airborne31582 0 #1 November 25, 2002 This weekend someone told me that it was unsafe to freefly with a Dolphin Container, has anyone had any problems with it? Thanks Chris I thought of the odds of me succeeding, versus the odds I was doing something incredibly stupid, and I went ahead anyway. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pop 0 #2 November 25, 2002 Dolphins are famous for having horseshoe mals. That's a scary mal to have when you are freeflying. The most recent containers by Dolphin have included the tuck in riser covers. I havent heard or read anything on the reliability of the new riser covers. I am not sure about the bridal protection7 ounce wonders, music and dogs that are not into beer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #3 November 25, 2002 I've seen a couple of the newer (manufactured in the past 2 years) Dophins, they're not necissarily bad for FF, but I wouldn't put myself in a very highspeed situation with one. Sort of like when I was jumping a Vector II, I was FFing it with some mods done to container, but I knew the limitations, I couldn't take it HD and I had to be very careful with it or I could have a premie. Just think of the basic safety requirements of a FF "friendly" rig: Pin protection, riser protection, bridle protection and PC security. If anything in that equation looks shaky, dont' FF it, its not worth having a premie at the speeds you can reach FFing.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pd190 0 #4 November 26, 2002 I can only post my experience with my Dolphin container. FF'n with it isn't bad, but it doesn't have all the little nice things like the new Wings container and such. Here are some of my recommendations: 1. Check the BOC. Make sure you have a new or tight BOC. Example: sit flying from 11k and having deployment at 7k. (Pilot chute snaked out.) 2. Make sure your reserve closing loop is extremely tight. I had a lot of problems with material from my pilot chute getting out from underneath my pop top. Scary when you get down and most of your reserve pilot chute material is out from under your poptop. 3. If you have an older model and it still has the snap covers on the risers, send it in and get either the velco mod or the tuck tabs. Those snaps are notorious for breaking and having a riser over your elbow while head down is not cool. I highly recommend the tuck tabs. All in all, I haven't had that many problems with my container, but everytime I go FF my rigger gives me that strange look like, "Are you seriously going to FF with that?" Common sense, and ask some of the guys that FF at your DZ about mods recommended for FF'n. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #5 November 26, 2002 I have over 200 free fly jumps on my 95 Dolphin. It is the "old" kind with the snaps which I like better than the velcro. I would of course prefer riser covers with good tuck tabs. I wouldn't mind owning my own plane either.... Anyway....the container leaves an inch or so of bridal exposed so i make sure to tuck it under the right flap really well. I also make sure the BOC is in EXCELLENT condition. If I pack my rig before I leave the DZ I leave the PC out so the spandex lasts longer. I pull the risers down nice and tight when I pack it. I was having a problem with the reserve risers getting all out of place after a month or so of being packed. My rigger fixed that by tacking my front and back reserve risers together with seal thread. They have stayed nice and tight this time. Well...people can say what they want but I have over 200 free fly jumps and 260 some total on the rig without ANY problems. It's all about prudent packing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bwilling 0 #6 November 27, 2002 QuoteDolphins are famous for having horseshoe mals. And you can provide documented proof of this? "If all you ever do is all you ever did, then all you'll ever get is all you ever got." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FreeflyGoat 0 #7 November 27, 2002 Yo, you can BASE jump with ratty old skydiving gear also but is it recommended, No. The state of the art current gear was designed for the specialized things we do in these sports. It was designed to give us maximum safety and protection in a time of high vulnerability. It was designed because people have died or been injured doing the things we do with older gear. The Dolphin just was not designed with freeflying in mind. If you are going to be making lots of freefly jumps go with a container that was designed for it. _________________________ goat derka jerka bukkake jihad Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kirils 1 #8 December 1, 2002 I used a Dolphin for freefly for 1-1/2 years and never had a problem....but after buying a G-3, I would never jump a Dolphin again. The Dolphin just doesn't offer the same feeling of security. My friend just bought a second Dolphin and she is mostly a sitflyer. She has been freeflying 4 years with a Dolphin and has never had a problem. I had 2 chops freeflying with a Reflex."Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Iflyme 0 #9 December 2, 2002 I would suggest that you make sure your BOC pouch is nice and snug ... I had a premature deployment with my D3 freeflying ... but have since had the pouch tightened up. No problems now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyD 0 #10 December 5, 2002 I have a friend with @350 FF jumps on a Dolphin. He has never had a problem (yet). I always make sure that I am NEVER above him and never dock too hard or hold a dock. Can't say I would recommend it, but what does some idiot that jumps out of perfectly good airplanes know? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheMonkey 0 #11 December 5, 2002 Quote some idiot that jumps out of perfectly good airplanes know? no such thing as a perfectly good airplane --------------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bwilling 0 #12 December 6, 2002 Quote The Dolphin just was not designed with freeflying in mind. If you are going to be making lots of freefly jumps go with a container that was designed for it. While I agree with Goat on this (hey Goat, you won't recognize me from the pic, but we've met at SDD!!!)... I don't think the newer Dolphin's were designed totally ignoring freeflying... they feature full length riser covers, and pretty decent pin protection... they just do it with velcro. Velcro works fine when it's new, but degrades in time with normal use, and requires regular replacing to be effective... tuck tabs don't (although they do wear out over time too, I've pin checked some pretty sloppy riser covers that used tuck tabs, I'll take my chance with my velcro)That said, the Dolphin is still behind the times when it comes to being FF friendly, even though they do finally offer tucktab riser covers... "If all you ever do is all you ever did, then all you'll ever get is all you ever got." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cajun 0 #13 December 7, 2002 Here is a link to a buddy's site that has a movie of another buddy (Mike) Good video, bad opening. He was jumping a dolphin You will need the divix codec to view, and it's a 1.8mb download Also he ended up being ok, just very sore for a week or so. http://www.wildbluesky.com/movies/mikepremie.avi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bwilling 0 #14 December 9, 2002 QuoteHere is a link to a buddy's site that has a movie of another buddy (Mike) Good video, bad opening. He was jumping a dolphin Cool video!!! But it looks to me like the pilot chute came out of the pouch prematurely (kinda of hard to tell from the video tho), in which case it may be incidental that it was Dolphin, since lots of rigs use spandex BOC pouches, and if you let them get sloppy loose, they ALL have the potential for a premature release... "If all you ever do is all you ever did, then all you'll ever get is all you ever got." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cajun 0 #15 December 9, 2002 That is true, we're not sure if the PC snaked out, or if exposed bridle got him. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JGarcia 0 #16 December 9, 2002 Anyone else noticed the guys Tevas flappin' in the wind as the camera falls away from him (canopy deployment). Aside from the seriousness of the situation, it's a funny sight. --JairoLow Profile, snag free helmet mount for your Sony X3000 action cam! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cajun 0 #17 December 9, 2002 yeah, the opening actually broke them Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bwilling 0 #18 December 9, 2002 QuoteThat is true, we're not sure if the PC snaked out, or if exposed bridle got him. Have any idea how many jumps he had on the harness and container at the time? "If all you ever do is all you ever did, then all you'll ever get is all you ever got." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cajun 0 #19 December 9, 2002 QuoteQuoteThat is true, we're not sure if the PC snaked out, or if exposed bridle got him. Have any idea how many jumps he had on the harness and container at the time? nope sorry, and I havn't seen him lately. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #20 December 9, 2002 I was on that jump...right across from him in the horny gorilla. It's kinda funny cause i had been teasing him before the jump, telling him Dolphin containers sucked for freeflying. Of course i had no idea that would happen... ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
listo 0 #21 December 20, 2002 lmfao! I USED to jump a dolphin and I was doing some FF'n. I since bought a used Quasar for 1/2 the price of a used dolphin and I am 10 times safer now. Use your head people. Dolphins are nothing more than shitty student gear. Free Flying is for experienced skydivers and experienced skydivers should be smart enough to know what is good gear and what isn't. If you can't afford something free fly friendly, then stay on your belly until you can. Your life isn't worth it. Geeze...use your head before you lose it! If you see someone flying something unsafe, refuse to jump with them. It might save their life. They might think you are an ego case or a jerk, but they will thank you for it when they learn better. Quote Live today as tomorrow may not come Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 15 #22 December 20, 2002 Mikes spandex BOC was shot. It got replaced shortly after that incident while he was recovering.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
