relyon

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Everything posted by relyon

  1. REACH Air Medical operates a Bell 407 out of Lodi Bob
  2. I mentioned that because that's what Larry told me. Thanks for clarification. Bob
  3. No, that's a pre-VSE Infinity built by Northern Lite Enterprises (Larry Chernis) - hence the handwritten "INFINITY". I don't know if Larry used NL III labels for legal/regulation reasons or just to use up stock. I do know he built NL IIIs for a couple years before morphing the design into the Infinity. I've owned three rigs he built (1 NL III and 2 Infinities) and still have one. There are significant differences between a NL III and an Infinity. On the NL III the reserve top flap is about 4-6" wide at the bottom end and doesn't tuck in but is closed with velcro instead, and it has a 2-pin reserve handle. The Infinity reserve top flap comes to a point and tucks in, and the reserve is a 1-pin design. There are other minor differences as well. The current production Infinities are vastly superior to the pre-VSE models for freefly and most every thing else (except possibly CRW). Bob
  4. Yes it was. The Northern Lite III was originally built by Para-Phernalia and later by Larry Chernis who purchased the rights in 1991 and started Northern Lite Enterprises. Larry started building the Infinity in 1995. I bought two new Infinities from him (DOMs 4/96 and 6/97 - still jumping the latter) prior to the rights being sold to Kelly. Kelly extensively redesigned the the rig's construction without changing the looks. Bob
  5. Since CRW tends to be hard on gear, my spares bag has all of the above plus: - main risers (type 8 and type 17) - #3 & #5 rapide links - cloth slider bumpers - mesh slider - freestow main bag - several main bridles - several main pilot chutes - pullout handle - hook knife Basically everything except the container, main, and reserve. I've had occasion to need everything on the list except the reserve ripcord and cutaway handle. Bob
  6. Here's a couple pics of my CRW freestow bag. The only difference between a CRW bag and one for freefall is the size of the grommet the PC bridle passes through (for CRW the grommet is #8; freefall uses a #1 or #2, IIRC). Don't reinvent the wheel quite yet. Try and get in touch with Mikey Morrill, who built this and a couple other freestow bags for me. Mikey built Infinities for Larry Chernis (Northern Lite Enterprises) and later for Kelly Farrington (Velocity Sports Equipment). Last I knew he was working in the loft at Lost Prarie in Marion, MT (http://www.skydivelostprairie.com). Bob
  7. I've never had an AAD in any of my gear, so yes, I'll jump without one. Bob
  8. That's how I started as well. Seven static line jumps as a real student and a few more as a pretend student during jumpmaster training. Worked fine for me. Bob
  9. PD has given lots of support to the CRW community including numerous demos on the '02 and '03 record camps and others (it helps to have Rusty on the team.) I've been happy to jump their canopies and even geeked a Norman Kent shot under one. Thanks PD! Bob
  10. Of the two choices, I prefer a vest over a belt for CRW. I've worn up to 24 lbs that way. The best option is a weight pouch built into the container backpad. The weight is off the jumper after deployment and is shed with the rig in the event of a water landing. Bob
  11. It's been my observation that experienced skydivers do what they were taught as students. Absolutely, and all the more reason to hold on if possible, IMO. The difference comes after property is damaged or someone gets hurt or killed, when the FAA is ready to slap a 91.13(b) or 91.15 violation, or the plaintiff's or grieving next of kin's lawyer is explaining the circumstances to a whuffo jury. Accidentally dropping something is defensible; intentionally throwing it is not. The cost of a handle and who pays for it is noise. I'm used to SOS systems for students, where two handed operation and holding on is compatible and encouraged, IMO. I'm not a fan of two handed operation of two handled systems, but that's beyond the scope here. Bob
  12. As I'm sure you know, it is possible to completely pull handles and hold on to them as well. I've done it multiple times and haven't let go of anything. Successful EPs are clearly first, and handles often get dropped in the heat of the moment, but accidentally dropping something and intentionally throwing it are two different things. I've read replies in this thread and others where instructors are actively teaching throwing handles, including situations where the jumper has held on to them. I think that's unnecessary and a bad idea. I was taught to hold on to handles, if possible, and I gave the same advice to students when I was a S/L jumpmaster. Bob
  13. A body can do all this also....something to consider Of course it can. My point was that intentionally throwing handles could cause harm to people and property below. What's your point? I doubt the jumper threw a hook knife - dropped is a more likely explanation. Again, what's your point? Bob
  14. For all those in the "throw the handles" camp, this is an extremely important point. If those discarded handles cause damage to property, or injury/death to persons on the ground, there is likely going to be a whole lot of legal action following. Chances are the jumper involved, their instructor(s), the pilot(s), and the DZ are going to be named in the charge(s) and/or suit(s) that follow. Something to consider. Bob
  15. It sounds so easy, but apparently is not, at least judging by the experience of many. I've done this twice and didn't really find it that difficult. Admittedly, I was at altitude at the time (7500'), but even so it only took a second or two. I'd only give it one chance if I was low (less than 3000') and at terminal. Bob
  16. I've got 9 rides on Tempos (all CRW). One was on a 210 @ 1.0 and the remaining 8 were on a 170 loaded @ 1.15. Most were sub-terminal, but one I took down for 8-9 seconds. It's always opened and flew fine without any sort of turn and had plenty of flare at the bottom. I'm on my second packing data card now and will keep it as long as it keeps getting signed off. I've got nothing but good to say about my Tempo. Bob
  17. There's a possibility for a horseshoe if the pin comes out (eg. loose closing loop) while the pud is still on the velcro. Bob
  18. And even then it doesn't always work out right. An uncle of mine flew a B17 during WWII, mostly from altitudes ranging from 22K to 30K feet. On his 25th mission he was shot down over Poland and he and his crew bailed out from 24K. By his account he passed out then awoke somewhere around 10K. He deployed his seat pack, landed safely, was captured, and spent the last 9 months of the war at Stalag Luft I on the Baltic coast. His co-pilot wasn't so lucky. Uncle Jack says his chute failed. I'm guessing he never woke in time to pull. Mind you, this wasn't an average (or even not so average) skydive. Bob
  19. wanna make that bet? i have 0 hours of air time in a helio.. and i can guarantee you i can fly one better than you.. know anyone who wants to risk their helio? Do get video... Bob (helicopter CFII)
  20. You seem to be hung up on a point I am not contesting. I have repeatedly addressed the issue of deployment separation, not exit separation. They are two different things. If two people deploy in close proximity and that results in the worst case scenario you describe (50 feet horizontal separation with one on-heading and one 180 off-heading), there is very likely going to be an uncontrollable collision that can injure or kill. I know plenty of people who have been in that situation, myself included, and referenced a double fatality caused by the same. A good friend of mine was one of the survivors of the Silvana, WA Loadstar crash. By his account, none of the people who got out (16 in all) had anything that would be remotely considered a stable exit, nor did anyone balk at the door (the aircraft was stalling and flipping over). With the exception of the last person out (who pitched his PC while hanging from the forward door frame and got pretty banged up by it), everyone got clear of both the aircraft and one another before deploying. Clearly they had more than two choices. Your experience? How many actual (not simulated) emergency bailouts have you been in, and how many times have you been in the worse case deployment scenario you described in your first reply? Bob
  21. The part of the discussion I've been participating in - close proximity deployment collision avoidance - is only academic to those who have not seen or been in that situation. For those that have, it's very real and pertinent. The analogy of water quality selection for extinguishing flaming hair is irrelevant. Bob
  22. Because of the momentum and closing speed that builds up at that range. In addition, a lot of off-heading openings tend to swing the jumper around like a pendulum. This all happens at a time when there is little to no control of the still deploying parachutes. At close range there is no room to build the speed, though a wrap or entanglement is possible. At 100 feet, there's enough time to turn. Again, simply looking a making sure there is some vertical separation (20 feet is sufficient) will avoid any nastiness. That should be possible in all but the very lowest bailout situation (1000' or less). In that case, it's anyone's guess as to how it will end. Bob
  23. I am not missing any point, I am making one. Namely, look before deploying if you find yourself in an unplanned close proximity rapid exit situation. Fifty feet separation is worse than zero feet separation; both are better than going down with the plane. Bob
  24. Have you ever been in the exact scenario you describe? 50 feet horizontal deployment separation in a worst case situation? I have and it's not pretty. Two still-deploying parachutes with minimal or no control at just sufficient range to build up quite a lot of momentum as the canopies surge can really ruin your day. Deployment right next to one another (eg SkyTribe's exit shot) is far safer than at 50 feet as it doesn't allow the momentum to build up. I wouldn't for a second draw any conclusions from a seasoned CRW team's exit and apply them to an emergency bailout situation. Apples and oranges. I wouldn't know about the AFF generation, but I do know about low airspeed close proximity deployments. 50 feet is smack in the middle of the danger zone. Those practice jumps you mention can also have people perceiving things are safer than they are when the shit hits the fan. Get real. People are usually unable to get out because of the aircraft attitude, spin forces, or insufficient altitude, not someone lolly-gagging in the door. Getting out of of burning and/or structurally compromised aircraft is great - sure, do whatever it takes. Getting out and impacting or becoming entangled or wrapped with adjacent jumper(s) (most with RSLs) because you didn't bother to look before deploying isn't so great. Kinda like going from the frying pan to the fire. And like I've said repeatedly, 50 feet of deployment separation is not good. It's just enough to make the unavoidable impact of a worse case situation really bad. Again, my point is about deployment separation, not exit separation. Regardless of how one manages to get out, it behooves one too look before deploying. A half second of hestitation in the air after exiting might mean the difference between a relatively normal deployment vs. a spinning ball of crap plummeting earthward (been there, done that). Bob
  25. My point was and still is to look before deploying if you find yourself in an unplanned close proximity rapid exit situation. Your statement that 50 feet of separation should be enough to enable a jumper to dodge another in the worst possible opening scenario (one on-heading, one 180 off-heading) is wrong. People have been injured and killed this way. Bob