EtherPilot

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/bill-booth-skydiving_n_3683967.html At the 1:34 mark you'll notice the black square cutaway handle is actually part of the harness strap/riser cover. If I'm flubbing the nomenclature then I apologize. I've thought about this over and over and it made me think of soldiers who place inverted t-handle knives on their chest rigs. They do this because it's easy to to reach for and present one of those knives. I have the exact setup on my backpack and whenever I need my little Cold Steel knife, I always draw it without looking at it. This mockup in the Huff Post design....is it an old design? It seems like a good idea to me. I am not a biomedical engineer or a physical therapist but I would also wonder if the Huff Post design doesn't give a skydiver more ability to pull harder on the cutaway handle. The Huff Post mockup cutaway design would be like a pull up using much of the upper back muscles, while the down-low cutaway handle on current rigs seems to be more about tricep strength. Also, placing the cutaway handle higher at least would give the skydiver more ability to pull the entire cutaway cable system out in one stroke versus possibly having to use both hands to yank the yellow cord all the way out once it was almost completely out. What interests me most about skydiving gear is the location of the cutaway and reserve handles, and the shape of the handles. While I am a total newbie, naive AFF student who can't even afford to keep up with AFF right now I would like to put forth the thought that in some way the cutaway and reserve handle systems will be improved at some point, so why not at least start discussing that now. That said, why aren't cutaway handles and reserve handles up high near the 3-ring system like the cutaway handle is in the Huff Post mockup? Thanks. If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.

I was actually wondering if there was supplemental insurance available if I got injured and couldn't work for six months/a year, or whatever. If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.

I've been doing Crossfit for awhile now, and flexibility is part of it. I would start small and make it impossible to say, "I don't have the time." Every morning stand on your toes for a few seconds and reach for the ceiling, then touch your toes, or try to. While this is simple, it's not easy, and there is always room for improvement. If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4MaMH7NBAs Not sure if this has made the rounds on dz.com but I thought I'd put it up and see. If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.

Thanks Goonies! Awesome answer. If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.

Not sure, just average, puttering around, maybe a 360 or two. If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.

200 pounds no gear. If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.

Provided the student pulls at 5500' and flies a mongo parachute like a 280, what is the typical time under parachute until touch down? Thanks! If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.

I toured the UPT factory this year. During the tour I noticed the reserve chute springs sitting on the floor without their orange sleeves. I picked one up and tried to compress it against my chest. It was impossible. A UPT employee walked up to me and told me the spring is the strongest spring used in the industry to power out of problems. Not sure if it's applicable but maybe a spring like that could prove handy to shoot through a rat's nest of a main in a situation like this. I am a total newbie but I've never actually seen a hook knife at a DZ. Not sure if their hook knives are good but I own a Benchmade folder and its been through hell and back with me with few complaints. If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRThLhjHgYE I stumbled on this video last night. I'll guess it's not new and that plenty of people have seen it. What are the skydiver's options at this point? Does anyone know what eventually happened during this malfunction? If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.

Thanks for those vids! If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.

I think it would help us AFFers to see a few videos posted by instructors or seasoned jumpers showing what is in their opinion, a great example of an arch in a video. Comments by the poster explaining why the skydiver's arch in the video is good would be appreciated. Personally, I'm most concerned about my arm position on jumps. I feel like my almost arms overhead arm position can best be described as what one would assume when saying "don't shoot!" If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.

Interesting. The gloves in that video are a different run from mine. They look almost exactly the same but there are some differences. In short, I'd rather have mine. I mention this because the gloves in the video are obviously heavier and bulkier than mine, most noticeably in the palm. My gloves are tighter, thinner, and more like batting gloves. The gloves in the video have a patch for the FG logo. My gloves have a grey symbol for FG that is printed on the top of the glove hand. Basically, I think my glove, which I bought very recently, has been streamlined to make it cost less, which is fine by me because the entire glove has very good dexterity. If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.

Home Depot sells a pair of gloves by Firm Grip called the FG Extrema. These are not ordinary work gloves. The gloves are all black. The fingers and palms are a tacky, thin leather. The backs of the hands are spandex. There is a velcro tab at the wrist. I paid $12 for them and plan to jump with them this winter. I tried on different kinds of similar gloves at two different stores and wore different sizes across the board. It was easy to go into Home Depot, be able to try on the gloves and know they fit perfectly. If you are thinking about buying the Neumann? gloves I think you will be happy if you find a pair of these gloves. If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.

Nice vid. Good song. Thought some people might like this sunset load vid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIVj7A5K2RQ If freefall lasted five minutes, skydiving would replace sex.