FrogNog

It has stats, but it lacks the "why" information. Why does this version exist? What versions is it based on? What special advantages does it provide? Is it obsoleted by any other version(s)? Is it still available new? Not that anyone _needs_ to provide that info, but it would help us understand more about the rockets we ride to altitude. It beats only learning about your plane when the parts fall off in your hand. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

"Keep pulling handles until your goggles fill up with blood." At one point in my studenthood I got lazy about controllability checks and it put me in a sub-optimal position. Now, the only thing that would prevent me from doing a controllability check right away would be if I don't have enough altitude left to do one at all. (I hope that never happens.) -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Garretts are noise machines that happen to produce thrust. They make so much noise it scares the air away. This provides thrust. The thrust can be reversed to slow the plane after touchdown. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

No, I'm not a pilot in any practical sense of the word. My info on the -114 being available in a Caravan came from the web. On the one hand, the web is an unreliable source because it doesn't have certain conventional accuracy-building motivation behind it. On the other hand, some parts of the web do have conventional accuracy-building motivation behind them, such as selling people jet engines.

The chart would be different for those sporting skyhooks and significantly-inflated main canopies. Granted, that's what everyone has been discussing so far, but if we come up with new lower altitude numbers for skyhookers, we have to remember those numbers do not apply to no-outs, and now we have two numbers to remember in an emergency. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Don't let the pilot chute wrap completely around both of you. I saw that on video. One of the guys used his magic hands to quickly send the pilot chute back around the pair of them where it belonged, the canopy deployed OK, and I believe the extra time meant extra speed caused the Mr. Bill to separate at inflation. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

The Cessna Caravan has one or two variants of the Pratt & Whitney PT6A engines. The major difference is a single-side exhaust, which will hurt horsepower to some degree. I think one of the variants of the PT6A used by one of the Caravans (not sure if this is old Caravans, or new Caravans, or only Grand Caravans, or what) is the PT6A-114, which I hear is like a PT6A-135 (with a single-side exhaust) but with a PTA6A-41's fuel control system. (Not sure what's special about the -41's fuel control.) The PT6A-135 is apparently like a PT6A-36 with a different gearbox and higher cruise rating, and a -36 is like a -34 but with higher ITT limits. I think the single-side exhaust on the Caravan's PT6A-114 cripples it so instead of 750 HP (as one might expect from a PT6A-135), it can only produce 600 HP. I want to stand up for the Caravan, because it's my favorite plane so far. I'm not ready to concede that the PAC 750 XL is a "superior plane design" in so few words. It's just a plane that is better suited for hauling jumpers profitably to altitude when time, fuel cost, and aircraft cost are taken into account. The Caravan may be slower and more expensive but it wasn't badly designed - like the PAC Cresco, it just wasn't designed specifically for skydiving. The PAC Cresco's original design purpose appears to be more compatible with skydiving lifting. Now, if someone wants to say "superior skydiving plane design", I'm fine with that. Also, "more economical skydiving plane design" would be good.

Sewing Machine Service in Renton doesn't have a Cerwin working there right now, but they were familiar with the model and told me about its level of suitability for my needs (it's a bit on the light side - probably make a fine canopy machine

#1 - looks cool. #2 - it makes the harness more flexible, which can make it more comfortable. Note that in some cases a more flexible harness could present additional challenges in locating cutaway and reserve handles, and could expose more of those cables at the handle end than with a non-ringed harness. For some period of history some rig manufacturers have declined or delayed doing chest rings for some reasons, perhaps these reasons. So there are some rigs that can be bought new or used with hip rings but no chest rings. I assume the overall risk of handle mislocation caused or exacerbated by chest rings is small, or manufacturers would not be providing this option to their customers. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Is there a method to the madness of needle system numbering? For example, here is a quote from the web: Why are there ten codes to refer to one needle system? Why do four of the codes refer to the "same system" but have a more limited needle size envelope? Do the different system codes differ very slightly in required needle geometry (such as the scarf), and the needle makers pick up the slack by making needles that will successfully overlap a number of needle systems? -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Someone in the next town over has a 15 year-old Juki DDL 5530 for sale for $400, head + table + motor. They say it's been used nearly daily forever. I understand it's important I be able to get and afford parts and service. I'm not worried about service too much - I think if it's a major brand it will be as easy and cheap () to get service as any other major brand. (I'm in the Seattle area.) * Am I right? Does this apply to parts as well? * Has anyone used this machine and do you know if it sucks? * What can I or should I check out about this machine to make sure they're not selling it because it needs a lot of expensive parts replaced? Should I find a repair mechanic and take him with me? In case anyone wonders, I intend to use this machine for sewing denim, plus later any rigging for which it is appropriately weighted and featured. (I foresee myself buying additional industrial machines for rigging tasks this one can't handle.) I care about nice straight stitches in manly fabric and I'm ready for speed now. If it'll sew ZP too that's a nice bonus. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Flying 15k loads vs. 12k loads all day may be a lot harder on the pilots if they don't use supplemental oxygen. I don't know if "reducing pilot fatigue" is a "lame excuse". -=-=-=-=- Pull.

You should contract for altitude and only pay pro-rata for what you get. Better yet, establish a minimum opening altitude and contract and pay only for what you get over that. (After all, if you wanted a zero-second delay, you can get that for $7 out of a C-182. Then afterwards for free you can jump into the river for a couple seconds of dead air. ) -=-=-=-=- Pull.

1,800'? Did he at least hold your PC for you when you jumped? -=-=-=-=- Pull.

There's one in the Classifieds section, too: [URL]http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/detail_page.cgi?ID=29593&d=1[/URL]. Note: you can't put a no-details tinyurl link up on a web forum because people don't know if it might be something like ___ or ___. (If you don't know what two words I was going to put there, you don't want to know and I WILL NOT put them there because I'm saving you from yourself.) -=-=-=-=- Pull.

I think the consensus is he's just a great guy all around. (P.S. Thanks for coming to my house party!

Isn't it a lot safer to be a bad AFF student than a bad tandem student, because of the sidespin possibility? Just wondering about that sidespin thing. I'm not sure how wicked they are, but I thought they can really bite. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

When I first buy a new canopy, I'm thinking all black with black lines. (I'll go Dacron if I have to.) Someone at my DZ has an all-black canopy and I love seeing that thing. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

Protec - cheap, and some good padding. Nice and light, but then I assume the carbon-fiber helmets are all light too. Downside: I have to admit it looks lame. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

I had a student canopy problem that required shoulder-height toggle to fly straight: PC wrapped over the nose and opened up, around cell 3. It was clean - no lines involved. I had quite a few jumps (I might even have had my "A" license at that point, and only been jumping a student rig because that's what was available to rent right then) and my controllability check told me I could steer it both directions (one better than the other) and flare it fine (if a bit lopsided on the flare). I also didn't think it was going to cure itself, nor worsen if I flew very gently. (Flying gently is an easy option with student canopies.

You're right, some people count fast and some people count slow. (I always counted fast as a student; once I figured this out, I just picked numbers 30% higher and it all worked out for me.) If I see someone right on top of me out the door, though, I'll remember to tell them a bigger number next time we jump, or I'll let them go first.

After my fibula completely healed and I got back into jumping, I came up with this saying: Just because I am capable of jumping a canopy of X square feet does not mean it is a good idea for me to do so. So, in addition to your question of whether you "can" start jumping that canopy, maybe you should ask (of us, or your instructors, or especially yourself) whether you "should" start jumping that canopy. And it's an option for you to try and trade that canopy to someone else for a similar canopy one (or two) size(s) larger. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

I would prefer the free stiffeners, unless someone could show me they had less durability, or unless there were places where they wouldn't work. It seems to me that repairs could be done by more people due to the lighter machine requirements. It also seems to me that where breaking out is a real concern, the breakout location(s) could be reinforced with wide tape on the inside before closing the piece to contain the stiffener. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

I walk to the DZ, so I don't have this problem. I do have to watch out for cars trying to run me over, though. Especially after dark on the way back home. -=-=-=-=- Pull.

I had nearly the same thing happen to me as a student. I had so many twists the canopy wasn't totally inflated, but I was definitely falling slower. I hear what you mean about the whole deal of keeping your head at that experience level. I was pretty happpy with how it worked out too. I had a few more jumps when it happened to me, I think. I also managed to look down at the ground while I was untwisting to make sure I was still as high up as I thought I was. -=-=-=-=- Pull.