darkwing

I think the Pope jumps, but not on Sundays. If not him, then some bishop who likes flyboyz. Check with http://www.vaticanskydivers.org -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Over the years I have done a lot of impromptu coaching. One of the most common complaints I hear from beginners is that they can't get any swooping practice. So I let them do it to me on two ways, which is as safe as can be done. I also second the views above that you should freefly exits--with both outside, one in/one out, and both inside. Also do a mix of chunking them. Variety is good, and there is a lot to be done with just two people. Also you can often get a video person to get your exit for you if they are in a group after you. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I'll give you a 15% chance. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Also remember that weather variations at any drop zone can change the density altitude by as much as 5,000 feet! Don't think that just because you are at home your canopy will always fly the same. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Holding your breath would be a waste of time, completely useless, and probably even a detriment. I believe it is possible for such a jump to be survivable. There are tabulated values for "time of useful consciousness" but indivudual variations are major. Haven't people climbed Mt. Everest (30,000 ft) without supplemental oxygen?? Some scenarios -- 1) You don't lose consciousness... all is well 2) You do lose consciousness, but you wake up in time to pull 3) You lose consciousness, and don't wake up, but your cypres does... I's relatively certain that altitude chamber tests of this have been done, I just don't know those specific results. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I'm not aware that the final verdict has been determined, either by USPA or others. I think it is safe to say that "it depends." -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I organized a mystery dive for my 2000th, and also a buddies 2,000th. Design the dive and the exit, but don't let anyone know what it is, other than telling each person privately who they dock on and how. For example, tell Dave that he does a left side-body dock on Tim. I was the base and was the only one who knew the entire dive. The dirt dive consists only of the exit line up and count. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

there is an economic reality here. Sending every ripcord to capewell or the mfr would bring the industry to a standstill for a few weeks. Sure, it is easy to say that safety issues shouldn't be mitigated by economics, but the fact is they are, in every engineering field, not just skydiving. While the field test isn't perfect, in my opinion it errs on the side of caution, which is as it should be. It also can be done quickly and relatively easily. 3/16' is about 5 mm. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

2000+ : 2 -- Jeff My Skydiving History

"Bottom line is that there are plenty of BIG dudes out there who are absolutely in shape and still skydive their asses off." I'm proud to say that I am a big dude who is not in shape and can't skydive my ass off. Don't forget about us! -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I'd use what the manufacturer recommends-period. The way I read this is that the hard pull is after the velcro has been peeled, so it seems to be a cable/housing problem. Please let us know if silicone fixes the problem. I have heard of this before, but not on new rigs. The manufacturer should be alerted also. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I just came back from Walmart this afternoon and they had some freefly friendly prints there. Remember, if a fabric doesn't have enough body you can always double layer it. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

As long as the external shape wasn't changed pretty much all that would happen is that it would pack a lot bulkier. If you did make the airfoil thicker it would also fly slower. I don't see any advantages to this idea, although thinking about things is always a good diea. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

this is pretty much what jumpers with bifocals have to deal with. I don't have this problem and I wear bbifocals. Maybe your reading glasses are too big? Are they they half-lens style? I have seen some plastic, stick-on magnifiers that would make regular sunglasses into bifocals, that way the altimeter reading part would be small, and relatively out of the way. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I think this has been suggested in one of the relevant threads, and I think it is worth considering. The hardware needs to be considerably lighter weight than a B-12 snap though. I owned a rig that had a quick-ejector as the chest strap connector. That is also too big also for modern gear. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

A perspective of a recreational jumper (30 years, 2000 jumps): I am willing to somewhat subsidize the demo insurance program. The key is "somewhat." At some point, perhaps even now, I believe it can become a bad decision to beggar the treasury for the demo insurance program. I do not have the numbers for any of this, so I can't say which side of the fence I am actually on. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I have a Spectre190 loaded at about 1.3 and have put 450 jumps on it. Openings have been very consistent. I had one slammer about 50 jumps ago. A couple of years ago I had a tension knot in the right toggle which prevented me from releasing the right brake. I steered and landed comfortably using only the left. This was at Lost Prairie, so I had some altitude. I'm not sure how many other canopies would have been landable under those circumstances. Trim-- the outboard A lines are about 3 1/2 inches shorter than trim specs. I'll probably get it relines soon, and hope to demo a 170 Sabre 2 when I do. A spectre can't compete in swooping, but it can do it. I am a very conservative pilot though, so I don't get to say much about it. I think a Spectre is a great canopy. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

The critical piece of missing information is how much toggle dies it take to correct the turn? At least in the old days and I suspect now also a manufacturer has a turn tolerance, that is, some specified number of inches of toggle to correct a built-in turn is allowed before any repair action is taken. I can perhaps justify the rib difference as causing the turn, and if it is worth the effort (and my sense with limited information is that it is not), then shortening the other rib is a fairly easy modification. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I think there is no more information, because they don't know what to say. I have no reason to doubt Capewell's story that every pin is tested to twelve pounds, and that these apparently broke much easier. This is a job for some serious metallurgy. A couple of cases out of about a bazillion pins is tough to remediate. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

On my canopy I wouldn't worry about it. If someone wanted to get it patched so they wouldn't worry it would be fairly cheap and fast. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Does it also depend on the engines? There is a wide range of engine power on various Twin Otters. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Yes, throw it out. Don't pull it out, hold on to it, then releast. Pull out and throw in one continuous motion. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

My recollection from the photo is that the break was not close to the swage, but was on the shaft. I plan on at least hand testing, as these were reported to break easily. It would also be easy to test formally. Didn't Capewell say that they use 12 pounds? I'm happier every day that I have a Cypres. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

You and I have a lot in common. Jumping is far easier than it used to be. I recommend a Spectre, for both docile openings, docile handling, and good landings. Everything is better than it was in the old days. A Spectre 210 would be good, a 230 would be very mellow. I bought a 190 when I got back, and have about 500 jumps on it now. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I'm going to disagree with Jumpy on his reasoning for rotating the rings. "...If you leave the 3-ring in the same position all the time it can bend the middle ring making it harder or maybe even impossible to cutaway..." A bent ring is an extraordinarily unusual situation and means either a manufacturing defect, or a hugely hard opening (i.e., put you in the hospital). -- Jeff My Skydiving History