gjhdiver

You'll get a lot of answers to this really, so it makes sense to look at the websites of the comapnies involved. I personally use the Argus. I find it has the best construction and easiest ongoing user maintainance. Others don't like the idea of anything but a Cypres because they have been around the longest. However, speaking as someone who had a misfire on one, I can affirm that they are not foolproof. You can read about the Argus at http://www.argus-aad.com Remember though, that everyone likes you to jump what they jump. It's important that you jump what you feel comfortable with, even if that means separating yourself from the herd.

Yes indeed he is a troll. If he's not careful I'll post which AAD company he's a test jumper for. Let's just say that they really should have more class than this. As for the misfire, Argus already have a report out. It was a pre-production test model for firmware and software that was accidentally replaced into an Aviacom test system. It was an Aviacon test jumper that used it. If anyone wants a copy of the full report, just PM me with an email and I'll send you the file (3.2 MB). I expect it will be on the argus site very soon.

Sigh..... I've heard this old quote about every rig on the market over the last 20 years. It's a version of the "friend of a friend" type of urban legend, so let me put your mind at rest here. Any harness/container system's reserve deployment is only as good as the last rigger's attention to procedures when they packed it. In my years in the loft, I have seen every single major container either "table total" or launch very weakly. In all of those cases, the underperformance of the system could be directly traced to either poor maintance of standard parts, replacement of parts with non standard parts, or deviations from correct packing procedures. Most common in this is usually the rigger who has just one pack job that they use for everthing, instead of learning the specific details of important things like bridle stowage for each rig. I've seen incorrect bridle stowage cause more weak launches than just about anything else. Now as for the Wings, it was one of the first, if not the first, harness/container system to gain a certification under TSO 23d, and if you want the full details of the Wings TSO tests, I'm sure that Henri would provide them to you. Suffice to say here that it is extremelely rigorous, and at the time, no-one had gained a TSO for a civilian system at those speeds and weights. Delpoyment speed was never an issue. Also, you have to figure in brand loyalty. People love you to jump what they jump for a myriad of reasons, some emotional, some financial, some a mixture of both. You've seen exmaples of that loyalty in this very thread. It doesn't take too much to sour a system's reputation at a drop zone if the resident rigger doesn't like packing Racers for instance. I'll just leave it by saying that the Wings has no issues with reserve deployment speeds. Like any other system, if it's maintained correctly and packed correctly, it's going to work as designed. I've had many reserve rides over the years, and the fasted deployments I've ever had have been from my Wings.

I was drunk and hitting on a fat girl.

And once again I miss the picture with the Brits. I'm beginning to think it's deliberate.

Indeed I do. A bit fagile, but still ready for duty. You may use them to make soup if you like.

I'm sorry. I don't jump a Mirage, so you wont be able to get one with my name on it unless you pay extra.

Wouldn't happen if you bought a Wings

And if somebody walks up and punches you, it's probably because of something I did, Sorry Bill.

Just ban skydiving. It's a stupid way to spend your weekend. Seriously. The downside of what we do is the risk of an early and unpleasant death from sudden impact trauma. Thats's the coin we pay for the high. If you can't handle it, the door to leave is always open.

My properly maintained Cypres misfired. No explanation could be found. They are no more foolproof than any other AAD. I jump the Argus AAD now. I was one of the first jumpers to have a Cypres a long time ago. I don't mind being one of the first to have an Argus.

Lucky you weren't jumping the AR-7 rotation canopy. If you wanted to know where you going to land at 1000 feet, just drop a brick. It followed about the same trajectory as you were.

I had one of them. Don't forget that the opening could be instant or up to 20 seconds. Also, get one line out of place in the OSI wrap, and you were toast. To change the view on the way down. I still have my Paradactyl. It was getting jumped last weekend at Byron. It's a reserve Dac, so it you take it past 10 seconds, you better count your nuts after the opening.

The Forum Rules: No jokes about or references to pedophilia. None

They used to, and the BPA didn't like it one bit. That's why I asked if anyone remembered A1 skydiving.......

From the Forum Rules No jokes about or references to pedophilia. None

Heh heh. Ask me about my Cypres misfire one day They all have/had/or will have issues. We just keep finding new and interesting ways to push AADs beyond their design limits. How they respond to those new issues is a good test of the company. Newcomers like Vigil and Argus can take note of a lot of the issues that Cypres had to deal with and incorporate them right from the start in their units.

A little known fact is that Argus had test units carried in pouches by World Team members to gather data and for test. AFAIK, they handled the pressurization issues OK.

The unit doesn't care how many jumps I have. I wouldn't have it in my containers if I didn't have faith in it. I was also a test jumper for Cypres I suppose, as I had one of the first units that came out. There is a nice price point on the Argus, but I suspect that's more to do with loss leading and market penetration than it is construction. I'd imagine that they won't be able to maintaint that price too long. It's a very sturdily built system. Once you actually see one up close a lot of questions about quality and build get answered.

I've got two of them. They seem to perform just fine. Four modes, very inexpensive servicing, everything field replaceable, and very well made. It also logs my jumps and freefall time. Batteries are a whopping $6-10. You'll hear a lot of nonsense talked about anything that isn't a Cypres, mainly from people that came into the sport with no other choices than that unit. They say the Argus isn't "proved" whatever that means. By the same standards, it is not "unproved" either. (I have a misfire on a Cypres, so I know that they aren't foolproof either. Nothing is.) As for the Argus not being allowed in certain containers, unless you want something unusual, they are accepted in every major harness container. Javelin, Wings, Vector etc. They have a web site at http://www.argus-aad.com You can see all the acceptance documentation from manufacturers there. All in all, it's a very well made and affordable unit. I probably have close on 1000 jumps with them in my rigs and wouldn't hestitate to reccomend them.

Me too. I left there in '92. The weather was the least of the obstacles to getting jumps in. The thing is, the BPA has a monopoly on skydiving in the UK. They fought very hard to get exclusivity, to the point of essentially putting non associated drop zones out of business. As a result, the CAA effectively hands them legislative control of jumping. This has some benefits in that the BPA remains a strong central authority for the sport in the UK for the CAA to deal with. The bad news is that bereft of any real competition, it's been allowed to create a set of operating procedures that defy common sense in many aspects. The membership has two choices for any activity the BPA decides to take. These are a) bend over and grab ankles, or b) don't jump. I much prefer the US model of voluntary membership of the national body. It's never going to happen in the UK though. Too many vested interests, and too many old sores still festering under the surface from past battles. It's a telling thing that many experienced British jumpers no longer jump in their own country. Anyone remember A1 skydiving ?

This is very sad. I had the pleasure of meeting him and seeing him organize at the last Swedish Hercules Boogie. I think the best way to describe him was that he was a force of nature. He made a large boogie fun for the low timers that would otherwise been intimidating. That was the first and last time I met him, but I can see even from that brief week, why he touched so many people. Blue skies Hutch....

I jump an Argus, and it's a great little unit. Therefore, Vigil and Cypres can duke it out all day as far as I care

He was one of the first people I met when i came the hills in the late 80's. He never seemed to change a day in all that time. What a life that guy lived, and I can't think of a better way for him to go. A true original, they really don't make them like that any more. Blue skies Johhny.....

That pain in the neck. It's Keith.