deadwood

I had one interesting experience with this. I took my wife’s mother for a tandem. My wife, an experienced skydiver, (instructor) geeked it. She came in and took a grip on her mother. At pull time I waived off and my wife tried to turn and track away, but mom wouldn’t let her go. Lots of shaking and beating of her hand finally broke the grip. Since then I don’t like people docking on my students. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

Does the rig have the little ripcord pin protector pockets that the ends of the pins slide into? [The container is an older DHT that only has the bottom tuck tab on the reserve container instead of the the bottom plus the 2 on the sides. Lesson: PROTECT YOUR GEAR IN THE PLANE!!!! Thank you Marc for packing such a beautiful reserve. I will post the video as soon as I figure out how get it off the dvd He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

Its true, I sent in my renewal a few weeks ago and they would not renew my tandem rating until I faxed them a copy of my medical certificate, which I did the next day. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

IIRC, arn't the loops supposed to be 1 1/4"? He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

Oh and do you prefer the F100-PW-220/229 or the F110-GE-100/129/132? He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

Care to share any more details like? Tandem Rig Mfg? RSL hooked up or not? Skyhook? And stability issues after the cutaway and before the reserve deployed? He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

It was probaly in there 25-30 years. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

Thank you, thank you, thank you! He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

Thats not an engine failure. ;-) If you want to examine statistics in detail, you will probably find that the leading cause of jump plane engine failures is running the tanks dry. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

Can you give me the source of those statistics? I work in flight safety and am always looking for new data. ....................................................................... I disagree. Statistically, airplane engines are most likely to fail during major power changes. The first major power change is when the engine spools up during take-off. IOW the first time it is asked to provide full power. The second major power change occurs at 800 or a thousand feet, when the pilot reduces power to maximum continuous. If an airplane engine survives those two power changes, it will probably survive all the way to jump altitude. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

http://www.flytec.com/Products/Variometers/6030.htm He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

So I did this tandem today. A healthy young lady with both legs amputated just above the knees. Some details of how we did it in case someone else is faced with the same situation. Strong Tandem Rig/Set 400 and a narrow body C182. Field elevation is 5200 MSL. She weighed about 125 lbs. (I'm 225). After fitting the harness on the ground, a little tighter than I normally would, we lifted her up and hooked the top snaps of the passenger harness to the 3 rigs of our hanging harness system. This allowed us to look at the fit with her weight in the harness. Made a few more adjustments, concentrating on making the y-strap and the horizontal back strap tighter than normal. Also made sure the leg straps were far up into the crotch area. We practiced the hook up and exit in the plane and then went for it. Did the hookup with her sitting in my lap. Then we rolled on our left side and got into position with me on my knees and her on the ends of her legs. She is somewhat weight bearing on the bottom of her legs, and her arms are strong so it was easy for us to maneuver to the door together. Video climbed out and I just put my right foot out on the step with my leg left leg still in the plane. She was bearing some of her weight by still sitting in the door. We leaned out far so we would be sure to clear the step and did a rear quartering diving exit. Swooped out face to earth and had an uneventful jump. She pulled promptly at 5500 ft AGL. As I felt the bag come off my back I reached around and pressed her thighs tight against mine. This was just to make sure her legs stayed tight against mine and did not fly forward and up. Lots of fun under canopy and a good slide in landing. Actually a sweet easy jump. She helped a lot also and did great in freefall. Many thanks to all of you who offered advice. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

Anybody out there done a tandem with a passenger who is a double, just above the knee amputee? I would appreciate hearing about how it went from anyone who has actually done one He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

Agree completely. But where exactly does he say it? In the packing instructions? On his web site? In a conversation at PIA? Over the phone? He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

So you have to ask what "In Most Cases" means. What cases can you? Leaves it kind of open. Are they really TSO'd? If so aren't they required to be marked as such? I admit to never getting out my 10X to look for a TSO marking on them. If the packing instructions don't say they have to be replaced with a TSOd part (If they mention it at all) what forces you to buy one instead of make one? If it's TSO'd as part of the freebag, why couldn't you make one as part of a major repair (master rigger) similar to patching the bag, replacing a damaged bridle, replacing the velcro or replacing the grommets? Questions, questions, questions. Quote from the 2005 Parachute Rigger Handbook, by Sandy Reid: ===== Many riggers fabricate these loops in the field, which, in most cases, is an unauthorized procedure. The Safety-Stow® loop is an integral part of the approved reserve deployment system and is manufactured under an approved quality control system from approved materials. The rigger should use only OEM approved parts for this. ===== After reading that, I went ahead & ordered some replacement safety stows from several manufacturers. Now I have about 40 in my rigging kit, alongside some replacement Cypres batteries... stuff that I know I'll need & don't feel like waiting on when it comes time to replace. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

Only as hard as ordering a die from Para-gear. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

I have heard of this happening before. Because of that when I seal a rig I always make sure the seal is above the grommet. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

I really don't wear a helmet so much for the jump as I do for the airplane crash. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

The old wife’s tale I remember was that you should use a straight stitch on a closing loop that went through a free bag as a wide zigzag stitch would act like a “saw” and with repeated flexing of the container possible damage the canopy. As to a straight stitch not stretching as much as a zigzag, that’s true. But a straight stitch made of nylon should stretch more that the spectra you are making the closing loop out of right? He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

If you are not comfortable with sending it to some rigger you don’t know, you could see who the local DPRE (Designated Parachute Rigger Examiner) is and used him as a middle man. DPREs act as representatives of the FAA, they are supposed to be of “good moral character” and they require FAA approval to renew their certificate every year. Their names and address’s can be verified on the FAA web site. If they start screwing people on gear deals a complaint to the FAA could put their Designee status in jeopardy. Just a thought. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

But microline goes out of trim faster and isn't as elastic (opening shock) as dacron. It all depends on what's important to you. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

QuoteWell, I'm assuming that those on flight status regulate their drinking with 12 hours bottle to throttle Incorrect assumption. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

I'd like to get a hold on one of these sitting in someone's closet, in good condition. Mine is kind of old and ratty Anybody know of one? He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

I'm going to try to make a copy of the TM for Jumpflorida. While I'm doing it would anyone else like a copy? He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

I have three of them. (MT1-XCCT) Great for water rigs as you can fit a PC, Cheapo or Delta II Parawing in them. I put BOCs on them which is nice for the newer jumpers. I also have a copy of the TM 10-1670-288-23&P, and T.O. 14B-1-2-465-2 The TM covers the MT1-XX, MT1-XR and MT1-XCCT The XX has 7 cells in the main and reserve (370 Sq Ft MT1-X), the XR and XCCT have 7 cell mains and 5 cell MT1-S reserves (270 sq ft) I called Para-Flite when I first “acquired” them and they were less that thrilled with me jumping them. I think I remember they said they had line sets for them but I just made my own as the TM had all the trim specs for them. If you have the 5 cells the line set P/N is 811332 and control line set P/N is 811336 (Para-Flite Part Numbers) I also received FAA approval for a Cypres installation in them, but I believe since then (1998) Airtec has also come out with installation instructions. They are Air Force rigs. He who hesitates shall inherit the earth. Deadwood Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division