JerryBaumchen

Hi Josef, It looks like you are in Israel. If so, contact this guy: https://www.dropzone.com/profile/19706-rigger/ Jerry Baumchen

Hi tribe, The canopy in question is made by Icarus World, not NZ Aerosports. Just so someone does not mistake these two companies. The last that I knew, NZ Aerosports does not make a reserve canopy. http://icarusworld.net/ Jerry Baumchen

Hi Peter, That is exactly it. For many, many years the FAA went all over the world inspecting mfg facilities. Now, to save money I would think, they 'sub' it out to the national aviation organization in whatever country the mfr is located. Jerry Baumchen

Hi Peter, Al did not give up the formal TSO certification, he still holds it. What he does not have is the annual inspection approval of his facilities by Transport Canada. Jerry Baumchen PS) I 'think' that the FAA's position is that a TSO-authorization is valid until surrendered or revoked.

Hi grigri, Over the last 10 yrs or so, I have shipped a number of rigs/gear to Europe using the US Postal Service. I have never had a real problem. One took about 6-8 weeks on the European end to get resolved. Yes, you can insure it; the limit is about $700 I think. On some gear, I had to break it down & ship separately. Yes, they do have tracking; it is much better now than a few years ago. Have your seller check with the USPS & get the details. Jerry Baumchen

Hi tribe, Yes, last year PARACHUTIST ran a small notice that Shoobie had bought the business back. I have not heard anything since; well, other than some unfounded rumors. Jerry Baumchen

Hi gb1, ^^^^^ This. As someone said to me a few years ago, 'If it weren't for people like XXX, we would all still be jumping gutter gear.' Jerry Baumchen

Hi Sheeks, Unless I am wrong, your OP was to address a domed slider, for a main canopy only, that had fairly acceptable opening shocks when everything went right. You ( I think ) are concerned with that out-of-nowhere slammer opening that could result in permanent damage and/or death to the jumper. Given that, you have gotten my mind working, as all of my efforts in the past, and what I have read, are for the use of a domed slider where the 'normal opening' was too much for the jumper. You do present an interesting take on this idea of reducing the probability and reducing the possibility of a slammer opening. Especially, where you talk about using a slightly smaller domed slider, that would result in the same opening forces that a 'factory' flat slider would provide when everything went normally. As you mentioned, the domed slider might have the potential to reduce the occurrence of the slammer opening. It would be very interesting to take two exact canopies, have one with a standard flat slider & one with a slightly smaller, domed slider & get some input from the users. If I were running such a study, I would have the two jumpers exchange canopies after each jump to increase probability of the consistency of the jumps & the jumper's input/response. Given what I have written above, I ( right now, as I sit at my computer ) do not see any particular advantages to a flat slider vs a smaller, domed slider. However, until some side-by-side jumps could be made, I'll reserve making any statement that would be more definitive. It is a damned interesting concept. If only I were 20 yrs younger; hmmm. I won't speak for Sheeks, but what about you other folks on here; what say you? Jerry Baumchen

Hi Bill, Hopefully, you or anyone else will never hear me say that I know it all about parachute equipment. I have built a fair number of flat sliders ( ~ 15 - 20 ) & a few domed sliders ( ~ 4 - 5 ). a. Depending upon the domed slider design ( they are not all the same design which means that the material costs & labor costs will vary ), I question whether they 'are harder to build.' As to 'wear out faster,' once I see some data supporting this, then I will believe it. At this time, I have doubts regarding this comment. b. As to 'there is a lot of force on those not-straight seams,' once there is some tension on those seams, they straighten out immediately. I think that any differentiation in forces would be neglible. And there is at least one domed slider design in which the seams are straight. c. As to 'Thus they'd be more expensive - and more likely to fail.' Having built both types, I doubt that they would be more expensive; again, it comes back to the design of the domed slider. The OP did say build it slightly smaller but domed. Smaller would be less fabric = less cost in materials which could offset any additional labor costs during mfr. As to 'more likely to fail,' I have never read or heard of anything that supports this comment. I am open to input from anyone on this. Just my $0.20 on these issues; others may disagree & that is OK with me. Jerry Baumchen

Hi Ken, Last year Derek Thomas ( formerly of Sunpath ) told me about the work that Kyle Collins did for them. He said it was a fair amount of very small changes to the rig; i.e., things like a change in the radius of a portion of the yoke pattern, etc, etc. It was about '03, at the Symposium, that I was talking with Derek ( he & his then wife Pat, bought Sunpath about '94 ) and he said that, from the original, it had over 135 changes to it. Now, some of those would be to the TSO'd portion of the H & C and some would be to the non-TSO'd portions. Just some trivia for those who like this stuff, Jerry Baumchen PS) The Javelin was originally TSO'd under C23c where you select what Category ( weight - speed, make a selection ) you want to certify it under. Later, they did the three Strength Tests per C23d, where you select what weight - speed you want to certify it under; then the FAA granted them certification under C23d, or so I was told. ETA: My error, I was talking with Derek at the '07 Symposium.

Hi tekk, Try him: Mark Lancaster Skyworks Parachute Service 2222 Buffalo – West Springs HiWay Buffalo, SC 29321 864-429-8428 skyworksparasvc@aol.com Jerry Baumchen

Hi tribe, I think that it comes down to who is determining if it is 'acceptable' or not. IMO the FAA considers either one acceptable. Possibly you or the owner do not. I would think a discussion with the owner might make it worth his money to just buy the larger one & go on with his life; I would. It is rather like the old Vector 1 pilot chutes with the very small cap. I have never heard RWS/UPT issue anything that they must be replaced by the Vector II/III pilot chute with the larger cap. Not trying to argue, just trying to bring a different persective to the conversation. Jerry Baumchen

Hi 20kN, I think you mean 10 mm. 10 cm = ~ 4 inches. Jerry Baumchen

Hi Ken, It goes back probably 10 yrs ago but I was informed by an employee of USPA Hq that incidents are NOT req'd to be reported. Only fatalities. I do not know about today, Jerry Baumchen

Hi Robert, Anyone who was at the Symposium two yrs ago could have seen it. It was developed by Airborne Systems and was on one of their rigs at their booth. It was 'given' to RI as they & Airborne Systems have a close working relationships with each other. RI had a mockup at their booth two yrs ago. Jerry Baumchen