Nullified

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Posts posted by Nullified

  1. I'm no authority, but...

    I recently lost my Javelin cutaway handle. The owner of The Pro Shop told me that he was going to order a Mirage handle for me...better design he says.

    He's also a rigger, for what it's worth.

    Again, I don't know by my own research, but he doesn't seem to have a problem with that.

    Stay safe,
    Mike

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  2. Quote

    Anyone who claims to not feel any fear at some point in every skydive is either brain dead or lying.


    That's untrue.
    As Ron pointed out, there are situations that will get my blood pumping, but aside from those unusual and undesirable isolated moments, I don't get scared or nervous or anxious...or whatever...when I skydive.
    Also as Ron pointed out, it's very similar to driving. When I first started driving, I had plenty of apprehension getting behind the wheel. It goes away. That doesn't mean that I'm complacent or braindead or lying. Not everyone's the same.

    Stay safe,
    Mike

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  3. Quote

    Nonetheless, no matter how fast you fire your gun, those bullets will not run into each other in flight.


    If this is the point that you've been trying to make, then I agree with you.
    It's possible that we've been on not exactly the same page during this discussion.
    I'm not arguing that the two groups will deploy at the same time and position...just at the same position.

    If this clears it up between us, then either I have misinterpreted your earlier posts or you weren't quite clear...or a combination of both.

    Stay safe,
    Mike

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  4. Quote

    It remains a fixed object relative to the ground.

    The ground doesn't matter until you land.

    The aircraft is still traveling through the air. The air is moving, thus causing separation horizontally and vertically based upon delay between groups. No matter where above the ground the groups open, the air continues to move the first group away from the spot of deployment. Each group has it's own column of air and unless the second group is sliding, the two groups will never share the same air.



    If you shoot a bullet from a rifle in to 100 mph headwind, wait 5 minutes and shoot another bullet from that rifle, providing that the wind hasn't changed and that you are standing in the same place, aiming the same and from the same height, both bullets will land in the exact same place.

    Exiting a plane is no different. At 0mph groundspeed, both groups will exit at the exact same point over the Earth. 2 seconds or 20 minutes makes no difference...again, providing that all other variables remain equal.

    The aircraft is the gun, the skydivers are the bullets and the ground awaits.

    Another...
    If at 1000' I'm under canopy at point A, and I fly with no input until I land, I will land at point B. If the next person is under the same canopy and loading and at the same point A at 1000' that I was at 1000', given the same winds, flying without input will put that person exactly at my landing point B.

    The ground DOES matter before you land. You're using it as a fixed reference point to spot your exit. Given the same fixed reference point and fixed variables, 50,000 skydivers exiting at the same point over the course of the life of our universe will open at the exact same point.

    As for sharing the same air, you're right...providing that all variables remain equal, they will not occupy the same space/time. But, the opening coordinates will be identical with regards to space.

    Stay safe,
    Mike

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  5. Quote

    I think what some folks may not be realizing is that the aircraft, even traveling 100 kts in 100 kts headwind (thereby negating groundspeed), is still traveling through the air at 100kts. The first group may exit the aircraft at exactly the same spot above the ground as the second group, but the first group will be in a totally separate column of air than the second group, given a reasonable delay between exits. Therefore, the space in which the first group will deploy will be continuing to move downwind, and the position the second group's deployment will be further upwind (even though it may be over the same place on the ground). The reason to increase time between groups on jumpruns with high winds at altitude is because generally, the winds decrease by opening altitudes and thereby causing a stacking effect. Nonetheless, the groups will be opening in different columns of air, no matter their position over the ground. The only case in which this whole thing is negated is when the wind at 3000 is zero or 180 degrees from the winds at altitude.


    Given a ground speed of 0mph at exit, and assuming that 1st and 2nd exiting groups fall at the same rate and experience the same winds at various altitudes and open at the same altitude, groups 1 and 2 will have opened at the exact same place.
    With 0 groundspeed, the aircraft becomes a fixed object. Assuming all variables remain equal for both groups, they will open in the identical position, whether the 2nd group gave 3 seconds of separation or 125 years.

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  6. Quote

    Alright Null do you know if he's got any plan's to visit the states this year?



    I didn't get a chance to speak with him, but I'm sure that if he were heading South this year, he'd have done it by now. I could be wrong.

    Stay safe,
    Mike

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  8. Quote

    That was more of an intentional funnel but thats a small thing. Funnels can be fun if its just a 4 way, but in larger ways they can get DANGEROUS in a hurry with bodys being tossed every where.


    Not to be a wet blanket, but even a 4-way funnel can have repercussions. A little over a year and a half ago, my left shoulder was dislocated when a 4-way funneled and the guy who had my left grip didn't release me right away. I ended up having to ground myself for 7 weeks, and then for an additional 8 weeks after I reinjured it again.
    Funnels are kinda' fun, but don't hang on when it happens. And keep drinking orange juice. Carbs are good!

    Stay safe,
    Mike

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  10. Quote

    I think this is a troll...he isn't even responding to any of these posts.


    Maybe he feels that he's made his point (right or wrong) and doesn't feel the need to continue going back and forth, repeating the same words over and over.

    Personal attack deleted. Cut it out.

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  11. Quote

    Actually it's a 5 with a lot of zeroes in front of it, a number that we in the technical trades call very, very small.


    Bill, I caught that and edited. I wish my bank would make the same error!

    Stay safe,
    Mike

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  12. Quote

    John...I AKSED for english, and you give me 5 x 10^-36 ....

    Thanks a lot, I don't take my math class until Oct....Now I'll have to wait 8 mths to know what the hell this means.


    It means the number -5 with more zeros behind it than there are broken rubber bands on every DZ the world over combined.
    Edited to ad "-" before the "5"!
    Stay safe,
    Mike

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  13. Quote

    Do not try to cut away the reserve! Somebody at my old DZ tried to do that and guess what... half way through he dropped the hook knife, and got allllll kinds of f***ed up.



    It's ironic that this is posted today, as last night I was thinking about this...I don't know why.

    If the reserve malled and I still had an un-deployed main, given time I'd try to correct the mal.
    If it became apparent that it was uncorrectable, I would not hesitate to slice the risers. It is a malfunction and unlandable, and deploying a main in to a bad reserve is no better than deploying a reserve in to a bad main. Depending on altitude, yes it's better to have more over you, even if it is a mess, than to go back in to freefall and hope that whatever canopy comes out in time, but if you're at 10k with an unlandable reserve, I think 'unlandable' is the key word. Given the opportunity and means, why wouldn't you get rid of it?

    Stay safe,
    Mike

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  14. Quote

    Assume that the slider is all the way up and the brakes are set and not gonna line over. Does waving a dead chicken nailed to a packing paddle over your sabre/monarch/any canopy you want really do anything?


    Quote

    I don't know, you'd have to ask Ralph about that.
    Regarding deployments, considering that when we dump, we're decelerating (rough numbers) from 120 mph to under 10 mph in around 3 seconds, I do believe that the fraction of a second that it takes for the nose/tail whatever to unroll before begining to inflate, will (or can) have a noticable effect on opening comfort.
    I can turn my Sabre2's snivel in to a scary-ass snivel by playing with the stabilizers, consistently, and I can get my Lightning to whack or ease me into the saddle consistently by altering packing methods...and I don't use one of those evil d-bags with the Lightning.
    I've heard the argument before that you're making, But John, nobody can tell me that I've imagined the different opening characteristics that I've gotten with different techniques.

    Stay safe,
    Mike


    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  15. I would recomend that Pier offer them in more colors.

    A friend of mine and I were doing a CReW jump this weekend, and the watches nearly killed us. We had taken them off at the DZ, and people were looking at and handeling them, all fascinated by this new device. Somehow, we inadvertently ended up with the other person's device.

    I wrapped my friend following a very bad dock, and he was wrapped up pretty tightly, lines around his neck and everywhere.

    I pointed the lense up at the wrap, waiting for instruction. (I would also ask that a CReW friendly algorythm be implemented on the next upgrade. The ball of shit with twitching legs poking out seemed to confuse the processor for a few seconds)

    A few moments later, the screen readout confirmed my suspicion that I should cut away.

    I followed the electronic cutaway procedure, but...yes, you guessed it. We had accidentally swapped devices so I ended up cutting away his canopy instead. This was a mess.

    As he fell through my canopy, we were both knocked unconcious. Fortunately, we had set our watches to alarm at a certain time to remind us to check altitude and heading. The alarm went off and we came to.

    We quickly assessed the situation, and both began hacking our way out with our hook knives.

    We fell free, and at the last moment, initiated the electronic reserve deployment procedure.

    Wow! what a ride!

    We've put little stickers on them now so that we know whos is whos, but they operated exactly as promoted.

    Thanks, Marcus. I owe you a case of beer!

    Stay safe,
    Mike

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  16. As others have pointed out, it would depend on several factors.
    If I were jumping my Lightning, I wouldn't have any reservations throwing out at 1000', or even slightly lower. Given a typical deployment, I'd have a fully inflated canopy PDQ, and time to cutaway from it if I needed to.
    If I had my Sabre2 with me, depending upon other factors, I would say that 1500'-1800' would be my cut off.
    My reserve deployments to date have been absolutely beautiful, but I'd prefer not to go to my final option before giving plan A a shot...altitude permitting.

    Stay safe,
    Mike

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  17. ***Thats one of the reasons it IS mandatory in the UK to carry a hook knife on ALL jumps - unintentional CRW.
    Quote


    Not only that, but equipment has been known to snag on exit, seatbelts have been known to grab an ankle on exit, and pins have been know to pop out before exit.
    Consider all the possible scenarios. They've all happened.
    Hook knives are unobtrusive and fairly inexpensive. Everyone should have at least one on their rig.

    Stay safe,
    Mike


    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  18. Quote

    Speaking of AFF, why don't instructors discuss the use of hook knives during AFF training?

    Quote


    They may feel that an AFF student is already dealing with enough new knowledge, without having to discuss hook knives as well.
    Or, maybe they don't want to risk a student hacking away at a 360 degree line twist at 4000'!

    I don't really know.

    Maybe not in the beginning, but at some point during student training, hook knives should be covered. In my opinion, anyway.

    Stay safe,
    Mike


    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  19. Quote

    Concerning the hook knife for CRW, please correct me if I am wrong since I do not do CRW: Can you get into a situation where you get entangled with a partner and a hook knife could help liberating both?


    The short answer is, YES! Considering that CReW involves inserting yourself into another's lines and / or risers, when things go wrong, a hook knife can be a life saver.
    And, as someone else pointed out, you don't need to be doing CReW in order to find yourself in a situation where a knife can be a life saver.

    Stay safe,
    Mike

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  • I agree with everything you're saying, 100%.
    I have yet to be in a situation where I need to use my knife, and most of the CReW Dogs I know and have spoken with haven't had to use them, and probably never will. It's there for that rare freak occasion when you least expect to need it, but need it most, and I'll be damned if that one jump happens to be the one jump when I said, "Oh, I don't need to run back to the picnic table for my knife".
    Regarding AADs, I can take or leave 'em, but for those who insist upon wearing them themselves, I don't see why they should be criticized any more than you or I should be for insisting upon knives.

    For some idiots, yes, AADs are all about complacency. For others, they're about safety. There is a difference, and the difference should be recognized.

    Stay safe,
    Mike
    ***I have an AAD, but it's years past it's 8 year check and I don't care. It's not what opens my canopy. I do that. If I can't, and it doesn't - that's OK.

    Now to hook knives. I'd rather do 1000 AAD'less skydives with a lunatic trying to kill me, than a single CRW dive without a knife.

    A knife is a simple tool. If you've ever been in a bad wrap, you're blind, can't read alti, trying to breathe through ZP, and been thinking "Fuck... fuck... knife... got it.. fuck.." you'll know how absolutely fucked you'd be without it.

    I'd go so far as to say that in life - if I were to choose only one tool to survive - it would be a knife.

    t
    D515

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  • ***Without naming names or giving to many specifics, have you ever had to make a choice to take the chance of losing a friend by trying to keep them from doing something you think is stupid in skydiving or letting them do it and possibly lose them as a friend permanently?
    David
    Quote

    Make the decision that you can live with. You probably will, and they may also.
    Why the hell am I still awake?

    Stay safe,
    Mike


    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  • I have no desire to light another fire beneath the dependence on AADs issue, but I read a reply in another thread which bothered me a little.

    So that you know where I stand personally on this, I do have an AAD. Sometimes I turn it on, sometimes I don't...sometimes because I forget. It's not a big deal to me.

    We all know the, "...It's OK, I have a Cypres..." people, and judging by what I've read on these forums, there isn't an argument between us regarding how we view the people who have that attitude.

    But, there are others, others who will not jump without an activated AAD, who's attitude is very different from the, "...It's OK..." people.

    I know that this has been done to death, so if you'd like to exit this thread now, my feelings won't be hurt.

    The way I look at it is, I won't do CReW without at least one hooknife, and I don't want to fly CReW with someone who doesn't have at least one on their rig.

    The argument of experience has nothing to do with it. I don't care if the plan is a new world record, or for me to go do a simple 2-stack at 12K with one of the top CReW Dogs in the land. Hooknives, or no CReW for me.

    If you're going to say that it's apples and oranges, don't bother. Yes, using a knife in the case of an emergency would require decisive action on my, or someone else's part, and an AAD requires no direct action in order to be useful. But, the decisions that we make ARE actions, whether proactive, reactive or passive.

    In the past, Ron has said something to the effect of, "I won't do any skydive that I wouldn't feel comfortable doing without an AAD."

    I truly respect that, and I admire him for that.

    But, not everyone's comfort level is the same, and the reasons vary.

    Like so many people have said throughout all the many 'skydiving is safe' threads, you can do everything right, and STILL die.

    Understanding and accepting the meaning of that reality, why should someone with 50, 500 or 5000 skydives be criticized for refusing to jump without an AAD?

    And I'll remind you, I'm not talking about the, "...It's OK..." people. They're in their own category, so PLEASE, leave them out of this thread.

    We all make choices, and two people sure as hell can make the exact same choice for two very different reasons.

    I guess that's it.

    Stay safe,
    Mike

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  • One of the riggers on our DZ came up with a good solution to this.

    On one of my canopies, he sewed lengths of cutaway cable into the dive loops, giving them a nice stiff shape that are always open and easy to find.

    Also, Dave Hillebrandt made a set of risers for a friend of mine with nice dive loops. He made them out of the stiff material that he makes CReW toggles out of.

    Dave's are a bit more bulky than you may want on your sport canopy, but they are excellent.

    Stay safe,
    Mike

    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.

  • ***That is my first vote too. Eyes, awareness.
    Quote


    First of all, I'm not attacking Ron, or Tandem Masters or Moderators or anyone else, so if you feel the need to become personally defensive, chew on a stalk of celery instead. OK.

    I wonder how many people who claim that their eyes are their primary means of altitude awareness are being honest. Sure I trust my eyes more than my altimeter and I generally pay attention to what the Earth below me looks like, but I'll be honest, my eyes and my internal clock are my backups. And no, that sentence isn't in contradiction with itself.

    I glance at my alti to tell me how high I am. As more time passes through freefall, I'll check my alti again and begin glancing at the ground to confirm that my alti is being honest and that I'm still at a safe altitude.

    Speaking for myself, my eyes won't tell me whether I'm at 6000' as opposed to 8200', but I know that as long as I use them, they won't lie to me and tell me that I'm still safe when I'm really at 1800'.

    Maybe this is what most people mean when they talk about their Alti's being secondary, and in that case I'm arguing semantics and interpretation.

    The way I'm looking at it though, I'll use my eyes, which I trust more, to confirm or 'backup' what my alti is telling me, not with regard to actual altitude, but with regard to 'safe' Vs. 'unsafe' altitude.

    Thanks for listening and not throwing half eaten food at me.

    Stay safe,
    Mike

    Oh, I don't bother much with freefall anyway, so don't think that I think I'm a 500 jump wonder freefall skygod. Just making an observation is all. Actually, if anyone's got a half eaten pizza, you could throw that my way.


    If you're gonna' be stupid, well, then you're most likely stupid.