jenkincb00

Very good point! Only use appropriate rated hardware.

I agree that most skydivers can and should be able to do this, however, even this seemingly mundane task can cost you more in the long run if done improperly. If you have hard links people have a tendence to either put them on with the barrels going the wrong way or they over tighten them which cracks the barrels. Slinks can easily be put on improperly if you don't know how to do it. there is also non-cascaded A's and B's that could confuse younger jumpers not familiar with the gear. Do as previously advised, under the supervision of a rigger. My .02 just an after thought to the original poster...did they change the pilotchute and D-Bag?

What they said, lift your head up like you're standing at attention and you will feel your back and shoulders roll back. When in a sit you will follow your hips so if you want to go forward push your hips forward if you want to go back stick your butt back...right now your butt is back.

Yup. Since 1984 I have packed exactly 2 chest type parachutes for use, and neither one was deployed. If you are a civilian, your best course of action is to add a seat rating to your senior rigger certificate. After you have your seat rating, you can pack without supervision. If a pilot rig does not have space to record the number of packs (the way a PD reserve does), then pack it 5 or 10 times whenever it comes in for repack. Mark you wouldn't be my rigger if you packed my rig 5 or 10 times when it came in, wear your own shit out!Quote

If it was me I would send it to the manufacturer. A) it will be done right B) it may actually be faster.

what is the tech of lining up the material to apply a patch on the ZPX...I haven't seen the material yet.

Not by a whole lot. The 7 cells tend to be a bit longer from nose to tail than the 9 cells. More nylon per cell than the 9 cells. The difference is really in the amount of stitching, or so I think... length front to back? yeah the 7 cell has more material there but 9 cells make up for that with width and add to pack volume with additional cells.

makes sense that the 7 cells would pack smaller than the 9 cells...so yes.

you can't get mad at the last rigger...you have to get mad at the rigger before that rigger...you and I both know that

Define new rig...is this a "NEW" rig or a "NEW to you" rig, meaning used. I mean you have under a 100 jumps why get a new brand new rig? There are many freefly friendly rigs out there in lightly used conditions. I just don't like to see newbies buying new rigs wasting jump money to look good standing around on the ground...just my .02

Probably is a pain in the ass to replace...fortunate part is you don't have to replace them very often as you don't rip the shit out of them to get the pins in like on a V3 or Javelin with a skyhook, or just about any modern one pin container. Nice rig! Don't listen to these jokers.

yes...way past your prime...probably can't even remember your "prime" but there is probably some black & white photos of you in your prime some where around here

WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE JOHNNY!!!

To the OP....I know this guy personally and reading anything more than the cartoon on his cereal box is way too much for him to focus on. My son was born when I was 24, I had been jumping for a couple years already, he is now almost 7 and loves going to the DZ and I'm there 5 days a week during the season. It is what it is, get busy living or get busy dying...so they say anyway. I agree with a couple things already stated. A) do the tandem before worrying, your putting the cart before the horse B) Your tolerance for risk is going to be different than every1 elses so its your decision C) Life is to short to be affraid to live

Yeah good luck with that. Maybe I'm wrong but I believe you are over simplifying the situation.