craddock

People sure do get hung up on stats don't they? I have had a dozen injuries(fractures/soft tissue damage) to my apendages that required either surgery or had to be stablized via a cast/sling. Half of these were the result of mortorcyle/snowmobile racing (not always occuring durring the actual race) I started skydiving in July of 98 and during the winter while I was recovering from a broken leg/ankle I purchased a Stiletto 107. I have been swooping high perfomance canopies ever since that cast came off. Injuries to date Skydiving: 0 My family really wishes I would give up my other sports and just Skydive. It has been the safest thing I have done statisticaly. I have witnessed my fair share of fatalities and lost good friends in both sports. They are both dangerous. And as far as insurance stats are concerned- Walking down the stairs and shoveling the roof are the most dangerous things I do. I seem to be rather clumbsy! Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

I asked a legitimate question. I am sorry you did not want to answer properly, but I am not sure that makes it a "one liner". I don't see the need to throw sensless drivil in just to avoid a single sentence. That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

It was not intended to offend reflex owners or designers. There was however much controversy over the system and as far as I am aware no other manufacture offers it. I have about as much problem with those who pefer the catapult with those who prefer secondary riser covers. None My comments stemmed from those who feel jumping without secondary covers is not as safe. It got so far as to equate it to jumping without a reserve. Thats ridiculus. I was going to fabricate another example and then the reflex came to mind. I admit I did use it becuase of its controversy without thought to those I may offend. Sorry That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

No need to be such a Jackass about it. Shoud I find a Reflex with the catapult system based on your 'two are better than one' theory? There is obviouly a large difference between skydiving without a reserve and jumping a rig that has a good single riser cover system. An effective single cover system can be made without adding the cost or complexity of a second cover. I am not putting the Mirage system down and I realize my inital response was somewhat sarcastic. I say somewhat beacause I do believe secondary riser covers are overrated. Jump what you like, but the original poster seemed to imply I would be safer jumping my Micron than my Wings because of the Secondary covers. I don't buy into that line of thinking even though I do jump a reserve. Worry if you want, the stress is on you Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

Then why the need for secondary covers if the first ones are so good. I sure don't want to pay for them That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

Absoulutely I would. I would save money over having secondary riser covers anytime. How many covers do we need? Why is two the perfect number? I do not like them and I feel that they are a band aid fix. I have had a couple of Wings and I also have a Micron 304(vector III) with the extra stiching? and the secondary covers. If my Wings and Micron are sitting next to each other both packed, I am grabbing the Wings every time. Everytime. I do like the Mirage toggles alot, now if they could only design a different Dive Loop I would buy their risers. Sounds like fun to pack I hate cordura. That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

Well I disagree- That's all I bought a Micron 304 last year that had very few jumps on it and was made out of Cordura. It was a PIA to clean out some grass stains. My parapac rigs have been down in the dirt and grass many times, most likely at a much higher speed than a newbie will do so. They are very easy to clean and keep looking new. It seems to me the darker colors hold color better but I could be wrong. The Wings rep was amazed and how good my rig looked at Rantoul this year and even more so when I told her it was built in 2001. And it has surely been put through more wear and tear than my first rig. That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

Gotta just love those "matter of fact" opinions. Personally I have never ordered a rig out of Cordura. It is my preference to use parapac. I don't care for Cordura for several reasons. I also wish my Wngs had leg staps that were not so wide(it's just not the best option for everyone) It requires an extra step to clear every thing out of the way for me. I do not have this problem as much on rigs with narrower leg strap pads. This of course is not a problem for everyone. Good luck with your rig. Just try to find your own preference among all the advice from people who think they know what is best for you That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

Wings offers the same service. I think it kind of sucks. Let's say I order a rig with a est. delivery time of 8 weeks over another company who is 12 weeks. Delivery time between these two manufacturers is the deciding factor in this case. I have no use for it before 8 weeks because my DZ is down for the winter. Now just when they get ready to start cutting my rig(mabey the container is built but not the harness), they get a bunch of orders for RUSH delivery. Next thing it is 14 weeks because I get knocked out of line. I should not have to pay for rush service just to keep my place in the line. Rush service should be on the manufacturers time(strictly overtime), not on my time(waiting) Should I be penalized just because someone is willing to pay more to cut in line? Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

Well- while the post I replied to made no mention of "dead bodies", your smart ass response does little to provide me with any facts. One can make wild assumptions regardless of common sense level, but those assumptions do not always correlate with reality. Since you brought upp dead bodies...Having been around my share of fatalities in several high risk sports, I have not seen enough evidence to make the statement that it was bad for business. So I asked for some. Really? Is that your common sense talking? That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

Could you please explain this? Do you have any facts, examples to provide also. I would be very interested which DZ's have had business suffer because of an experienced jumper getting hurt performing a high performance landing. Thank you, Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

Attitude or altitude? Honestly I do not see why everyone is having such an issue over this. If the DZO wants him to pull higher that is for him to deal with. I sure don't understand why so many are acting like this is an accident waiting to happen. Pro Track typically register lower than deployment alttitude. Having come from a cessna DZ and a static line student, my first jumps were from 3000' and all relative work since I've had close to 50 jumps is broke off at 3500'. I can remember my first formation load out of the chase plane at around the same number of jumps as this guy(my 75th). We were instructed by the DZO that there should be no canopies above 2000' (I think there were some tracking skills in question). Funny how times change and what AFF has done to the newer jumpers. Assuming he is still jumping a larger docile canopy, I have no problem with a 2500-3000 ft deployment. jeez Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

I will agree that I have seen many rigs submerged where the reserve has barely gotten damp. This is not always the case though. Just because of your experiences with your rigs, I don't understand why you would offer a statement as such directed toward others and their rigs. I have had reserves very wet without spending much time in the water. Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

Of course your assuming that the customer always offers this information. I have never heard a rigger ask as policy if the reserve has been submerged since the last pack cycle. Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

Even if you have the trim tape the same color? Josh Again I do not have trim tape on the 4 and 5 flaps on my Micron 304 That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

Mark, I understand the concept. You missed the sarcasm apparently. My point was that I am not positive that there is not a rig on the market that has a design for a soft handle to allow it to peel somewhat by itself when pulled. Mabey not but I don't know. I just did not like the blanket statement. Not all rigs attach the handles the same on both sides. Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

There is the same amount of velcro when using a D-handle also yet we don't peel them.

I think people should do what works best for them. Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

Possibly And can be even higher if trying to seperate velcro and pull cables simultaneoulsy? Sure for cutaway. Someone responded to my post that I had never heard of peeling a soft RESERVE Handle until recently. It was then implied it should be taught this way. I do not teach my student to peel their reserve handle in a FJC. I have never peeled a handle and I have used nothing but pillows. Shame on me! I really believe this is a matter of technique. I would not have a pillow handle if I thought I had to peel first and then pull to activate my reserve. Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

I was not aware that soft reserve pillows have been around for 23 years. I have always thought that the reason some people peel a cutaway handle is because of the combined force during hard line twists of the velcro plus the tension on the cables simultaneoulsy. This should be much less of a problem on a reserve. Taught when? In a FJC when they are not using a soft pillow reserve handle? I just checked my Wings manual. While they do recommend peeling the cut-away prior to "full arm extention" they skip that step with the reserve handle. Huh! Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

That trim tape appears to be on the bottom of the #4 & 5 reserve flaps, and no- my Micron does not have trim tape there. Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

I do not believe they do. I was never taught that in my first jump course and I have not taught it myself. My cutaways have all been on new rigs and I have not ever peeled a cutaway handle. I just asked my fiance if she has ever peeled first and she has not either. Nor was she taught to in her FJC. I can see where technique could play a factor in this though and why some may feel the need to peel first. This is also why a soft pillow reserve mey not be a good option for every jumper. That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

Because when you need your reserve out their should not be a two step procedure to get it out. Not with my gear anyway. You may feel differently Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

I believe you are misunderstood. I have not seen a pillow handle (either side) that has hook velcro on one side and loop on the other. Unless I am misunderstanding what you said Now I just went and pulled the reserve handle on three rigs. A Vector II with a metal handle, A sweethog with a metal handle and a Micron 304 with a soft pillow. The difference is negligable. It takes merely a few pounds for either. If the D handle is 2 pounds and the pillow is 4 pounds- that would be twice as much. It is still only a few pounds. Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

Not until a few recent threads have I ever heard that you should "peel" a soft reserve handle before pulling it. I would think this has more to do with a faulty design of a particular rig than soft pillow handles in general. All of my reserve rides have been with a soft handle and I have had no problems with a quick, single motion pull. I would not trade my pillow handle in for anything as I feel I have more strength grabbing a large pillow than a 1/4"? diameter steel handle. You should not have to peel a reserve handle in my opinion. I would be looking for a new rig if that is the case. Josh That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.