Unstable

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Everything posted by Unstable

  1. Do you have access to a rig with a spring loaded main pilotchute? Do you have a fannypack at home somewhere? Boy do I have a fun activity for you.... =========Shaun ==========
  2. Risk Homeostasis. Can't let those fatalities per year move from that 25-30 mark. =========Shaun ==========
  3. I struggle with this logic. Why is it dated? If I recall correctly, initial release in 2003 with full release in 2004? So it is newer than a Pilot, a Sabre2, almost a decade newer than a Stiletto... Are these dated designs? It is not a canopy for extreme high end performance - I would agree with another poster that it is in the Stiletto-type performance range, but a step up from a Sabre2/Pilot (I jumped a Sabre2-150 for 1100 jumps before transition to my FB). =========Shaun ==========
  4. I'll tell you what that is. A very good canopy.
  5. Dang - I have a pretty cool relationship with some pilots that I think is applicable to this thread. I rig for 2 Wings of the Commemorative Air Force , a total of about 14 pilot rigs between the two. The Heart of America has a large hanger and is very open in the community. They host Open houses, community fundraisers, 1940's style banquets and dances, etc. About twice a year, I will setup tables in the hangar during an open house and repack a pilot rig. I don't charge for this and then I make a jump into the open house or an informal "Drop me off by my house" type jump. Did it twice last year. *Edited to remove the specifics Wings I rig for. Not applicable for this thread. =========Shaun ==========
  6. Agree. Seems there is also a trend for older King Airs as a B90 with mid-life engines can be purchased for less than the cost of a single replacement PT6. Use the airplane up and then throw it away. =========Shaun ==========
  7. This is Also a Gear bag and is also $41.
  8. When I win the lottery or some rich old Uncle I never knew about dies I'll buy one.
  9. I have a full loft setup at home and the entire basement (1600 sq ft) setup for rigging. I always invite my customer over to be a part of the repack and I think it help allieviate 'gear fear' and help make more competent skydivers. I prefer to have them over for relines because with the right direction, 4 hands go faster than 2! The only time I don't invite them for is when we do a patch or complex repair which requires opening up any seams or disassembly of parts of the canopy or container. I find rig owners get nervous and jumpy when they see their beloved rigs go under the knife. I would rather show them the completed project. =========Shaun ==========
  10. I agree. Any work instruction you can detail down to a certain level and at some point common sense and standard knowledge need to be applied. If Mirage detailed warning for every possible failure mode, then the manual would be as long a a Poynters book. I don't believe the action taken for every failure should be to add another warning. =========Shaun ==========
  11. I agree with your assessment. There are some forces in skydiving (and particularly in the Skydiving Marketplace) that I just don't understand. This is one of them. For any characteristic desired you could easily find a better and pre-exiting canopy on the market. =========Shaun ==========
  12. +1. I have never owned a Volt but put about 20 jumps on a 150 and 170. Good canopies. I would say more powerful flare than a Pilot and a little quicker arc recovery than the Sabre2. Good Canopy. =========Shaun ==========
  13. Agree. There is so much we don't know in this case. There is also an alarming trend in 'tighter' container and reserve combinations. We have seen evidence of excessive bag extraction forces caused by container design and our desires for smaller, tighter rigs. I do not believe a MARD should be used as a band-aid for poor container design. I see a major risk reduction when an AAD is added. I see a major risk reduction when an RSL is added. I believe there is a risk reduction when a MARD is added on top of a normal RSL. However, I would to see data showing the reduction in risk compared to that or a normal RSL. I believe this data will be confounded by the fact that by the time a MARD may have made a difference compared to a normal RSL, so many things have gone wrong in the skydive up to that point and cannot easily be adjusted for. On a side note, a MARD is a more complicated device than a normal RSL and also has more failure modes. They may be outweighed by the the benefit, but again we need data and compare to the benefits of a normal RSL. Personally, I jump with an AAD and a single-sided RSL on both my rigs. =========Shaun ==========
  14. OK, thank you. So, an RSL would have made a major difference in this case as well. =========Shaun ==========
  15. Can we get a little more background? Was this individual wearing an RSL at all? What was the cutaway altitude? =========Shaun ==========
  16. Man I turn off my computer and look what happens. Looks like the manufacturer has you very well taken care of. I thought I'd just do a picture drop of some rigs made and delivered just this year. They have come such a long ways in 40 years of production and produce a premium product. Deuces Everybody and have a good night. =========Shaun ==========
  17. Incorrect. Attached is an image of a standard 6" Racer loop. It is tacked to the reserve pilot chute under the hat. Notice how the loop is tacked to the type 4 backing. Releasing 1 side will not allow it to 'slide through'. Both sides must be released. What the manufacturer told this gentleman is correct. =========Shaun ==========
  18. Yes This is kinda a weird thread so I will try to keep it on topic. I am a Master rigger who Jumps a 2017 2K3. I also am a dealer for them. There are 2k3s all over the place around here. Sport rigs, Trainers and Tandems. One DZ I help rig for has beautiful 2017 Racer 2k3 Trainers. Very few 'old' Racers, lots of new. Suffice it to say being competent on this platform is important to me. Last month 4 riggers at a local DZ came to my loft and we did a Racer packing lesson. Good times were had. I'll do those for free for any rigger who would like to become more comfortable with the system. Did this answer your question? *Please forgive any typos. I am on mobile so spelling doesnt count. =========Shaun ==========
  19. I do the rigging in this area for a number of Commemorative Air Force Wings. One Wing maintains a beautiful Cessna T-50 Bamboo Bomber and keep it as original as possible. Including the Parachutes. They are from 1947. I declined to Repack those, but obviously somebody is... =========Shaun ==========
  20. I kept my Sabre2 for about 1100 jumps (loaded at 1.4) and really enjoyed it. I only had 2 hard openings (when I was inexperienced at packing a new ZP canopy and was experimenting with psycho/roll packing.). Always, I mean ALWAYS gave me on-heading openings. However, pumping the end cells open was standard procedure for every jump.
  21. I believe this is a superior argument to the 'angle' theory. +1. =========Shaun ==========
  22. I'll Bite. My prices are copied and pasted. Recently raised them to help pay off my Brother KE430 Bartacker. Honestly, there are a lot of little services ($10-$20 jobs ) I don't charge for. If I'm at the DZ and someone needs help hooking up a canopy or if someone asks me to check their main on a repack. I figure little things like this make it that much easier for people to make me their regular rigger. ---------------- Reserve Inspection & Repack $65, Free if I sell the reserve or container Main Canopy Inspection $25 Canopy Patch By the Hour - generally comes to $40 for a small and simple patch, recently charged $220 for a 4' long patch on a blown canopy, usually about $60 for a patch that requires opening up a seam. Reserve Canopy Assembly $20, Free if I sell them the container or reserve New Steering Lines $15 for lowers, $60 for the entire set Wash Container $20 Main Canopy Assembly Do not charge for this AAD Installation Do not charge for this 30 -lb Canopy Strength Test Do not Charge for this Main Canopy Repack $10, included if they give it to me as part of the reserve repack. I return the rig in the same condition it was given to me. New BOC Pouch $60, $110 for drogue pouch on tandems Reline - Sport Rig (Customer Provides Lineset) $75 Reline - Tandem Rig (Customer Provides Lineset) $105 =========Shaun ==========
  23. I have boxes full of FXC 12000 and I've seen the old Sentinals - never heard of the FXC 8000. Was it similar? =========Shaun ==========
  24. +1 on this comment. Every new Vortex I have assembled packs like a brick when using canopies listed on the container order form. Like clockwork. It's not a rigger convenience issue either ~ designing a rig this 'tight' does not make it safer. =========Shaun ==========