Beatnik

Booth didn't design magnetic riser covers. Atair did. Here is a link to their patent application: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=atair&s2=magnet&OS=atair+AND+magnet&RS=atair+AND+magnet

I still pack rounds. Actually that is most of my reserve packjobs. I usually do close to 100 a year.

This will be short and sweet cause I got about a million things to do right now. For the ribs, I just compared them to each other. There was one that was way out to lunch compared to the others. I did some measurements, opened it up and sewed it back up. As for the line trim specs. I asked for them and got them. They knew me and they sent them over. Simple as that. I know they protect most documents from people to prevent others building parts for their products. Working with people in the industry helps get things when you need them.

I don't have a lot of time to read or post on here so much anymore but I feel like I need to add to this thread after reading all the posts. I currently own the canopy in question. I have not had a chance to test jump the canopy yet but I have done an inspection of it and a line trim check. Quite frankly, I don't like the work that was done on the canopy. While most of the work was done in accordance to the specs from the manufacturer there was a few things that was out. The control lines were about 1.5 inches different and one of the stabilizers was sewn wrong. So there is a little more than a communications bottleneck here. The work is easily fixed if you have the means to do it and actually check the canopy. I personally don't believe it was done because these things should have been caught if it were. I would never build and install a line set for a customer and give them something like that back. In regards to the ribs being out of whack. This is something that I don't expect everyone to catch cause it comes done to how observant you are. It was sent back to be looked at and when you pack it if you can't tell that one of the ribs is way out then you are either a sloppy packer, not observant or both. I agree that checking the whole canopy is out of line for an inspection but some of this was very sloppy and not something that I would expect from any professional. I am not going to touch a lot on the test jumping aspect cause I find most people don't know what they are talking about. I have done over 500 test jumps on different canopies and a test jump wouldn't solve the problem with the canopy and anyone that would just go an jump a canopy without giving it a once over, has either never been a test jumper for very long or has got really lucky with their test jumps. I have had way too many things happen to me to jump something without getting a little info first. I personally would be pissed if the originally seller knew that there was a issue with the canopy but I would also be pissed by the people not doing the reline properly in the first place. This is just my opinion, you guys can feel whichever way you want to but I think all are to blame to some level.

Start packing 50+ rigs a day, then tell me how useless it is. The thing saves your hands.

I do a lot of winter jumps every year usually in the 50-100 range and sometimes in temperatures most people don't like to go outside in (-30 and colder). Colder weather is sometimes better to test jump some things because of the higher density air. In regards to gloves. I have tried a lot of different things with gloves and one of the best things I have found was wearing a pair of surgical gloves under a pair of flight gloves. Doing this doesn't restrict your ability to grab handles either and your hands are more than warm. I myself have never experienced frosted over goggles but that doesn't mean it doesn't or can't happen. When I used to play hockey there was a product used to spray (I forget what it is called) on our face masks that prevented frosting and it worked quite well. It could probably be used in this application as well. A concern that I see with a lot of people is where they land. Fields can often be ice covered, hard packed snow, etc. and make for a less than ideal landing area. Other concerns are any areas with exposed skin. It is really easy to get frostbite. People using open faced masks usually have more problems with this. Trying to get a a winter mask that goes under your helmet and doesn't interfere with things like vision, breathing, etc. can be difficult. I have on occasion used a layer of vaseline to cover exposed areas. It is a little messy but I would rather have some cleaning to do than deal with frostbite.

IMO a Racer is all about bulk management. Getting it into the freebag is no different that any other container. The way Nykolas packs in the video works well to distribute the bulk. I personally have no problem with bulk in the bottom. I would much rather it be there than have it in the shoulders. Knowing how to distribute the bulk helps with all pack jobs but it is really needed for a Racer to look good.

I don't agree with this at. There are a lot of people that know more than their riggers and knowing the gear is not the only function of a rigger. Whether it adds complexity of using it or not to me is not relevant. If you are going use and rely something to help safe your life, you should know how it works.

If you don't know how your gear works. You have no business jumping it. For most cases, your rigger isn't the one who is jumping it.

Bill or his team of engineers that he has intellectual rights over

To stow the lines you can use a packing hook or even a normal pull up cord works. The container was closed with break cord. Actually you would use break cord at several parts of the packing. Like securing the apex to the bag, the risers and flap to the bag and the closing flaps and static line together. If you have a copy of Poynter's there is a step-by-step in there on how to pack a T-10.

Let me know if you guys are planning on jumping it. Sleds have a problem with built in turns and flare like crap. My Para-Plane flares better than it. There is no much of a glide and it takes a long time for it to respond. This is not a chute to play with unless you are really ready for it. I landed mine, the all yellow one before I relined it and unmodified some of it and it came in hard. I was told that was one of the only times they could hear all five points of contact in a PLF. The Sleds were never designed to have a slider either. I jumped one with and you might as well not even have used it at all. The line lengths, since the outsides are longer than the inners has the slider pushed down the lines. It makes for a fast opening.

I don't believe that is a Sled Howard. The Sled's lines were pretty short and had a split tail. You can see the difference in the photos attached. That my be an early Parafoil. They had really long lines, flares on the bottom and was a solid canopy with no split. But I am sure you know all that.

According to the manual it only had one way to pack it and it says in there that delays greater than 5 seconds are not recommended. I don't believe they fixed it because the company went under not long after the production of the sleds.

I think you are thinking about the Para-Plane and to be more specific the Para-Plane Cloud. The Para-Sled was originally designed for subterminal openings only. The rings and ropes went through a few different designs but none of them really worked properly on that parachute.

The 550 should actually be Type IV and the crossports sewn up like is what was done on the Para-Sleds. You can see where the tail was sewn together.

Canopies with rings and ropes reefing did still have the brakes set. At least on everything I have jumped. Setting the brakes usually gives a faster opening than when the brakes aren't set.

The harness was adjusted properly before he jumped and the capewells were at the collarbone where they should be. Don't jump the gun to much on the photos some were taken right when he put it on before it was adjusted.

*** The guy I was referring to is an active sit flyer as well.

I don't know anyone older but I do know someone the same age.

Didn't take any opening shots. But I can tell you what it is. It is the sleeve pushed up from the canopy opening.

I know, I know. Is this a quiz for others or am I allowed to guess?

Talk to Rudy. I believe he may have been JM'ing Eddie on that jump. He told me about this jump last year, so I believe he may have more information. I will see what I can uncover as well.

I don't think Peter has flown a Delta II yet but I can comment. I have more parawings than anyone I know right now. I have five Delta II's (including two never jumped ones, a single and double keel dactyl and a PZ-81). The Delta II and single keel paradactyl are pretty close to the same size of parachute. The line lengths and trim are obviously different and makes them fly very different. As for opening, there are some on the Delta II with the OSI that are really soft but for the most part all parawings because of the low profile of the parachute the fill time is very fast. For performance, they are completely different. The single keel dactyl seems to be a bit more unstable compared to the Delta II. The Delta II with the stall panels for turns make it very slow and flat. If it has the wing tip steering mod that a lot of people did, the Delta II continues to fly throughout the turns and tends to swing you out more and have more of a performance turn. The dactyl tends to almost collapse a side to get the other to out fly it. This makes for a very interesting turns and quick ones. Really the parachutes look similar but they are completely different chutes. Right now I am about 1000 miles away from home so I don't have all my reference material to give all specs but if there is something else you would like to know let me know what it is.

I was laughing so hard, I was dangerously close to wetting myself. I am so glad I had my camera on because it would have been horrible to miss a jump like this.