Reginald

You reckon? Reading the incidents forum sometimes makes me wonder... John I know what you mean. "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

And remember their idea of acceptable losses is differnt than sport jumpers. "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

Talk to your instructors. Many AFF students misunderstand what is going on. Tandems can jump in much higher winds, typically up to 24 MPH. AFF are limited to 14MPH per the SIM. So what may feel like you getting bumped for tandems is simply not the case. Ask about WHY this is happening.... "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

Your lack of knowledge or experience doesn’t change the situation. Let me give you the number of the rehabilitation center where one of my friends is spending the next year of his life and let him talk to you about under loading a modern cross braced and it collapsing on him at 50 feet. A cross-braced is a little different animal than a simple elliptical. The XF2 is not a cross-braced canopy, but it is a HP canopy. If the manufacturer is recommending a minimum of a 1.4 there is a reason for it. I’d give them a call and ask why if I were looking at jumping one extremely under loaded. And as for under loading a X-braced, knowing what I know now I’d never do it. "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

There was a great article in skydiving a few months back comparing the different AAD's. I'd dig it up and read it if I were you. sorry, I don't have my copy so I can't tell you the month....anyone? "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

I strongly suggest you talk to the manufacturer about this. If a canopy’s minimum suggested WL is 1.4 its there for a reason. The XF2 is a HIGH PERFORMANCE canopy. While this is not a cross braced I’ve known several people suffer canopy collapses while under loading cross-braced canopies. If the manufacture is suggesting a MINIMUM of a 1.4 WL they probably have a darn good reason for it. Do you really want to be jumping a high performance canopy outside the manufacturers recommendations? I would put some serious thought into this… "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

Exiting an airplane from any altitude and living to tell about it is a skydive. I’ve met a lot of skydivers that think they are good but Jay is both one of the best people I’ve had the honor to meet AND one of the most competent skydivers. If I were in a world of s**t on a skydive and had to pick one person to put my fate in his hands (other than my own) it would probably be Jay. Jay Stokes is absolutely THE MAN! Personally I think 600 two thousand foot exits is nuts, but that’s because I don’t have the you know what’s to do it myself. "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

Mine are called the, "I love me videos!" "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

Talk to the staff at your local DZ but with as few jumps as you have, as long as it's been since you jumped and no documentation of the jumps other than a B license at some point in the past be prepared to sit through a first jump course. "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

No. "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

Some good ideas above. Also something as simple as a pair of gloves might help. Neumans are highly tackified and help a lot with griping power. "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

Jump one and love it. what are your specific questions? "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

I really am not a fan of adjustable MLW for anyone other than a student using a student rig. "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

Wow, I sure don't! "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

If you haven’t done your hop n pop as required for your A license I suggest doing one exit a few times until you are comfortable you can exit the plane and deploy stable within 5 seconds. Have fun after you complete all of the requirements for your A license. "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

Did you talk to the new guy yourself before jumping with him or just the thrid party? Sorry to hear about your injuries. "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

You don't really believe this do you???? "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

LOL! I did 4 tandems when I started skydiving and knowing what I know now I should have been more scared than I was. I can’t imagine doing a tandem now! Rely on someone else to save my life? No thank you! You are a brave woman. So what exactly does it feel like to be totally naked in an airplane? Thinking about it…still thinking…nope I couldn’t do it no rig - no jump! "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

Here’s what I’m gathering now that you gave us more info. You have a used Sabre 1 and you don’t like the opening, the flight characteristics or the flair. I’d also bet the canopy has a LOT of jumps on it. Based on this I don’t think the solution is a 160 sqft canopy. A new(er) canopy such as a Sabre2 or a Pilot in a 170 is probably the way to go. 1. You will get MUCH improved openings (the Sabre2 is a totally different canopy than the old Sabre they are only similar in name) 2. Better flight characteristics (the Sabre is a true “square” the Sabre2 and Pilot are both semi ellipticals) 3. Both will have a much better flair than an old worn out Sabre. The flair on the Sabre2 is great. Based on your jump numbers and time in the sport, it does not look like you stay very current. A semi elliptical 170 is probably a better canopy than any downsize at this point. You will get much better and different flight out of a semi elliptical and that should satisfy your current needs. When you are ready to downsize to a 150 either of the above canopies will have great resale value. "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

Because asking questions spurs peoples thinking and giving an answer rarely does. Additionally, many times people are not asking the right question so asking a question back may lead them down the right track. "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

What do you not like about your current main is maybe the first question. How will doing a half downsize help that problem? "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

No I would not agree. Also please read this thread by Bill Booth. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2125851;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread The reality is it was probably a packing issue. Been there and done that. Also, I take it the main was checked to see if one stering line was not properly stowed? "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

No it's clearly not. And at 31 jumps you should not be having to ask that kind of question. Added to the other questions it unfortunately makes me think your level of knowledge is well short of where it should be prior to making the decisions you are trying to make. Please spend some time educating yourself (and not by asking questions on the internet) about this sport and BASE jumping before you make serious mistakes that will harm either your pocketbook of yourself. "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

Oh, please gang waivers hold up far more often than not. It isn't perfect protection but it the best we have. It has saved the collective asses of many a DZ and instructor over the years both from injured "skydivers" (many tandems and FJ students) and from the families of fatalities. Just because they are thrown out once in a while does not mean they are worthless! In fact their very existence has avoided many a lawsuit! "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP