Kirils

I think the forum has given me some insite and objectivity into a sport that is more different than I had realized. I really had the idea that if I could fly a canopy well skydiving, BASE jumping would be a piece of cake. Boy, was I wrong. Your forum has sobered me up regarding BASE, and put me on a good track for training and equipment. Thanks. "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

I've chopped 4 bad spinners. On 1 the lines were twisted almost to the risers. When I kicked out the canopy dove hard and started spinning. It appeared that the person who packed it had a step thru and had taken on of the steering lines and wrapped it around the lines attached to the opposite set of risers. On the other spin the center of the canopy was torn severly. The other 2 were horseshoes. Altitude awarness it very, very important in a spin. Check it and start counting outloud to guage how much time it's taking to fix the problem. And keep checking your altitude. You drop a lot faster than you realize when spinning. My personal opinion it that it's a good idea to try unhook your RSL (I spun up a reserve on one of the chops) and I believe in allowing time to get stable from a bad spin after chopping. But that's just my opinion and there are more experienced jumpers that say otherwise. "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

I am trying BASE jumping again. I have a 7 cell Interceptor 200 (I weigh 175) with dacron lines. If I have a tail pocket installed would it make a good BASE canopy? I really appreciate any advise. Money is tight and if possible,I would like to use this canopy. Thanks!

Yo! I wish I had your problem when I started freeflying! I have a feeling you are going to make an outstanding freeflyer. Get some coaching soon before you screw up what skills you have already developed!

Sounds like you heard some crap. If you have to hook a canopy to land it...you're an idiot to fly it! Be safe and fly for a lifetime! "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

You have just come to understand the value of a qualified AND experienced rigger! "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

You gotta be kidding! Tell me your a Republican and the economy is getting better and better and job opportunities abound... I really question your clain. 80% of the people I know how jump are really tight for jump funds. "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

Hey!!! Yes the ASTRA is an ADD. AND it is better than the CYPRES for people flying am ultra-high-preformance canopy. I'm amazed at how many blind sheep skydive. If the advertising told you that a parachute wasn't necessary. I bet half of you would still jump. Ignorance is bliss...duh... and PD is the only canopy that flies... "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

It's all apples to oranges. I know people with 2000+ jumps that can't sit fly. I've seen people with 25 jumps that could delta down to a formation far better than me. Bottom line...the number of jumps is not relevant to the skill level. I really get pissed when an organizer or DZO bitches at someone or excludes them because "they don't have enough jumps" before evaluating them! "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

Martin Espada is the guy you need. Here is a sample of his work. The Good Liar Meets His Executioners for Nelson Azócar, Valparaíso, Chile The first time the good liar met his executioners was at the military tribunal after the coup. Before the row of officers withered stiff as scarecrows, he grew more polite and forgetful with each name tolled on the list: "No, senor. No, senor." On the wall, the portrait of General Pinochet, mustache and sunglasses, glowering. The good liar returned home that day, but singers of red songs reddened the waters of Chile face down in the current, and the executioners kept vigil over blazing pyramids of books, so a passport was forged with a plan to leave Chile by sea. Somewhere the waves rumbled a prayer for him like a chorus of monks. The second time the good liar met his executioners was at the dock, hunched in a peacoat with a sack on his shoulder. A pistol dug into his neck, chamber clicked like a bored sergeant cracking his knuckles. A guard disbelieved the passport stamped Merchant Marine, the list of names quivering in his other hand. "My name is not on that list," the good liar said, and since his executioner could not read without trailing a finger slowly across the page the pistol relaxed, leaving the imprint of the barrel, and only the passport was burned. Somewhere the sea lions lumbered from the surf and waited all night for him. The third time the good liar met his executioners was at the house of his mother. Now his name was on the list, troops rifle-jabbing him still in his underwear to the pickup truck, family on the sidewalk begging to give him at least the dignity of his pants, neighbors listening with bowed heads. On the way to the firing squad, a balding hill where every skull recalled the bullet's cloud of ink flooding the brain, the good liar invented fables of a colonel he knew, barbeques in the backyard and dating his daughter, boasting to the other condemned companeros loud enough for curious executioners to believe. The truck circled back and left him at the jail instead, thirty men in a room jostling for a peephole to breathe or a rubber pot rocking with piss. Somewhere the ocean boiled for him, as if here a giant octopus had wrapped itself around a warship full of admirals. After bail, the good liar smuggled himself away from Chile, the green waved lifting him. You have to be a good liar, he says. in the sanctuary of steaming coffee he tells what he knows three times, what the lie is, who the liars. "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

Akron Ohio...we don't bitch about the winter. The weather sucks all year round! If we have a clear day we jump no matter what the season! "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

Cool...very cool. You and your wife have just done the greatest thing possible to have a happy marriage!! I have jumped for off and on for a long time but getting me wife to jump with me 2 years ago was he greatest thing for our relationship! "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

Good luck any way you do it. I got screwed trying to check it as luggage in a cardboard box. I missed my flight because of stupid...yes STUPID security shit. Send your gear ahead UPS. Our Federal Government Homeland Security has a hiring requirment that all employees MUST have an I.Q. of less than 60. Again, don't risk the consequences of dealing with the security morons at the airport. Send you gear ahead UPS or FedEx.

I had both. The 2001 model appeared to have a modified nose. It was more blunt in appearance. When I bought the new HW, I was told there was a nose modification by the dealer. BUT in communication with PISA, I was told there was no difference in the older and new HW? It looks different to me, so I'm stumped "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

I have jumped both style of rigs. The chest rings do make for a comfortable rig BUT if hip input to the canopy is important (like in swooping) the chest rings are an impediment. "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

Back in 1969 My buddy and I took turns jumping from his fathers "borrowed" C-150. We shared an army surplus t-10 rig and did low altitude jumps. We took advantage of every opportunity possible, which included poor visability and windy days. One overcast and windy morning I dropped out and pulled at 2G. The wind quickly took me over the nearby reservoir. I was terrified as I saw myself approaching the icy cold water. I did not know how to swim at the time! My boots touched the surface and stopped my descent in only 8 inches of water. I had landed on a small submersed sand bar! A fisherman in a nearby rowboat came to my rescue. "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

Dan, the 119 X-fireII is quite a jump from the 135 Stiletto. By comparison it's a twitchy and very fast canopy. You might want to talk to an instructor and experienced jumpers who know your skill level to see if the downsizing and canopy style change is advisable. I know a few people who can fly a highly loaded ultra high preformance canopy with less than 500 jumps, but only a few. Be wise and stay safe. "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

Hang from the strut, butt to ground. It's the same position you would take for a trackiing jump (flying on your back. It's the best way I've found off a Cessna. "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

I understand your dilemma, but please realize that having a partner that jumps is no solution. Your problem is not about whether you husband is interested in the sport or not. There are other issues here. Dump the bum and find someone who is really interested in you.

Here, here! I worked with Continental Tire and evaluated HMA cord. It is a dream... far superior oxidative resistance, strength and deformation characteristiscs as compared to nylon or dacron. HMA is the wave of the future...just bulk it up some... "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

Has anyone heard anything about the jump plane crash yesterday at Parkman? I was told the twin-Bo crashed but there were no details. "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

Excellent advise. "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish

I jump at Cleveland Parachute in Parkman Ohio. One of the nicest DZ's around, it started operations in 1957.

http://juliabell.home.att.net This site is a must see before considering BASE jumping. I have 1 jump to my name and after reading the stats it's probably going to be my only jump.

There is really no quality or safety issue between PISA and PD canopies. A few of the US containers may be better made, but it's a matter of opinion. Try before you buy and consider buying used. "Slow down! You are too young to be moving that fast!" Old Man Crawfish