PiLFy

So, Aviacom screwed up again, & tried to hide it (again)? What a surprise...

Doug, W/experience under both canopies. Please compare the Pule & Storm for landings & openings. What WL are you flying them @? You say the Pulse lands really softly. You have >2K jumps, though. Please keep that in mind when comparing the two. P.S.: I'm glad you've been able to put >80 jumps on the new knee

"The lower surfaces can leak a little air without affecting performace so badly, but the top skin is much more critical to performance," That's what I had meant by load-bearing surface. A poor choice of words on my part. I guess it makes enough of a difference to weaken the flare though, huh? Bummer. I've been eyeing the Storm. Although I haven't been able to try one yet. I like the soft openings, but am curious about a seven cell flare vs. a nine cell flare. I've read it should be weaker in a few different sources. Would you say a Storm flares stronger than a Pulse?

But Capp_in(?), If I've mixed it up, & the bottom is the load-bearing skin. (Respectfully, I don't think I have.) Wouldn't they only be good for about 800 jumps, ala F111? Also, I realize PD isn't going to state "BTW, the flare really sux w/our new chute." However, why would they market & push a chute w/lousy performance? I can see the benefits of the Optima for smaller pack volume. In a Main, especially when they already have the Silhouette for that supposed niche? As an aside. Is a strong flare only matters to us Newbies?

It wasn't an explanation. It was a couple of questions for the more experienced peeps on here.

The load-bearing surface of a canopy is the upper skin, correct? So, having a lower skin & ribs of PD proprietary F111ish material shouldn't affect longevity, no? Also, the flare shouldn't be any weaker due to the hybrid material, right? Would not a Pulse last just as long as any other well-made canopy?

it is, isnt it, also the numbers of posts.. What? The number of posts for both those accounts are further proof of BS. That's besides the point. Some useful dialogue can still occur here. To Hell w/the OP & his agenda. I, & other Newbies, still need to learn more about AADs. You want to put in two useful cents towards that? Great. If not, why get in the way? and i hope the mods sent this thread off and away to that dark place in the cybernet as well. but dont get your undies in a fucking bunch over it. My undies aren't bunched up. My eyebrow is a bit raised @your post, though. Like anything else on this site. If someone puts forth BS. It will be disproven. In the course of that. Knowledge will be imparted. Is that not one function of these boards?

This is too comical: Swoopguy & Swoopgaz??? I expected Belgium, or wherever the Argus was made, for locations. I haven't read the posted material by the OP. I already smell BS in it. I would be interested in feedback about this link, though: http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20080429X00561&ntsbno=DEN08FA078&akey=1 This NTSB# was sent to me by someone to further my education. I'm still on the fence regarding which AAD I prefer.

I suggest you learn some regular stretches to do before you tear something. A Physical Therapist would be able to teach you several in one visit. It would be money well spent.

Keith, Advice about this should come from your instructors. They are the ones who can actually see what you're doing/not doing. You'll get the hang of it.

You crazy kids use such wacky language. OK, what's a TLDR? I know what dry socket is after having a bad one a few years back. It was more of a dry trough, really. I guess I didn't phrase the question well. The OP had a tooth pulled. IF he had an abscess? Would the abscess still burst (& infect the gums/jaw) w/the pressure changes? I had always thought dentists waited for abscesses to shrink before pulling the tooth. My oral surgeon pulled one right after mine had started hurting (immensely).

Top DDS, I'm curious. What about an abscess? Would the pressure changes cause it to burst? Dry socket is bad enough w/o that on top of it.

Here: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=4059225;page=1;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25; It's lengthy, but answers your questions.

Hi, I'd like to introduce you to someone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZuLmgT0Feg Pay particular attention around 4:47. Bazza had the worst leg X-rays I've ever seen. He continued to race for years after this crash. You can utilize coping techniques others have already mentioned here. You can, & I think will, jump again, friend. Don't be sick OT, be adaptive. I'm sorry for your setback. Heal Fast.

Keith, What you call tension & knots, are spasms & locked facet joints. You're going into spasm because nerves are being inflamed/impinged. Your being tall & thin works against you w/this. "With the type of back issues I've mentioned above, would your opinion or answer change?" Not one iota... Psssst: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/detail_page.cgi?ID=113504;d=1 Sell your Sabre for $400-$500 + $150-$200 you would have spent on a new modded slider = a damn near paid for already Spectre...

Hi Kieth, I'm sorry no one warned you away from that Sabre1. I refuse to jump them. Some have found happiness w/them by modding the slider, & rolling the nose. Personally, I'd opt for buying another canopy. You've only got one back, right? Screw up the pack job once, & you might never be able to jump again... As for jumping w/a brace? I do every time. I wear a 6" leather weight lifting belt. I'm not a big guy. I can still arch fine. I jump w/a couple of guys who weight 190#s w/o gear. I keep up w/them. I'm only 160#s, dry. The belt helps hold the dominoes in line. I've had some hard landings, & some rough openings. Any one of those would have grounded me for at least a month had I not worn the belt. If that Sabre slams you? It won't help you much. It won't do much for axial loading. Meaning your disks are still going to be squeezed, vertically. I suggest you rent a more appropriate canopy until you can sell that Sabre. It's just not for you. Some kid who is still superman will buy it from you cheap. You can smile fifteen years from now as you're still able to jump instead. Good Luck. Kenny

Motorcycle tires lead a hard life. I'm very cautious w/tires. The injury potential is too high. You've had the same tires on your Norton since the Nineties??? What happened to the five year rule? Even if it's usually garaged, up on stands, & out of the sunlight. That's an awfully long time for a pair of tires. I wish you the best of luck w/those made-in-Chinas. Cruiser riders aren't known for being hypercritical of their tires. I'm glad they're happy w/'em. I hope you'll be, too. Next time around, you might want to give Michelin a try. I've never had a problem ordering a set of their tires immediately.

Why would you risk life & limb w/an unknown (perhaps shoddily constructed) M/C tire??? Not_fer_nuttin, but getting dropped on your head @70MPH isn't going to save you any money. The Chinese tires Kirk used to sell would peal their treads off @the worst times... That was w/only cruisers, mind you. I've been riding for 27 years, & using Michelins for the last 11yrs. I've been very happy w/them on the street & track. My tires come in different compounds for sport or touring. My middle of the road compound tires last 7500-10K w/only a little spirited riding. I wouldn't put Chinese mystery skins on my bike if you paid me. It's not worth the risk, IMO. Good Luck. Kenny

Hey, come on. If he has a problem? He'll have the rest of his life to sort it out ...

"Being above or below trim speed (i.e. above or below full flight speed) will make one or the other more likely." Well that sucks... Something else I thought I knew but didn't. There you go, again. Teaching us Newbs something useful. Thanks Bill.

"Its some other threads that have people treating swooping like a red headed step child." I don't view it as such. I think swooping is pretty kick-ass. It's just not for me. I appreciate the additional skills it takes to do it right. I'm glad you're taking the methodical approach. The thing is. One of the recent swooping deaths that comes to mind (don't remember his name) was someone w/just such an approach. He was considered to be very methodical, systematic, & safe. He had >10K jumps. He had one off moment or surprise. Now, he's gone. The majority of the population thinks we're all nuts for doing this. I'm not the type to say that my level of risk is acceptable, but yours isn't. I've no right to. The OP asked a question. I answered it for myself only. I wish you the best of luck in chasing whatever you're passionate about.

My ignorance was far less confusing . Thank You for trying to explain it to me. Like I said. It remains above my abilities @the moment. It looks like I'll be asking many more questions before the time comes.

OK. So, flying @faster-than-full-flight for a given canopy might make these more likely to happen?

Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy. ___________________________________________________ I don't think you're crazy. I think you're willing to take risks that I'm not. Nothing more or less than that. I've ridden motorcycles for almost thirty years. I've track time under my belt, as well. I have friends who get a kick out of riding w/o a helmet. I think that's a foolish risk. I think it's riskier than swooping. It's their choice to make though, not mine. That tolerance goes both ways. Most people think all skydivers are out of their minds. While there are no guarantees in life, period. The odds favor the tortoise over the hare in this case. There's no need to throw Whuffo insults. You enjoy your side of the landing area. We'll enjoy ours. We can still meet @the BBQ.

These techniques are still beyond my abilities. It's something I've cataloged for later use. "Are your instructors counseling you to use front risers in turbulence?" I'd asked about this technique a number of times during my student progression while watching landings. Yes, instructors told me getting some speed under a higher WL would help slice through the turbulence. The riser turns were done @150-200'. Higher than the turbulence coming off trees, buildings, etc... If it was a misunderstanding. It was misunderstood a few times.