just doesn't want the press from a jumper going in. At Dallas, the S&TA will outright tell you, "Go somewhere else to die, because you're not allowed to kill yourself here." Blue skies, Keith Medlock

Why not? Please, explain. Is it also not logical to start with a Static Line? Why? Either method(s) are tried, true perfectly VALID FIRST JUMP progression methods. I would actually argue the Opposite, and offer up instead that for someone who already knows they are SERIOUS about actually pursuing the sport right from the get-go especially - that it is Tandem instead, that is entirely ILLogical. Tandem can be done with (relatively) little "training" at all, and sure - might "acclimate" and innoculate SOME to the potential shock of sensory overload - but for the most part (yes, with EXCEPTIONS - those with an actual "teaching" tandem program) is really nothing more than a veritable "carnival ride". A way for those who may just have skydiving on their "bucket list" - to get that checked off, without having to invest much time and attention towards, then move on. Before I am flamed for that - remember I did say there were (and ARE) exceptions! AFF (and Static Line or even IAD for that matter) on the other hand - provide CONSISTENTLY however - an actual TEACHING, FIRST JUMP COURSE. Not, necessarily required at all, in order "to just do" a tandem. I submit that "Logic" therefore supports in this case - absolutely NO NEED for a tandem, and straight to a FULLY INSTRUCTIONAL based FIRST JUMP COURSE (notice the emphasis on what it is even called! ), such as AFF, is in fact - Please - absolutely PERFECTLY acceptable! After all - and as others have mentioned - that is precisely what the entire program was designed for in the very 1st place! Personally - I have never done a tandem, from either "side of the equation", and don't ever plan to either. Just another .02 Blue Skies & GO FOR IT, Boomerang! Come back and let us know as well, how you did. Welcome to "our" skies!! -Grant You misread. He said it "isn't ILlogical", implying that it is also logical to start with AFF. Blue skies, Keith Medlock

I've never done a tandem. My first jump was AFF and I would recomend that route. Blue skies, Keith Medlock