Divingdude

Members
  • Content

    8
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Feedback

    0%

Community Reputation

1 Neutral

Gear

  • Main Canopy Size
    107
  • Reserve Canopy Size
    113
  • AAD
    Cypres 2

Jump Profile

  • Home DZ
    Linköping
  • License
    D
  • License Number
    3782
  • Licensing Organization
    Swedish P.A.
  • Number of Jumps
    3100
  • Tunnel Hours
    25
  • Years in Sport
    29
  • First Choice Discipline
    Formation Skydiving
  • Second Choice Discipline
    Wing Suit Flying
  • Freefall Photographer
    Yes

Ratings and Rigging

  • Tandem
    Instructor
  • USPA Coach
    No
  • Pro Rating
    No
  • Wingsuit Instructor
    No
  • Rigging Back
    Senior Rigger

Recent Profile Visitors

The recent visitors block is disabled and is not being shown to other users.

  1. Yes, this was before the Collin's lanyard and was intended to solve the issue of the non-RSL-connnected riser not releasing properly. (or the RSL-connected one breaking and activating the reserve without a cut-away first) With two RSLs, two pins, and two loops the reserve container wouldn't open until both risers had released. The loop material was crazy thin, see attached image. Regular Cypres loop at the bottom right for comparison. The "LOR2" loops (as they were called) came sewn together in a pair of precisely the same length, but it was quite awkward to adjust the length and set them up in the Cypres washer and still keep the same length. They were so thin that it felt that you only had one chance to close the container. After one go at it, you feared that you might have worn them down slightly to the point where it wouldn't be advisable to use them any more. There was another funny detail that I recall. Only one of the RSLs was hooked up with a Swede-link that could be opened quickly. The other one was attached to the riser with a rapide link, i.e., quite cumbersome to open if you are in a hurry. So, in the event of a landing in strong winds you could unsnap the one RSL, chop the main, and avoid being dragged across the ground. However, the other riser would pull its pin as the main left and you would have to get the rig repacked! Trying to reinsert the pin in the very thin and fragile loop would not be a good idea, if even possible (I never had the opportunity to try).
  2. Yes, I agree with you that any rig that is Cypres-ready is also Vigil ready, IF you follow the *entire* instruction that comes with Airtec's methods of mounting the AAD. In other words, if you decide to use Airtec's way of cutting the loop and place the cutter in the same position, you should *also* follow their recommendations with a thinner and more flexible loop. The point here is that Airtec did their research on this and found that there can be problems if you cut a 725 lb Spectra line at the bottom of a container. The length of the loop still runs through all the grommets in the flaps that hold the pilotchute back. A thicker and stiffer reserve loop can cause pilotchute hesitation in this scenario. In my opinion, the only sensible way to introduce a new AAD to the market and have any success with it is to use the same mounting method as Cypres. But then you must embrace the entire concept, not just parts of it. Or you can do all the research on your own and come up with something brand new, but that costs a lot more money and is not very likely to be accepted by the rig manufacturers. So, to give you a short answer, the problem is that there *is* no "Vigil loop". And the manufacturer of the rigs do not say that cutting the loop like Cypres/Vigil do is fine with an ordinary 725 lb reserve loop. And yes, I have seen both Cypreses and Vigils. In fact, I have taken both types apart as well as run them through some extensive tests in pressure chambers. I have been a rigger since 1997 so I have seen a few variations of AAD installations as well. /Håkan
  3. The issue is not whether the cutter can cut the loop or not. I'm certain the Vigil cutter can chop right through the steel wire used for reserve handles, just like the Cypres cutter does. The issue is that thicker loop material is not compliant with all types of containers if you, for example, cut the loop at the bottom of the container. One example is the French Atom rig which must use reserve loop material that is even thinner(!) than the regular Cypres loop when equipped with RSL. Yes, there was an issue with this in the past. The point is that Advanced Aerospace Design has not done this research. They are piggy-backing onto Airtec's suggested mounting of the AAD but not following it through since they claim loop thickness that history has already ruled out is okay to use. /Håkan
  4. In Sweden we have a 6 month repack cycle for the reserve and a 1 year cycle for complete inspection of the main, harness/container, and reserve. For a while we were looking to change the repack cycle to 1 year as well, but that didn't happen. The governing body is the Swedish Parachute Association, see http://www.sff.se/ Unfortunately, it's all in Swedish. However, do not hesitate to contact me for further information as I am a member of the "Rigging and Equipment committee". /Håkan Andersson
  5. Excellent!! I've been waiting for this. The data for the Vengeance is lacking, though. I guess it's coming. :-) /Håkan
  6. Ahh, some pretty interesting ideas here. First of all, the dropzone that I have in mind makes about 6-700 student jumps a year where they would be doing these practice throw-out throws. I'm afraid we wouldn't win the "Friendliest neighbor award" if we threw that much newspaper around. What is this WDI material? Could someone please spell out the acronym for us non-English speakers.
  7. Sorry if I wasn't clear in my first post. I mean for the first few jumps when the JM releases the PC out the door in true JAD-fashion. If the student gear is equipped with a spring-loaded PC, a standard PRCP is fine, but I want the student to do a practice *throw* rather than a pull. I agree that having the student throw a real PC on the ground is the way to go there, but what do they do *in the air* on those first few jumps when they are not actually activating the parachute themselves?
  8. Using BOC-mounted throw-out PCs on student gear is not unusual for AFF. (A secondary JM handle is added that releases two sides of the PC pouch when pulled.) Now, assume that you want to train students using JAD. How do you go about arranging for a realistic "Throw-out practice throw"? I don't want to do the conventional ripcord thing where the student is trained to hang on to the handle. I want the student to actually practice a good throw. Granted, the old ripcords get thrown all over the DZ at times, but we cannot actually *plan* on throwing a dummy PC away on every jump. Any good solutions out there?