timrf79

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Posts posted by timrf79

  2. jbelanger86


    1. Its been freaking cold here..... Ive read that everyone uses under armor base layers, but I went shopping tonight and found that for a top and bottom, its like $150. What other brands would give the same type of cold protection?



    The REI house brand for camping/hiking is great and can be found on sale some times.

    jbelanger86


    2. I just got my first log book for Christmas, Im OCD and I want to start it with jump #1. Can I go and write in my 3 tandems and my 3 afp jumps? I have a temp logbook that they have used for the first three and I didnt know if there was some rule. I know all the people I have jumped with and could probably get them to sign again.



    You may want to consider keeping the temp logbook until you finish AFF so you have a designated student logbook.

    jbelanger86


    3. New or used gear? Altimeters? jumpsuits? rigs? helmets? pros and cons?


    If money is no issue, new gear all day everyday.
    For most people money is limited and therefore majority tends to go used.
    However, as a new jumper I wanted my gear really good, in order to allow me focusing on my skills.

    jbelanger86


    4. I bought a pair of football gloves (I was advised that those would be good to get by one of my afp instructors, but they are really really sticky. Any way to cut down on how sticky?


    They will wear out faster than you like...

    jbelanger86


    5. Canopy. Im having trouble understanding flight patterns. Any resources would be helpful.


    I use an android app called Spot Assist (bought the full version), I firmly believe this app is a game changer.
    Ask your instructor, if they are willing to work with you with the app.

    jbelanger86


    6. I would love some feedback on my first 3 jumps. Seems that my first jump was the best. I think I was flooded with confidence and now as i can start to control my adrenaline, im becoming less confident and therefore, I have less ability to relax, which hindered my flight on jump 3. I constantly forget to wave off as well. Any advice you can give to help my confidence levels, and any other feedback on what I can do better on next time would be really helpful.


    My advice: Stick with skydiving, the videos look you are doing a fantastic job. Your instructors seem very solid and will guide you through AFF. Trust in your instructors and you will a great skydiver.

  5. lyosha

    ***I had Sabre 2 in 230, 190, 170 and 150. At exit weight of 230 - 270
    The openings depend somewhat on the pack job.

    The 170, loaded at 1.6 will turn closed end cells in a very fast spiral. I usually can't wait for them to open by themselves.

    The 190 at 1.3 had the best openings, no end cell closures and on heading (it was in a rig for 190-230; loose but safe fit).

    I also had a 170 Sabre, VERY DIFFERENT than a Sabre 2.



    At what wingloading do you think it had the best flare?
    Flare gets better the higher the WL goes, as teh forward speeds goes up and flare transforms forward speed into upward speed.
    However due to the timing of the flare, more speed means your room for error gets smaller.

    I found the 230 had too much toggle pressure and could make flaring all the way hard (depending on brake length setting).
    The 150 is wicked fast and not for the faint of hearted.
    The 170 brings the risk that too much flare on a straight in will lift you up.
    The 190 (WL 1.3) is what I would consider the best compromise.
    You can get speed with a 90 degree double FR turn, you can land softly from slow flight, or go in straight and safe.
    Please note this is in regard to a DZ altitude of ~1k feet over MSL

  6. I don't like to pull below 4k.

    Here is why:
    If everything goes as planned canopy fully open at 3.3k.
    Stowing slider, opening chest strap, arranging in harness, open helmet, check steer ability -> 2.5k

    This leaves me only 1k to get into a solid landing pattern and slot in with traffic.

    Which means If I pull at 4k, and have any issue I got 1k to resolve it.
    1k under no canopy ->5 seconds
    Spinning or otherwise issue -> 10 seconds
    Fully working canopy -> 30 seconds

  7. Downsizing is a very personal question.
    Why would you want to downsize?

    No one ever got hurt from having too much canopy.

    Do you want to have less Nylon to wrangle?
    Looking cool walking with a small rig?
    Something easy to sell/ buy?
    Do you want to go fast and swoop?

    Those question will determine what canopy and size you fly.

    The path to downsizing then will depend on your training (professional courses) and jump frequency, as well as location.

    For me personally, I used to jump 10 times EVERY weekend.
    Like going fast.
    Have good health insurance and a desk job I can do with broken legs.

    Therefore I was jumping a 190 at around jump 100 (same weight as you).

    And I would start buying a rig for a 190 right now, because I would hit the 100 jump mark before the year is over.
    A good rig with a 190 max for a big boy is not that fast to be found.

  8. I had Sabre 2 in 230, 190, 170 and 150. At exit weight of 230 - 270
    The openings depend somewhat on the pack job.

    The 170, loaded at 1.6 will turn closed end cells in a very fast spiral. I usually can't wait for them to open by themselves.

    The 190 at 1.3 had the best openings, no end cell closures and on heading (it was in a rig for 190-230; loose but safe fit).

    I also had a 170 Sabre, VERY DIFFERENT than a Sabre 2.

  9. While I still learn as well here are a few things that helped me:
    Right Equipment:
    Sabre 2 (the newer the better)
    Flysight (and make sure you study the length of recovery arch based on winds and maneuver)
    Camera (to pair with flysight data)
    Log-Book write down every detail in order to work with the above
    Digital Altimeter

    Right approach:
    Do Hop'N'Pops and pull out the door or high pulls
    practice everything up high (90's, different directions, time holding fronts, etc...)
    Say out loud what you are doing as you might not be able to see it on the video
    Be SUPER conservative when you try new things on landing (aka close to the ground)
    Get a coach, or qualified jumper watch you from time to time, take feedback and be thankful for it

    Most importantly, always have a plan B, be ready to bail. better to bail if you don't need to, rather than needed to bail and did not to.

  11. 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.

  12. chips26

    ******Mine went:
    ...
    320+ Crossfire 3 119 @1.5

    A little quick I suppose, but, I think I'm done for awhile, I want to get 270s dialed (havent even started yet) before I go to anything smaller.



    You do 270's on a crossfire 3 at under 400 jumps?

    No I don't. 90s only right now. I said, I'd move to a smaller canopy when I mastered 270s on it. Long road out right now.
    I assume you have a dedicated swoop coach you are working with?

  13. chips26

    Mine went:
    0-20 Nav 240-200
    20-27 Sabre 190
    27-100 Storm 170 @.94
    100-220ish Pilot 150 @ 1.1
    220-315 Safire 3 139 @1.2
    A couple jumps on a Siletto 135 (borrowed)
    315-320 Sabre 2 120 (Borrowed)
    320+ Crossfire 3 119 @1.5

    A little quick I suppose, but, I think I'm done for awhile, I want to get 270s dialed (havent even started yet) before I go to anything smaller.



    You do 270's on a crossfire 3 at under 400 jumps?

  16. A semi stowless bag gives you 2 advantages:
    easier packing
    less line twist due to removal of rubber band tension as the bag comes out.

    The second point is less relevant on larger canopies.
    the first point si always relevant.

    If you got the $$$ get a semi stowless, makes packing soo much nicer!

  19. DJL


    The truth is that there's ALWAYS a chance of breaking a bone and you should always make the gear choices that mitigate this risk because you ALWAYS don't want a broken bone, not just if you have a desk job.



    If canopy choice is to be made without any consideration of the individual risk profile, and if further a choice is to be made to mitigate that risk (as you stated above).
    Then this would lead that we all should jump the biggest most docile canopy.
    However this is not the case, we all jump a canopy that is a compromise of performance, safety and convenience.
    This canopy choice, mixed with our skills, weather and other factors creates a certain risk (or risk score).
    Depending on your personal situation and preference this risk score is different for any single one of us.

  20. billvon

    >With a desk job, you can go to work with a broken ankle, etc...

    Canopy advice based on which bones you want to break. Certainly a new direction here in General.

    I prefer in-person instruction that assumes that no broken bones is the goal.



    It is an indication on how much risk each one of us is willing to tolerate.
    I would bet that a single parent relying on a job to make ends meet and the job requires walking has a different risk profile than a single multi millionaire that does not know what to do with the money.
    (Just to give to different extremes).

  21. If you have a job that requires you to be on your feet, you may want to be more conservative.
    With a desk job, you can go to work with a broken ankle, etc...
    Hence you might be willing to take more risk.

    Most rigs allow 3 canopy sizes, so you could get a rig that holds 230-210-190 or 210-190-170.
    In either case you get a well fitting rig (important) and can swap used canopies for little to no cost.

  25. No expert by any means, but my thoughts reading your post:
    3rd cut-a-way in 700 jumps, seems a bit too often. You may need to look at your gear, packing or deploying technique
    Break-off and pull altitude, I like to break at 5k feet (1500m) and pull around 4k feet (1200m).
    When I "pull" at 4k, that means wave, arch, reach, pull, by the time canopy is open, slider stowed, leg straps adjusted, chest strap removed I am sub 3k (900m).
    Fogged up visor, this should not happen, big issue...