freeflyfrog

I made some low-res screen captures of the cutaway handle in question. My guess is that it is an inside joke for skydivers... otherwise there is really no reason that it should be in his left hand during deployment. See attached.

Looks like there are a couple of DZs in Puglia, but I have not jumped there: http://uspa.org/dz/foreign/Italy.htm The first two on the list are in Puglia... Buoni salti!

Leave it to you to find a tandem freaking wingsuit, Tony!!!!

Coming up on #4000... just a part-timer. Here's how I broke it down: #1000 Naked 10-way #2000 At least 10-way RW with all my friends spelling out '2' and 'G' with the formations #3000 Tandem PASSENGER for my friend getting his rating. This was an oops... didn't check the logbook until the end of the day. #4000 ??? Hybrid or freefly jump, I imagine... something fun. So, yes, I try to make the x-thousand jumps more memorable than a working jump.

I'm looking for advice from a rigger who has packed (or attempted to pack) a 143 Optimum reserve into a Javelin RSK. I have seen speculation on this forum, but I'd like to hear from anyone with ACTUAL experience. Can it be done and, if so, how does it feel? i.e. is it possible to wedge it in there, but you end up with a brick of a container and an unhappy rigger? Thanks for your input! BTW, I have a 126 Optimum that will shortly be put into the RSK (Sunpath's recommendation), BUT I am just curious to know if I can go one size higher after reading some of the posts here.

Any rig manufactured in the last 10 years should be fine, as long as it has been properly cared for and maintained. Make sure you arrange for your rigger to inspect the gear BEFORE you buy it. And I meant to say AAD in my previous post, not ADD. ADD is what I have when I am typing too fast. [:D]

If you DO decide to buy gear immediately after finishing your AFF program, get your instructor's or rigger's help in purchasing a good USED system that will serve as a middle ground between the large student canopies you have been jumping and the smaller sport canopies that you will eventually want to jump. There are MANY good systems available for someone in your situation, often they are the systems that were used by people who WERE in your position and have now gained enough experience to downsize to smaller canopies and containers. Properly maintained and cared-for rigs can last for thousands of jumps. Look for systems with main and reserve canopies around 200-230 sq ft (certainly no less than 190 on the main), a BOC deployment system, and most importantly an ADD. Your rigger will be your best friend when trying to decide on what used gear is good for you. Don't buy anything without first consulting your rigger/instructor. They know you best and know what type of equipment will be best suited to you. Blue skies and good luck!

I just received my 126 Optimum and I am already considering going up to a 143. I'm going to get my rigger's opinion once he sees how the 126 packs into the RSK Odyssey. From all I have heard so far, it should fit quite nicely.

I have an Odyssey built in December '06. Will it take the retrofit? How much is that? Is it something that can be done by a master rigger or only the factory? Thanks...

I just corresponded with Rick at Sunpath. I also have an Odyssey RSK.5. They are recommending the 126 Optimum as the best fit, but I'd be interested to know if anyone does get a 143 in there.

For those who aren't yet aware, the PD Optimum reserve is now available for ordering in sizes from 99 to 143 from PD or your dealer. I received marketing materials from them yesterday detailing flight characteristics and such. The retail price is $1380. I have been eagerly awaiting this release as I bought a smaller Odyssey at the end of last season in anticipation of not having to downsize my reserve once the Optimum was ready. Rusty at PD even speculated that it may be possible to get a 143 Optimum into my RSK.5 which is set up for a 113. That would be the ideal case for me. I have no problem being an "early adopter" of a PD product because I know how thoroughly they are tested before releasing to the general public. I can't wait to hear from Sunpath about which Optimum reserve I can buy...

So, this is a problem that occurs only during landing? Is this a recent downsize for you? Are you keeping both hands level throughout the flare? The most common reason I have seen for a canopy "pulling" one way on landing is the pilot of that canopy flaring unevenly, i.e. one hand lower than the other. The effect it produces, a slight turn in the direction of the lower hand, is often attributed incorrectly to a "side gust". As you downsize canopies and increase wingloading, your canopy will be more responsive to smaller control inputs. So, any bad habits you may have formed on a larger canopy will suddenly seem more exaggerated on a smaller canopy. Apologies if I've misread your post or if you were talking about some other phenomenon! Cieli blu!!

It is possible and indeed safe. i have been jumping this combination for the last 10 years.

http://www.skydivecsc.com/skydiving_mexico/skydive_cuautla.php (Sorry its't not clicky... just copy/paste) Our super Otter from Chicagoland Skydiving is leaving for Skydive Cuatla in Puerto Escondido at the beginning of November. She's fast and clean and ultra well-maintained! Hope this helps!

My two cents... avoid it. I would never recommend a Monarch. I know many people who have experienced inconsistent and hard openings with theirs. Get yourself a Sabre or a Sabre 2, maybe a Spectre. That's just my opinion... maybe other people have had better experiences with the Monarch. Finally, try before you buy! You are the best judge of whether or not you will like one canopy over another. Demo a few different makes and models before you commit... the extra effort will pay off in the long run. Good luck!

The iPod is by far the best mp3 player out there. From the killer design to the absolute ease of use, it simply blows everything else away. And now you folks who insist on using PCs can actually purchase iTunes for Windows to get the whole iPod experience. There may be mp3s that hold more stuff, or that cost less, but the iPod rules them all!

Actually, Designer, I found that skydiving INCREASED my confidence with the ladies. I have always been shy and found it difficult to initiate conversations. I never even had a girlfriend before i began jumping (at 25 years of age!). I am still quite reserved with the opposite sex, but when I am on the drop zone, I find it much easier to approach and speak to women. You have to remember that these women you are afraid of share a common passion with you! That's not something you find when you just meet a stranger in a bar or the grocery store. You already have a bond with these women... just take the next step and talk to them! Keep it simple and relatable: your favorite jump plane; that last smoking skydive. Be yourself and let your passion for the sport come through and you will find many women very receptive to you-- even the ones that don't skydive! Just my 2¢!

I will be in Ravenna during the Space Games, but only to fun jump and watch some of the world's best compete!

I just want to know what kind of job you have where the first thing they give you is a $40K car?!

Hey NSEMN8R! Great screen name, by the way, Tony! You should be the poster boy for Trojans: "Use Trojan Condoms... or end up just like me!" It would have to be a wide angle lens shot so that all your kids could be in the picture with you! I'm glad you agreed to do the tandems with me from 8500 that day. When I first started doing tandems, they were all from 9500', so it didn't seem that big a deal to me at the time. Plus, I have a LOT more tandem experience than you. I respect your decision. And Mark's to ground himself, too. I know it was probably nervewracking for you, but you're a better tandem master for it, I assure you. No instructor should need extra altitude to get stable and throw the drogue. As for "ripping off" the students, I made it VERY clear to all my passengers BEFORE we got in the plane that the ceiling was low and would probably NOT get any higher anytime soon. They all had the choice to wait if they wanted to go all the way to 11K. The three or four loads we did from that altitude all chose to go to 8500 rather than wait and possibly not jump that day. Most even said they wouldn't know the difference. Nobody felt ripped off, and they ALL had a great time and thanked us for getting them in the air. I'm all for giving the customer the most bang for their buck, but we were lucky to get ANY tandems done that day. I suppose we could have flown through the thin but solid layer and taken our chances with GPS spots (which DOES happen all the time at DZs big and small), but we don't do that. That said, unless there is an aircraft emergency, 8000 is my minimum tandem altitude.

Thanks. That's just about what I figured. I know how much difference there can be between doing ten tandems in 105 degree heat out of Cessnas and doing 15 on a cool day out of a turbine. Thanks again for the input!

Bill, do you think there should be a limit to the number of tandem jumps a single instructor does in one day? Does RWS have any recommendations in this regard? I would be interested to know. There has to be a point at which the average tandem instructor no longer performs at optimal physical and mental levels. Have there been any studies on this?

Funny stuff, girl! How was Rantoul?

I am almost certain that Greg Behrens of Marana Skydiving did 33 in a day!

I'm on a Mac... what's a virus?