Shivon

Yep, what AggieDave said. I started with a video, and could practice during the week at home before getting to the DZ. My video had cut-away canopies as well to help explain certain bits. Good luck

Thanks for the replies so far - very good. I think that 90% of my jobs are going to be in canopy patch jobs, velcro replacement, pad replacement (eg; torn leg pads), cypress fittings, line set replacements. I guess that I am on the 'lighter' side of what is required. I have two machines. The first is a regular sewing machine your girlfriend buys (no - really), and the second is a DY-340, a 'semi-industrial' single needle walking foot. It's old (as in older than me), cast iron, and nearly killed me trying to move it last night (I can lift the head itself - 'just' - and I am not small). The US and Australia are on different measurement systems, but it akes size 50 (big) to size 20 (small) cotton, and size 14 (small) to size 24 (big) needles. Any thoughts?

Nice read. Thanks for sharing.

Russian?

Lots - but why do you ask? Are you making a decision on which AAD to get?

This is a VERY good thing. I was just looking for this for a PD canopy. Great timing!

I was looking in Poynter's Vol II for recommended specs for rigging sewing machines. Riggers - can you give a min / max needle and thread sizes you use to do your work? I am assuming that whatever the machine, it has to be a 'walking foot' at a minimum.

Vector III or Mirage G4.

I understand your pain. I was feeling the same kind of things, and then one week I was at a Boogie, and it all of a sudden became a heap easier and faster. I have since gone to using a pull-up tool as well, which saves the hands. Good luck.

Nice! Love the colors

If qualified as a rigger, yes. if they have the qual, they have the necessary 'experience'.

Sorry it has taken so long to post. Took me a while to track down the list. Definately, we have similar tastes. I had a "f*#&ups" segment in the video, and 'Play Some D' was perfect for it. Four way after four way exiting and collapsing into twisting balls of arms and legs. Thank you!

Thanks both of you for the advice. I am about to do a reline on this one, and I am starting from zero knowledge about the type. It turned out in the end that I can reline it with 525 Vectran (which I assume was the original line type), or if I wanted to - spectra. I chose Vectran in the end, basically because the canopy won't see many more jumps in its lifetime, and obviously it was a little cheaper.

Excellent rig, from what I hear. Two friends of mine (a rigger, and an AFF instructor) have the SF. Both recommend it.

Quick question - does anyone know what the original line type was with the PD280? I assume it was Kevlar? When doing a reline, would it be possible to use a different line type (like spectra, etc).

Thanks for that. Hope to see you next year.

To me, poised is what we use for AFF students. On a C-182, Jumpmaster 1 stands on the edge of the wheel - very far out from the plane - hanging on the strut with one hand. The AFF student climbs out after him, stands on the foot pad next to the wheel, facing forward, with two hands on the strut. Jumpmaster 2 is in the door, ready to dive. Poised allows the student to already be in a position where his body is presented correctly to the relative wind.

Thanks Robert. That definatley helps. By the way (why not hijack my own thread) - what is Kooralbyn like as a DZ? I might be moving to Mt. Tamborine next year, and I will need to find a new DZ. I hear you guys have a big aircraft - that true? Any jumping during the week? How many turn up on a weekend? Cheers dude.

Aussies - does anyone have experience or tips for: a) importing skydiving gear for personal use from the states (helmets, accessories, etc), or b) importing rigging equipment or supplies (fabric, tools, replacement parts, etc) Cheers.

That makes a lot of sense to me. Great post.

I thought that washing a canopy, even in water, degrades the permeability of the fabric.

Probably a good question for the riggers out there. Aren't tube stowed TSO'd to a specific standard (or something similar). Weren't they comprehensively tested, and approved, for use in place of rubber bands?

I definately think flexing the 3-rings is a good idea, and should be done every month. As a routine I put my rig on and practice my cutaway procedure while I do it. The important thing is to make sure you're putting the 3-rings back together properly. I suggest that you get a rigger to walk you through the process of flexing the webbing, cleaning / lubricating the cable, and reassembling. Last week I was on a load where one of the jumpers had his three ring system 'fall apart' while going through about 6,000. It was spotted by another jumper who was sitting behind him. It turns out that this guy is also a base jumper, and had been switching canopies back and forth on the same rig throughout the weekend. He didn't put the 3-rings back together properly. That would have been an interesting mal, with one riser cut away.

Does anyone know - would it be possible to just get a complete reline using HMA? Obviously cost would be an issue, but doens't this make sense?

I have had a few Suunto watches over the years, all with Alti's in them. I really wouldn't recommend using them for skydiving though. It just doesn't have a refresh rate that would cut it. They are a great watch, but they are great at the jobs they were designed for. Skydiving isn't one of them.