darkwing

There are a couple of ways to go about this.

1) Buy some cheap fabric and build miniature copies of real canopies.

2) Buy some good fabric and build a copy of a real canopy.

#1 gets you experienced with most of the details, but be advised that some mistakes aren't apparent when sewing a one foot long seam and are very apparent when sewing a ten foot seam.

Talking with someone experienced can save you a lot of time and trouble.

I recommend starting with #1. I started with #2 (a loooong time ago) and it took a while, but worked out fine.

PIA should do it ONLY if the FAA gives it up, which they should. Although one way for the FAA to be persuaded to give it up is for the PIA to have a working system in place. I agree it would take resources that PIA does not have (probably).

The system as it exists now just barely works.

What is the "Rapid Descent Device" mentioned in the PARIS ad? Probably not a hook knife, but something clever to make you go down fast without spinning. Handy if bad guys are around.

This question get asked occasionally in the gear and rigging forum. Search there. The bottom line is don't do it.

I had one on the outside of my Bonehead Havok, but it got smashed by riser slap on a slammer opening. Now I use internals. Harder to deal with, but I feel better about it.

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..., but I'm not sure if that's an approved repair.

I'd ordinarily proceed with the view that if it isn't expressly forbidden, and it restores to original, then it is approved. Else riggers would be able to do very little.

Your canopy will seem one or two sizes smaller.

While I hold Poynter in high regard, he still isn't the manufacturer, and my opinion stands. Even though I was a proponent of Scotchgard in the past, now I'd defer to the rig manufacturer.

And, as you say, I don't think scotchgard does anything for UV.

My beloved home DZ closed down. It was under an hour away. Now I go 3 1/2 hours to a DZ I like less. I really, really hate that drive. So for me it is largely a matter of access.

I'd be very surprised if the manufacturer told you anything other than keep in out of the sun. If anybody other than the manufacturer tells you to put anything on the rig, such as some fabric treatment/UV protect chemical, please post it here. I probably wouldn't pack it if it had been treated with anything that the manufacturer didn't specifically approve. I suspect MANY riggers would feel the same.

You had two parachutes and only one pilot chute.

Your skydiving helmet was also your motorcycle helmet.

Same reason as vote at 18, drink at 21, etc. The system has to be workable and there has to be some cutoff. Why is 70 a passing score on a drivers license test? Same deal.

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I have a program that calculates trajectories based on input variables of velocity, lift and drag coefficients, WL and density altitude.
These input variables are not linked to specific geometric specifications of canopies.
The code is only two dimensional right now. The simulation starts at the time from the end of a speed inducing maneuver to natural recovery (hands off flying). It does not model any type of flare maneuver.
Some sample results were posted here awhile back.

If you find me funding, I can develop it further.

I think I can work on the relativistic version if anyone wants to jump near a black hole.

I knew I liked Skydive Suffolk. Glad you didn't die. That reminded me of the old days. Thanks for sharing, but don't do that again.

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Spend the $10-15 to get it dry cleaned.

I'm pretty sure that some jumpsuits are NOT dryclean-friendly. Check with the manufacturer. In fact, check anyway, and find out what the manufacturer recommends. Don't listen to us. (except for me).

Nothing sticks forever.

Yes, Ted, there is a Santa Claus. The party was Steve Morrow's, and you are correct about Rick True, as far as I can recall.

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That's interesting, I hadn't thought that people would necessarily do that. I wonder if crossport design effected the canopy or if the rigger who made it just cut some new holes in the ribs?

Was this a fairly common practice back in that era of skydiving?

Not common at all. I've never seen it done, but it seems consistent with the data here. It is certainly do-able though. I have added cells to canopies, for example, to make a 5-cell into a 6-cell, or a 7 into an 8. Crossports weren't universal "back in the day", and I doubt they would be an issue if one made two canopies into one.

Jeff

Clicky....

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/4252/popevalley2nh5.jpg

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/7043/popevalley3yf6.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7036/popevalley1rh8.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9529/popevalley4az8.jpg

ps - Whatever happened to Curt Curtis?

Jeff

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I'm curious as to what main was used and why the bridle attachment point is off set on the canopy?

It may be that two 7 cell canopies were used to make one 9 cell canopy and they left the bridle attachment in place. It wouldn't be much of a problem on a big old square.

Anyone remember the old Mirror Image 8-way team film of their training jumps there? It was great film, by Rande deLuca I think. I'd love that to get to DVD. Lots of good Pope Valley feel to it. It would be a shame to let that film, and many others of the era) rot away.

Get video, because I need another "Mr. Bill gone wrong" thread with cool video of other people about to die. ALthough it might work out.

Me too! Pope Valley was a regular winter getaway for jumpers from Idaho. I knew Curt Curtis reasonably well, but didn't know Tim Saltonstall well. I first met Elek Puskas there, and had some long, fruitful discussions about canopy design. But mostly, it was, as y ou say, the perfect DZ. I still haven't had a better experience anywhere. It broke my heart when they shut it down.

A few months ago I looked for it on Google Earth, and the airstrip is still there, although I don't know what, if any, aviation activity is there.

While I got some of them, even at the time I didn't really see much of a reason for them to exist. Although if they had taken off I might have changed my mind. The SCR family of awards has more historical cachet, and seems to be somewhat active, and for some reason I feel cooler writing them down. But anything that makes me feel cool must be bogus anyway, because I'm not cool.

Jeff

Falcon #77
Double Falcon #58
Eagle #32

SCR-3442
NSCR-695
SCS-2112

I used to jump a top secret. Wish I had a photo of it. I don't think they were TSO'd though, so it would be tough to jump it these days.