chutingstar

I no longer regularly take time to standup/defend ASC/Skyride/Etc. because I like spending the short time I have on this earth with my friends and family as well as skydiving as much as possible and helping others out through rigging and skydive instruction. Writing on this forum to all of you people who aren't my friends, for the most part, seems like a waste of time to me. For the record...and you can look though my past posts because I still believe in everything I've posted before...I wholeheartedly support Ben/Cary and the associated businesses. I am in a unique position because I am the only skydiver that actually owns their own business on their group of dropzones (chutingstar). Still, I manage the ASC staff, Skydivegear.com and have my hands in other parts of the business. Time not spent with family/friends, is spent trying to further my business (Chutingstar) as well as ASC and the other dropzones. I also spend alot of time with our experienced jumpers, students, whuffos, vendors, etc. I love my job and I wouldn't have it any other way. The business is growing, and the quality of instruction, gear, facilities, planes and whathaveyou is always getting better as well as my personal rigging/instructing skills. Lastly, I have alot of great friendships with the people I work and play with at ASC and the associated businesses. Shimell is freakin' annoying...and should find something more enjoyable to do with his free time when not skydiving everyday. Ki Ya! Later. ChutingStar.com

The $15 registration fee will be waived for all of you that show up at the "Pre-Boogie Party" on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Taco Mac on the East-West Connector. Mike ChutingStar.com

Okay...here's the rest of what's going on at Atlanta Skydiving Center for the Good Vibes Boogie...see you this weekend. Team One will be organizing and coaching for free. The freefly team of SunMan, Michael Blankinship and Ron Stamey will also be filming the entire weekend for a boogie video. Tyler Lawson will host a swoop competition Saturday for all of you high-performance canopy pilots. ASC 4-way team Airlock will be host an “RW Skills Day” on Saturday, which includes free organizing and coaching for all of you A and B Licensed belly skydivers. On Saturday night, there will be free beer and food as well as 100 red-headed sluts, jello shots and Sumo suits! A DJ will be spinning with Mike to the G on the drums under the new party and disco lights at ASC. Come be a part of the “Good Vibes” at ASC baby! The Pre-Boogie Party begins Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Taco Mac on the East-West Connector. The $15 boogie fee is waived for those that show up to this Pre-Boogie Party. See you all there! Later skaters... ChutingStar.com

For those packing Mirages post-mod, I just put my 2 cents on bulk management for these containers at http://www.chutingstar.com/archives/00000110.html Hope that helps iron out any wrinkles...hahaha. Later, Mike ChutingStar.com

I'd definitely be interested...especially sometime in the winter...like now!

ya, definatly check with mike. he is a master at packing mirage With the mod, you will have to build up the sides of the reserve container with pilot chute fabric. So don't favor the lower end of the pilot chute cap, as before. The Cypres cutter has added a gap between the #3, #4 and #5 flaps and the freebag, which will lead to wrinkles if the area isn't filled with pilot chute fabric or the loop is too long. I will post some updated steps and photos soon at the Chutingstar web site for Mirage containers post-mod. Give me a few days. I can help with any questions until then at 1-800-877-7199. I'm usually in the loft from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Mike ChutingStar.com

They also announced the battery price for the Cypres I has increased to $85 plus shipping. Mike ChutingStar.com

Chutingstar is the "Mirage Factory" for the purpose of this service bulletin. We have been working closely with Mirage over the last few months as this service bulletin was being developed and implemented. The service bulletin is free, whether you have rigging work done or not. It is $50 for the reserve inspection/repack. At Chutingstar, we follow the Performance Designs (and PIA) annual reserve canopy strength testing and have also applied that to all other canopies. We charge $10 for this service. Since many of the customers who will be sending rigs in to Chutingstar may not have had their canopies strength tested in the last year, we have tried to reduce the repeated explanations and just included it in the price. Those who have had the strength test in the last year will only be charged $50. We will call anyone who needs any other work above and beyond that. For more information on Chutingstar's loft standards, and possible other charges and/or available services, see these two direct links: http://www.chutingstar.com/faq.html http://www.chutingstar.com/services.html Return shipping via FedEx Express Saver is free. Turnaround time is two business days (max). So far we've been turning around rigs the same day. Mike ChutingStar.com

FYI: We (Chutingstar/Mirage) are doing the mod for free along with free return FedEx Express Saver shipping. The only thing you have to pay for is shipping to Chutingstar in Atlanta and any extra rigging work you want done (inspections/repacks, other maintenance, etc.). And you don't have to get any extra rigging work if you don't want it. In other words, if you would rather your local rigger inspect/repack it after the mod, that is fine. Or we can complete that for you here in the loft. See our web site www.chutingstar.com for our mailing address. Send it to Chutingstar, Attn: Mirage PSB 12-04. Please include all of your contact info in case we have any issues with your rig. Turnaround time is two business days...that is, it will be shipped out to you two days after we receive the rig. If you have any questions, you can contact me at 1-800-877-7199. Mike ChutingStar.com

Just an update on this: We (Chutingstar/Mirage) are doing the mod for free along with free return FedEx Express Saver shipping. The only thing you have to pay for is shipping to Chutingstar in Atlanta and any extra rigging work you want done (inspections/repacks, other maintenance, etc.). And you don't have to get any extra rigging work if you don't want it. In other words, if you would rather your local rigger inspect/repack it after the mod, that is fine. Or we can complete that for you here in the loft. See our web site www.chutingstar.com for our mailing address. Send it to Chutingstar, Attn: Mirage PSB 12-04. Please include all of your contact info in case we have any issues with your rig. Turnaround time is two business days...that is, it will be shipped out to you two days after we receive the rig. If you have any questions, you can contact me at 1-800-877-7199. Mike ChutingStar.com

It also reduces varying lengths from under-compressed pilot chutes. Mike ChutingStar.com

Yes, there will be a Mirage packing seminar at the PIA conference this weekend. They also have a very clear owner's manual with closing tips as well as rigger specific articles on their new web site. Mike ChutingStar.com

Call your dealer or Mirage and have them check the serial number. Documentation of each Mirage (serial number) modified is not being kept by the factory (according to recent conversations with the company). The only way to know for sure is a visual inspection (packed or unpacked). There is no request or requirement in the bulletin for master riggers to send a record of rigs modified to Mirage. Mike ChutingStar.com

It was just officially released this week...but Mirage has been sending out its new rigs with the new cutter location for about a month as well as modifing any rigs that came through the shop during that time period. In the meantime, the company was finalizing the official service bulletin for "rigs in the field." Over the past month I was charging $10 for the mod. I'm still a little undecided on how I will proceed with charging for it. I think I will end up doing it for free for those getting other rigging work done at the loft (repack) and only charge the $10 if it's someone who only wants the mod done and nothing else. I know Mirage is doing the mod for free along with free return shipping, but you do have to pay for shipping there (or to one of its authorized service centers) plus any other rigging work completed. Mike ChutingStar.com

To check if the service bulletin is completed, it is a visual inspection for the stitch pattern just under the right reserve flap, near the grommet. You will see the end of a rectangular stitch pattern on top of the bottom reserve flap running at a 45-degree angle toward the right bottom corner of the reserve container. If it's there, the mod is done. Mike ChutingStar.com

Yes. Mike ChutingStar.com

FYI: Mirage has issued a service bulletin for the location of the AAD cutter. The service bulletin can be found on the company's web site. The direct link is http://www.miragesys.com/ProductInfo/ServiceBulletins.aspx. I've completed more than 25 of these mods on local gear. I can help if you have any questions. The Mirage rigs I will be packing at the PIA Mirage packing seminar will have the mod if you are interested it seeing first-hand. Mike ChutingStar.com

I spoke with the owner to place an order a few months ago and was told the company is up for sale. He will not be getting back into the helmet business. So, either buy the business or find another helmet distributor.

Hey NightJumper...I guess I had my cell phone in another room. It is a 4" hat. The measurement from stitch to stitch on the quick loop type IV is 3.5" with the center stitch at 1.75". Please do give me a call tomorrow...or let me know the best way to reach. you. I'll be in the loft from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thank you, Mike ChutingStar.com

I have a Power Racer in the loft that has a slipping reserve closing loop issue...bottom side loop only. The loop is brand new (from Jump Shack). I installed it myself...have done numerous of these, and the bottom loop slipped more than 1" during shipping back to a customer. There is no silicone on the loop and the loop is a Power Racer (smaller) loop with the small cap. I've seen old Reflex loops slip before because the fingetrap was worn out, but I've never had this issue on a new Reflex or Tear Drop loop...or any Racer loops. I've looked at the loop and it looks perfect. I'm obviously going to contact Jump Shack tomorrow (if they are open) to see what they think. Just wondering if there is something I've missed...or if anyone has had a similar issue...or if this was just a fluke incident...maybe something weird happened during shipping? I'll be inspecting/repacking and trying againg tomorrow morning. Thanks for any insight or help. Mike ChutingStar.com

Hey Trey, Sorry you got publicly attacked...not cool. I think you'll find that Danny or I would have charged about the same for what you did. Obviously, just a big misunderstanding between Lisa and you. As for the smear campaign, welcome to a small bit of my hell. Later, Mike ChutingStar.com

Wow...thanks Jacob. I would advise that you stay away from reading or trusting any the info that comes from the Rigger Rant and Rave at http://www.chutingstar.com/rantandrave.html or any the articles I write for Skydiving Magazine or heck, anything that has my seal on it, TBJ. I do a little too much research and take a little too much pride in delivering educational articles as well as some well-done rigging work. Mike ChutingStar.com

I appreciate the extra work you've given me. Of course it will be deleted. Mike ChutingStar.com

The only other thing I can think of is that your Cypres was sent in for its 8-year service, but it never had the 4-year service done. If that was the case, then SSK does charge for both the 4-year and 8-year check at the same time. Someone help me out, but I believe it is $310 (I think they only give a $10 or $20 discount off both checks at the same time), plus shipping there/back...so that would put you around $345...if there wasn't a battery change. Is it possible this was the case? Mike ChutingStar.com

I have some, just e-mail or call me with shipping info and I'll send it out to you tomorrow...don't know if that is what you are looking for...or if you need something local to pick up. Mike ChutingStar.com