Feb 20, 2003, 1:55 PM
Post #7 of 251
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Re: [smooth] What was your first canopy?
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The first I jumped was an unmodified t-10 in the army. When I started sport jumping I had a 28 ft. (7 T-U). The first rig I owned was a solid red, Mark 1 Para-commander. I also bought a new Navy Blue Super-Pro harness and container. My reserve was Pioneer chest mount with a 24 ft. inside. I wish I still had that rig. Steve1
Feb 20, 2003, 3:51 PM
Post #9 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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Mine was a ragged out Fury 220, d.o.m around 1986 (same as my first container, an SST Racer - y'know, with the exposed risers over the shoulders). I bought it used in 1990 and put a little over 200 jumps on it. Was great for doing casual CRW at the bottom of RW jumps
Feb 20, 2003, 5:28 PM
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Re: [wmw999] What was your first canopy?
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> The first one I owned was a Starlite, in a Starlite piggyback. > I put about 400 jumps on it, and really loved it.
Now *that* is hard core :-) :-)
I had my first malfunction on a Starlite. Well, actually, I had had a few reserves out from screwing around in my younger days, but that Starlite was the first one that didn't open when I meant for it to.
1975, jump #1701, the last jump of the nationals, there I wuz ...
We, the Exhibition Team, were demo-ing this new sequential stuff at the style & accuracy & speed star nationals. The meet was over, the winner, Captain Hook had just organized a beautiful 32(?) way star.
We were next, how were we going to top that? We settled on a 25 way diamond, which had never been done before.
In order to be sure that everybody got a good look we built it right over the crowd and held it to 3,000 ft.
I loved tracking over a crowd, especially with a piggyback and wearing smoke, so in the heat of the moment I may have been a little low.
WHACK ! The legendary Starlite opening, except that the stabilizers on one side were all tangled with the steering lines.
Possibly due to the over boogie factor that week I hadn't had much sleep, so I decided to do the classic screw around with it, lose track of altitude and get myself into really deep shit maneuver.
I was really into it when I heard this distant voice saying "Cutawaaaay!". Somebody up above had been watching the show.
I woke up - Oh, yeah, right - glance down - I can do it - ching, ching, shot and a halfs - falling away with one leg stuck out about 15 or 20 feet trying to keep that smoke bracket away from my reserve and
Poof! Beautiful 26 foot lopo conical.
I had no trouble with lack of sleep after that, I was wide awake for 2 or 3 hours.
Feb 20, 2003, 7:07 PM
Post #13 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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T -10,,,for my first 3 jumps,,, then a red and black and white 28" lopo. for about 15 more First main I ever owned was a Green and black and white French Papillon.......in a stylemaster rig,,,chest mount reserve.... shot some good downwind accuracy with that papillon..... Started jumping a para plane cloud,,, full time,,,, only after I had over 1,000 jumps on a round main.....
Feb 21, 2003, 8:37 PM
Post #21 of 251
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Re: [skybytch] What was your first canopy?
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Hey, that was my first rig too!!! I had a 135 tomcat in mine though, with a round reserve. Don't know when mine was manufactured, but it was old when I got it 4 years ago.
The exposed risers really scared the shit out of people....lol
Feb 24, 2003, 2:11 PM
Post #25 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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Mine was an Airforce B-11 28' flat circular with a 7 gore TU and a sleeve pulled by 2 pilot chutes to prevent "burble". Moved on to a modified T-10 because the landings were too hard (I weighed around 225 at the time) My reserve was also a 28' flat circular with a single T.
Feb 26, 2003, 11:58 AM
Post #29 of 251
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Re: [masher] What was your first canopy?
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first jumped was Manta 288, first rig owned was a Rapid transit , 220 Fury main , Pioneer super 22' reserve . I still have that reserve in my hang gliding harness . That reserve was also used to do some BASE at Lake Powell too.
Feb 26, 2003, 4:45 PM
Post #30 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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28' LL static line at 2,800'
28 7TU 1st freefall 3,000'
first owned brand spanking new B4 conainer with a military surplus never been jumped sport modified orange and white 28' 7 TU. $150 from Para-Gear ; another $60 for a 24' unmodified flat.
Feb 26, 2003, 5:27 PM
Post #31 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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my first canopy was a solid black Fury 220 with 500 jumps already on it; it had black lines faded to dark grey, called it m' 'stealth' canopy- kept it at first in an old borrowed Sweethog, then got modern with one of the first velcro-retrofitted Dolphins....now I've got a nice ZP Spectre in that same comfy old Dolphin...
Feb 27, 2003, 5:20 PM
Post #32 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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static line- 1987/ 1st. 36 jumps under PC (para commander 26') then manta's and delta clouds until I purchased my gear and jumped main 220 cruise-lite for 900/ until my 150 tri I jumping now.
Mar 12, 2003, 6:36 PM
Post #35 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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first canopy. well, that wouldhave to be a big fat skymaster 230. and at 11 years old, and about 115 pounds and a 135 exit weight, it was slow as hell.
edit: well, if you want first owned canopy. you see mom and dad bought me about 4 canopies before i just bought my own, so that would be a 85 vx.
later
(This post was edited by skygod7777 on Mar 12, 2003, 6:38 PM)
Mar 22, 2003, 2:04 PM
Post #41 of 251
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Re: [murrays] What was your first canopy?
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I'll add my first square owned....a Cobra 10. This was a Stratostar copy made by National. Very hard openings, landings not much better. When I sold this after making about 80 jumps on it and got a Pegasus I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. The Pegasus was sooooo nice in comparison.
Mar 29, 2003, 5:49 PM
Post #48 of 251
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Re: [aero04] What was your first canopy?
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First jump: all white, 28 foot round C8. First canopy: Eddy Grimm copy of a Strato Star (180 square feet) with an Eddy Grimm 26' Baby Cobra reserve packed into an Eddy Grimm (aka. Niagara Parachutes) Six Pack container (Wonderhog copy).
Mar 30, 2003, 5:47 PM
Post #50 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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Mine was a 28foot sulplus canopy with a double L modification .The reserve was a 24 foot surplus twill. It came complete with a B4 harness and container from McElfish Parachute Service Dallas Tx for the total cost of $63.00.The year 1964.
Apr 1, 2003, 5:59 PM
Post #51 of 251
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Re: [nitecap] What was your first canopy?
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First 40 jumps were on various 28' 7-TUs and T-10s. I liked the 28's better, a little faster and turned better. Even stood up a bunch.
Next 10 were on a borrowed Mk1 PC. I don't remember it being that much of an improvement over the Rags, opened hard, landed hard, still backed up in any kind of a wind. Remember hook turns into the wind and releasing one cape-well upon landing to keep from getting dragged?
First canopy that I owned was an original Strato Star, short lined 3', rings and rope reefing, the faster you went the slower it opened. Now here was the improvement that I was looking for.. remember this was around 1976.
Apr 3, 2003, 8:38 PM
Post #54 of 251
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Re: [D22369] What was your first canopy?
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Raven III as well. Mine was horrible. It kicked my ass all over the sky. I think it was made wrong. I sent it back, got my money, and bought a Triathlon. The Tri. was a pretty damn good canopy to have early on.
Apr 9, 2003, 9:21 AM
Post #57 of 251
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Re: [Oberlin] What was your first canopy?
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My first jump cost $12.50 including training gear and jump ticket .No pilot chute on reserve.(worked OK on fifth jump) Reserve had rate of decent of a large rock.First jump meet accuracy measured out to 100 feet .Lots of rounds of Cardinal Puff . Beer cost less also .
Apr 11, 2003, 12:13 AM
Post #61 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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....starting 1973 - Double T; 7-tu; PC; Papillon; thunderbow; stratostar (ring and ropes reefing, loooong lines); stratostar (slider reefed); strato-cloud; strato cloud; cruisair; pegasus; raven 3; raven 2; sabre; and now a spectre. Oh there was another 210sq' something made by Security in there too, but for the life of me cannot remember what it was called.
Reserves have been T10a; navy conical; 17' GQ; PISA conical; super 22; raven; and now a PD something.
Reserve rides were only 2 - the navy conical (1977) and PISA (1982). Haven't had the pleasure of a reserve ride since - but won't hesitate should the opportunity present itself soon.
Can't say I have a favourite main - all were great canopies in their day. All were well made and dependible. But the current spectre is a real sweety.
I never seem to have spent too much effort at packing neatly or by the manual (even the cheapoes back in the early 70's), so don't like to think I'm qualified to comment on reliability of factory pack jobs.
I've been psycho packing last 6 or 7 years and find the openings consistantly soft and on heading - plus it's the fastest way to put it all away ready for the next jump. Incidentally, those of us in the know don't call it psycho pack any more - it's a FLOS pack job ... Frigging Lazy Old Skydivers !!!!!!
Apr 11, 2003, 1:32 PM
Post #63 of 251
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Re: [murrays] What was your first canopy?
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Oh there was another 210sq' something made by Security in there too, but for the life of me cannot remember what it was called.
Was that an X210?
Aha, that's it ... an X210, nice canopy of its' day. But it ended up giving me a hard landing up in the mountains in Jamaica and busting my ankle. Probably a handling mistake on my part, but after that I decided to change anyhow.
Apr 14, 2003, 4:22 AM
Post #66 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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My first Canopy I jumped... hmmm 1975.. so long ago..... does the tower canopies at Ft Benning count as a canopy or do we have to go to the C-130 door exit with the dope rope T-10. The first canopy I owned was sold to me by my instructor in Homestead Fl. It was a red and black Papillion in a modified military container with a C-9 in a belly mount reserve. My fifth sport jump was a successful cut away to the C-9 reserve, it was a fast one too I was in a big hurry to get a canopy over my head instead of the ball of garbage. We found the kicker plate from the reserve pilot chute in the main canopy upon retrieval. My Number two cutaway was also compliments of the Pap. That thing had WAY too many steering lines and crown lines to stow.
Apr 14, 2003, 4:58 AM
Post #67 of 251
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Re: [fergs] What was your first canopy?
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Ok I guess I can add the list of canopies after the PAP... 70 jumps or so.
One jump on a 24' reserve into the water after the C-9 Main did a nasty old Mae West. Its not nice to look up and see that big of a bra over your head. Various military M1- sumthing or other that the Air Farce called C-17 or C-18 and a few sporterized c-9's with various T-U cuts. Ok so I was young and dumb ( and skinny) and would jump anything at any time.
I managed to get a really cool Paradactyl ( referred to as the Terror-Dactyl) after the Pap. Everyone always thought it was collapsing including me a few times but I never did have to cut it away.. Next was a Strato Star 5 cell. Great canopy and god I wish I had not traded it off for one of the orininal 7 cell ParaFoils. It had the old spider slider with long bridle that went to a really big orange pilot chute. the throw out pilot chute was stowed in a legstrap pouch on the Green Star Pig Rig. I used that nice big ORANGE thing as part of my waveoff when doing RW. I got to ride my 26' LOPO that was packed up top once. The original bag or whatever they called that thing on the Parafoil was good for excitement on the ground on almost every jump. I swear if it ever opened in less than 1000' I would have been amazed. For as much as it sniveled after unbagging itself you would think that it would have deployed softly... WRONG. Explosive openings were the norm.. even with the bag.. so we thru it away and went to freepacking it.. for more positive openings.... yikes.
I recently started jumping again after a 22 year layoff. First canopy back a Skymaster 290 in a Velocity Infinity Container ... good god that thing was HUGE. I have yet to settle on a main and am jumping a PD 9 260 cell for now. Maybe a 230 would be a bit more realistic.... Next year a Z-Po in the 190 range... I just cant picture myself doing hook turns and pond swoops at my age. I am old and brittle now.
Apr 21, 2003, 6:52 PM
Post #70 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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Uh.....yea..At age 5 I jumped off my bed with my Bedsheet. And later in the Army I had another one by my side..in case I needed it...I think it was a T-10 or something..Yea it was really cool scared the beJesus out of me on exit..C-130.....Later went to Ram-Airs...and its all history from there..huh..huh
Apr 28, 2003, 7:51 PM
Post #72 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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My very own beautiful and slightly used Performance Designes F1-11 7-cell, at 193 ft^2. Actually, thats the canopy i'm still jumping! BUTT, the thing i like most about her is that she belongs to me, and once she is payed off, i can invest in a nice Triathalon Hybrid.
- sds
"why didn't the pirate go visit his mother for mothers day?
Apr 28, 2003, 9:53 PM
Post #74 of 251
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Re: [wmw999] What was your first canopy?
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Hey, one of our instructors from KC is bringing out an old T-10 we are planning on stuffing into a student Javelin. Anybody tried this yet? The guy is a rigger, and he says he's done it on the occasion.
- sds
"Just quit whining and put it in the bag, you have a reserve - my mentor on ProPacking"
Apr 29, 2003, 7:49 AM
Post #75 of 251
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Re: [Unstable] What was your first canopy?
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Hey, one of our instructors from KC is bringing out an old T-10 we are planning on stuffing into a student Javelin. Anybody tried this yet? The guy is a rigger, and he says he's done it on the occasion.
- sds
"Just quit whining and put it in the bag, you have a reserve - my mentor on ProPacking"
...
"stuffing it into a Student Javelin.........." ...Never heard of a T-10 on risers "with rings"... If you use the risers from the container......I would be surprised if the riser links, could handle the number of lines ,,,which each of them would have to hold......since there are Many Many more lines on a T 10,,, than on a ram air.(around 30 or 32 )...... Actually it's more like 15 or 16.... since each "Line" is a continuous loop running from One riser link,,, up to the skirt, in a channel OVER the top of the canopy and then down to the opposite riser link.......... all which equates to BULK,,,, so I hope you can fit it into a Jav....... ..........??? D Bag ? or No D Bag????.....have fun,,,,,,but let's be careful out there,,,,,,( better have your spotting skills tuned up as well.....)
May 1, 2003, 12:04 PM
Post #77 of 251
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Re: [jimmytavino] What was your first canopy?
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My bad, he's bringing out an old sport canopy from the 70's that "is same dimensions and radius" as the military version. I hope we can fit that in a Student Jav, we can fit a manta in there, we can fit anything!!
May 8, 2003, 1:37 AM
Post #78 of 251
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Re: [aufreefly] What was your first canopy?
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The first one I jumped was some sort of modified military surplus, I have no idea what it was, probably a t-10 t-u or double LL
I did not jump a ram-air till I had 56 jumps but I did 4-way RW on rounds with belly mount reserves before that....In those days you did not buy parachutes until you could afford a square.
My first canopy I owned was a Para-flite Strato-flyer.....
It had a real short life when it opened over the tail of a cessna 182.
.
Tonto (D 515)
Moderator
May 15, 2003, 6:06 AM
Post #79 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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A black Swift 5 cell in a wonderhog harness, with a 23' Tri Conical pioneer reserve.
May 15, 2003, 9:31 AM
Post #81 of 251
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Re: [JeffGordon] What was your first canopy?
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My first 48 jumps were on military surplus round parachuites. Then I did 1.5 jumps on Cross Bows. My 51st jump was on an Eddie Grimm copy of a Strato-Star, packed in a Niagara Parachutes Six-Pack container with a 26 foot Baby Cobra reserve. I promptly bought the entire rig. That was considered a radical transition on 1979.
May 16, 2003, 12:02 PM
Post #83 of 251
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Re: [jimmytavino] What was your first canopy?
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I remember your gr/bl/wh Pap Jimmy. Jimmy was my jumpmaster at the old Ripcord Club in W. Bloomfield, NY. You also had a red, white and blue Pap as well.
My first rig, as you'll remember Jim, was a purple and pink tie dyed 28 ft cheapo, with a 5-TU mod cut in the back, packed in a B-12 container. About a year later I got one of the original 1964 R/W/B Paracommanders and somewhere dug up a sage green Pop Top container for my 24 ft reserve (tr vent steering mod). I loved that rig with all my heart.
May 16, 2003, 12:20 PM
Post #84 of 251
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Re: [tbrown] What was your first canopy?
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I remember your gr/bl/wh Pap Jimmy. Jimmy was my jumpmaster at the old Ripcord Club in W. Bloomfield, NY. You also had a red, white and blue Pap as well.
My first rig, as you'll remember Jim, was a purple and pink tie dyed 28 ft cheapo, with a 5-TU mod cut in the back, packed in a B-12 container. About a year later I got one of the original 1964 R/W/B Paracommanders and somewhere dug up a sage green Pop Top container for my 24 ft reserve (tr vent steering mod). I loved that rig with all my heart.
Correct..... some HOT set Up.. never put too many jumps on a PC personally ,, maybe a dozen...and always liked the Papillon... Yes Tom your tye dye was VERY trendy,,, as I recall..and The PopTop Chest Mount reserve...????? ... the slickest gear out there at the time... hahahaha. and Yes I bet we all have a bit of parachute gear, which will always remain near and dear to each of us,,,,, I' m sure !!!!!!.. MY first Strato-Cloud sits in a closet ten feet from where I am at this very moment...... hahaha it has been ceremoniously "retired".........
Jun 10, 2003, 6:12 PM
Post #87 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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when I was 9 yrs old I used an umbrella and jumped from the veranda railing OUCH, it didnt work to well. From and airplane my first was on a "goose" modification, but I dont remember what its cut was. It was a modified 28ft canopy.
My first canopy was an old Excalibur 170 that I later sold to a guy way heavier than me. It probably has about 1200 jumps, but it's still flying fine and his Excalibur swoops kicks ass.
Jul 8, 2003, 9:30 PM
Post #89 of 251
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Re: [Oberlin] What was your first canopy?
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This was my first, too. A 28' 7TU (gutted the lines to make it lighter), and then after the mandatory 100 round jumps, a Strao Star with the rings and rope. In a SST.
Jul 9, 2003, 3:28 PM
Post #91 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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First 38 jumps: RW Paracamander First rig: XL Cloud, Wonderhog (with a blast handle), 26' navy conical reserve. Paid $850 (about 50 jumps on rig) including matching Brand X jumpsuit.
Jul 12, 2003, 8:27 AM
Post #95 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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RAVEN III (Main & res.) Had it up until Aug. 2001 when I cut-away at CrossKeys. Then I jumped the Raven III reserve but, it only counts as 1 jump On breezy days I would land with a backward jog. -Grant
Jul 23, 2003, 10:11 AM
Post #98 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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The first canopy I owned was a beautiful blue 28 foot Hustler serial # 0001. It was produced by Lew Sanborn and had been stored in mothballs. Just after opening shock I could often smell the odor of mothballs. That odor still reminds me of those days.
More Starlite Trivia The Starlite was also known as a “See-Star” based on its reputation for hard openings. Some referred to it as the only canopy that you were relieved if it opened and if it didn’t. I have a photo of a Starlite and PC CRW stack somewhere. I will post it if I can find it.
Jul 23, 2003, 10:37 AM
Post #99 of 251
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Re: [hagalo] What was your first canopy?
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Quote:
More Starlite Trivia The Starlite was also known as a “See-Star” based on its reputation for hard openings. Some referred to it as the only canopy that you were relieved if it opened and if it didn’t. I have a photo of a Starlite and PC CRW stack somewhere. I will post it if I can find it.
Yes, I owned one of the pre-slider, pre-relief slotted starlites. It put me in the hospital. I still distinctly remember tracking and debating whether or not to pull. Nice after opening, and nice pack volume though.
Aug 23, 2003, 5:21 AM
Post #105 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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Mine was a round, russian made T4-4MP. I get nostalgia when I think of her.. ralu
A C-9 orange and white 28ft flat circular with a 7 panel double L cut. Paid $25 for it and $10 for a T-10 reserve. Jumpsuit was $10 red coveralls from Sears. The year, 1963. Holy Cow! That was 40 years ago.
Sep 15, 2003, 9:51 AM
Post #107 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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First one was 28" 7 panel TU Next one was a Lo-Po Then a P.C. #82 the FireBird Now after 32 years of not jumping I am back at and looking for my first square.
A big blue tarp and string from the local hardware store. Took to hill jumping on windy days with me hanging onto one side and my brother on the other.
A big blue tarp and string from the local hardware store. Took to hill jumping on windy days with me hanging onto one side and my brother on the other.
...the landings were hard.
I made one with an old sheet and some string. I'm sure glad Grandma was paying attention that day or I'd be dead.
(This post was edited by SkydiverRick on Sep 24, 2003, 4:34 PM)
Sep 25, 2003, 2:06 PM
Post #111 of 251
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Re: [lazyfrog] What was your first canopy?
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First one i jumped was a T-10...followed by a 32 ft diameter navy round...followed by my first purchased canopy of a used PC.....than a RW-PC...than a cloud followed by a cloud-lite...followed by a succesion of sabre-170.....jumped other canopies....but only for a few jumps here and there.
Sep 26, 2003, 4:11 PM
Post #113 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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C 8 with a 7TU mod followed the next day on a C-9 7TU both in B12 Containers. Can't say I loved the rigs, but that first one was Aug 19 1973 and I still remember the jumps well. At Port Severn DZ in Ontario.
Sep 28, 2003, 10:38 AM
Post #114 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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Mine was a Fury 220. I jumped that canopy from jump #16 till well into my 600s. At 155lbs that big 7 cell was a target shooting machine. I got my pro rating on the first attempted 10 jumps required. When it got tired it was replaced with a brand new one, but It isn't my everyday canopy now, I just break it out for demos and freshen up jumps.
Oct 10, 2003, 8:35 PM
Post #116 of 251
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Re: [joboulay] What was your first canopy?
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A 28 foot C8. I think that was what a white unmodified white 28 footer was called. Bought it from a US Navy serviceman posted to Operation Deepfreeze in Antarctica. Danny McLaughlin in Christchurch Enzed modified it to a 7-TU. Couldn't jump it though - it was too hot for me - had to do 5 more jumps on a double L first. Jumping a PC or Crossbow was out of the question.
Oct 13, 2003, 3:00 PM
Post #119 of 251
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Re: [juanesky] What was your first canopy?
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[mreply]T-10, front mount reserve. My first canopy was a 28' c-9 B-12.unmodified for my first 13 jumps.No reserve for the first 3,for the next 10 had a 24'T-7A. D-47
Jan 21, 2004, 1:59 PM
Post #121 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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An Army surplus T-10 with a T 7-A chest mount reserve.I bought a rig with a 5 cell parafoil and a 26 Navy conical reserve.The rig was a Condor with R-3 Capewells. I graduated to a PC when I changed DZ's on my 5th jump and got to jump my own rig by my 50th or so jump (in those days they wouldn't let you jump a square until you had at least 50 jumps). I made 3 reserve rides with that rig.I bought a Manta in 1984 with a Wonderhog,made about 3 jumps on it and then had a 15 year hiatus from the sport.
Jan 21, 2004, 6:03 PM
Post #123 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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First main was a 24 ft reserve with a 5TU.( I only weighed 87pounds) The reserve was a26ft navy conical.( Bigger than the Main) The harness was custom made for an Army WAC at Ft. Knox Ky.( I was 4ft 11inches) It was white with PINK PADS! I wouldn't jump it till we tried to dye it black. It turned out gray with Maroon Pads. Now that was acceptable for a 13 year old.
(This post was edited by AirCav on Jan 21, 2004, 6:46 PM)
Jan 21, 2004, 8:53 PM
Post #124 of 251
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Re: [AirCav] What was your first canopy?
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First main was a 24 ft reserve with a 5TU.( I only weighed 87pounds) The reserve was a26ft navy conical.( Bigger than the Main) The harness was custom made for an Army WAC at Ft. Knox Ky.( I was 4ft 11inches) It was white with PINK PADS! I wouldn't jump it till we tried to dye it black. It turned out gray with Maroon Pads. Now that was acceptable for a 13 year old.
Damn! Nice rig small volumn, I had to read it twice to catch that the main was a 5 TU 24 foot reserve!!
My first rig was a 28' orange and white 7 TU with a eliptical cut for the extra drive with a 24' reserve. The container was a B4 with the sides extended, and reached from the bottom of my butt to the back of my neck 5'2" (vertically challenged), weighed about 120#'s. Had to wait until we were 21 yr's old because we needed momma's permission if We were under age .
Still remember sitting in the plane climbing to altitude , no door, cold and one shoulder strap kept on slipping off my shoulder, and the damn B4 container hitting me in the back of my helmet since I was sittiing down
We jumped at a small DZ and were not allowed to jump the infamous killer PC until we had 75 jumps on rounds. That was the rule no downsizing because of the "high performance" PC and we might hurt ourselve's making a low turn to close to the ground.
Jan 22, 2004, 4:45 PM
Post #126 of 251
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Re: [poppenhager] What was your first canopy?
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Pop that was one of two we had at Skydive Greene County in Xenia Ohio from about 1964 to 1968. This one was the standard R985 450hp. The other was an animal, with a 650 HP Pratt.
Jan 24, 2004, 6:36 AM
Post #129 of 251
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Re: [AirCav] What was your first canopy?
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I think I saw the red & white Howard over in the Columbus area once.I jumped from the 650hp one during practice at the 64 nationals in Salt Lake City.It was called THE YELLOW CAB and belonged to a guy from Denver.It was a real (ROCKET).I don't know if West bought it from him or someone else but it was the same one that went on it's back at Xenia.I think it ran out of fuel and landed in a corn field.POP
Jan 24, 2004, 9:32 AM
Post #131 of 251
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Re: [poppenhager] What was your first canopy?
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The 650hp one was bought from someone in Illinois, maybe the same one as there were only a few converted. It did go on it's back once but NOT from fuel starvation. During the landing roll out on a winter day the main gear broke through a small patch of ice in a low area on the runway. It was only a few inch drop but enough to start it over in very slow motion, the pilot could not keep the tail down. New prop, some wing tip and vertical stabilizer repair it was back in the air within weeks.
Jan 28, 2004, 9:35 AM
Post #132 of 251
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Re: [AirCav] What was your first canopy?
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Dragonfly 225 White and Blue in a Racer SST with a 26ft lopo reserve. Jumped it for about 125 jumps, then went to Triathalon 160, Viper 135, Viper 120. The dragonfly was the first canopy I owned but I jumped all kinds of other club crap before I got the dragonfly. It was all good though.
My first canopy was a red, white and blue, tie-dyed 28 foot 5 TU. I blew it up and had to cut it away with double-shot capewells (not shot and a halfs).
To replace it I got another 28 foot and gutted the 550 from skirt to skirt. It made about a lunch bag's worth of pack volume difference in the B12 that I had it in. It was a 3 TU for more speed but a slower turn.
My reserve was a 28' flat twill that I used at terminal with low belly mount rings. UGH! footprints on my Bell helmet from that.
I then inherited a rings and ropes Strato Star when a friend went in. Jumped that till my Strato Flyer arrived and on and on and on...
It has accuracy modifications to it, like soft cells (bottom surface vents), and shortened lines. It also has experimental upper surface slots, across the whole canopy, facing rearward, above the B lines. I'm not sure how that mod affects flight characteristics, but it makes for an awful lot of holes. It's good for accuracy, because the crappy flare makes one want to hit the peas.
It served as my main canopy for 400+ jumps from '91 to '02, and I still use it as my second rig. Despite its slow nature, old F-111 like that is great for some things: -- trashing. People have looked up and thought they were seeing a mal, then realized that it was 'just me'. -- toggle hook turns under 100' -- taking to Bridge Day (Actually that's another Titan I have, less baffed, with a tail pocket I put on.) -- low RW. (Not low like 1970s craziness, but just nice little 3 ways from 3 grand on bad weather days, the sort of thing you don't want to do with sub-100 ft ZP wings.)
Feb 9, 2004, 12:27 PM
Post #135 of 251
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Re: [pchapman] What was your first canopy?
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28 double L in '73, went to elsinore and bought a modified dactyl, commonly called double death off the guy who made them, forgot his name but he was big into hang gliding (help with his name would be appreciated) that was an interesting canopy, didn't like opening very much
Feb 9, 2004, 12:50 PM
Post #136 of 251
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Re: [cuppa_tea007] What was your first canopy?
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Wasn't Jim Handbury the Paradactyl guy? I did a quick web search and didn't confirm that, although it is in my memory banks. One of my teammates in the old days had a Handbury rig with a dactyl in it. Scary, even then. Not a good photo, but its rig worn by the guy in the lightest jumpsuit in this photo
Feb 9, 2004, 1:11 PM
Post #137 of 251
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Re: [darkwing] What was your first canopy?
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the name rings a bell, he had a workshop around elisinore, he made one for me but modified for more fwd speed, interesting concept, had many an adventure on it, made it for me in 79 i think, put it in a Shadow rig
Feb 10, 2004, 8:56 AM
Post #139 of 251
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Re: [packerkevin] What was your first canopy?
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Not counting the student and rental canopies I flew, my first (um ... beer) canopy which I owned was a Triathlon 220 which I used for about 50ish jumps. Then I went on to a:
and pretty soon I should take possession of a used Spectre 150 which I plan to use in a 2nd rig for wingsuit jumps, having a 2nd rig for boogies and most importantly to get some experience flying a smallish (for me) seven cell canopy so that I won't be freaked out on possible reserve rides on my respective 143 reserves to be used in both of my new rigs (one is brand spanking new and the other is used but in good shape). Oh I also have a FLiK 293 being built for me as we speak, but don't tell my mom.
(This post was edited by CanuckInUSA on Feb 10, 2004, 1:38 PM)
Feb 10, 2004, 9:29 AM
Post #140 of 251
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Re: [CanuckInUSA] What was your first canopy?
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First canopy was something called a Spearchucker. Evil beast that gave me whiplash every time it opened. Such a long time ago that I cannot even remember the specs, except to say that it as a steerable round with very little forward speed and one hell of an opening shock.
Feb 10, 2004, 11:32 PM
Post #141 of 251
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Re: [darkwing] What was your first canopy?
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Wasn't Jim Handbury the Paradactyl guy? I did a quick web search and didn't confirm that, although it is in my memory banks. One of my teammates in the old days had a Handbury rig with a dactyl in it. Scary, even then. Not a good photo, but its rig worn by the guy in the lightest jumpsuit in this photo
It was Jim Handbury, the boy wonder. He was partners with Gary Douris. Sparky
Feb 14, 2004, 5:20 PM
Post #143 of 251
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Re: [davidlayne] What was your first canopy?
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David, you should remember. I remember you went with them to pick up the 650 Howard and were the first to jump it coming back home. I remember low clouds, mist and an 1800 ft hop & pop. Correct?
(This post was edited by AirCav on Feb 14, 2004, 5:23 PM)
Feb 15, 2004, 6:08 AM
Post #145 of 251
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Re: [AirCav] What was your first canopy?
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I certainly do remember that. Someone in this part of the world has a Howard up and running I heard last week. Have just found your postings George and they bring back lots of pleasant memories.
Mar 3, 2004, 1:06 PM
Post #148 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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Mine was a 28 ft., orange & white flat circular 7-double L (recut to a 7-TU after a couple jumps), deployed by a Popenhager bag and double (stacked ) pilot chutes. Replaced after a dozen jumps by a blue/white checkerboard PC, which streamered on my first jump on it. (It had been rigged with way too much slack in the steering lines, which blew into and tied off the stabilizer panels.) Chopped it and got a brisk ride to the ground on my 24 ft. non-steerable TWILL reserve.
Stand-ups were so rare you logged 'em. Different times!
Apr 14, 2005, 9:26 PM
Post #149 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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1968, a 28 ft very used surplus C 9 orange and white with a tiny T mod (not TU). It didnt really have any significant fwd drive. Turning just changed your view, not your direction of travel. Used to jump that canopy in 15-20 mph winds, insane landings. When someone finally let me jump their PC I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Now older and wiser, I fly a Volvo (actually a Triathlon 190). The good old days of skydiving were certainly good for orthopedic surgeons.
Apr 15, 2005, 5:26 AM
Post #150 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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First Jump @135lbs - T-10 static line. First owned - 28' C-8 7TU all white. Next (and last) - Strato-Star (rings & ropes, then slider).
Jumped about all the squares available at Z-Hills at the time, sled, foil, plane, cloud, etc. Known as Roger Ramair for a while. Even had a few rides on a 400ft cargo square, but no jumps. We pulled it up on a 1000' of line behind a car down the back runway!
BTW, At Z-Hills and Deland in 74,75,76, you needed 200 jumps before being allowed to jump a square.
Apr 15, 2005, 6:58 AM
Post #151 of 251
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Re: [RogerRamjet] What was your first canopy?
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1st 10 jumps- 28 ft. Military round (non steerable)- great canopy if you don't know anything else 1st Owned - A very 2nd hand 7 Cell "Viking Superlite" (7 jumps, 2 cut-aways,2 repair jobs one stand-up - retired it after that 2nd Owned - A 7 Cell Pursuit 230 - a Rolls Royce compared to the Viking! (Bought it after only 1 jump!)Prone to the occasional "banger" opening 3rd Owned - A radical downsize to a 9 Cell 190 Predator - all F111 - state of the art!
Flat packing was the way to go and round reserves were the norm - the first guy to Pro-pack at our DZ drew a massive crowd - for the pack job and the opening!
Apr 15, 2005, 8:01 AM
Post #152 of 251
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Re: [RogerRamjet] What was your first canopy?
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28' 7-TU with a 24' cotton twill reserve. Soon upgraded the reserve to a 26' NavCon and used the old one (once) as an intentional cutaway backup reserve. As someone else mentioned, the switch to a 1965 RW&B PC was like going from driving a cement mixer to a sports car. It was "short lined" about 36", so it packed up pretty well, too.
Apr 15, 2005, 9:29 AM
Post #153 of 251
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Re: [skyhpp] What was your first canopy?
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I had a Viking Superlite for awhile; pretty impressive steering pressure (especially compared with the Starlite I was jumping before that ). I weighed about 120 at the time, so the landings were, um, gentle.
I've done a lot more flat packing than pro packing in my life. I used to have a diaper on my square main that was great, too (and if I tried I could probably figure out how to propack into one, too).
Apr 15, 2005, 12:25 PM
Post #156 of 251
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Re: [wmw999] What was your first canopy?
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My was a multi-color Pegasus and I sometimes jumped my Dad's Cruiselite. I still jump the Cruiselite sometimes and still have the Pegasus. I have stood up all landings so far and I weight 210 lbs. Now my knees pop all the time thou.Since I have resumed jumping I have picked up a Sabre 190 on my limited budget, and love the landings now.
Apr 18, 2005, 7:30 PM
Post #157 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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Hi Ralu, Myfirst canopy was an orange and white candy stripe 28' Pioneer eliptical cut 7-TU in a O.D. B-4 harness and 4-pin container system, 24'T-10A Reserve, combat boots, an old military flight suit for a jumpsuit and a converted Navy flight helmit to crown my head!!! Rig, first jump course and first jump, less than $50.00 1964 U.S. dollars.
The feeling when I first left Milon Nobles Cessna 170 on my first static Line Jump,
Apr 18, 2005, 7:46 PM
Post #158 of 251
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Re: [skybill] What was your first canopy?
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Hi Ralu, Myfirst canopy was an orange and white candy stripe 28' Pioneer eliptical cut 7-TU in a O.D. B-4 harness and 4-pin container system
Was that an FSF1? There was a smokejumper canopy by that designation that I got to jump a couple of times. It was docile, but turned pretty well for a round canopy at the time. Don't remember at the moment what they called them, but it had little pockets around the skirt -- to catch a little air if it went into the water, if I was told correctly.
My # 1 canopy was a T-10 but the # 1 purchase was a Crossbow , followed by a McElfish Strato-Flyer , followed by a Security Unit, two Ravens, than quite a few PD canopys, finally a new L 176 Lightnings
Apr 28, 2005, 4:30 PM
Post #164 of 251
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Re: [skyhpp] What was your first canopy?
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28' - white/ od/ green/orange canopy with double L modifications packed in a surplus container and harness with watermelon size front mounted reserve paid $35.00 for it and was glad to have it. Saved me $1.50/jump rental fee
Apr 28, 2005, 4:44 PM
Post #165 of 251
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Re: [rmaden] What was your first canopy?
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Three colors (white, OD, and orange)? We used to see those going around for very reasonable prices ($15 unmodified and w/out a container). We called them NATO canopies...I'm assuming that was for a reason.
Apr 29, 2005, 6:51 AM
Post #167 of 251
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Re: [wmw999] What was your first canopy?
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My last round was a Starlite that snivelled every time it opened
Yours must have been the only one (well, unless you had the slider on it). Mine got me used to quick openings; now almost anything else is a snivel.
Wendy W.
You're right about that. Most people who jumped them where I jumped thought they were well named as they would occasionally see stars on opening. I only jumped one once and it certainly opened quickly and firmly for me!
Apr 29, 2005, 11:45 AM
Post #170 of 251
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Re: [wartload] What was your first canopy?
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Hi Wart, In reply I should add that it was a "C-9" about 1952 or 53 vintage that I got from my first jump instructor for $10.00 at the time. C-9's were all over. We cut the mod. out with a pair of sissors and got binding tape from a fabric store in town. Got a spool of E-thread from scare-a-gear and did the sewing on my grandmother's treddle singer sewing machine!!!!
That was "My" first canopy. On my first 3 or so jumps I used my harness and sleeve but Dave Murray let me borrow his 7-double L 28' C-9. Then I got to jump the 7-TU.
(This post was edited by skybill on Apr 29, 2005, 11:49 AM)
Apr 29, 2005, 2:00 PM
Post #171 of 251
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Re: [wmw999] What was your first canopy?
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Yours must have been the only one (well, unless you had the slider on it). Mine got me used to quick openings; now almost anything else is a snivel.
It was probably the way I packed it.......I always rolled it real tight before I stuffed it in the bag......
It was almost as slow as my Stratostar which also went into a bag..........it snivelled as well,so no base jumping or low pulls with that either
I made the mistake of borrowing my wifes wonderhog and 'star to make a load rather than repacking mine.........her star had a slider-diaper on it instead of a bagAfter break-off,I didnt set up( I never did with mine),I released the pilot chute and "instant canopy"(knees hit your face,and your seeing stars for a couple of minutes) I understood then why she could smoke it so low and not get nervous about it
May 20, 2005, 11:03 AM
Post #175 of 251
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Re: [wmw999] What was your first canopy?
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"I had a Viking Superlite for awhile" --------------------------------------------------------- I did too, 40 jumps and four malfs later, it became an awning!
May 20, 2005, 11:25 AM
Post #176 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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My first jump was in 1960 on a T-10 while in jump school at Ft. Bragg with the 82nd Airborne.
My first sport jump, June 1960, was, think a C-9, or similar, with a 5 gore double L modification while in the XVIII Airborne Corps SPC.
My first jump on my own modified rig was a 7 gore TU. I bought the canopy, again I think C-9, for $10.00. I used the home sewing machine of an elderly seamstress friend and did all the modifications myself in her parlor. She couldn't believe all the material that took up much of the little room.
The worst part about the old rigs in my estimation was the two-shot Capewell connectors. Those damned things were impossible to disconnect if they got even slightly dirty.
My first jumpmaster got killed on Sicily DZ at Bragg because he had a difficult time recovering from being dragged in windy conditions. He made the mistake of releasing the first 'shot' while about 200 feet off the ground. One riser wasn't fully inserted in the Capewell, somehow, and the canopy 'disappeared' when the riser released. A sad day for me seeing him die about 50 feet away.
May 20, 2005, 12:20 PM
Post #177 of 251
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Re: [Guru312] What was your first canopy?
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First jump: 28-foot Cheapo (No Malfunctions) First Round: Papillon (No Malfunctions) Second Round: Piglet (One Total, Not Canopy Related) First Square: Strato Star (No Malfunctions) Second Square: Cruisair (No Malfunctions) Third Square: Cruiselite (No Malfunctions) Fourth Square: Sabre 150 (No Malfunctions) Fifth Square: Stiletto 135 (Three cutaways, All Spinners)
Jul 18, 2005, 8:19 PM
Post #178 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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unmodified 28 ft was the first one i jumped 28' 7 tu was the first canopy i owned but i wasn't allowed to jump untill i had 25 jumps. it was to fast for a student . go figure
Jul 18, 2005, 8:32 PM
Post #179 of 251
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Re: [mcGowan] What was your first canopy?
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unmodified 28 ft was the first one i jumped 28' 7 tu was the first canopy i owned but i wasn't allowed to jump untill i had 25 jumps. it was to fast for a student . go figure
Quote:
My first 10 were on a T-10 with a 7-TU...
Of course I started 10 years AFTER you did Mike, 'we' had the HOT SHIT!
Aug 23, 2005, 6:35 PM
Post #181 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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First jump...the usual static line thing...
-28 foot double L mod..that classic quarter white, OD ,Orange & green.
Next several jumps were the all OD 35 foot T - U.
My freefall rig was my favorite rental rig...the DZ had this white 28 foot job in a solid black sleeve that was dyed and should've come out red but came out this weird lavander color..it was different...and the duct tape patches made it more so.
Everyone refrerred to it as "patches"... What..you need a rig??? Well, we're kinda busy today..they're all being repacked right now...but "patches" is available.
We learned quick at this DZ that if you wanted to jump several times in a day, repacking was a good skill to learn. I jumped patches on my first freefall....after I packed it. Gave me something to think about on the way up.
Aug 25, 2005, 10:33 PM
Post #182 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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A brand new orange and white double L. My instructor, Don Molitor D-95, after my first 5 second delay, said, "Hey kid, try this on", and then after seeing my delight with trying on a new rig for the first time, said "it's yours", I couldn't believe it, he just gave it to me, it was mine, I sleap with it at the foot of my bed for months. Ya!
Aug 28, 2005, 2:28 PM
Post #184 of 251
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Re: [thegreekone] What was your first canopy?
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First jump T-7A 28' TWILL S/L First free fall, B12 28' unmodified loose pack w/out reserve.My first 14 FF's were on that rig.I did manage to rig up a T-7 reserve on it after the first jump!!!
Sep 14, 2005, 8:23 PM
Post #185 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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A lot of old parachutes listed here.
My first jump was a t-10 in airborne school. My first round was a starlite in a starlite container. My first square was a stratostar in a wonderhog with a belly band.
Sep 17, 2005, 1:41 PM
Post #186 of 251
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Re: [zoobrothertom] What was your first canopy?
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A lot of old parachutes listed here.
A lot of old parachutists too! My first jump in 1966 was a D-T in a B4 container, reserve was a T-7A. First rig owned was purchased from Lee West and was a 7TU in a B4.
First Paracommander jump came on number 48, used the PC for about 1100 jumps before making my first square jump on jump number 1181. First square was Cloud and then a Voplane. Made approximatly 50 jumps on a Delta 11.
Nov 16, 2005, 6:01 AM
Post #190 of 251
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Re: [ralu] What was your first canopy?
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Well, mine was a camo tripple T. Then a TU-7. Then a red,black,yellow check Para-Commander. Only six like it in the world. Jumped in Ft. Lauderdale in the 60's with the Gold coast Skydivers. Bought a square in the early 70's(71 I think). Ya couldn't do terminals in it. Very hard openings. ya could only do hop&pops! Just started jumping again after 32 yrs. My 2 sons just started and I just can't sit and watch any longer! I know ya can relate to the pic! Wayne
Dec 6, 2005, 8:24 AM
Post #195 of 251
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Re: [blongb] What was your first canopy?
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First one I bought was a PINK 28' 7-TU. How it got pink, I forget. Paid $75 for it in 1969. Next was a well used PC for $75.
Where'd you get it? If it's the same one that I had, I can explain how it got to be "The Pink Panther." Even if it's not the same one, the same thing might have happened.
Cash was short among university students. Not too many people that I jumped with could go out and buy "custom made" rigs with pretty colors, but we wanted to individualize our stuff anyway.
I had the idea to tie-dye my all-white cheap-o canopy...in the bathtub...using Ritz fabric dye from the grocery store. The plan was to tie off parts of it, dye some red, then tie off other parts and dye them blue. A few parts would be left white.
The first problem was that the tying-off procedure didn't work as I'd hoped. The dye seeped underneath and the whole canopy was exposed to the dye. Ok...Plan B...dye the whole thing red.
The next problem was that the red Ritz dye didn't take too well on the fabic...added more...same thing. I think that the directions said something about putting vinegar into the mix, but I wasn't keen on adding even a dilute acid to something that a canopy was going to soak in...didn't do that.
After three soakings and dryings, the best that I could get from the effort was a pink canopy. I did, however, have a red and white old enamel bathtub (lots of Clorox and scrubbing got rid of that). I jumped the rig for awhile, then it became a student rig when I bought a used PC.
Dec 15, 2005, 10:14 PM
Post #200 of 251
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Re: [wartload] What was your first canopy?
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I bought the PINKIE from Pete Pertee, Columbus, Ohio, 1969.. Dunno know where he got it. Yes, that $75 was an absolute fortune to a poor college student. I have no idea how I afforded to jump back then, but I guess if there is a will there is a way......... Regards, Bill
Feb 11, 2006, 11:09 AM
Post #201 of 251
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Re: [blongb] What was your first canopy?
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Student days:double L,then moved up to a PC. Made 5 jumps on a borowed strato-cloud and then bought a used strato-star which I put 100 jumps on. Finally bought a Strato-cloud until I bought a new Pegasus from the factory.That was a while ago....
Feb 19, 2006, 7:59 PM
Post #206 of 251
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Re: [gofast_ER] What was your first canopy?
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The first canopy I jumped as a student was a military MC1-1B. After my prerequisite static line jumps I actually made free fall jumps with it!
The first canopy I owned was a Cruiselite XL made by Para Flite.
John
wow the first perosn i have come across that not only knows what para flite but also has/had one!
para flite turbo zx
Lots and lots of us had Paraflite canopies...Clouds, Stars, Flyers, Swifts....personally I jumped a Cruiselite Beta for several hundred jumps and loved it.
Mar 5, 2006, 12:09 PM
Post #212 of 251
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Re: [tbrown] What was your first canopy?
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Nice to see this thread back in circulation. Since the old suplus rig with the PC, I went on to the following: got a 1978 Hanbury rig with one of the Kevlar reserve ripcords that were a popular experiment at the time. Main canopy was a 21' Sparrow, which was a very small packing lightweight PC clone for relative workers. Absolutely the smallest lightest canopy I ever owned, it opened great and landed alright mostly. Reserve was a Navy conical.
First square was a Cobra 10, which I thought was a pretty decent canopy until it started to tear up at the load bearing ribs after only sixty some jumps. Sent ot back to the factory for repair and then it tore up again at about 100 jumps, so that was the end of that that ("Cpbra 10, People 0"). Got a Viking Superlite next, really liked that one a lot. Also bought a used Security LoPo reserve. Had the original "tapewell" cutaways replaced with a 3-Ring conversion and replaced the Hanbury pilot chute with one of Hank Asciutto's models, which were vaned like a MA-1. That opened the Viking SO fast I got bruises until I learned to roll the nose back a whole lot more. Stopped jumping in 1980 and in 1982 sold the rig for a great price to a kid who was washing airplanes for jump money, we were both happy with the deal. 22 years passed by...
Bought a beautiful used Javelin, with a PD193 reserve & Cypres. The whole rig was 3 years old and had been maintained immaculately by the original owner (who posts at these forums). Was supposed to have had the original 210 Spectre, but came with a 190 instead. Later in the year I negotiated a deal to swap out the 190 for a 210 Pilot and that's what I'm jumping today. I will be jumping this rig for a verrrry long time to come.
Mar 5, 2006, 3:01 PM
Post #214 of 251
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Re: [tbrown] What was your first canopy?
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First square was a Cobra 10, which I thought was a pretty decent canopy until it started to tear up at the load bearing ribs after only sixty some jumps.
You're the only other person I've come across that owned one of those things. It was the first square I owned. My Cobra 10 opened so hard I couldn't get out of bed the next day after a couple of jumps. I put about 60-70 jumps on mine before buying a new Racer with a Pegasus and a Swift Reserve...I thought I'd gone to heaven...nice openings & great landings.
I sold the Cobra 10 to a guy who put about 4 jumps on it before it blew up on opening. It was a really hard opening..obviously...and he never jumped again.
Mar 8, 2006, 1:17 PM
Post #218 of 251
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Hmmm, progression of rigs.
* 1st Jump 7TU T-10 static line. * 1st owned 7TU 28 C-9 in B12 with belly wart. * Added one-shot capewell conversion kit. * Added Poptop reserve. *Went to work for Bill Booth and built myself one of the first Wonderhogs (one shots there too). * Had first (and only) mal on C-9 with Wonderhog, One shots worked great, plastic main ripcord thrown away, plastic reserve ripcord deployed my 26' Navy Con. * Bought first Strato Star sold in Florida through Booth. * Went to work for Bill Buchman and built myself an Eagle, stuck with One Shots as I didn't think the 3 ring really offered anything over them (except extra maintenance). * Started building my own design, same one shots and same canopies.
I jumped a lot of other canopies to try them, but never changed what I had. It worked every time, why mess with success? I still think a properly tuned, properly packed Strato Star will open every time.
Apr 30, 2011, 12:55 PM
Post #220 of 251
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My first jump was the T-10' My first one I bought was an old ucky colored PC someone tried to dye it and it came out UGLY! My next was a Mini-Cloud that opened so hard I grabbed my front reserve to lessen the shock. I lost that on a cut away that migrant workers ran away with. My next was a Para-sled #00013 bought from a guy named Robin after he broke his hip riding a mal down. I had several cut aways on it until Scott Hubbard put a slider on it and shortened the lines. Never maled again.
May 2, 2011, 3:54 PM
Post #221 of 251
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My very first canopy was a 24 flat circular my parents bought at a garage sale for a dollar! (I was 7). That was followed years later by a P.C. , slider equipped starlite, strato flyer, 7 cell flyer, Cirrus Cloud, Dragonfly, Maverone, and Firebolt
May 4, 2011, 7:36 PM
Post #225 of 251
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Re: [mchamp] What was your first canopy?
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Ist Jump on a Mk 1 PC.
1st canopy a B4 harness and container with a Delta 2 Parawing, with the big fat coloured lines and 6ft length of conveyer belt attached as an OSI. Had a reputation as a Malfunction machine, but I never had a mal on it in the 100 odd jumps I did on it.
Lent it to a mate one time, and of course, he chopped it!!. Upgraded to a Strato Star in a Mk 1 Wonderhog, hand deploy with 3 rings. Thought myself the bees knees......
Jul 7, 2011, 4:42 PM
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Re: [aufreefly] What was your first canopy?
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My first three jumps were on DZ owned T-10s then I moved up to a Thunder Bow for a few exciting openings (The Frontal Closures were exciting). Then long came a Papillion for two or three jumps. When it opened it always reminded me af a Taffeta dress
Then I bought a Israeli made Red, White & Blue Competition Para-Commander. Every couple of dozen jumps I was guaranteed a reserve ride.
Jul 10, 2011, 3:41 PM
Post #232 of 251
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Entry from first logbook May, 1971: Paracommander MK1 Red Baron with 40" off the lines (B12 container) and 24' ripstock belly reserve with a pilot chute! The PC MK1 cost $270.00 and $25.00 for the reserve. I put about 200 jumps on that rig and rode that reserve twice. My ex-wife is a teacher and after the divorce, she de-mil'ed the PC with a pair of scissors, took it to school so the kids could play parachute games with it. I don't remember how the reserve ended it's life.
(This post was edited by nebug on Jul 10, 2011, 3:45 PM)
Oct 27, 2011, 4:46 AM
Post #234 of 251
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Mine was a 26' cheapo with a 5 TU cut .Put about 300 jumps on it before PC's came along.Along the way had it further modified with a french cut and derry slots.At 180 pounds a good plf every time was a must.Loved jumping, hated landings on that thing.
(This post was edited by OldMan on Oct 27, 2011, 5:23 AM)
Oct 28, 2011, 6:51 PM
Post #240 of 251
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Re: [tuffjump] What was your first canopy?
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First canopy I ever jumped was an unmodified 32" T-10 in a full military rig. At 120 lbs, I stayed up damn near forever, but it gave me a LOT of time to learn how to "slip" the canopy. Must admit though, I've never had a softer landing. Had I known better, I could have stood up my first jump.
Oct 28, 2011, 11:38 PM
Post #243 of 251
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Re: [Krip] What was your first canopy?
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Damn now I have to get my electronic gizmo (pro track ?) that I used to log my jumps
Actually I have to go down stairs to my fire proof security vault and get out the L.B. log book.
"I'll be back"
R
I'm back
First canopy jumped was a double TU out of a cessna 195 in 1968.Used it for first 5 jumps over a 8 month period.
Next one was a
Gotta go change the battery
I'll be back
K-RIP
I'm back
My Next canopy was a double rocket.
Damn I can't remember what a double TU or a double rocket mod looks like I'll have to check my digital library to see if I can find a pic, or google it.
In hind sight I could have drawn a diagram in my LBB instead of just filling in canopy type.
BTW Do not believe the published forward speed of any of these modifications.
To bad my neptune is broken. I'll have to make another trip to my fire proof security vault to check what some of the other canopys were before I finally bought my second custom canopy cut to my own spec's
FWIW the rental fee for all this gear was $0.00 until I made one jump at lakewood.
Nov 4, 2011, 8:32 PM
Post #245 of 251
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Re: [Krip] What was your first canopy?
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Hi Guy's and Gal's
It been so long since the last time I posted in this thread I almost couldn't find my way back
Where was I
After the dounle rocket we graduated to a 5TU, due to the club gear thing I think we went back and forth to the double rocket, 5TU and a 7TU all that with only 14 jumps Max exit altitude was 3200' from a Cessna 195 (no door) Texas
Until I went back east and made one jump at LSPC from their NORS airplane , it was a S/l jump from 2500' rented their rig a blank gore. 1 Jume 69 signed by Pete wilson D-1832. I bet that one cost me some $$$$.
Must have bought my first canopy a 7TU (elliptical cut) for extra drive around Sept 69 jump # 19, first Stand UP landing on jump #28 (only weighed 135# winds 0-3 mph 2nd jump from 5500'),
Bought my PC brand new RWB for $290 from "Midwest" and got to jump it at #75 like I was supposed to
Log books got to love them ,
But in 20-20 hindsight I should have kept better records, The double rocket could have been my first canopy it had been dyed blue i might have bought it off a X jumper with a container and reserve in May 69. Just never wrote it down, or the $$$
Trust me I almost can't remember that far back, Time to take a nap.
Next time IF i can remember I'll take better notes or go digital
Nov 5, 2011, 8:15 AM
Post #246 of 251
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Re: [Krip] What was your first canopy?
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Krip wrote
Quote:
http://www.parachutehistory.com/round/index.html
This next article is long but has lots of info about some of the history of the sport and canopy modifications (close to end)
http://60sjumper.skydiveworld.com/start.htm
BTW Do not believe the published forward speed of any of these modifications.
Thom on his excellent parachuting history website wrote about a cheapo mod called the Hustler. They way he praises its performance makes it sound like it was almost as good as a PC. I jumped all the cheapo mods I knew of LL TU5 TU7 etc but never heard of a Hustler. I find it hard to believe that the Hustler was as good as he reports. Anyone jump one and have a report?
My first jump was a cheapo C9 like most everyone else back in 68.
Still jumping thanks to squares. How lucky I am to have increasing age coincide with big advances in canopy design. No more brutal landings.
377
(This post was edited by 377 on Nov 5, 2011, 12:41 PM)
Nov 5, 2011, 12:31 PM
Post #247 of 251
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Hi 377,
Quote:
but never heard of a Hustler
The Hustler was quite will known in the mid-60's when I started ( Feb '64 ) but I think it was 'developed' in the rather early 60's. I think they were more of a regional thing.
Here in the Pacific NorthWest we just did our own mods and almost all were 7-Double L or 7-TU.
In the Spring of '64 the ParaCommander came on the market and everything changed; and I mean everything.
Modifications like the Hustler were just too much work.
Nov 6, 2011, 9:10 PM
Post #248 of 251
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Re: [JerryBaumchen] What was your first canopy?
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My first canopy was a C-9 with a 7-TU mod. I think the difference between the it and the 5-TU was a dramatic increase in decent rate. I put a few jumps on a 9-TU and it was like being in freefall.
Nov 6, 2011, 11:18 PM
Post #249 of 251
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Re: [JerryBaumchen] What was your first canopy
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Hi 377,
Quote:
but never heard of a Hustler
The Hustler was quite will known in the mid-60's when I started ( Feb '64 ) but I think it was 'developed' in the rather early 60's. I think they were more of a regional thing.
Here in the Pacific NorthWest we just did our own mods and almost all were 7-Double L or 7-TU.
In the Spring of '64 the ParaCommander came on the market and everything changed; and I mean everything.
Modifications like the Hustler were just too much work.
Hi Mr Baumchen & 377
Close to the end of this Link:
http://60sjumper.skydiveworld.com/start.htm
There are pics and names of a bunch of "Rag" mods from "almost back in the day".
Turns out the Hustler & Double Rocket were just different names for the same modification.
My Double Rocket came from Texas The Hustler sounds like a pool room, East/West coast thing.
Of course the PC's changed everything but some of us had to have 75 jumps before we could jump a high performance canopy like that. It seperated the men from the boys.
The PC had way to much forward speed and those hook turns for us rookies.
... Started jumping a para plane cloud,,, full time,,,, only after I had over 
I can't wait till i'm an old timer (no offense to anyone intended) when you say sabre as your first canopy and people go 
Da-Pea's1.jpg
If you use the risers from the container......I would be surprised if the riser links, could handle the number of lines ,,,which each of them would have to hold......since there are Many Many more lines on a T 10,,, than on a ram air.(around 30 or 32 )...... Actually it's more like 15 or 16.... since each "Line" is a continuous loop running from One riser link,,, up to the skirt, in a channel OVER the top of the canopy and then down to the opposite riser link......
