KevinMcGuire

Sorry man I can't think of anyone in that area but I'm sure it wont be hard to find somone that can do it.

Many years ago while visiting Byron skydiving, I was watched as a guy who was trying to go as fast as he could head down, blew right through his cypres activation altitude doing about 250mph. The Cypres fired and BANG, he was open under his PD reserve. Neither he or his reserve suffered any damage. I have been a true believer in PD reserves ever since. I have no experience with the smart reserve either packing one or jumping one. There for I can offer no advice or oinion about it. I know that there are many folks working at aerodyne who used to work for PD. I guess time will tell if they are able to maintain the same high lever of professionalism and quality present at PD. Good luck guys. I hope you do well.

I'm not sure where he is in the U.K.but you can try Andrew hilton. I think you can find him through DZ.com

Yes its not hard at all. Just ask your local rigger if he or she is able to do it if not then look for some one who is. where are you located? Maybe I know no some one in your area

Didn't you have the canopy inspected before buying it? But even still, it is a used piece of equipment. The bridle is the only thing that should have cost more than a couple of bucks to fix. Figure $5.00 a grommet at the most for the slider and D-bag, =$25.00 and new steering lines usually cost about $20.00 new total $45.00 plus what ever the bridle cost and its not really that bad. That is unless you paid way too much for the canopy or the rigger who replaced the needed items over charged you to install them.

Once upon a time some guy (who will rename nameless) went to jump a tower in SO CA all by him self. He got serioulsy hurt and had to call for help. Subsequently, he blew the sight forever.

No I haven't, but it sounds like a good one

The metal of the rig allows the jumper more options than a hardware less rig. For example, with out hardware, the rig must be fitted exactly to the jumpers legs and will not comfortably allow the jumper to wear thicker clothing. Hardware also allows the jumper to Cut way if needed, or to quickly change out canopys Also, the hardware used as the guide ring on the riser is critical to successful operation. If the guide ring on the riser allows too much deformation of the steering toggle during deployment then the toggle may not release causing a toggle hang up. Or if the material used to replace metal is too brittle, the ring could shatter and cause a violently off heading opening. Depending on the circumstances of the jump this factor could be fatal. For the rig to be truly stealthy the rig has to be built to tightly fit the canopy going into it. Changing sizes up and down are not usually an option I have designed and built a functioning rig that is completely with out hardware but it is a very special rig that could only be used by me (because of it's fit) and, is not something I would produce for the masses due to the potienial for mistakes with it's use. Build them for select individuals maybe. Build them for he masses, no way. Besides if everyone starts getting by the metal detectors then soon they'll catch on and I'll get caught.

I sent you a private message

This is what you are looking for on a Sun Path Rig. On a articulated harness, the center of the hip ring should be right where the hip bone is, On a standard harness, the junction where the Lateral (AKA the part that goes around the waist) and the piece of webbing that holds the metal piece of the leg strap should be at the hip bone. To get the measurement for the lateral, You measure the waist at the navel and subtract a 3rd. that will give you the proper measurement and the most comfortable fit. A rig that is too large is one that your wife will "sink into when she opens. That poses the possilblity that the chest strap will ride too high possible hitting her in the throat. In addition, it may make it difficult to reach the steering toggles. My advice is to have it resized or find one that fits better

I know just what you mean. When I first started, I was told to do this and to do that but no one ever explained why. My advice to you is to start hanging around the rigging loft a gain some knowledge about the gear you use. You'll feel much better about this sport and how safe you can make it.

I sent you a private message

Belts will make your center of gravity in the belly where you arch from. Flying head low with a weight vest is not the way to go. Then again, I weigh 255lbs and don't wear weights at all except those that I carry with me every day

Once upon a time I had this PC that worked only when it felt like it. It resulted in 3 PC's in tow. I know I know. I should have got rid of it after the first pc in tow but, well....ya know. Any way, the first time I had a PC in tow I went straight for the reserve handle and had the same results as Toms friend minus the pelvis and wheel chair bit. The other two times I had PC's in tow I first cut away before firing the reserve and in each of the those events, the main had come out just as Tom had mentioned. If I had not first cutaway, I'm sure I would have ended up like Toms friend. Just food for thought

Impact. thats how it gets worse

cool

That should not be a problem

(It doesn't inflate, and will cost you a reserve repack} If your lucky

Can you say reserve ride?

I've seen this problem before and it is usually is a result of either the reserve being too large for the container or it can be a production error or sometimes both. If it's a production error the flap could be the wrong size or (and this is more likely), the person who installed the flap placed it in slightly the wrong place. Often the difference is only a 1/4". As you mentioned, It can be solved by making the closing loop extra tight, but obviously, that is not the best fix. Your best bet is to send the rig with the reserve back to Sun Path and and if need be reinstall the flap.

The 217 Is by far the better machine. But having said that Many large manufactures still use the 20U and use it well.There is a cam attachment that can be installed on the 217 that will do a double throw stitch and that comes in handy when replacing the stitching in some rigs like on all RI products. they use the double throw stitch all over their products The double throw can also be found on some older canopys such as on lines and such but you should be able to do what you want with the single throw. If the attachment is already one the machine then great but if not I would not sweat it. One thing that you must keep in mind is that if you are going to use a zig zag as a straight stitch, you will never be able to make the straight stitch look as good as a dedicated straight stitch will. And that has held true for me on every zig zag I have ever used. How much should you pay? Well that depends on a few things. What kind of shape is it in? I've seen them range from $1500.00 to $350.00 US with out any training in repairing sewing machines it may be hard to tell what shapes it's actually in. Is the hook damaged? Are the bearings shot? when I began buying machines, I really did not know what to look for. I bought a couple of machines that were less than perfect simply because I did not know what to look for. A heplfull tip might be to tip the machine over and take a look and the screws holds the hook in time. Do the heads of the screws show any wear? If so then that machine has probably had some issues that the previous owner has not been able to fully get rid of. Same holds true for looking in the top of the machine but to a lesser degree. when I had my 20U I was always knocking it out of time. That may have been because I was not very skilled in using it or may be it's because it was a lousy machine. What I can say is that when I finally got the 217 things went much better. An old saying of mine that applys to this situation is... It takes a great pilot to land a bad air plane. same is true with operating sewing machines. Hope this helps. If you have any other questions you think I can answer pleas feel free to PM me

I have lots of experience with both I had a 20U for years and I now have a 217. what do you need?

Oh yea, It's all coming back to me now. thanks for the info rob. Hows things?

Ah yes, I think your right. Nice attention to detail.

That canopy looks to be a C-9. The different colors are so that pilots that are shot down can in either hide in the snow, woods, or desert. The orange section is so that spotter planes can see where the downed pilot landed and possibly rescue him. If I'm wrong about that I'm sure that some one who had been around longer can set me straight