Rugby82

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Everything posted by Rugby82

  1. After all the recent incidents-So are you saying that even if you're not quite the last to land or the next load is already approaching that you'll still make your swoop??? We only have one plane in the sky at a time so 2 loads in the sky at the same time is a non-issue for my DZ. I don't do more then 90 degrees when I'm not the last one down. I also don't swoop if the people below me are still flying. I always wait till everyone below me landed before I initiate a larger than 90 degrees turn. I want to swoop but don't have to swoop. If there's heavy traffic I don't swoop. If I'm not sure if there's anyone else in the sky below me I don't swoop. But because I usually open high and know where my brakes are most of the time I'm the last one down. Blue skies!
  2. Instead of me giving/drawing wind-briefings to students I'll ask the students to draw their circuit on the board and explain. Then ask if the rest agrees with this and give input. This helps them to use their brain and learn and not just follow my instructions. For myself, I'll keep filming 4-ways and opening at 4500 ft and stay in the brakes as long as I can to clear as much airspace as possible and try to land last and have all the room to make my swoop. Blue skies!
  3. me too . Is there also a youtube or vimeo-link? I really love the backflip deployment. Go out with your back to the prop, keep your body straight and look straight back (not sideways) like you would do it in a swimmingpool. When you see the ground then pull and you should be fine. It's a very easy exit. Your deployment will give you a very different feeling than a normal C&P . Blue skies!
  4. That's why I said generally. That's also why I provided a reference to the technical report that that recommendation is based on, so that the jumper could make his own decision based on facts. This jumper (the OP the advice was meant for) is not jumping a small main. As for myself, when the shit hits the fan, I want bigger. I've had to land my reserve in a very small, tight spot due to a bad decision, and that event made me decide to not downsize my reserve regardless of my main size. Now let's take my example. My exit-weight is around 250 Lbs. and I'm around 6"6'. My main canopy currently is a Crossfire2 - 139 but will eventually be around 110-120 sq. ft. X-braced because I love to swoop. Looking at the PD-optimum chart I'll be looking at a 193 or 176 sq. ft. because of my weight. Any reserve which would be smaller will put me over the MSW. If I want to be able to land it unconscious and thus being in the intermediate-range I'll need a 235. The point of having similar sized reserve and main canopies just doesn't work for me let alone finding a container that can fit a 235 sq. ft. reserve and a 110 sq. ft. main. Blue skies!
  5. You will need it from Aerodyne. D-handles of different manufacturers have different lengths of the steel cable and different types of pins. Blue skies!
  6. 1.37 should be OK. The problem with Crossfires is that they can collapse in turbulence if you load it way too low (< 1.2). If you're that close to the minimum recommended wingload it should be fine. Blue skies!
  7. Like Brian Germain always says: "I'm not proud of the swoops that won me competitions but more of the swoops I didn't made". This referring to not do swoop in high-traffic situations when it can become very dangerous. I love swooping but won't do it at all cost. When it's too busy in the pattern than know when to say NO and do it another time. Blue skies!
  8. In case of balloon jump do you know where you are going to land? Do you know the elevation of the landing area relative to the place of take off? If no than it should be OFF. Gotta take that in account when jumping in other countries. Here in the Netherlands it's pretty easy because when haven't got any mountains and the elevation will not be more than 50 ft . Blue skies!
  9. There is nothing wrong with the unit. Reserve canopies still have the very same requirements. The problem is in the user. If you have an ADD you should know its operating parameters and you not suppose to exceed those. AFAIK CYPRES was designed to prevent no pull. It is not angel. It has just a set of algorithm for saving your life if needed. You should not the limitation if its use. If you know that those are not applicable than make sure you switch it off. E.g.: I would turn it OFF in case of a hot-air balloon jump. You can have a second chance to live. If you get a 2-out because of your low pull that's your own stupid fault. I totally agree that the main problem is that skydivers today rely too much on backup devices (AAD, RSL, Skyhook etc.). They alter there hard-deck because of these backup-device which in my opinion is wrong. I will never rely on my Cypres and have never pulled below 2.500 ft because that's my hard-deck. If you're conscious and your Cypres fired then you fucked up a couple of times along the road and it's your own fault and you should deal with the consequences. The problems occur when you're unconscious and can't predict if you're in a stable enough position for your reserve to open in time when your Cypres fires. AFAIK this is why we have a Cypres, at least this is why I have a Cypres. One question, why would you turn your Cypres off in case of a hot-air balloon jump? Never heard of that one. I did one 5 years ago and am doing one next month so I'm interested in this particular case. It's always good to learn new things. Blue skies!
  10. If you know about the Speed mode, where are you getting 30mph from? Have a look at post #49. -ftp- opted for this one. The Student Cypres already fires at 29 MPH / 1000 ft so for students this is already the case. It would be a nice thing to turn the Cypres off under canopy but this won't work with current rig designs. We would have to put the Cypres where the FXC once was. Although this would be one more action to do under canopy and you would have to look at the Cypres and maybe miss some traffic. A better way would be, as opted in this discussion, to change the parameters of the unit. Correct me if I'm wrong but the parameters of current AAD's (and opening altitude) come from say 15 years ago when canopies opened much faster and there weren't HP-canopies. Maybe these parameters should be revised to the current era of skydiving. Blue skies!
  11. I incurred this problem at first, then I put on some of the little black riser hats that come with PD Slinks and it stopped that. I fly a Storm, and use the RDS because I get noticeable performance from pulling my slider down, and noticeable visibility from removing it altogether. Thanks for the info. I know of the black riser hats and have a set of them too though I never used them. This would be a good option when the rings are larger. The increase in visibility with a removable slider is also a reason why I bought one. I really love using it and don't care for the 2 minutes it'll cost to put the slider back on. It's all worth it. And under canopy it doesn't cost me more time to remove the slider than it does to collapse it, pull it down and try to get it under the skytie. I really didn't like the skytie. Blue skies!
  12. You're correct. When they put this canopy mode on an AAD I will definitely stop jumping AAD's. This would surely give me a two-out on every jump. How much do you want for your AAD? I'll buy it today. "The Speed CYPRES is designed to allow very extreme canopy piloting. The high activation speed (approx. 86 percent of freefall speed) plus the feature that the unit ceases operation below 330 feet are tailored for this discipline." From the Cypres 2 User's Guide, page 13. I know of the speed cypres and it's parameters. I don't need that one for my canopy. Won't be reaching those speeds under canopy soon and also probably not in my whole skydiving career. I like the option that it ceases operation below 330 ft. 30 MPH is just too slow to let an AAD fire with current HP-canopies. I'll sell you my Cypres in 7 years when it reaches it's 12-year mark . Blue skies!
  13. This one looks nice, very small and with a display on it. Much more ways of connecting it to a TV which the GoPro, Contour and Drift lacks. Less snag hazard than a GoPro and it seems you can mount it every angle you want (both top and side). In my opinion all the good options of the other 3 above mentioned in one unit. Also nice is the build in laserpointer to see what you're filming. Makes quick adjustments on the ground easy. This could well be the first real alternative for a Sony camcorder. Blue skies!
  14. Argus is completely banned in the Netherlands. http://www.parachute.nl/fileadmin/knvvlpa_upload/pdf/VB_2011-03_Argus_AAD_gebruiksverbod.pdf Blue skies!
  15. Swoopers would have to deal with two out every time they jumped. I may be new to the sport, but from what I'm aware, 30mph is pretty easy to achieve under a fully functional canopy. You're correct. When they put this canopy mode on an AAD I will definitely stop jumping AAD's. This would surely give me a two-out on every jump. Blue skies!
  16. Hello Brian, Interesting post. I haven't seen the UPT Removable Slider but have seen the one from PD on the Comp Velo. Why is it better to have a ring with a larger diameter? I had issues where I'd get a stuck slider on almost every jump. The slightly larger diameter rings makes the slider come down faster, reducing my instances of a stuck slider. For me it's the other way around. My slider comes down over the soft-links on half of my jumps. I wouldn't want bigger rings because than the slider would even come down easier . What canopy are you jumping? I'm jumping it on a XF2 - 139. Blue skies!
  17. Hello Brian, Interesting post. I haven't seen the UPT Removable Slider but have seen the one from PD on the Comp Velo. Why is it better to have a ring with a larger diameter? I've got the RDS from LookMa with single-point release and collapse-strings. Haven't used the collapse-strings yet. I made about 20 jumps now on it and it really works perfect. Maybe I'll use the collapse-strings on a training weekend with my team when we have little time between loads but hope to have enough time to pack the removable slider too. Really love flying my canopy with the slider removed. Probably all the well known RDS-systems are a good purchase. It'll all depend on the extra features you want. I chose LookMa because they got the single-point release and the collpase-strings. Just wondering what the real differences are and how this will work out. Blue skies!
  18. I only use it as a removable slider. When I pull my slider down it interferes with the camerabox on my helmet. I got stuck a couple of times with my camerabox in my slider. It also interferes with my vision. I could only turn my head 20 degrees to the left because I've got a side-mount. A full RDS (deployment system on slider) is made for pro-swoopers who want to eliminate the drag that comes from the pilotchute, bridle and bag and swoop even further. Blue skies!
  19. Hi Marcus, I've got a RDS from LookMa in Germany (www.lookma.de). Really love it. Easy to use and Frank van Gelder the owner is a really nice guy with great service. On my XF2 it gives even better openings then a stock slider. Blue skies!
  20. I'll give a shot on this topic with my personal experience as an instructor and the rules as we have them in the Netherlands. For both our A and B-license we need to complete 5 jumps solely on Canopy Control (so 10 jumps in total). For our C-license we need to do 5 CRW-jumps. It sounds like this is more then is required in the USA. Even with these 10-15 jumps I still think this isn't enough. We are flying bigger planes with more people in the sky. This means that canopyskills are becoming more important in these days. Why are we still basing our rules on the past where we only had small aircrafts which could transport only 4 jumpers. With todays jumpplanes there is need for a different set of rules regarding Canopy Control. For me Canopy Control is just as important maybe more important then freefall-skills. Just my thought. Blue skies!
  21. I've recently bought a RDS-slider from LookMa and really love it. I've been using it only as a Removable Slider because my stock slider was interfering with my vsion under canopy when using my camera-helmet. This was also the reason why I bought the RDS-slider. I would like to try the option for full-RDS some time soon. The dropzone where I jump no one else has a RDS-slider. I heard there are some things to keep in mind when packing a full RDS. I read the instructional manual from LookMa and the one from PD for the Comp Velocity and learned a lot about packing full RDS systems. I read that the stowing of the lanyard between the bag and bridle is very important. Are there other things where I should pay more attention to when packing a full RDS? Blue skies!
  22. Thanks for the post. Learned something new. Blue skies!
  23. Try this link for all the manuals http://www.aerazur.com/en/parachute-and-protection/owners-manuals.html Blue skies!
  24. I was able to find 31 fatalities from 2004 to 2010 that would fit the scenario “low cutaway/low reserve. That’s about 6% of the total for that time period. I was able to find 133 that would fit the scenario “low turn from 2004 to 2010. That’s about 30% of the total. You want make a rule (BSR) to save people by making them open higher and have more time before impacts. You have 200 jumps over a 4 year period of time. But you jump a Katana 135 loaded at 1.56:1. PD states that this canopy is not for novice or intermediate canopy pilots. Even if we stretch it and say you were advanced you are loaded 30+ lbs over published maximums. “Katana is intended for experienced canopy pilots.” PD Do you think we should make a BSR enforcing WL to protect jumpers who have mad skills from killing themselves? I don’t think so. Sparky FYI: After reading some of your posts you would probably take less heat if you spent more listening and learning. Less time handing out jewels of wisdom. You forgot to include the Mad Skillz factor multiplier of at least 3 when you do the final equasions. He's lucky to live in the US. Here in the Netherlands you aren't allowed to jump a Katana with less then 700 jumps. Blue skies!
  25. +1 Sometimes I find myself hoping for a decent excuse to cut away just to get it off my mind. I'd rather not have something full on like a horseshoe though - I'd prefer some nice line twists or a loose toggle or something. But yeah, back at 15 jumps the thought of cutting away was a lot scarier. I got my first cutaway at about 750 jumps. I was also very curious how it would be to cutaway. When I finally had to, I found out it was fun for me and not scary. My team thought I would be a bit scared after I landed but they where surprised to see me laugh very hard about it. I borrowed a rig at the local rigger and went on with teamtraining that day. I think it's good to have had a cutaway because you known how you will do. You will then be prepared for what can happen. Especially while I'm an instructor and had to teach student everything about cutaways but I didn't have one while some students with 150 jumps already had 3. I now know a crossfire2 can spin very hard and build up a lot of G-forces in a small amount of time. So for me it was a fun experience from which I learned a lot. I never got scared after my cutaway, maybe even the opposite. I know now how it feels to cutaway and that gives me a safer feeling. Blue skies!