badlock

When I had to decide, the only rig out there that was a alternative to a MICRON was a Infinity for me. In my opinion, it is the much better construction than the Wings and looks better (IMHO, Wings often look like me: fat). I bought the MICRON due to the SKYHOOK but I would everytime jump a Infinity. Infinity rocks as MICRONS/V3s do! Don't be a Lutz!

Yeah *thumbsup* Don't be a Lutz!

No, the video stops because of the magnets! Don't be a Lutz!

Of course! Sometimes you gotta take that call, and I'm sure his ear is close to the riser covers You're both right! Like I said before: I found it funny, not scary

Hey folks, no joke, no fake, but I do think my magnetic riser covers (MICRON) are affecting my cell phone (Motorola KRZR). I made some photos of my nice, brand new MICRON today and recognized that the internal camera stopped with a white screen when I held the cell phone nearer than 1 inch from the riser covers. I couldn't believe it, so I started to make some videos - the same result. The following 3 videos are no fake!! Note: This isn't UPT-bashing because I couldn't be happier with my new MICRON. And also I'm 110% sure that UPT and Airtec tested more than enough to be sure, the covers wouldn't be a safety issue. Additionally, keep in mind that I had to hold the phone really close to the cover (ca. 1 inch) to see any effect. I think, this phenomenon with my phone is just a funny thing. I posted this because the possibility of such a phenomenon was often discussed in the past. And now: The Videos: http://www.eldoms.com/micron/22-03-07_1541.3gp http://www.eldoms.com/micron/22-03-07_1542.3gp http://www.eldoms.com/micron/22-03-07_1607.3gp Don't be a Lutz!

Exactly!! I have a new MICRON with magnetic riser covers and I think this scenario isn't very realistic in my opinion because of two reasons: 1.: The covers aren't just a piece of fabric with magnets inside. They have a shape that hold them in place. 2.: The covers reclose after they were displaced. The force between the magnet pairs is much greater than between one pair of (cover-) magnets and an aircraft. Additionally you have to imagine that the new risercovers don't work by huge forces. They work by their intelligent construction. This means that the magnets aren't very strong. They have the strenght to do in combination with the cover shape what they should do: Close safely and open when the riser pull force is greater than 5 lbs. But if you can sleep better I will make some experiments with my refrigerator Edit: download the video of the experiment =>here! (Cell phone video, you need Apple Quicktime or something other that plays 3gp-videos!) Don't be a Lutz!

I asked PD about this topic: Their answer: "Hi Marian - thanks for contacting us with your questions and your interest in our products. Most people prefer to go with light colors like white, light blue and yellow (hence what we keep in stock), and they do pack slightly smaller than say a black reserve - but the difference is small." So, even a parachute fabric manufacturer says the opposite I trust PD (guess who has more experience in *packing* parachutes, PD or the fabric factory...) Don't be a Lutz!

Is ONE video enough to judge???? I don't think so. Please remind this video for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcilWotCsCs This seems to be far faster than the 1/2 second... Don't be a Lutz!

MICRON V310 - Skyhook 2 - Hip-rings - Trulok toggles - Riser housings - Magnetic riser covers - Soft-reserve-pad - Centerline pilot chute - 3D Spacer foam back pad & leg pads - Freefly Mod - Freefly handle - Mini rings / T17-riser - 3 extra monograms CYPRES 2 Safire 2 / 149 & Slinks PD-R 143 & Slinks Don't be a Lutz!

Are we talking about two different problems? The advantage of the Skyhook is very simple: You're under a fast spinnging #*!! canopy spiraling to the ground FAST. Altitude unknown. Two scenarios are imaginable: 1.: You can cut away, tumble a little bit thru the sky and then, when you're a little bit stable, pull your reserve (hint: You've lost a lot of altitude) 2.: Plan B (with Skyhook): One grip and the S#*t is over.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcilWotCsCs Don't be a Lutz!

I often read in the forum that Racer owners told their rig would offer the fastest reserve openings available. Even one meant that the Skyhook wouldn't be faster. I'm wondering if they are right and why this could be true. In my opinion there's no reason why a Racer should have faster reserve openings than other rigs. For example - I don't think that the pop top construction makes a big difference because the PCs of ordinary "flap containers" have reached the clean air within a 1/10 of a second. On the other hand, there are some other pop top rigs on the market, for example the Reflex or the Tear Drop (Classic 2-Pin, 1-Pin, Superfly, Viper...). Why should they deploy slower?? My guess is that this whole Racers-are-the-fastest-theory is a mix from marketing claims (the Jump Shack commercial from the "Break away" video) and rumors. Or what do you think? Don't be a Lutz!

Rob, just a short question: You wrote this a couple of times. Why did George Bush Senior get a entire new rig for only one AFF jump? And why did he get such a different designed Rig and not a standard student rig? Don't be a Lutz!

Just a guess: Each riser can easily touch the other one...... Even if it couldn't result in a "riser lock", it could maybe cause linetwists - especially during linestrech.... Don't be a Lutz!

At the moment, only on riser covers. They are a $25 option. Tuck tabs are still standard. Our tuck-up main protector flaps, and tuck-under reserve protector flaps on Vectors and Microns work so well, I see no reason to change them. Riser covers are the problem that needs fixing. Bill, you're a God damn genius!! This solution sounds so simple, but once again you was the first who had this idea and invented it! Great job!

OK, accepted, but how can this prevent a unbagged canopy from inflating? Don't be a Lutz!

If I remember right, John LeBlanc explained the "Line dump" phenomena in "Break Away" as a "horrible hard" opening by a canopy that inflatet partially before line strech. Luckily, I found a video online that seems to bring the line dump myth into big trouble. I made some screen shots from this video ("Birdman - Low pull in slovenia"). You can see the screenshots on my page here. As you can easily see, the canopy inflates only if there is some tension on the lines. NOTE: If you are the owner of the video and unhappy to see your "stolen" images on this site, please contact me via PM before you contact your lawyer Don't be a Lutz!

Hi Guys, I've question about the "old" PD Sabre: I want to purchase a newer Sabre 1 (DOM 1998). I often read horrible things about Sabre openings, so I'm wondering if PD modified the construction to solve these problems, especially on the later models. Is it a risk to buy this chute or not? Don't be a Lutz!

I'm wondering which manufacturers / containers still use MA1's? What is (for example) with the newer Tear Drop (SF/Viper for example)? Don't be a Lutz!

I had a PC in tow last year. I cut away and while I grabbed the reserve pad, my 3-rings plopped of and released the main chute - huuuh Lesson learned: If I hadn't cutaway, I would have had maybe big problems. The argument for not cutting away because it is a high speed mal doesn't counts in my eyes. Today we have AADs and in every case I would say that the risk of having a reserve/main entanglement due to not cutting away is much larger than to impact with a working Cypres/Vigil AAD. Sure: Both shitty things can happen, but I have to choice between the procedure that offers the SMALLER risks. And I think, it is safer to cutaway regardless of the type of malfunction. Just my 0,02$ PS: Sorry for my bad english Don't be a Lutz!

I don't think that his concerns are rubbish because a weak spring loaded PC maybe never reaches the 120 mph wind due to a hesitation (caused by the "dirty air" of the jumpers back...). Imagine: During a Cypresfire a PC maybe has 1, maybe 2 seconds to launch. Another 2 seconds are eaten up by line strech and inflation of the reserve chute. And what happens if you have a 3-second pc hesitation due to a weak spring? IMPACT... Don't be a Lutz!

I'm wondering, if we're talking about a non-existing problem. How many jumpers felt out of their harness during the centuries (with a perfect fine harness)? I guess, they can be easily counted with two hands. And what happens if the problem is fixed with a hip-strap? Is the problem of jumpers falling out in HD-position (because the chest-strap wasn't enough) during a prem the next problem we should fix? Don't be a Lutz!

You're maybe right - BUT: Such jumpers made the first wrong interpretation when they decided to be intelligent enough for this sport. You can't write a manual and hope that every dumbass will understand it in the right way. Don't be a Lutz!

Same here. When I got my "new" Spectre I was very very impressed by the countless reviews available on dropzone.com, so I was hot to see a 600-foot-sniveler on my first jump. When I dumped the shit I saw a ball of zero-p for a 1/100 of a second and then the perfect fine inflated canopy. The chute slammed me so hard that I thought my head kicked my ass out of the pants. After this jump I hadn't any complaints but only sooooft openings. Don't be a Lutz!

Yeah, Rob is actually a living legend, known even here in Germany

Darren, you are a psychologist, in my opinion *you* should be able to tell *us* what had happened Don't be a Lutz!