chutingstar

I don't know who owns the Rigminder web site, but it does have a function to "locate a rigger." I'm just not sure how many riggers have actually listed themselves on the web site. The link is http://www.rigminder.net/index.asp. Mike ChutingStar.com

No, it means there won't be a name on the ballot. Whoever has the most "write-in" votes will be the Southeast Regional Director. Mike Are you looking to be written in? After sitting through a good portion of this last USPA board meeting, I'm definitely interested in contributing to the process. But I'm not sure I could effectively represent the Florida members/DZs since I spend most of my time in Georgia...and don't get down to Florida as often as I used to. Mike ChutingStar.com

No, it means there won't be a name on the ballot. Whoever has the most "write-in" votes will be the Southeast Regional Director. Mike ChutingStar.com

Lost my wedding ring in freefall in Pell City...not a fun ride home. My wife wanted to have my phone number put inside the replacement ring. If found, call... See this link: http://www.chutingstar.com/archives/00000038.html Mike ChutingStar.com

Skydive The Farm's boogie pricing must be contagious...it's spreading across state lines on the same weekend?!? http://www.skydivethefarm.com/events.php Mike ChutingStar.com

There is technical information in the Packer's Checklist document from Airtec as well as on their web site. Anyway here is what is says: General information: At every repack the loops must be checked carefully and be replaced if necessary. Mike ChutingStar.com

FYI...received this today from Argus. Dear Argus relation, An Argus fired on the ground after we shipped it to a dealer. We discovered a bug in the May 06 batch, due to last minute software update that obviously went wrong. We prefer to err on the side of caution. Therefore we stopped shipping right away and 40 units of the May batch that already had been shipped were recalled on the 27th of May. All concerned dealers and skydivers have been informed by phone and/or email The recalled units were shipped to: USA, Japan, UK, Hungary, Poland and The Netherlands. These units will be upgraded as soon as we receive them and be shipped back to the owners after testing. The Evaluation units and the April production batch are not concerned by this service bulletin. We may be overreacting, but we will not compromise the safety of the skydivers. Shipping will start again by 8 June. For more information, please call: +32 2 785 02 80 or mail to: [email protected] Kind regards, Karel Goorts Managing director Aviacom SA Serial numbers 0506021101325 0506021101332 0506021101349 0506021101356 0506021101363 0506021101387 0506021101394 0506021101400 0506021101417 0506021101714 0506021101721 0506021101738 0506021101745 0506021101752 0506021101769 0506021101776 0506021101783 0506021101806 0506021101813 0506021101820 0506021101851 0506021101875 0506021101899 0506021101905 0506021101912 0506021101929 0506021101936 0506021101943 0506021101950 0506021101967 0506021101974 0506021101981 0506021101998 0506021102001 0506021102018 0506021102025 0506021102032 0506021102056 0506021102063 0506021102070 ChutingStar.com

I'm sure it's Larry Moore, who's from Atlanta. Mike ChutingStar.com

I have 2 or 3 rides wih the 375 Precision reserve. I remember it flaring fine with a better-than-expected bottom end. The only surprise was how long it took to complete a turn under canopy. It turns extremely slow, even loaded up. As far as packing, love the Vectran lines...very easy to keep neat, clear and orderly. Mike ChutingStar.com

Is this the only official service bulletin/advisory on the lifespan of GQ rigs/parachutes? I don't have a hard copy of the lifespan bulletins on GQ products, but would like to have one to show my customers. I get ALOT of requests to repack several different models of the GQ emergency parachutes. For some reason, I remember another rigger saying they had a copy of a bulletin that said 15 years was the allowed lifespan... Thanks, Mike ChutingStar.com

No need to apologize...was just adding to the conversation on Skyhooks. I'm sure it was just an oversight. My original intent when spending a week with Pablo at RWS was to get trained up for doing retrofits on several older Sigmas at Atlanta Skydiving Center. I ended up getting certified for all Skyhook retrofits for Sigmas and Vector 3s while I was there. I need to go back sometime this year and spend another week at the RWS loft...lots of good info/training for other repairs, mods and such. As for the cost to those who want Skyhook retrofits, we just follow RWS pricing as quoted above. Sometimes turnaround times can be a little faster at the approved lofts if the RWS loft is backed up...but that's the only advantage besides saving on shipping costs for local skydivers. Mike ChutingStar.com

Chuting Star Rigging Loft in Atlanta can do the Skyhook retrofits on Sigmas and sport Vectors as well. I was certified by Bill Booth and Pablito Perrazzoli on April 5 and 6, 2005. Mike ChutingStar.com

mike, when jim was discusing this. we were talking about sub 200 lbs hma cascaded line. Yes, I know...should have clarified that. I'm not sure what this guy has on his VX...and also it probably could happen on Vectran if the wear is excessive. Mike ChutingStar.com

A couple of thing in addition to what's already been discussed... As/Bs have snapped/broke on a hard front riser turn/dive...not just on opening, according to Jim Slaton. So check all of your lines for wear. If just replacing the brake lines, replace the lower and middle portions of the brake line. Depending on the construction, the middle portion of the brake line forms the cateye, which usually shows wear at the same time as the lowers. Sometimes, such as the VX, the middle/lower is all one line, so it's going to all be replaced anyway during a steering line replacement...but on PD canopies, like the Velo, there are two separate sections and both should usually be replaced during a steering line replacement. Anyway, with normal wear on Vectran (assume that's what you've got) I've found that brake lines need to be replaced every 250-300 jumps and then a full reline every 500-600 jumps. Mike ChutingStar.com

Mirage has paid for all of the rework and most of the shipping. The only shipping the company didn't cover was the original return because at that point it seemed like it was completely a customer error in how he took his own measurements. Since then, it was determined there were errors on both ends and Mirage has covered all rework and shipping (overnight). As for rigging, the customer has paid for one complete assembly and a 2nd partial assembly. I would have covered everything the 2nd time if the customer had ordered the gear originally through me or my drop zone, but ordered it through Square One. If the customer asks, I'm sure Mirage or Square One would pick up any extra costs the customer incurred for this order/sizing issue. As another side note, this jumper had three large Mirage dealers (Atlanta Skydiving Center, Chuting Star Rigging Loft and Skydive The Farm) in his area that he could have gone to for advice on options, sizing, etc. Instead the gear was ordered out-of-state through Square One. Not that there's anything wrong with ordering from Square One, but dealing face-to-face with a dealer, getting measured and going over appropriate options for this customer may have helped this situation as well. Aaron, the customer, has been an easy-going guy since I've known him and I did some of his AFF and coaching jumps when I worked at Atlanta Skydiving Center. I think he just got very frustrated with an expensive purchase, but I really think this is on its way to being resolved. And hopefully others will learn from his gear purchasing experience. Mike ChutingStar.com

To clear up the story a bit... This rig was originally ordered online through an out-of-state business with the customer (noctralucent) taking his own measurements and then shipped to my loft for assembly. It was discovered after assembly that the harness was sized way too small. Measurements were taken by me this time and resent to Mirage with the harness. The rig was received by Mirage around Dec. 10 and it did take the company about 4 weeks to get it back to my loft (this was over the holidays). Upon receiving the rig after the resize, the customer tried the rig on and it was immediately obvious the lower laterals were still too short. A call to Mirage revealed it was an oversight during the resize and to send it back. This time it was turned around in two days and they also extened the leg pads at this time after seeing photos I took with the cusomer in the rig. The customer tried on the rig and it fit this time. The rig was reassembled and the customer picked it up (trying it on again). Everything looked good. When the customer got home and tried it on with a jumpsuit, he decided the chest strap was too short and should have more excess. Mirage has agreed to replace it (or have me replace it) immediately. Overall, this was a combination of measurements originally taken by the customer, of Mirage making a mistake on even those measurements during production (his measurements were only a few inches off), and then a resizing issue. Long story, short, the company has tried to fix the error...and is ready to fix the final issue...they just need the rig. Mike ChutingStar.com

Another January baby here... I checked out your link to The Farm but I couldn't find anything for 01- 14/15. Do you have to pre-register for the $129? It's up now at http://www.skydivethefarm.com/events.php. Events for the rest of the year should be up within the week. Mike ChutingStar.com

Try Skydive The Farm instead.

Finally got my new seal press from Fallschirmdepot...check it out on my web site... http://www.chutingstar.com/archives/00000115.html Mike ChutingStar.com

Altico has made a design change and this extra bottom tuck flap is now standard on all new Dolphins. The new Dolphin reserve pin cover flap now has no velcro and three tuck flaps (two side and bottom). For those of you that have the velcroless pin cover flap with only the side tuck flaps, we have the bottom tuck tabs in stock here and have done the work on a couple of Dolphins already (including fmmobley's). I need to do a Chutingstar Rant and Rave over the next few weeks to show a sample of the added tuck tab. Anyway...just fyi... Mike ChutingStar.com

Skydive The Farm will be open Friday, Dec. 23 and Saturday, Dec. 24. We are closed on Christmas Day. Mike ChutingStar.com

And this has been used in my loft several times for double-checking serial numbers on stolen gear and getting the correct information out...it's also helped in locating and recovering stolen gear by having an accurate and detailed record of all manufactured dates and serial numbers for all components. We also write the same information down on the work order form/checklist, but it's great to have all the information in a couple of different places. Mike ChutingStar.com

I don't want any sympathy...and a lot of people would tell you today that I'm not a 'good guy.' But whatever...I was just passing along what I found today...no worries. It's more funny to me than anything else as far as how they've pirated my web site of sorts... Mike ChutingStar.com

Of course not...actually surprised it took them so long...2 months. And also that they haven't stolen the rant and rave yet. ChutingStar.com

The good stuff is that their staff of senior riggers and riggers-in-training claim they do "major skydiving harness/container repairs and alterations." The FAA wouldn't like that since that is explicity a master rigger job. The web site also claims they have "master" riggers...whatever...they don't...not that it matters, but they just don't. The copy for the services, FAQ, staff and contact pages were taken nearly verbatim from the chutingstar site...funny how they immediately have the same standards I have. Mike ChutingStar.com