bobsoutar

Might be time to change the brake lines. My old Stilletto started to do the same thing after about 250 jumps.

I would get them shortened. Too loose, they are a pain for freeflying and you will be wearing your chest strap under your chin on a hard opening.

If you are in that situation you are jumping alone, I hope! Just cork, sort yourself out and start again if you have enough altitude.

Try lengthening them by about 6 inches and open a bit high to test them out. You should have just a little slack in the brake lines when using front risers. If there is too much slack wrap the lines around one finger each side and try again - then around 2 fingers each side if necessary until you find the spot. Then find the new stall point while you're up there. Adjust the knot when you get down, jump it again to make sure and then get a loop finger-trapped and stitched.

You will get a better swoop out of the Stilletto. Your profile is obviously not up to date but if you are still jumping a Triathlon 160, a Stilletto 135 is a very big step and a Safire 139 would probably be a better choice for you.

Popping a Sudafed non-drowsy tablet about an hour before take-off usually works well or a couple of snorts of Sinex (non-drowsy sinus clear spray) first thing in the morning. A trip to a steam room can also help. After a while of regular jumping the ears seem to toughen up and don't need any medication any more.

Yep, certain. Switch your Cypres off for airline travel though!

Don't forget us all in cold rainy England. We have a pretty good 4-way RW team called VMAX.

[Apart from bungies perishing and snapping, what else is there to consider?] Nothing really as long as your rig has been packed away somewhere, clean, dry and safe. I am happy to jump my rig after a few months of non-use. I will open it up and check bungees etc. if I plan to put a lot of jumps on it (boogie etc.) so I don't get packing hassles while juming.

[I noticed better openings for some reason using an "F-111" PC vs Zpo.] Kolla told a while back that all of PDs test jumpers prefer F111 PCs. Less snatch force apparently.

I've just checked again. Click on parachutes and it's about halfway down the page as "Canopy Sizing Chart PDF"

WTF!!! and I had a pair of nail clippers confiscated at Gatwick airport - in case I bought a radio in the duty free and used them as a wire stripper!

I'll second that! Will probably do the same when Steve gets a cutaway device sorted out. In the meantime I have fitted a second strap to go underneath the chin.

[Am I the only one with such thoughts? Could they be related to my personal life outside skydiving?] Seems from the posts that plenty of people have similar thoughts, particularly in their early days. We all need to "slay our dragon" sometimes and you will probably need to get back into skydiving to slay yours. I know very little about dream therapy but your dreams could well be related to your personal life - apparently you will continue to have similar dreams until you do something about the situation they relate to (not necessarily skydiving, by the way).

Sounds like you're trying too hard. Relax and try this:- imagine that you are the instructor and that you are demonstrating (or showing off) how to do the manoeuvers to a student. Your thought pattern could go something like "I will demonstrate to you how to do it first and then I expect you to do the same, ok!"

If there is a problem it probably would have come up at the last reserve repack - best to check with a rigger for peace of mind. Congrats anyway.

There is a canopy sizing chart on: http://www.para-gear.com/default.asp - click on parachutes, then sizing chart.

Is your profile up to date?

Good for you - great when people know exactly what they want! Will be in Elsinore in 3 weeks time, i'll watch out for it.

[Should i hold off for a while?] Apart from all the little extras on the Protrack, it is a very good safety device. If you are going to get one anyway, go for it now.

Have fun, pull high, have fun, land safe. What's San Diego like?

Alan Hewitt landed in Buckingham Palace. He also did a stunt with Ian Marshall (who played a girlie!). Can't wait to see it tomorrow.

You will need to check the pack volume of the 170 first. If it's ZP try for one with a few jumps on it (200 -300) or you're going to be sweating buckets when you try to pack it. You could probably pick up a 170 made of F111 fairly cheaply - most 150 containers will take up to a 175 if it is F111 fabric.

A Stilletto 150 would be a big jump from what you have now. I would go for the Sabre 2 which is a great all round canopy.

Is there anything going on mid-week? Will be around Perris & Elsinore for 2 weeks in December and you're not too far away.