wildernessmedic

gowlerk

????? South central Florida is the skydiving centre of the world. Why do you think that is? It is also very flat.

No idea. Never paid any attention.


Roostnureye-

Appreciate the heads up. That bad huh? If it is I guess I better start looking at the best dive spots nearby and make a choice. Were flying over in a few weeks to check out a few towns. I just figured in the middle would make it a shorter drive in any direction.



I know there are a handful of DZs there. I just wasn't sure if it was year round jumping or what. Sick of this NorCal weather screwing it up for so many months in a row.

Considering moving out of California to somewhere I can live better/cheaper. I'm looking at places in Florida, preferably in the lower half. Probably going to end up somewhere in the middle so either side isn't a far drive.

Whats the jumping like in the southern half? Is it year long minus the hurricanes? How often is it winded out? Anything BASE related to jump off out there? Seems like it's pretty flat.


Thanks

rjklein4470

I have a TS that is in really nice condition. let me know if you want to buy it?

Price?

Stusmooth

So you bought the Victor 2 backpack? Some people was trying to find out about it now. I spoke to the guy yesterday and he wanted money transferred Western Union. Maybe it is legit. But if you wait a few days someone probably will come forward with some info. And if it is legit I know someone that is interested I am sure if it was stolen they would be glad to buy it back. .

Yes the VICTOR BACKPACK is mine!

The rigger that last packed it in Oregon posted an explanation. Apparently the lady ran into tough times/trouble and sold it to pay some fines. The seller seemed sketchy with his whole PayPal me to ship it deal. But the explanation adds up to what he told me. A woman quit and he got it really cheap. I guess it was legally sold.... score?

So I picked up a Vector 2 with a Triathlon 175 and a swift plus 175 reserve off of Craigslist for 300 bucks.

I scoured the stolen gear list before buying.

I contacted the DZ where the last repack was and they tried to contact that last owner.

But it's been almost 10 years since it was repacked.

The guy I bought it from swears some woman quit and didn't want it anymore so he was just selling it for some money.

Obviously fishy, but I feel like that its been so long no one is probably looking for it anymore.


If the rightful owner comes forward and shows it was theres and stolen I would love to get it back to them.


That being said, how long should I wait until selling it. Or calling it "mine" and selling my old rig?

It's not dead anymore. Thanks for the boards!

Can anyone give me a recommended checklist before seeking out a sky surfing mentor? All I see in the SIM is it lumped in briefly with free flying at "recommended 200 jumps."

I imagine you'd want to be comfortable with belly, sit, and standing with enough experience for controlled turns? As well as being comfortable in EPs etc.

Can anyone fill me in on a bit more of what's necessary beyond the SIMs nearly nonexistent mention? A person or two said when it came out most people didn't even know how to free fly. They were belly jumpers who just threw it on and figured it out.

Thanks.

Also I just tried packing it. Skydivers must have had a lot more free time between jumps back then.

accumack

***Here's the ad for the Evolution in the 1990-1991 ParaGear catalogue. ParaFlight was big on detail and data.

That is me jumping the canopy on the brochure photos by Mike McGowan taken at the Z-hillz Turkey boogie.
Interesting side note: During testing the day before we were leaving for the U.S. Nationals in 1989. I jumped in a tuck to terminal. When i deployed it opened so hard I have a herniated disc at c-5/c-6 and bulging at c-4/c-5. It delayed the introduction of the Evolution. The pilot chute controlled slider made openings softer. We didn't find an obvious reason for the hard opening Such as broken locking stows. Later we converted most of the standard Evolutions to non pilot chute controlled sliders. The Super Evolutions hard zero-P on the top skin. Para-Flite always measured our canopies differently than all the other manufacturers, so if you use their standard way of measuring Para-Flite canopies were alway larger and bulkier.

I'm guessing this isn't the super?

Since you flew it...Would you have any problem with jumping this canopy today? I understand it's not ideal and there are many more modern/better canopies, but is there any reason not to jump it?

Sorry photo won't load. It doesn't say super on the label. Already have herniated discs, was this problem corrected during trials before production?

Thanks for the info. Is there anything I should change or do before jumping it? Outside of having a rigger inspect it I mean. Such as change the reefing system PC etc?

As long as its not extremely dangerous jumping it, I'll do it and see if I want to continue using it.

Another member on here gave me an Evolution 160. It's about 27 years old but feels newer than my current canopy. However there are some things I'm not too sure about...

3 risers on each shoulder

The bridle is just kill line

The slider is connected to the kill Line to pull pc in

21 cells

The pin just slides around the kill line



If it all checks out is the canopy something I can jump regularly? Or should I find another use for it? I am looking for downsize so I'm hoping this canopy will work out. Even if it's old and different.

I'm bringing it back. Thanks for the boards Ted

And the canopy and jumpsuits as well. Having it inspected to see if it's still airworthy although it looks like you kept it very well cared for.

Tidlof

Sure, It's hard and dangerous, but so is a lot of other skydiving disciplines.

when & where was the last skysurf jump you saw?

Kind of curious: made about 80 myself 20 years ago and have a couple of boards I'd give to anyone who'd want them. See Misc. classifieds

Link to classifieds? I'm interested.

Nermind, found it. I'll drive there right now and scoop them up if you're available

Just curious... On my last jump after pitching I felt what I can only describe as trap door like feeling after I pitched. Pc caught, I began to rotate feet to earth, and then felt a brief moment of excelleration like my canopy became detached before I began slowing down under inflation.

Was this probably a band breaking or the lines paying out in the wrong order? Or am I just crazy and it was in my head? Just curious what could have caused that. I thought I was about to look up and see my main flying away haha.

douwanto

You sure in a hurry to go kill some innocent students....

Uhh what? I'm not in a hurry to kill anyone. Not a student or myself.

theonlyski

*** This guy, Dr. Bruce Chien, can fix this with the FAA if it can be fixed. He is Da Man when it comes to hard case medicals. Contact him and be excruciatingly honest with him, he can smell BS from a mile away.
https://flightphysical.com/dr-chien-dirksen-pkwy

If you know anyone that is an AOPA member he is well known on the Forums there.

Yep, Bruce is awesome. You do have to tell him everything or he will cut you away like a spinning main.

Very reasonable price too, he just wants to help people and I am positive that he put in far more work than he wanted payment for.


I've already spoke with Bruce throughout the process, and got a letter from the Federal Air Surgeon himself I guess. There is no more "going through the process if you want it." There are no appeals left to file.

I had a documented TBI in Afghanistan 8 years ago. I passed all the neuro tests(in fact I scored higher than most on a lot of them) except for one, the trails test. The guy told me there was no hurry as it wasn't timed so I took my time. Apparently it was BS and it was timed. Again, it doesn't affect my ability to fly or operate machinery. I can still do drug calculations, function as the highest medical authority out of the hospital, preform invasive procedures etc...

If there's no way around a class 3 medical I guess TI is out. It seems pretty dumb they use the same test as piloting an aircraft to me. I'm sure theres a huge line of people that probably can't fly an aircraft but could still preform as a TI no problem.

Well only time will tell but it looks like the problem is fixed. I started using a new PC. I can't believe the difference in opening. Much, much faster opening and on heading with no twists.

gowlerk

Quote

The curve can fit a canopy between 135-170?

A Curve VC3 size will fit that range. But only if the 170 is a low bulk canopy. Like a Pulse. It will not fit a reserve larger than an Optimum 160. A VC4 will fit one size larger canopies but is really not suited to 135s.

Thanks for the info. I'll look into that.

Slimrn

At around 75 jumps I got a Curv VC3 (170 to 135) and a year and a half after buying it, have made over 500 jumps and am on the 135. Personally it was the correct decision for me, because I'll be on the 135 for 300-500 more jumps is my guess. I can always go with a more elliptical canopy at a larger or the same size to increase performance if I choose to. Currency is a big deal when downsizing safely.

The curve can fit a canopy between 135-170? If that's the case I'm sold. I won't outgrow that. The only reason I see myself going even to a 150 or lower is my friends saying they're sure I will. Another friend lost his foot on a small canopy swooping. I like my feet.

I think the last 8/10 jumps.

I did one this morning like you suggested, still have a full 1 1/2 twist.

When I said I looked up, thats not usual. I just got curious and wanted to see if I could catch it a few times. I guess it doesn't make too much sense to look since it can cause it to twist from looking anyway.


I left my rig with friends while I'm gone for a month. Rigger is going to check line set, and friends are going to put a few jumps on it to see if it happens to them.

timrf79

Based on your information your exit weight is 210lbs, correct?
A 170 puts you at 1.24; 150 at 1.40 and 135 at 1.56.
If you get a new rig that holds a 170 tight, it will allow going down to a 135 most likely.
Hence, if you got the money get a new rig.
There is a good chance you will never jump anything smaller than a 135 (as ~1.6 is a solid loading for non-swoopers).
Therefore buy the new rig, go all out, make sure you love it and plan on keeping it forever.

Don't worry about going smaller than 170 or not, only time will tell what WL/canopy you are comfy at.
Not to mention that a 135 Pilot and a 135 Katana fly very different.

Exit weight is around 180-185.


Thanks for the replies. Friends seem to think I will want to downsize to a 150. My reply is I have no reason to, and think a 170 would be it for me for a long time. They seem to think I'll get bored with it after a somewhat short period. In fact today a couple suggested I try the DZs 150 this morning. I decided to wait and try a 170 before making that leap.


Another 50 jumps and I will probably be spending most of the time learning wingsuit flying. I didn't really think about that. I probably won't be doing but a few jumps here and there free flying.

Tough call. I'm not made of money, but I really want something that fits me perfect. I guess I can just shop around until I find a harness that fits mostly good that is FF friendly.


On the other hand, I guess I could buy a Curve that fits a 170 tight, get a used 170 main, and then possibly fit a 150 in it later if I wanted new. That could save some money I bet. Although I will still need a reserve and AAD as well.

Quagmirian

Yeah my anger is misplaced. You can summon me again by saying "a 150 is a large canopy" 3 times in the mirror at midnight or something.

ChrisHoward

Which one is it? Or is it both? Is there ever a noticeable hesitation in the extraction process?

The first one is without line twists. It just surges around a lot sometimes. Not too worried with that one.



It's hard to say about hesitation. First instinct is yes, but I've been playing around with my pack jobs for slower/faster openings.

Possibly not a good fit into the container. I'll have my rigger look closer at it, but it definitely has to be pushed into the container to get it in. Fair amount of pressure on the side flaps.

Specter 190. From what I've heard it's supposed to be one of the most on heading soft opening canopies.

The harness is not a great fit, but it's alright. The hip/leg attachment rides a bit high up my side.

Not sure why I said it tosses me like a rag doll, I think that was a while back. But I probably meant once it inflates I spin. It commonly changes heading rapidly while inflating. Sometimes as much as 90 right, 90 left, then 180.

I'm going to check the lineset tomorrow. Talked to the person I purchased it from, and it sounds like it's about due for a new set even if it is still trimmed.


I mentioned it spinning during line stretch because I positive it was packed straight. So some time between coming out of the container and the canopy extracting from the D bag it must be getting spun. I've looked up pretty early on a few jumps and seen it spun up before the canopy has really even started to inflate.

ChrisHoward

***So this is still an issue. It seems to be spinning once the D bag comes out.

Can you clarify if the line twists are formed before the canopy comes out of the DBag (ie. on the way to line stretch) or after line stretch when the canopy is out of the DBag. Maybe I missed the answer to this but it would help isolate your problem.

I meant spinning between extraction from the container and canopy extraction from D bag.

Quagmirian

***Canopy is a bit big for my weight.

I'm sick of hearing this shit.

What on God's green earth are the disadvantages of having a canopy that's too big? And do they apply to you?

Sorry for the outburst, it's nothing personal. There is someone at my DZ who is convinced that he 'needs' to be on a 170 because "it's where I need to be", and despite the fact that he can't finish the flare on his 190. It's winding me up.

I'm loaded at .9. I bought this canopy when I was 20-30 pounds heavier, with less skill. Now I have more skill, less weight.

Disadvantages as far as safety? None.
Disadvantages as far as performance...what I said above. Penetration.

I want a new rig because this one isn't free fly friendly. I'm just trying to make sure I'm buying something at my level, that will continue to be sufficient for plenty of time if I'm buying new.


And yes, I want to keep the old one complete for WS, so a brand new one. I'll buy used again if anyone thinks I'm only going to be on a 170 for 1-400 jumps. I guess I should have titled this "How long do you think I'll be on a 170" so I could decide for myself.