nicknitro71

After a week-end of jumping in any disciplines you can think of, on my last jump on Sunday I was taking my rig off and I tripped into the legstraps, fell, and broke my right fourth metacarpal in half! The good news is that I helped the orthopedic to shape the cast so I can keep jumping Be carefully out there especially when you take your gear off Memento Audere Semper 903

This is a must see: http://www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?a ction=file&id=2145 Memento Audere Semper 903

Yes, yes, yes, and yes! I don't think as a main canopy activation ripcord are any safer (at least for semi-experienced jumpers), (you don't see ripcords in BASE), flame away! Think PC hesitation. I have one every jump I make with student gear due to my pronounced arch. I pull wait and then I have to rotated a little to get it out the burble. Usually students don't have this problem because they tend to fly flat with their legs apart and they oscillate more. Anyhow, I think hand-deployed PCs are, at this point in time, are the most effective deployment method. The drawback is that you need to know how to operate it properly; with a spring loaded all you have to do is pull, that's way you don't see hand deployed bail-out rigs, usually aerobatic pilots are not skydivers... Memento Audere Semper 903

I'm skinny and I found a 12LB belt to help tremendously in RW, and swoops too I like the belt better because all the weight is right on the body center of mass. Memento Audere Semper 903

PM Brian for great details. The main differences are that the Jedi was semi-elliptical, different attachement of the airlocks, and different trim. Memento Audere Semper 903

While on rear float a premature reserve opening leading to the entanglement of the reserve with the horizontal stabilizer of the plane. I the airplane still flies OK and you are still alive just hope your hook-knife (if you have one) is able to cut the reserve risers or lines and hope for a malfunction-free main deployment. Memento Audere Semper 903

One for FF and RW One for WS One for CRW One for BASE Memento Audere Semper 903

The basic principles of aerodynamics apply to all objects. Here are few good books: Aerodynamics for Engineers 4th Edition by John J. Bertin Fundamentals of Aerodynamics -- by John D. Anderson An Introduction to Theoretical and Computational Aerodynamics by Jack Moran Illustrated Guide to Aerodynamics by Hubert C. Smith Theoretical Aerodynamics by Louis Melveille Milne-Thomson Memento Audere Semper 903

Bill, I do see your point don't get me wrong. BUT we should engrave in students' brain that there should be no doubt what to do when faced to the choice of a downwind landing and a low turn to get upwind. I also agree with you that an accident is made by several links. I already send this to someone but here is an example: The spot is long, you don't look down before leaving the plane. You are on a hot 4-way, get carried along scoring points, break at 3.5, pull at 2.5, in the saddle at 1.8. The DZ is far but you think you are going to make it. Now you are at 500' and know you won't make it. You look down and only see a smaller land-able field. Now you are at 100' and realize you are about to land downwind. You grab the toggle to get upwind and splash. Here are some links that could have broken to avoid the accident: -Look down before leaving the plane and take it around. -Look down during the jump and break higher. -Find an alternate safe landing field right away after you have opened. -Realize where the wind is coming from and plan a normal patter. -Land downwind instead of hooking into the ground to get upwind. Downwind landing MUST be taught, just like any other emergency procedure Memento Audere Semper 903

I also have a 20U63 and wanted a smaller pulley. Well I did get the smaller pulley but by then I got used to the machine that is indeed not super fast, 2000s.p.m vs. the normal 5000s.p.m for single needle straight. Also, it is true a smaller motor pulley slows down the needle, that could be a good thing when sewing straight. But remember the zig-zag. If you slow down the machine too much it will take forever to zig-zag! It's just like driving a stick. You foot will get smoother and smoother. You got some good advices in this thread from experienced riggers, listen to them, they have been through it! Memento Audere Semper 903

Stay positive my brother. I don't really know what else to say. You have been a great influence in our sport. I think you have the attitude to beat this again, really. Memento Audere Semper 903

Then the bigger the better if it is just time you have in mind! A Spectre 230 will keep you in the air quite a bit and at 0.86 you still get some performance. Edited to add: If the 230 it's too big you can get a Spectre 190, it's a 7 cell so it packs smaller than a Sabre2 190 and should fit into your main container. It also has a flatter glide than the Sabre2. Memento Audere Semper 903

Drew, I don't quite agree unless I missunderstand what you mean by sink rate. A stiletto 97 and a Stiletto 150 will have the same glide. The 97 will just go down the slide faster, that's all. In no wind condition the two canopies will land in the same spot, the difference is that the 97 will land sooner. Few weeks back I was flying next to a guy in a PD210. I was on my Alpha 99. We were both flying at full flight and I noticed how much flatter and faster my glide was. I bet that was due to the material (F 111) of the PD210 rather than the trim giving a higher sink rate. Another time next to a Viper 150 I noticed the glide to be the same but the speed was just different. Flying in brakes, even better rears, will change the angle of attack hance giving a better glide and WORSE sink rate, you'll glide further. As for the original question, do you want a canopy with a flatter glide? That makes a canopy with horrible sink rate! If you want to sink get yourself a DEMO or a BASE canopy. Edited to add: According to PD those are the relationships among their canopies' glide ratios. Of course they don't rappresent the actual ratios just the relationships. So the Spectre has the flattest of all and the Velo the steepest. Memento Audere Semper 903

With all the due respect I think you are sending the wrong message here. Downwind landings can be done safely even in 15 MPH winds. Yes you cannot run 15 mph but you can slide and keep flying and flaring the canopy ,it's actually a lot of fun Many jumpers got hurt or killed because they made turns too close to the ground to get upwind because they were scared to land downwind. What hurts and kills is not horizontal speed but the vertical one. Teach people to do downwind landings starting with some mild winds like 2-5 mph. Just my 0.02. Memento Audere Semper 903

I load my Ace 0.7 and get decent swoops Memento Audere Semper 903

Did they say if they have changed the trim of their Rs? Memento Audere Semper 903

This is the trim for PD reserve: http://www.performancedesigns.com/docs/linetrims/PR_106-143LT.pdf They show all the lines in the same group to be the same length. Give PD a call or even better have your rigger call them up. PD might have changed the trim. By making the lines progressively longer from A1 to A4 the canopy is not as bowed. This technique is generally used to increase the overall performance of the canopy. More moder designs have a flatter profile than older ones. Again contact PD! Memento Audere Semper 903

I see your point and again the approximation is on the safe side. PCs are much more efficent in producing drag than a round canopy thanks to their construction. I have empirical data from different sizes PCs all z-po and thier pull force is much higher than what is given by the equation. Memento Audere Semper 903

No BASE canopy can give you 4:1 glide ratio. It's more like 2:1. Now even the most efficent skydiving canopy gives you 4:1, maybe 3:1, at most. As for your question there is no simple answer. There are many other variables to plug in but I bet under 100' you'd better off not releasing the brakes and land on rears otherwise you might risk a forward surge. Just my .2. Someone with sub 100' jumps can comment better, I don't jump that low, I'm chicken Memento Audere Semper 903

The formula he is using is wrong. He is taking the radius of the PC = 1.25' and multiply its square by pi = ~4.91 sq' and multiplying it by 0.7. That is wrong because he does not take into consideration the construction of the PC, the type of fabric, the fabric to mash ratio, and the length of the internal line. Overall it's an approximation on the safe side... Memento Audere Semper 903

The eye should be as set by the manufacturer's trim specs regardless the length of the risers or personal preferences. Check the distance from the cascade to the eye first and make sure it's in trim. If you want to play with the brake line length change the length of the lower control line, below the eye. Many manufacture ships they lowers free so you can adjust them they way you want and then have your rigger finger-trap and bratack them if so desired. I have seen people messing with the upper break lines to change the length. That is bad news! It will change the opening characteristic of the canopy. For some reasons all the Jedeis and Samurais I have jumped have too short of a setting and I am not the only one noticing that. I have jump 105s, 135s, and 120s and all of them needed a good 7" of extra lower line. Go figure. I think Derek is correct that might be a marketing issue. Memento Audere Semper 903

At terminal velocity a 28" shoud give you about 160 LBS and a 32" about 211 LBS. Memento Audere Semper 903

I could not agree more Nick. Hence the thrill of swooping, fast low passes flying an ariplane, and such. In full flight at altidude there is no point of reference. The closer to the ground the more the notion of speed becomes clear. It's all relative... Memento Audere Semper 903

Yes you are absolutely, positively right, but Trans sounds better. Think of intersexual, it just does not sound right Nice flock guys! Memento Audere Semper 903

No, I meant laYer Memento Audere Semper 903