livnbored

ahhh the good old xkeys packing mat. Miracles do happen there. Why I remember getting people packed up on a fuel load. I think you can be fast and pack well, but I have to agree with Al. Parachutes are designed to open and sometimes, no matter what you do, they just don't. I've wrapped breaklines together with a rubber band and the tandem still line-overed. The line stows were neat but tension knots still happened. It's not packing quickly that does it. Sometimes a mal is just an "act of god" as one rigger used to call it. Don't hold your breath. You will eventually pack a mal.

I used to pack at STI. Nothing was ever p.r.o. packed, even when I started in there in '97. In fact, at that time we only had two tandem rigs and they were flat packed because the DZO believed that method to be more reliable. I don't think it ever had anything to do with better statistics because the D.Z.O. never, that I know of, let any rig by p.r.o. packed unless it was your own. In my experience, as long as a person packs competently, rigs will open. Six grommet sliders were a problem with Sigmas at one D.Z. I worked at, and other than that, bad line trim tends to cause the majority of screwed up openings that I've witnessed. Packer boy is right about one thing... you rush a pack job, you're gonna get a grab bag. Packing quickly and competently is one thing. Packing hurriedly and carelessly is another. Just my two cents.

PJ was a card. My favourite was when he'd be on the packing mat and he'd put a helmet on. And then he'd start walking around, tripping over the lines and fall head first into a tandem rig or into the lockers. He'd go up to people coming in the door to drop off their rigs and tell them that he was allowed to pack all by himself now.... hehe...We couldn't stop laughing. Or when he'd say "When I give the signal, everyone freak out!" Of course, then there was the 'who can strike the sexiest pose while cocking a drogue competition'. ... sigh... He was blunt. He was passionate about things he held dear. He was my friend. Thanks for always being there. blue skies dude Sheri

blue skies

I wear vans because I have wide feet and they're always built nice and wide. And they don't look as stupid as some other shoes out there.

It's in the sports section of today's Toronto Star... They didn't publish the article, but I'm still getting paid. And, the photo is huge and in colour!!! sweet...!!!!!!!!!!!

glad to do it

I had a great time everyone. My wrists still hurt and I woke up with puffy fingers, but the good news is that I think the Toronto Star is going to publish something... what I don't know. Ross is getting paid for his first photograph so he owes BEER!!!!! Woohoo for the 59 way!!

Hey PJ, I like your crowbar idea. THose little fuckers are always over-stepping their bounds. If I could beat them into submission on a regular basis this season, perhaps they'd learn to shut up and just do their fucking jobs. Whiny little bastards them packers. Heart of the dropzone my ass!!

I like bright harnesses. Mine is Orange and I think it looks smart.

Congrats!!

The thing I think I'm having an issue with is the lifespan. The assembly for the 250 was built in 81, and the last date on the packing card said 2003. I'm thinking I'm gonna have to serve this pilot some bad news. At least one of his rigs will be okay. Thanks everyone.

I need help finding some manuals. One is for GQ Security Parachutes, Safety Chute Model 250. It has a Talisman(??) in it with a T-mod done on it, and it is from 1986. It was packed at Irvin a few years ago and checked out. Another is Irvin Great Britain EB 80 with a MRI IRV 844. I've contacted Irvin in Canada and they're trying to find them for me, but I'm wondering if anyone here has them available. And if anyone has any advice. I haven't packed a pilot rig in awhile and am a little foggy if their life spans are compareable to skydiving gear. Preferably someone who packs a lot of pilot rigs. Thanks.

Oh Adrian... You taught me more about flying than I could ask for. Thank you for all the jumps!! Katarina, I hope you are surrounded by people who love you right now. I hope you know that many people care for you. You are in my thoughts and I wish i could be there for you like you were for me at times in the past. My condolences go to you and your daughter. Sheri

I'm not right... I'm gonna miss you girl, but at least I got to talk to you one last time... Peace Ron, I didn't know you but, may you find your way. love Sheri

My bigggggggest pet peeve is when people ask me if I ever jump.

The main point is give yourself a pincheck. I don't think any experienced packer would be that careless, but alas, most incidents occur due to a chain of events.

As someone once said, "We'll guarantee our work when the manufacturers guarantee theirs."

it's strange... it looks as though it's inverted, like it was packed with a step through... hmmmm

I love my micron... funny story... I left the plane for one jump and I had to check to see if I had my rig on after I left the plane, even though I'd checked my chest strap and everything in the plane, it felt like it wasn't there... my jump partner was like, what the hell was that thing you did when you left the plane...I was so embarassed... but, hey, that's my micron.

I would have to agree that it's most likely body position. If the canopy is turning after the snivel, it shouldn't have anything to do with the pack job as it is already open and snivelling on heading. I Agree to check if there is a turn whilst flying, and to get a more experienced jumper to try it out. Often, people move in their harness as soon as the slider comes down when they begin to feel the parachute fly, which in turn can cause it turn. Try not to watch the opening, and keep your head down, feeling the opening. I find this works well for me, but ask some more experienced jumpers how they best fly their openings. Everyone has different methods.

I have to agree with Dave on this one. The main factors are most likely improved body position (possibly due to fitted harness and pull-out body position) and better line tension and line deployment. When the parachute is leaving the bag, now, it has more direction and more ... what's the word... traction ... Besides that, the way a bag is placed into a voodoo, (I find anyway) can help a HP parachute launch more efficently off the back. This is just my opinion... but congrats on experiencing the joy of nice openings...

I jump a sabre 150 and have had only one hard opening to date... I had a pocket slider put on just to help it out, but that one hard opening was the 2nd jump with the pocket slider... all I can say, is don't dump in a track... Beyond that, I love it!! Pack it with care, and fly your openings... as always.

Personally, I've never jumped a pull-out. I've packed tons of them, but am limited to my opinion of it... being, I don't have one, I think it's up to each jumper individually. As far as the handles go... My hacky handle was ok, but I fumbled for it a lot. When I bought my new rig, a Micron, I got the FF handle and I never want to go back to a hacky. It never moves, is always right there, solid and stationary when I reach back to deploy. Sorry I can't give any advice on pull-out handles, but if you should choose throw-out, I suggest a FF handle.

I was kind of being sarcastic, more facetious, but I agree. I choose what I choose to do in life, and that is my responsiblity. I don't mean to be cold, but I don't believe I am responsible for how other people's brains work. I mean, if my mom were to get upset over me doing something, I may feel bad because of how my brain works (and it hurts to see her upset), but I don't feel that I should spend my life protecting other people from themselves. If I did that, what type of life would I have. If I took no responsiblity for my life I would be depending on other people to protect me, so I figure, best be protect myself anyway I can, even if that means trying not to upset mom, only because of how my brain works, not necessarily hers. This is a sticky subject, but I think we can all agree that when it comes downn to it, life is a lot better when you don't feel like someone else has hold of the reins; though this may be illusive at times. Some things are out of our control, but in the end, my mom knows that "I" am the one choosing my life, and I am the one who can determine how great it is by what I accept to be within and not within my control.